To be considered a high school MERIT student, a student must complete a prescribed number of designated classes. There is no formal application for the high school MERIT program as the designation will be determined by academic course selection and fulfillment of other program requirements. For students at TCCHS, MERIT is an incentive and recognition program designed to reward and celebrate academic excellence in the classroom and scholarly competition as well as outstanding achievement on tests given throughout high school.
High school MERIT distinction requires a rigorous program of study which includes a series of Honors, Advanced Placement, and college level courses. While the program will allow students to enroll in accelerated classes, students will be a part of the same schedule as their peers who are not in the accelerated program.
Students who qualify may enroll in a program to earn a full college associates degree by the time they graduate from high school.
MERIT students will receive a MERIT Program seal on their diploma and will wear a MERIT Program patch at graduation. High school students will earn and maintain MERIT status by completing the required program of study, participating in the required activities, maintaining the appropriate grade-point average, and completing the required community service hours.
1. A minimum of two Honors level, AP, and/or dual enrollment classes each year
2. Total of 3 AP and/or dual enrollment classes during high school career
3. Earn 4 high school foreign language credits (all credits in one language or two credits each in two different languages).
4. Maintain an 85 academic average
5. Complete and document service learning hours, a minimum of 20 hours per year
6. Participate in at least one extracurricular activity each year: a sport, academic competition, club, or student government
7. Participate in at least one academic competition per year
ACADEMIC LETTER
Students are also eligible to receive academic letter jackets or patches for letter jackets they have earned in other areas. Students must have completed all community service requirements and meet 3 of the 6 following conditions:
1. Make a 3 or better on an AP examination
2. Receive a first place in an individual or team academic competition
3. Receive a perfect score on a section of a standardized test such as EOC, ACT, or SAT
4. Participate on at least two academic teams or in two academic competitions per year
5. Make 1200 or higher on the two combined SAT sections
6. Make a 28 or higher on a section of the ACT
Designated MERIT Program students will
- Receive a world-class education that will prepare them to compete for admission to our nation’s most selective colleges and universities
- Receive recognition for outstanding academic work
- Receive a MERIT Program patch to be worn at graduation
- Receive a MERIT Program seal on their high school diploma
- Participate in special field trips
- Earn an academic letter jacket or an academic patch