A student in the 9th or 10th grade is considered an underclassman. For this reason, the timeline for freshmen and sophomores are quite similar. Listed below are common events and milestones for a student in their second year of high school. Some are required for everyone (R) like MCAS, some are optional but encouraged (O) like joining a club or signing up for Project Rise, and some may be only for EL students or completed in a different year because of their EL status (EL). Generally you can join a club/activity at any point during the year. Registration for sports begin prior to the season starting.

Semester 1

• Driver's License

Getting a driver's license is an important milestone for a teenager in the U.S., usually at the age of 16. Most 15 year-olds start the process of getting their driver's license by applying for a learner's permit and scheduling the classes and tests required to get a driver's license. Click here for more information on applying for your driver's license (multiple languages available).

• Club, activity, and fall/winter sport signups/registration (O)

Find the current list of clubs/activities here and information on sports here.

• Yearbook Photos (R)

If you want to be part of BHS history and be in the yearbook every year, make sure to get your photo taken at the beginning of the year! A yearbook is a book that is published once a year and that contains information and photos about the events and achievements of the previous year as well as individual photos of every student. It is created by students at BHS (maybe even you!). Yearbooks from previous years are in the High School Library and even digital version are viewable at the Beverly Public Library.

• Annual ACCESS test (EL)

Our yearly ACCESS test occurs (outside of the Covid pandemic) in January. Students are tested over four days on speaking, listening, reading, and writing. This test is required for all English Learners and is extremely important! Find more information on our EL page here.

Semester 2

• Club, activity, and spring sport signups/registration (O)

Find the current list of clubs/activities here and information on sports here.

• Take Math and English MCAS (R, EL)

The MCAS is a required standardized test taken each year in Massachusetts. There are three MCAS at BHS: Math, Science, and ELA (English). You need to pass all three MCAS tests to graduate high school.

• Apply to Essex Tech Program (O)

If you are interested in a career in plumbing, electrical (if available), construction, advanced manufacturing, automotives, horticulture, or design & media communications, we highly recommend you speak to your guidance counselor about our Essex Tech Program. It is a two year program (junior and senior year) and requires hard work at both Essex Tech and BHS in order to get both a HS diploma and the vocational training and licensure necessary for employment after graduation. Ideally, you should apply for this program before 11th grade course registration.

• Register for 11th grade classes (R)

You will begin the process of choosing your classes for next year in Semester 2 during your advisory. Everything you’ll need to help you make the best choices are in your advisory’s Google Classroom. Make sure you can find the necessary materials in Google Classroom before you make your official class requests in March. If you have any questions, ask your advisory teacher or guidance counselor for help.

• Underclassmen Awards Ceremony

This awards ceremony is for 9th and 10th graders and is held at the end of each school year. Awards for various achievements are recognized, especially for academic excellence or academic achievement in each class.

• Apply for Project Rise Summer Program (O)

RISE Academy at Endicott College is a five-week summer program that prepares highly motivated students in grades 7-11 in the Greater Boston area for what can be expected in college/university and the workforce. Make sure to register early. Find more information here.

After Sophomore Year (Summer)

• Summer Reading Project (R)

The Summer Reading Project intends to keep students reading during the summer, have a chance to read for pleasure, and creates community by sharing a book. Every summer, students are required to read a new book and show evidence that you read and thought about it with a project. There is an official summer reading list every year that is available at the Beverly Public Library, but you can also choose your own book. You can even choose a book in your home language! During the first week of school, you will turn in your project at the BHS Library. For grades 10-12, written projects should be uploaded to Turnitin. Your project will be graded and count toward your first quarter English grade.