GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS AND COURSE OF STUDY

ENGLISH: All students must complete English I, II, III, and the senior level Critical Thinking and Writing course. In addition, seniors must complete a one-semester elective course in English. AP English Language and Composition fulfills English III credit, and AP Literature and Composition fulfills both English IV credits.

MATHEMATICS: All students must complete four years of mathematics beginning freshman year. Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, and one or more upper level math courses (Pre-Calculus, Calculus, AP Calculus, Trigonometry and Analysis, or AP Statistics) must be taken. Though students who have completed upper school course work in middle school may earn advanced placement, these credits to not count toward their upper school credit total.

SCIENCE: All students must successfully complete Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.

SOCIAL STUDIES: All students must successfully complete World History, U.S. History, and one more credit of social studies. The final credit can be a combination of two advanced social studies electives or a one-credit AP course.

WORLD LANGUAGE: Students are required to complete two consecutive years of the same world language in grades 9-12 for graduation and are strongly encouraged to take a third and fourth year.

Students will be carefully evaluated by the world language faculty to determine readiness for the next level. Grades and proficiency testing help to make accurate recommendations. Students may choose to begin a different language in Level 1, although this will significantly limit their ultimate achievement, as honors and AP courses require a proficiency level that takes several years to build.

Grade 8 world language does not count toward a student’s upper school credit total.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION: All students must complete one credit of physical education.

ENRICHMENTS: Students must complete at least two semesters of religious studies.

FINE & PERFORMING ARTS: Students must successfully complete two semesters of fine or performing arts, selecting from the areas of art, drama, ceramics, instrumental music, or vocal music.

The academic program at FRA is intended to offer an appropriate degree of flexibility regarding course selections. Inherent in the program is the opportunity to enhance the basic requirements when such consideration improves the academic preparation of an individual for a particular college program. FRA will make every effort to meet the elective requests of our students, but elective placement cannot always be guaranteed.

Upper School Grading Scale

*FRA adds 0.5 GPA points for honors classes and one point for AP classes. FRA reports weighted GPA on all school transcripts.