Course Selections

ELECTING A PROGRAM

Students should select from the Program of Studies sufficient subjects to assure the required credits for graduation and a sequence of subjects that will equip them for their selected post-secondary goal in life. Every student is assigned a guidance counselor. It is the responsibility of every student to visit the Guidance Office and become acquainted with their counselor prior to electing their program. We encourage all students to share with their parents, their direction and interests prior to course selection.

Students are asked to select with care the program they wish for the ensuing year. Students should work closely with their parents, guidance counselor and teachers in building their program. Note that some subjects are related to a particular grade or grade range. If it is in your educational interest to do so, do not hesitate to request a subject even though it is not listed for your grade level. Your guidance counselor can assist you.

Insufficient student enrollment or fiscal constraints may preclude the offering of certain courses.

Parents and students should take into consideration four factors when deliberating the final selection of a program of study while working closely with counselors and teachers.

TEACHER RECOMMENDATION

Teachers consult with students and recommend a course or level to be pursued in their curriculum area. Teacher recommendations are based on criteria such as current academic standing, subject matter knowledge, communication and computation skills, consistency of work, analytical skills, retention, effort and attitude.

COUNSELOR RECOMMENDATION

Counselors meet with students and make recommendations relative to the election of the entire program of study. Counselor recommendations are based on criteria such as academic achievement history, standardized testing, state and local tests (reading, writing, math), career plans, college admission requirements, special needs, psychological and emotional factors, maturity and course prerequisites.

LEVEL DESCRIPTIONS FOR COURSE SELECTION

Introduction

North Attleboro High School levels its course offerings across the curriculum. Each year students and parents should consider the following guidelines when determining a student’s readiness for a particular level of instruction. In addition to these guidelines, students and their parents should consider their current teacher’s recommendation, feedback from their guidance counselor, and their own objective assessment of their readiness for this level.

North Attleboro High School believes that all students have the capacity for growth, so we encourage students to reflect on their personal growth at the end of each year and challenge themselves accordingly. Please note, these levels do not reflect an academic track. Therefore, students may select different levels in different disciplines and may change levels throughout their academic career.

Honors

• Students must thrive in an independent learning environment and thus, must be self-motivated, conscientious, organized and have a passion for the subject.

• The pace of the course is accelerated, so students are expected to complete extensive work outside of class and must consistently take responsibility for their own learning.

• Students will be expected to read, understand and analyze lengthy complex documents, and be able to complete multi-part projects and assignments with minimal guidance.

• Written work must reflect sophisticated thought, structure, depth and vocabulary.

• Students must be willing to engage in a variety of formal and informal, individual and collaborative speaking opportunities with minimal guidance.

• Students selecting Honors must possess good to excellent digital literacy skills.

Level 1

• Students must thrive in a guided learning environment and be motivated, conscientious, and organized.

• The pace of the course is rigorous, so students are expected to complete a substantial amount of work outside of class and will be expected to take increasing responsibility for their own learning.

• Students will be expected to read, understand and analyze complex documents, and be able to complete lengthy projects and assignments with moderate guidance from the teacher.

• Written work must reflect proficient thought, structure, depth and vocabulary.

• Students will receive moderate guidance to engage in a variety of formal and informal, individual and collaborative speaking opportunities.

• Students selecting Level 1 must possess average to above average digital literacy skills.

Level 2

• Students thrive in a structured learning environment that supports the development of their academic and organizational skills.

• The pace of the course is flexible and deliberate, providing targeted support as needed.

• Considerable instructional support is provided, helping students to build more independent skills and develop responsibility for their own learning. Some work will need to be completed outside of class.

• Students will be expected to read, understand and analyze documents that may be modified, and be able to complete larger projects and assignments with support.

• With targeted support and guidance, written work must be clear and thoughtful, demonstrating a basic understanding of concepts, themes and vocabulary.

• Students will receive support to develop formal and informal, individual and collaborative speaking skills.

• Students selecting Level 2 will receive support and instruction to cultivate digital literacy skills.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES

Guidelines and Expectations

The Advanced Placement (AP) program provides for a national standards-based curriculum. AP courses are offered in English, History/Social Studies, Foreign Language, Math, Science, Computer Science and Music. These AP courses are rigorous and are considered to be on par with college-level courses. College credit may be earned if students attend a college that participates in the AP Program.

The following guidelines and expectations exist for students who choose to elect AP level courses:

• Students electing AP courses should expect rigorous college level work that requires a substantial commitment of time spent on out-of-class assignments, readings and projects.

