HS Program of Studies

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS AND COURSE SELECTION PROCESS

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

In order to earn a Londonderry High School diploma, a student must accrue 24 credits along with all of the individual requirements. The school year is divided into two semesters: August to January and January to June. One credit (1.0) is earned by successfully completing a full-year course that meets for one 45-minute period each school day. One-half credit (0.5) is earned by successfully completing a half-year course that meets for one 45-minute period each school day. Students are required to pass all identified course competencies as well as earn a passing grade in a course to receive course credit. Students will be notified of course competencies by each teacher at the beginning of the semester and opportunities for remediation are available when needed. Independent Study credits will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis with approval of the student’s Assistant Principal. All students are academically and financially responsible for all the courses for which they register.

4 credits....ENGLISH
3 credits/4 years of a math experience*....MATHEMATICS (to include an algebra credit)
3 credits....SOCIAL STUDIES (World, U.S. History, Civics, Economics)
2 credits....SCIENCE (Physical Science, Biology)
1 credit......PHYSICAL EDUCATION
1/2 credit...HEALTH
1/2 credit...TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION (ICT)*

*Please see Technology/Mathematics section below.

1/2 credit RESTRICTIVE ELECTIVE (ARTS)
At least 1/2 credit from any of the following areas:

- Art (all Art courses)
- Music (all Music courses)
- Graphic Arts (Desktop Publishing, Exploring Graphic Arts, Computer Graphic Design)
- Photography I
- Photography II

91/2 credits GENERAL ELECTIVES
At least 91/2 credits of electives are required in addition to the arts elective and the required core courses.

The following is a generalized four year plan which achieves the minimum requirements and the year in which the majority of students enroll in these courses.

9th Grade		10th Grade		11th Grade		12th Grade
English	1.0	English	1.0	English	1.0	English	1.0
Mathematics	1.0	Mathematics	1.0	Mathematics	1.0	Mathematics or Mathematics Experience	1.0
World History	1.0	US History	1.0	Civics**	.5	Restrictive Elective and General Electives	5.0
Freshman Science or Biology	1.0	Biology or Physical Science	1.0	Economics	.5
PE I (or Wellness)	.5	PE II	.5
Health (or Wellness)	.5
Restrictive Elective and General Electives	1.0	Restrictive Elective and General Electives	1.5	Restrictive Elective and General Electives	3.0

Minimum Credits	6.0	Minimum Credits	6.0	Minimum Credits	6.0	Minimum Credits	6.0
Minimum number of credits earned by the end of the 9th grade	6.0	Minimum number of credits earned by the end of the 10th grade	12	Minimum number of credits earned by the end of the 11th grade	18	Minimum number of credits earned by the end of the 12th grade	24

**Students must pass the naturalization examination developed by the 2020 United States Citizen and Immigration Services with a 70 percent or better, in order to graduate.

MATHEMATICS REQUIREMENTS

In compliance with the New Hampshire Board of Education Minimum Standards for Public School Approval, students shall engage in learning competencies in Mathematics for every year they are in high school. Students will “engage with and apply mathematics during every year they are enrolled.” In addition to all mathematics course offerings, the courses that fulfill math exposure are listed below, as well as indicated on the course description pages. Unless specifically noted, a designation of math experience does not imply that a course outside of the Mathematics Department fulfills the 3 credit math graduation requirement.

Advanced Woodworking Technology
College Prep Accounting I
College Prep Accounting II
College Prep Chemistry A
College Prep Civil/Architectural Engineering Design
College Prep Digital Electronics
College Prep Financial Planning
College Prep Financial Services
College Prep Introduction to Engineering Design
College Prep Physics A
Introduction to Programming I
Introduction to Programming II
AHS Sm An/Vet Tech I
Exploring Metals
MST Electrical Technology I
MST Electrical Technology II
MST HVAC I
MST HVAC II
MST Manufacturing I
MST Manufacturing II
MST Plumbing I
MST Plumbing II
AHS Diesel I
AHS Diesel II
AHS Welding Technology I
AHS Welding Technology II

AHS Welding Technology I
AHS Welding Technology II

College Prep Physics B
College Prep Principles of Engineering
Honors Advanced Topics in Chemistry
Honors Chemistry: Special Materials (SPaM)
AP Physics
AP Physics II
Independent Living and Money Management
Business Math
Entrepreneurial Woodworking
AHS Health Occ I
Advanced Metals
Metals Technology
Robotics
AHS Building Construction Trades
MST Auto Tech I
MST Auto Tech II
MST Collision Rep I
MST Collision Rep II
MST Health Science I
MST Health Science II
MST Land/Horticultural I
MST Land/Horticultural II
MST Res Carpentry I
MST Res Carpentry II

TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENT (INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES)

Students must earn a ½ credit in Information Communication Technologies. Students can earn the credit by enrolling in one of the approved course offerings listed below, or through the completion of a digital portfolio. The purpose of the portfolio is for students to demonstrate that they have met the technology standards through different artifacts he/she has produced over the course of their high school career that demonstrate proficiency in 21st Century skills. Successful completion of one of the following courses will satisfy the ½ credit in ICT:

Exploring Graphic Arts
Computer Animation
AP Computer Science
Business Computer Applications
Computer Maintenance & Repair I
Computer Maintenance & Repair II
Computer Graphic Design
Desktop Publishing

Honors C# Programming
Introduction to Programming I
Introduction to Programming II
Technology Sampler
Yearbook
Web Development & Design I
Web Development and Design II
Introduction to Engineering Design

Digital Portfolio - ELO: Extended Learning Opportunity:
To meet the ½ credit ICT requirement, the portfolio must contain digital artifacts that demonstrate the student’s strengths in six technology standards:
- Technology and Operations
- Digital Citizenship
- Creativity and Innovation
- Communication and Collaboration
- Research and Information Fluency
- Critical Thinking, Problem Solving & Decision-Making

The digital portfolio is a place where you can showcase your work throughout high school and see your progress over your four years. The only qualification a digital portfolio must meet is that it must include graded artifacts that demonstrate your strengths in the defined six portfolio components. Maintaining a portfolio is each student’s responsibility. Examples of artifacts that could be placed in a digital portfolio:
- Communication tools such as web pages and web blogs
- Digital photos of your artwork (small file size)
- Graphs/charts, data tables
- Lab Reports
- Multimedia productions (small file size)
- PowerPoints
- Program code (with comments) of your creation
- Research paper containing citied sources in MLA style
- Spreadsheets
.

EARLY GRADUATION

Students desiring to complete their high school careers and graduation requirements at the end of 3 or 3 ½ years must make this request prior to scheduling classes for the last anticipated year of attendance. Requests for early graduation must be made in writing and signed by the parent/guardian and student. The burden of proof will rest with the student to justify why early graduation is necessary and in the student’s best interest. Forms are available in Main Guidance. Students leaving at the end of the 3 ½ years will not receive their diplomas until the scheduled graduation ceremony in June. Once approved, students graduating in three years will be allowed full senior status to include all activities and privileges normally accorded to seniors.

COURSE COMPETENCIES

All classes have common course competencies, competency assessments and common grading methods for all courses identified in the Program of Studies. Teachers will communicate these competencies and competency assessments to students and parents via their syllabus, teacher web pages and X2. Competency Assessments will not change existing LHS grading practices. Student performance on initial competency assessments will be factored into quarter grades. If a student fails the competency assessment (59% or below), the student will be given multiple opportunities to earn the passing grade (60 % or higher) but that initial grade will be the one used in quarter average calculations. Students and parents will be able to track their success on competency assessments through X2. Students must pass the class and pass all competency assessments in order to gain credit for the class. Students who fail a competency assessment have 5 weeks (25 school days) after the conclusion of a semester to make up failed competency assessments, as long as their semester average grade is 60% or higher. Semester two competencies are completed prior to the end of the school year.

COURSE SELECTION/COURSE RECOMMENDATION

As students meet with their counselor, course selections will be based on teacher recommendation, career choices, parent/guardian, student input, and Special Education Team input when applicable. Parents and students must realistically assess capabilities and ambitions. If there are any questions concerning a course or any doubts concerning success in a particular course, parents/guardians and students should discuss these concerns with the appropriate teacher, counselor, and/or Curriculum Coordinator. Emphasis must be placed on careful planning during the course selection period to assure that the attainment of the student’s goals is possible. Should a student wish to enroll in a course not recommended by the teacher, the student petitions the Curriculum Office for grades 10, 11, and 12 and the Director of School Counseling for grade 9. Please note that enrollment in some courses may be limited and courses may be eliminated in the event of low enrollment. Scheduling of classes for each school year begins early in the second semester of the preceding year. Each student, therefore, has at least six months prior to the opening of the school year in which to consider the courses he/she will be taking. In view of the lengthy period of time, there will be NO changes to student schedules after the opening of school except under the following conditions: - The student has been misplaced in a course. - The student has failed a prerequisite for a course now scheduled. - The student has a study period and wishes to add a class (depending on availability of classes). - A computer error in scheduling.