Welcome Future Highlanders!
Q:What time does school start?
A: The first class begins at 7:20 am. Students should be in their classrooms by 7:10 am
Q: Do students have a homeroom?
A: Homeroom period is built into a student’s first period class. First period begins at 7:20 am
Q: How do students know which lunch period to attend?
A; Students are assigned a lunch period based on their period 5 schedule. (Period 4 for students in the ETA.) The lunch times rotate during the year but the students stay with the same group throughout the year.
Q: Will students have the same guidance counselor all four years?
A: Yes. Each student will have the same guidance counselor throughout high school. Students are assigned to counselors based on the student’s last name. Students in the Engineering and Technology Academy as assigned to Mr. Halfmann and Students in AVID are assigned to Ms. Fairfull Visit the Guidance webpage for more information.
ACADEMICS
Q: How many credits do I need in mathematics?
A: Students need 4 credits mathematics
Q: How many credits in English do I need?
A: Students need 4 years/credits in English.
Q: How many credits in social studies do I need?
A:Students need 3 credits History/Social Science (including 1 credit World History ,1 credits U.S. History, and 1 elective credit)
Q: Can students take more than one language class during the school year?
A: Yes, students can take two language classes during the school year.
Q: How many years of the same language classes are students required to take in order to graduate from high school?
A: The minimum graduation requirement is two years of the same language. Many students take three and four years of language classes.
The Arts
Q: Do I need to take a course in the arts?
A:Students need to take 1 credit in the Arts Doherty offers a variety of courses including Visual Arts and and Performing Arts ( theater, chorus, band)
Internships
Q: Will I be able to participate in an internship?
A:Doherty offers a variety of internship opportunities for students. Visit the Internship section of our Programs page to learn about the internship opportunities available.
Advanced Placement
Q: What courses are available?
A: All available courses are listed on the Guidance website, complete with links to course descriptions and other relevant information. Some courses are grade specific, such as English Language (Grade 11) and English Literature (Grade 12). Others are available for multiple grades, for example AP Computer Science Principles (Grades 9-12).
Q: Is there a fee for the AP Exams?
A: Yes. All WPS students are eligible to pay the reduced rate. For Capstone courses (AP Seminar and AP Research), the cost per exam is $101. For all other exams, the cost is $53 per exam.
Q: Are students required to take the exam?
A: No, but they are highly encouraged to do so. Earning a qualifying score on an AP Exam can translate to a full college course worth thousands of dollars.
Q: What supports are available for my student taking an AP class?
A: All teachers provide extra help each week. The district partners with Mass Insight for Education, MIE, to provide Saturday Support Sessions taught by trained AP teachers. MIE offers 2 Saturday sessions for all AP Math, AP Science, AP English, and AP Computer classes. In addition, all AP Math, AP Science, AP English, and AP Computer students will take a mock exam, scored by trained staff like an AP Exam, and this information is used by the teacher and students for diagnostic information.
All AP students will register for the AP Classroom on the CollegeBoard website. The AP Classroom provides daily support videos, sample questions, detailed resources, and exam-prep tips and suggestions for all AP courses in preparation for their respective exam.
ETA/ Engineering & Technology Academy
Q: What is unique about the ETA program?
A: The students are teamed in grade 9, and the 5 team teachers have regular meetings to discuss student progress, identity and address concerns, and coordinate their respective curriculum, projects and learning expectations. All 5 teachers employ consistent methods, classroom rules, and work together to support each other. These 5 classes are all closely located within the building: students do not have to walk far from one class to another. This allows students to acclimate to the new school far more quickly.
In grade 10, students are teamed again, but with a new set of 5 teachers. Now, academic classes are spread out and are not located close together. This is done purposefully as students are now used to the building and the school expectations: we are giving students more responsibility as they are now older.
In grades 11 and 12, we no longer team the students. This allows students to take advantage of the wide range of AP course offerings, dual enrollment classes, internships, etc.
Q: What will my child’s ETA schedule look like?
A: All grade 9 students take core academic classes - Science, English, History, and Math. All ETA students take Introduction to Engineering as their vocational class. Doherty does not utilize a week-on, week-off model; rather students have their class every day/every week.
In grade 9, the 5 core classes (Science, Math, English, History, and Engineering) are teamed, similar to many middle school models. These grade 9 students share the same 5 teachers, the same guidance counselor, and the same administrator.
Q: Is busing available?
A: Students from across the district are able to apply for entry to the ETA program. If accepted, students who live more than 2 miles from the school, as determined by the district, are eligible for bus services. Students who live within 2 miles are not eligible for a bus.
Q: How do I apply to the ETA? What is the admissions process and timeline?
A: The application, and admissions information, is available on the Doherty website. Click on the ETA link. The application can be completed online, or can be downloaded and sent to your child’s middle school guidance counselor.
In the fall, all 8th grade students are mailed a copy of the application.
The completed application should be sent to the middle school guidance counselor. The counselor completes a portion of the application and then send it to the ETA coordinator at Doherty.
In February, once the quarter 2 grades are finalized and available for review, the school will begin processing applications.
In early March, the school sends out acceptance and waitlist letters. Students who are accepted are asked to confirm their position within the ETA. If an accepted student declines their position, for example if they move out of Worcester, then the school will offer the position to the next student on the waitlist.
We recommend submitting your application by February 1 so that it is considered in the first round of processed applications. However, applications are accepted at any time, including throughout the spring and summer. Applications received after the March date, the date on which initial acceptance letters are sent, are processed and students are placed on the waitlist in the order based on their net score, not the date received.
The application process continues throughout the spring and summer.