• Students with below an 85 average from the previous course in a given subject area (and their parents) should carefully consider the high levels of expectations before electing an AP course.

• Students considering electing an AP course must seek current subject teacher recommendation.

• Students enrolled in an AP course are required to take the AP Exam in May.

• Students will need to register for the AP Exam online at the beginning of the course.

• Students who drop the course after the exams are ordered (early November) are required to pay the $40 unused exam fee per the College Board.

• The cost for the AP Exam must be paid in full to the AP Coordinator via cash or check (made out to North Attleborough High School) by February 1. Students with financial need should see their guidance counselor.

COURSE AUDITS

Students who are auditing a course in order to remain connected to the content of that course, but whose class schedule prohibits them from fully participating in the course due to conflicts may do so with parental permission, and at the sole discretion of the teacher of the class to be audited. In the event that teacher permission is not granted for a course audit, the student must decide which of the conflicting courses will remain in the schedule. Students who audit a class will not receive quarterly or final grades, and will receive zero (0) credits for the course.

INDEPENDENT STUDY

Independent Study offers students the opportunity to study above and beyond the curriculum. It is designed to allow students to pursue studies not listed in the Program of Studies. To pursue Independent Study, students must affiliate themselves with a particular teacher, outline their plans of study and complete the forms available in the Guidance Office. Their proposal must be approved by their supervising teacher, their guidance counselor and the Principal.

SUMMER SCHOOL

North Attleboro High School offers a three-week Summer School program for those students who failed a course during the school year. Students must have maintained a minimum average of 50 in the failed course in order to be eligible to take the course in Summer School. Successful completion of the Summer School course will result in a passing grade and earning credits for the course. The Guidance Department will have a list of the courses that will run in Summer School in early June.

NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY

Students are recognized for excellence in Scholarship, Leadership, Character and Service as outlined in the guidelines of the National Honor Society handbook. Juniors and seniors who meet minimum academic grade average requirements articulated in the NHS handbook and application are considered. Membership is determined by a careful system of evaluating academics, leadership, character, and service. Attainment of the minimum academic grade average only satisfies the minimal eligibility requirements.

WORLD LANGUAGE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETIES

Membership in the French, Spanish and Chinese National Honor Societies is open to students enrolled in the fourth and/or fifth year of the language that have maintained a cumulative average of 90 or above throughout their high school language career. In addition to the academic requirements, students must also display a dedication to the study of the language, excellence of character as well as good citizenship. Once a student has attained membership, he or she must be enrolled in a language course and maintain an 88 or above cumulative average in order to retain member status. Failure to maintain these standards will result in removal from the society.

VIRTUAL HIGH SCHOOL

Virtual High School (VHS) offers innovative, high-quality online high school courses to students. Currently, there are over 200 full-semester and yearlong online courses in the VHS course catalog. All VHS courses are taught by certified secondary school teachers from each of the schools participating in the VHS cooperative. Through VHS, North Attleboro High School significantly enhances it curricular offers, and at the same time, integrates technology skills development into the academic curriculum. The website for VHS is www.goVHS.org.

COMMONWEALTH DUAL ENROLLMENT PROGRAM

NAHS participates in the Commonwealth Dual Enrollment (CDE) program with local area colleges. Students may elect to take approved courses through the CDE program on a part-time or full-time basis. Families are responsible for any costs associated with these courses, and students will earn credits for approved courses at both NAHS and the college at which the student is taking the course. These are actual college courses taught by staff of the college. Students must maintain minimum GPA requirements to participate and remain in the CDE Program. Interested students should speak with their Guidance Counselor for information regarding the CDE.

EARLY ENROLLMENT PROGRAM COURSES (EEP)

The Early Enrollment Program is a high school/college partnership with Rhode Island College (RIC), which offers high school seniors, and select juniors, an opportunity to earn college credits through RIC while they are completing their high school graduation requirements. The EEP, begun in 1980, has granted thousands of students college credits for courses they have completed while still in high school. In many instances, students have eliminated as much as one full semester of college work by enrolling in the EEP. Classes offering the EEP option are denoted with the letters EEP in their title. Students taking such classes are given the option to enroll in the EEP, or simply take the class without the option of earning college credits through Rhode Island College. These courses are taught during the school day at NAHS by NAHS teachers affiliated with RIC. Families are responsible for any costs associated with the EEP program.