Formal assessments will count for at least 80% of every Hillcrest High School student's grade this year, with daily classwork making up the remaining 20%.

That's the headline policy in the school's 2026-27 School-Wide Disclosure, posted ahead of the Monday, Aug. 17, start of Canyons School District classes. The document lays out grading rules, a daily intervention period, a revamped behavior recognition system and on-campus mental health resources for the Midvale campus led by principal Brenda McCann.

Grading and test retakes

Teachers must give at least four formal assessments per quarter, and students can retake three of them under each department's retake policy. The catch: students must have completed all daily practice work for the current unit and taken the original test before qualifying for a retake. Late or incomplete daily work won't count toward an effective grade, the disclosure states.

Grades update weekly on Skyward, and parents can request a login at the Attendance Office.

APP: a built-in intervention period

Every student's schedule includes an Academic Preparation Period from 9:07 to 9:44 a.m. on A and B days. There is no APP on Fridays, which are early-out days districtwide. APP is graded on its own scale: 90% or above earns an A, 80–89% a pass, and anything below 79% an F. Regular attendance is required for credit each quarter.

New PBIS motto and Husky Cards

Hillcrest replaced last year's "Be responsible, be respectful, be safe" motto with HOWL: Help, Own It, Work, Learn. Students who demonstrate those values earn Husky Cards, redeemable at the school's Husky Hut or entered into monthly "McCann Madness" prize drawings for dance tickets, Crocs, hoodies and custom socks.

Teachers also send Husky Grams, postcards mailed home to recognize positive behavior. Weekly winners are announced Wednesdays and receive school swag.

Mental health and crisis support

The school contracts with two outside providers, Odyssey House and Hopeful Beginnings, for students who need individual therapy plans, medication management or crisis services. Referrals go through a student's assistant principal.

On-campus staff include school psychologist Rebecca Brown, who handles 504 accommodations and social-emotional support, and social workers Vincen Franco and Cassidy Van Deursen, who work with students experiencing depression, anxiety or suicidal thoughts. The student-led Hope Squad, advised by counselor Kim Walters, trains peers to recognize warning signs and connect classmates with adults. Students can also report concerns anonymously through the SafeUT app.

What's next

Hillcrest's Back-to-School Night is Thursday, Aug. 13, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Freshman orientation is Friday, Aug. 14, from 7:45 a.m. to noon. The first full day for all students is Monday, Aug. 17. Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled for Sept. 22–23, according to the Canyons District calendar.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, call or text 988 to reach the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.