ACADEMIC POLICIES
FOR THE MIDDLE
SCHOOL
1. REQUIREMENTS
FOR GRADUATION
A.
BASIC
CORE REQUIREMENTS
Theology 3 years
of study
English 3 years
of study
Social Studies 3 years
of study
Math 3 years of study
Science 3 years
of study
Second Language 3 years of study
Physical Education 3 years of study
B. ADDITIONAL NEW YORK STATE REQUREMENTS
Technology
Education ½ unit of study
The
Arts ½ unit
in visual arts, ½ unit in music
Health unit study
2. NEW
YORK STATE ASSESSMENTS
A.
English
Language Arts Assessment
B.
Math
Assessment
C.
Social
Studies Assessment
D.
Science
Assessment
E.
Spanish Proficiency
3. Integrated
Algebra Regents
Earth
Science Regents
FOR
THE HIGH SCHOOL
Total
Number of Units of Credit: 22
In keeping with the educational objective of ND-BG, every
student will be expected to carry a FULL academic schedule each semester.
NEW YORK STATE
REQUIRED COURSES
|
Required Courses
|
Regents Diploma Credits
|
Regents w/Advanced
Designation Credits
|
|
English
|
4
|
4
|
|
Social Studies
|
4
|
4
|
|
Math
|
3
|
3
|
|
Science
|
3
|
3
|
|
Language other than
English
|
1*
|
3**
|
|
Art/Music
|
1
|
1
|
|
Health
|
.5
|
.5
|
|
Physical Education
|
2
|
2
|
|
Electives
|
3.5
|
1.5
|
|
Total NYS Required Credits
|
22.0
|
22.0
|
·
*Students
are required to complete 1 unit of study in a Language other than English by
the end of their 9th grade year.
One unit of credit is earned either by passing the NYS proficiency exam
for a language other than English or by earning a passing grade in one (1) un
it of language in grade 9-12.
·
**Students
may be exempt from the language other than English requirement by completing
five units of credit in Art or Music.
Additional ND-BG Requirement
·
4
years of Theology
·
4
years of Science
·
3
years of a Language other than English
Required
Examinations
(All
examinations require a score of 65 or above)
|
Regents Diploma
|
Advanced Designation
|
|
Comprehensive English
|
Comprehensive English
|
|
Global History and Geography
|
Global History and Geography
|
|
United States History and Government
|
United States History and Government
|
|
1 Science
|
2 Science (at least one in life science)
|
|
1 Mathematics
|
2 or 3 Mathematics***
|
|
|
Language other than English Exam**
|
*** (Integrated Algebra or
Math A) and Geometry and Algebra 2/Trignometry
or
Math A and Math B
or
Math A and Algebra
2/Trignometry
With Honors: Students receiving a diploma with honors will have earned at
least an average of 90% in the required regents examinations.
B. ELECTIVES
Departmental
electives may very in their pre-requisites.
Their school counselors direct students in their choice of electives
based on their interests and abilities.
C. REGENTS EXAMS
The NYS Regents Board
requires that students demonstrate competency in basic subject areas before a
diploma is issued. All students must
take and pass a Regents exam in English, Global studies, American History, Math
and Science in order to graduate. The
specific number of required Regents exams for a Regents diploma or a Regents
diploma with advanced designation is outlined on the previous page. The requirements for a second language other
than English are also explained on the previous page.
D. PROFICIENCY
EXAMINATIONS
A NYS Proficiency Exam is
given after the completion of the 8th grade language other than
English course. To earn one high school
credit, a student must receive a passing grade of 65% on this exam. Otherwise, the student must pass a Language
other than English course in high school to satisfy the requirement for a
diploma. It is recommended that all students
take three or four years of a language in order to prepare for college.
2. COURSE LEVELS
The following
“levels” are used to compute class ranks.
Courses are “weighted” according to their level of difficulty and
receive the multipliers listed below:
LEVEL 3 – Advanced/AP/UHS courses
– 1.16
LEVEL 2 – Honors courses – 1.08
LEVEL 1 – Regents and Regents
level courses – 1.00
3. COURSE SELECTIOIN AND ADJUSTMENT
The student in course selection should take
great care. IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
THAT ALL STUDENTS TAKE MATH AND SCIENCE ALL FOUR YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL FOR
OPTIMAL COLLEGE PREPARATION.
Consultation with teachers, school counselors and parent/guardian is VERY
important. Special attention should be
paid to prerequisites, past performance and teacher recommendations before
courses are selected. In January, the
master schedule is constructed and the computer scheduling process is
begun. Course change requests after May
cannot be guaranteed since class sections may have already reached the maximum
number of students.
School districts that provide textbooks to our students
require textbook orders to be placed by June 1st. Therefore, course selections must be
finalized before this date.
