Warren Hills Regional School District

Warren Hills Regional High School

Course of Study 2008-2009

Additional Information

a. General Academic Information

i. Course Change Procedures

Warren Hills Regional students are requested to choose their courses with great care, as the dropping of courses for any reason is strongly discouraged. Should a student find it necessary to drop a course, the following guidelines and conditions must be met.

No scheduled course can be dropped without the written recommendation of the student' s teachers and/or administrator, guidance counselor, and parent. Students will only be allowed to drop classes within a three cycle rotation beginning the first day of classes for any course. No changes will be made after the third cycle of classes is completed.

A student removed from any course for disciplinary reasons will receive a grade of DW (Disciplinary Withdrawal) or DWF (Disciplinary Withdrawal-Failure) if the student was failing the course at the time of such removal.

ii. Course Audit

Students interested in gaining knowledge in a particular area may audit courses without receiving credit under the following conditions:

Requests must be filed before the completion of two class cycles.

A GPA of 75 or better is required in the content area of the proposed audit.

Audited class must have an enrollment of 20 or less.

No more than one person may audit any given class.

Approval is required from both the teacher and the appropriate department supervisor regarding any audit request.

Students auditing must take all tests and maintain an average of 75 or better.

Students who audit will not be required to take the final exam.

iii. Advanced Placement

Certain Advanced Placement courses, identified in the course descriptions that follow, will be offered if enrollments warrant. In addition, students can opt to take the College Level Advanced Placement examination in any course where it is offered. Students are urged to seek the advice of their teachers and counselors in deciding when and where to take advantage of this option.

iv. Explanation of Grades

93-100 - Excellent

85- 92 - Above Average I or IC - Incomplete

76- 84 - Average DW - Disciplinary Withdrawal

68- 75 - Below Average, Passing DWF - Disciplinary Withdrawal, Failure

0 - 67 - Failing

v. Early Graduation

While not generally recommended, it is possible for some students to graduate in three and one-half years. Should a student wish to take advantage of this option, the student, his parent(s) and guidance counselor must develop an individual plan to assure that all requirements are met in timely fashion. Such an individual plan must be completed and approved by the building principal no later than the beginning of the student's sophomore year.

b. Student Information

i. Student Records

The Warren Hills Regional Board of Education has adopted a policy in compliance with the New Jersey Administrative Code, Title 6, as it relates to the compilation, maintenance, security, and access of pupil records. Copies of this policy and copies of the state and federal laws regarding pupil records of public school children may be obtained upon request from the principal of the building in which your child is enrolled.

These rules and regulations guarantee parents the right to see their child's records upon written request and under procedures outlined in the state code. Pupils who are 18 years of age or older who are enrolled in a public school may exercise the same rights in their own behalf. Upon graduation or permanent departure of a pupil from the school system, the parent or adult pupil will be provided with a copy of the pupil record upon written request.

ii. Report Cards

Report cards are issued four times a year. Final averages for the year are based on the four marking periods and final examination grades.

iii. Warren Hills High School Profile

2007-2008 SCHOOL PROFILE

Community

Together, the Warren Hills Regional Middle School (Grades 7-8) and the Warren Hills Regional High School (Grades 9-12) make up the Warren Hills Regional School District, which serves a developing semi-rural area located twelve miles east of Easton, Pennsylvania. The district serves a population of approximately 30,000 people.

School

Warren Hills Regional High School is a four year, comprehensive high school with an enrollment of approximately 1,500 students, who come from a wide variety of backgrounds and abilities. The school supports a strong agricultural program, with an FFA chapter that has won numerous state and national awards. Graduates of the business program are in constant demand by local and area businesses. The academic program is rich with Honors and Advanced Placement courses, while the district’s Horizons program provides comprehensive activities for gifted students. In addition, a complete Independent Study program allows students to study areas not covered by the formal curriculum. Annually, about 75% of our graduates pursue additional specialized training or education beyond high school. Many are accepted by the most competitive and well known colleges and universities while other graduates seek a small college, county college, business or technical school, apprenticeship, or military service experience.

Accreditation

New Jersey Department of Education.

Curriculum

Warren Hills is a comprehensive public high school that provides a quality education for its students. HONORS CLASSES: English, World History, American History, Geometry, Algebra II, Pre-Calculus, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Anatomy and Physiology, Level IV of French, Spanish and German, and Accounting II. ADVANCED PLACEMENT CLASSES: English III and IV, World History, American & Comparative Governments, European Studies, Calculus, Computer Science, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Level V of French, Spanish, and German. A full continuum of special education services are available should a student need them.

