MINIMUM GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Courses Notes Credits

ENGLISH

4 5

Students must be enrolled in a core English class (English I/II/III/IV, AP English Language, or AP English Literature) each year of Upper School They must also complete Composition (0 5 credit), typically in their junior year

MATHEMATICS

At minimum: Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and one class beyond Algebra II (typically Pre-Calculus)

Three years of laboratory science are required: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. 3 HISTORY

3

Three years of History are required Students must take Big History, Anthropology or AP World History, and U.S. History. Students entering Davidson Day School after ninth grade are not required to take Big History if they have taken a World History equivalent.

WORLD LANGUAGE

Students must earn at least 3 credits in the same language; at least 2 of those credits must be earned in Upper School It is recommended that students continue to take a world language during each year of Upper School.

FINE ARTS

Students must take at least one course in the Visual Arts or Performing Arts. 1

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

1

A student may request a Physical Education credit for participating in varsity athletics, theater, or another approved extracurricular activity.

ELECTIVES

Any course taken beyond the requirements listed above will be counted as an elective

FRESHMEN are required to take English I (or Honors), Big History (or Honors), and either Conceptual Physics or Physics Honors Students should consult their 8thgrade teachers and the curriculum guide to choose the math, world language, and elective courses that best fit their needs. In total, freshmen should be enrolled in eight courses, including five academic classes and no more than one study hall.

SOPHOMORES are required to take English II (or Honors), Anthropology (or Honors), and Chemistry (or Honors) AP World History may be substituted for Anthropology Students should consult their freshman-year teachers, college counselors, and the curriculum guide to choose the math, world language, and elective courses that best fit their needs. In total, sophomores should be enrolled in eight courses, including five academic classes and no more than one study hall. However, students enrolled in two or more AP-level courses may choose to take a second study hall

JUNIORS are required to take English III (or Honors), U.S. History (or Honors or AP), and Biology (or Honors). AP Language and Composition may be substituted for English III. Students should consult their sophomore-year teachers, college counselors, and the curriculum guide to choose the math, world language, and elective courses that best fit their needs Typically, students take Composition (a one-semester required course) in the fall or spring of their junior year, when it replaces one semester of study hall. In total, juniors should be enrolled in eight courses, including five academic classes and no more than one study hall. However, students enrolled in two or more AP-level courses may choose to take a second study hall

SENIORS are required to take English IV (or Honors); AP Language and Composition or AP Literature and Composition may be substituted for English IV. Students should consult their junior-year teachers, college counselors, and the curriculum guide to choose the math, science, history/social science, world language, and elective courses that best fit their needs; rising seniors must take particular care to ensure that they have met the minimum requirements for graduation In total, seniors should be enrolled in eight courses, with five academic classes and no more than one study hall. However, students enrolled in two or more AP-level courses may choose to take a second study hall.

Students’ course registration will be processed once they have officially enrolled for the next academic year Please note that some courses fill up quickly due to high demand. See chart on page 63 for a full list of courses available to students at each grade level.

Challenging Honors courses are offered to students who have demonstrated the aptitude, work ethic, and previous academic performance to be successful. In order to enroll in an Honors course, a student must satisfy its academic requirements and be recommended by the appropriate department. Interested students should consult with their current teachers about appropriate course placement.

Students who wish to enroll in an Honors course must have finished the nonHonors prerequisite with a minimum final grade of A-. In order for students to remain in an Honors course of study from year to year, they must maintain at least a B- (final grade). Honors courses receive a .50 weighting when GPA is calculated.

Students who choose to enroll in Advanced Placement (AP) courses are often motivated by a passion for and intellectual interest in the subject matter of the course Student success in AP courses is usually driven by a strong aptitude for the subject matter, combined with excellent preparation and a willingness to do all of the work associated with the course. AP courses require a significant commitment in terms of workload, maturity, and classroom presence, so students should consider carefully whether they can manage these responsibilities alongside their other commitments in and out of school Please note that some AP courses also require summer work prior to the start of the school year

Advanced Placement courses follow College Board-approved curriculum and prepare students for the College Board Advanced Placement exams in May. AP courses are the equivalent of college-level courses and the scholastic demands they place on students are similar to those they are likely to encounter in an introductory college course All students taking an AP course are expected to take the corresponding exam in May; this takes the place of a final exam in the course. AP courses receive a 1.0 weighting when GPA is calculated.

Students who wish to enroll in an AP course must have finished the Honors prerequisite with a minimum final grade of A- and must have departmental approval They must also complete an AP Contract for each Advanced Placement course they request (see pages 61-62). Departmental approval is contingent on a review of prior achievement in prerequisite courses, teacher recommendations, AP Contract, and/or placement testing. The relevant department head has the final say in approving students for AP courses and will consider the abilities, goals, and best interests of each student in giving or withholding approval

APEnglishLanguageandComposition

APEnglishLiteratureandComposition

APPre-Calculus

APCalculusAB

APCalculusBC

APStatistics

APBiology

APEnvironmentalScience

APPhysics1*

APPhysics2*

APChemistry

APWorldHistory(Modern)

APU.S.History

APEuropeanHistory

APMacroeconomics*

APMicroeconomics*

APPsychology

APSpanishLanguageandCulture

APSpanishLiteratureandCulture

APFrenchLanguageandCulture

APStudioArt

APComputerSciencePrinciples

APComputerScienceA