The purpose of honors courses at Mount Desert Island High School is to provide students who have a strong aptitude and interest in a particular subject area the opportunity for in-depth exploration and rigorous study. These are appropriate choices for students who have met all and exceeded some standards in high school level courses and are ready to go beyond the set curriculum. Honors courses work with additional standards and require more complex evidence to demonstrate proficiency.
Advanced placement courses and exams challenge beyond honors courses and are appropriate choices for students who have developed the knowledge and skills to study at the college level in high school and are willing to take on the extra academic challenge that can lead to gaining college credit, depending on the score achieved on the exam and college attended.
MDIHS embraces the College Board’s “Equity and Access Policy” (*see below), and as such, supports open enrollment of these courses to students who have demonstrated proficiency of all of their pre-requisite course standards.
Before committing the time and effort required to be successful with a challenging academic program, students are encouraged to assess their preparation by considering the following criteria:
Honors and AP are PATHWAYS designed to support the instructional needs of students who:
have met all and exceeded some of the foundational course standards
are independent learners who need less structure and review
welcome opportunities for extensive reading and written work
remain self-disciplined while engaging in inquiry and thought
thrive in an accelerated learning environment
have time outside of the regular school day to commit to advanced study.
MDIHS does not weight honors and Advanced Placement courses.
MDIHS does not weight honors and/or AP courses because doing so unfairly influences students’ decisions to take courses that are educationally valuable. For example, a student might decline to take a tough course because his/her grade point average might be more heavily penalized with a lower score that is weighted, or he/she might opt to take an honors/AP course over one that better matches his/her needs in order to be rewarded with a higher GPA calculation. MDIHS does recognize students who take honors/AP courses with clear designations on their transcript, and again, if eligible with distinct Latin honors.
Honors and Advanced Placement Courses & Estimation of Time Spent on Homework
Mathematics
Science
English
Social Studies
*AP Equity and Access Policy from the College Board:
“The College Board strongly encourages educators to make equitable access a guiding principle for their AP programs by giving all willing and academically prepared students the opportunity to participate in AP. We encourage the elimination of barriers that restrict access to AP for students from ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic groups that have been traditionally underserved. Schools should make every effort to ensure their AP classes reflect the diversity of their student population. The College Board also believes that all students should have access to academically challenging coursework before they enroll in AP classes, which can prepare them for AP success. It is only through a commitment to equitable preparation and access that true equity and excellence can be achieved.”
Students must complete the time management activity and include a parent/guardian signature before submitting scheduling requests.
Estimations of Time Spent on Homework:
Enrichment Opportunities
Enrichment activities provide students with experiences that extend beyond the classroom to bring their learning to life. Enrichment activities vary in intensity and length of commitment. See the Guidance Department for information about the following opportunities:
Jackson Laboratory Internship Program
Open to juniors and seniors, this two-level program is designed to give students either experiential or in-depth exposure to the field of scientific research. Acceptance is based on a selection process.
Courses at College of the Atlantic, University of Maine, University of Maine Augusta and Eastern Maine Community College
See the Guidance Department for course schedule an information on tuition discounts.
Astor Enrichment Grants
Open to all MDIHS students for unique enrichment opportunities. Applications available at Guidance Department
Music Boosters Scholarships
Available to exceptional music students to attend various summer music programs.
Internships
Developed in partnership with community organizations and businesses offering students the opportunity for an in-depth experience in an area of their interest.
New England Young Writers’ Conference
A competitive four-day writing conference at Middlebury College. November deadline.
Senior Exhibition
An opportunity for seniors to execute a long-term and deep investigation in an area of their choice. Participants share their final product in a public exhibition.
Math Team
An opportunity for students to expand their math skills and to compete in county and state competitions.