District Faculty

Seventy-five percent of the professional staff have completed or are presently enrolled in graduate programs; 63% of the faculty hold master’s degree, and 25% have been awarded degrees and credits equivalent to six years or more of college/university study. Faculty members have been finalists for and one have been awarded Princeton University’s prestigious Distinguished Secondary Educator Award; the National Fellowship for Independent Study in the Humanities: National Future Farmers of American Honorary American Farmer Degree, the New Jersey FFA’s Advisor of the Year Award; The National Endowment of the Arts “Distinguished Achievement in Poetry Fellowship”; and Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program. Faculty members also serve as officers in state nursing and business education associations, hold public office, serve as adjunct professors for New Jersey and Pennsylvania colleges and universities, and hold commissions in the military service.

CLASS RANK: The entire class is ranked on all final grades and all courses in grades 9-12. For calculation of class rank a weighted system is used. All numerical grades are converted to a 4 point scale.

AP Courses are awarded an additional 1.0 point.

Honors (Pre-AP) courses are awarded an additional 0.5 point.

CLASSES/CREDITS: Classes run on a four day rotation, with each class meeting 3 of the 4 days. Class periods are 52 minutes long. Each full year course has a 5 credit value, semester courses are worth 2.5 credits. Science courses that meet more than 5 periods per week are given 1 credit for each additional class period.

Future Plans: Class of 2007 - 354 Graduates

Four Year College - 52%

Two Year College - 26%

Voc./Tech./Bus. School - 2%

Military - 2%

Work - 18%

Top 25 Students Attending - Class of 2007

See PDF version for this table

SAT Results- Class of 2008

See PDF version for this table

* Class of 2008 results through the end of junior year.

** State and national averages, 2007

iv. Honor Roll Criteria

Principal's Honor Roll - To be placed on the Principal's honor roll a student must attain an average of at least 93 with no grade lower than 93.

High Honors - To earn high honors distinction a student must obtain an average of at least 93 with no grade lower than 85.

Honor Roll - To earn honor roll distinction a student must attain an average of at least 85 with no grade lower than 85.

Note: Two comments, uncooperative attitude/disruptive behavior, eliminate a student from honors designation.

v. National Honor Society

Student applications to the National Honor Society are evaluated by a faculty screening committee. In order to be nominated, a student must maintain an academic average of 3.4 or higher, and be exceptional in the areas of leadership, character, and service.

c. Beyond Warren Hills

i. Home School

Students who are entering/enrolling in the high school from home schooling will be required to take placement exams to determine their grade and class placement.

ii. Dual Enrollment

Warren Hills Regional High School participates in the dual enrollment program of Warren County Community College. This program provides our students with the opportunity to earn transferable college credit while completing selected high school classes at no cost to the student. Grades are recorded on a permanent Warren County Community College transcript and held in escrow until the student graduates from high school or reaches eighteen years of age. Students participating in the dual enrollment program take the course at Warren Hills and will follow Warren Hills exam policy. The following Warren Hills Advanced Placement courses are currently approved for dual enrollment credit: English Language and Composition, English Literature, European History, Biology, Chemistry and Calculus. Eligible courses and academic requirements are subject to change at the discretion of the Warren County Community College.

iii. Credit for College Courses

Students may, with prior approval from their guidance counselor and the Director of Guidance, receive credit for classes taken and successfully completed at an accredited college. Credit is not granted for college courses completed by mail or any form of distance learning.

Please note that in order to be considered for credit all courses must receive approval prior to the student enrolling in the college course.

iv. College Entrance Requirements

Students planning to go to college are encouraged to take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) in October of their junior year. In addition to serving as good preparation for the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), this test is also used as the basis for the awarding of National Merit Scholarships. College bound students are also encouraged to take the SAT in the Spring of their junior year, and then again in October or November of their senior year. While there is no substitute for doing well in difficult courses over one's high school career, many colleges pay close attention to a student's SAT scores. Achievement tests are also required by some colleges. The American College Test (ACT) is an alternative to the SAT which can improve a student's academic profile. Applications for this test are available in the high school guidance department.

There are several things that the motivated student can do to prepare for such tests. First, students should take the most academically challenging courses possible and do their best in these classes daily. SAT review as well as instruction in test-taking skills are infused throughout grades 9-12. Second, the surest way to raise one's scores is to take the test multiple times. This is the reason for suggesting that students take the test as juniors and then again as seniors. Third, students can purchase any one of a number of review books and work independently to strengthen their skills, as well as review the booklet Taking the SAT written by the College Board, that is provided to all students who register to take the examination. Finally, Warren Hills traditionally offers after school SAT preparation courses in both English and Mathematics if student enrollments are sufficient.

Four year colleges usually require successful completion of sixteen college prep courses for admission. They refer to these as academic units and award one for each college prep course successfully completed. Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and all of the state colleges in New Jersey require a minimum of sixteen (16) college prep courses for admission consideration:

Four years of English 4 units

Three years of CP Math 3 units

Three years of CP Science (2 labs) 3 units

Two years of the same foreign language 2 units

Two years of social studies 2 units

Additional units may be added from any of the above areas. Colleges will be looking more favorably on Honors and Advanced Placement courses.