Curriculum Guidelines

Graduation Requirements

Students must satisfactorily complete at least 23 credits to meet Parish Episcopal School’s diploma requirements; for competitive college admission, 25 or more credits are preferable, including some Advanced Placement courses. Once enrolled at Parish, a student may not take courses outside the school toward graduation requirements without advance approval of the Head of Upper School. Specific departmental requirements and programs follow. A full year course counts as a single credit.

Subject (minimum years)

English (4 years) Social Studies (3 years) • Global Cultures, World History, U.S. History Mathematics (3 years) • Must complete through Algebra II Science (3 years) • Physics, Chemistry, Biology World Languages (3rd level; at least 2 years in US) Religious Studies • Bible and Western Culture, World Religions, Contemporary Religious Issues Health

Arts (3 classes)

Athletics (3 seasons or 3 trimesters)

Policies and Procedures

The academic program of the Upper School represents a four-year college preparatory curriculum, which provides broad training in the liberal arts and sciences and stresses independent thinking, writing, critical reading, discipline and creativity. Homework and outside preparation are required. Students may expect to spend 45 to 60 minutes per day outside of class on each academic subject. Honors, Advanced Placement courses, and programs such as the Academy of Global Studies and the Leadership Institute are available to qualified students upon faculty recommendation and may require significant extra effort and preparation outside of class.

Appropriate Academic Challenge

The course selection process is designed so that each student is guided to to choose classes that provide an appropriate academic challenge. Most students take at least six courses each trimester and graduate with several credits beyond minimum graduation requirements. All students must meet the following minimum requirements: Core classes are defined as English, History, Mathematics, Science, World Language or an A.P. course in another subject area.

Grade Nine:

• Five core classes • One elective each trimester • Normally health, an athletic course and/or a sport

Grade Ten:

• Five core classes • One elective each trimester • Normally Bible and Western Culture, an athletic course and/or a sport

Grade Eleven:

• Five core classes • One elective each trimester • Normally World Religions, an athletic course and/or a sport (if requirement has not been met)

Grade Twelve:

• Four core classes • Fifteen total courses throughout three trimesters • Normally Contemporary Religious Issues, an athletic course, a sport and/or fine arts course (if requirement has not been met) • Elective courses are not offered in the third trimester due to ParishBridge