Beginning this school year, Poly students have the option to earn a letter grade for certain performing arts courses. In the past, students could only take performing arts courses for credit or no credit. Now, for certain classes, students will be required to indicate whether they want a letter grade or traditional credit/non-credit grade when selecting the class.

“Some of us are very passionate about the performing arts, and so we devote a lot of time and energy to these classes. It’s great that we now have the option to be rewarded with a letter grade for them,” shared senior Emerson Min.

The option for a quantitative letter grade is not available, however, for all performing arts classes. Dance Ensemble, Tap Dance, and Choir are some examples of performing arts classes that will remain credit/no-credit only. At the same time, several advanced performing arts classes, such as Dance 4 and Music Makers Lab, are solely available on a graded basis.

Visual arts classes will continue on a credit/no credit basis with the exception of the yearbook elective, which will be turned into a graded class focusing on graphic design. However, visual arts classes have seen other changes. History and Applications classes have now been broken up into two separately graded, semester-long courses rather than a yearlong course with a single grade at the end. According to Visual Arts Chair Arnor Bieltvedt, “This change gives students the opportunity to have flexible schedules, an adequate workload, and the opportunity to focus on taking in the art rather than just focusing on the grade.”

The department also has added a new set of classes called “immersion courses,” which allow students who want to pursue further studies regarding specific arts to do so for a letter grade. Some of these immersion courses include photography and film.

For specific details regarding the availability of letter grades for arts classes, refer to the 2023-2024 Course of Study handbook.