Upper School Graduation Requirements

Requirements for Graduation

  1. High school matriculation for four years, grades 9–12.
  2. Successful completion of all required courses.
  3. Minimum of 18 academic credits, all of which must be earned in grades 9–12. Fitness for Life, Wellness, athletics, and extracurricular drama do not count toward this total.
  4. Minimum of 4.5 credits per year. Of these credits, four must be in courses receiving letter grades.
  5. Successful completion of Senior Speech.
  6. Successful completion of Senior Project.

Distribution Requirements

English

Successful completion of four full years of English with at least ½ credit per semester: Journeys in Literature (grade 9), American Literature (grade 10), and four semester English courses (grades 11–12).

Fine Arts

For students in graduating years 2008–09, successful completion of one-half credit of Fine Arts in grades 9–12. For students in graduating years 2010 and later, three-fourths credit of Fine Arts in grades 9–12.

History

Successful completion of World History I (grade 9), World History II (grade 10), and U.S. History (grade 11).

Language

Successful completion of the third level of a foreign language or, by permission, the second level of two languages. Enrollment in a language required through grade 10.

Mathematics

Successful completion of a third-level course in mathematics: Advanced Algebra and Trigonometry, Precalculus or Honors Precalculus.

Science

Successful completion of three years of the following lab sciences, taken in sequence: Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry.

Wellness

Participation in one quarter of Wellness (grade 10).

Fitness/Physical Education

Participation in Fitness for Life class for one quarter (grade 9). Requirement waived for students in three sports in grade 9.

Course Load

Graded academic courses earn 1.0 credit for a full year, or ½ credit for one semester. Students are required to take at least 4½ classes (4.5 credits) per year and rarely are given permission to take more than 5 “book and pencil” academic classes per semester. A sixth course is permitted in Fine Arts (visual art, music, publications), English (Journalism, Debate), or Language (with special permission, exceptionally strong students may study a second language).