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PLANNING YOUR ACADEMIC PROGRAM |
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The Guidance Department of Black River High School makes available this
handbook as a guide to your high school academic program. You must remember
that the recommendations are general. The only true program is one that you
have chosen with:
- Careful and resourceful consideration
- Your future in mind
- Counseling and advisement with an eye to employment trends
- Post secondary school prerequisites
Parents are encouraged to contact the Guidance Director with any questions
or concerns about the course selection process at 228-3132.
Graduation Requirements and
Recommended Program for College
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| Minimum Requirements for Graduation |
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Recommended Program for Competitive Colleges |
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| English |
4 Credits |
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English |
4 Credits |
| Mathematics |
3 Credits |
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| Science |
3 Credits |
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Science |
4 Credits |
| Social Studies |
3 Credits |
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Social Studies |
4 Credits |
| Health |
.5 Credit |
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Foreign Language |
3-4 Credits
(consecutive years) |
| Art/Music |
1 Credit |
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Health |
.5 Credit |
| Physical Education |
1.5 Credits |
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Physical Education |
1.5 Credits |
| Electives |
12 Credits |
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Art/Music |
1 Credit |
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Electives |
9-12 Credits |
| Total |
28 Credits |
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A total of 28 credits is required for graduation at Black River High School. Students are also required to perform community service (for details click here) and be certified in CPR/AEP (training provided by the school).
Specific course requirements include selected English courses, U.S.
History/AP U.S. History, and World History as noted under the Course
Descriptions. Each student also must carry a minimum course load of six and
one-half (6½)credits each year while carrying no fewer than three (3)
credits each semester.
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Suggested Sequence of Courses
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| Freshman |
Sophomores |
| English 9 |
English 10 Mythology-Writing Workshop |
| Algebra I, Pre-Algebra, or Basic Math |
Algebra I or Geometry |
| World History I |
World History II |
| Physical Science I & II |
Laboratory Biology |
| Foreign Language |
Foreign Language |
| Physical Education |
Health |
| Electives: |
Driver's Education |
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Art/Music/Computer Courses |
Physical Education |
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Electives: Art/Music/Computer Courses |
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| Juniors |
Seniors |
| American Literature or AP English |
British Literature, AP English, or English Elective |
| Geometry or Algebra II |
Geometry or Algebra II |
| US History or AP US History |
AP US History, Psychology, or Contemporary Problems |
| Lab Chemistry or Practical Chemistry |
AP Biology, Laboratory Physics, or Advanced Chemistry |
| Foreign Language |
Foreign Language |
| Electives |
Electives |
| Technical Education Program |
Technical Program |
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As a school, we are committed to providing a quality education for all students through a range of courses that allow all
students to meet the graduation requirements. When planning a program for your remaining years at BRHS, you should remember that
the courses listed in the Program of Studies are proposed course offerings and that selected courses are offered only
in alternate years. Furthermore, actual enrollment, staffing changes, and
budgetary constraints may result in changes or deletions to the program.
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Program Changes
Change of Schedule Requests
Courses for the school year are chosen by the student and approved by
teachers, parents, and the Guidance Director. Some course levels are determined
by teacher recommendations. Classes and teacher assignments are arranged to
accommodate the choices you make. Schedules are NOT constructed to
accommodate later changes of mind. Therefore, any request for a change will
be considered only for the most compelling of reasons. Such reasons are:
1. The schedule does not include a graduation requirement that must be met.
2. The schedule does not account for work taken during summer school.
3. The schedule has an error or omission.
If a student's schedule contains an error, an omission, or a similarly
acute problem as outlined above, the student must initiate the change with his
or her counselor. Schedule change requests are to be made during the two weeks
prior to the opening of the school.
Adding Courses
Students may add courses for credit if there is room in the class. The
request to add a course should be made to the guidance office during the two
weeks prior to the opening of school or within the first five days of the
semester.
Dropping or Withdrawing from a Course
A request to withdraw from a course must be made during the first week of
the new semester. If permission to withdraw from a course is granted, you must
obtain a form from the guidance secretary. The request must be approved and the
form signed by your parents, teachers, and guidance counselor. Completed forms
must be returned to the guidance office.
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Related Information
College Admissions and Testing
In evaluating applications, many colleges rely in part on objective tests,
especially the ACT and the SAT. Each of these tests measures verbal and
mathematical abilities. The ACT includes a section on science and reading. All
college-bound sophomores are encouraged to take the PSAT given in October.
Black River students expecting to apply for early decision should take the SAT in May or June. Seniors who
have not taken or who wish to retake the SAT may do so in the first semester of
the senior year.
The SAT contains three sections: verbal, critical reading and writing, and mathematics. The verbal
sections of these tests focus on analogies, sentence completions, and reading
comprehension. The mathematics section requires students to solve arithmetic
problems, and problems requiring knowledge of elementary algebra and geometry.
Additional critical reading passages, and a new writing section with a student-written
essay is new this year.
The catalogue of a college to which a student is applying will indicate
its expectations for applicants concerning these exams and recommended high
school courses. The Guidance Department with its catalogues and software
programs has this information readily available.
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Promotion Requirements
The promotion requirements for students are as follows:
Freshmen(Grade 9) will move to the Sophomore year (Grade 10) upon the attainment of seven (7) academic credits.
Sophomores(Grade 10) will move to the Junior year (Grade 11) upon the attainment of fourteen (14) credits.
Juniors(Grade 11) will move to the Senior year (Grade 12) upon the attainment of twenty-one (21) academic credits.
Students not attaining the above-mentioned academic credits will remain a
member of the lower class (i.e., a Sophomore who earns less than 13 credits will
be retained in the Sophomore class). Students who earn enough credits by the
end of semester 1 will be considered a member of the Junior class. If such
Junior is scheduled for enough credits to graduate and has passed all subjects
at the end of the first semester, he or she will be considered a Senior and
enjoy all the privileges of that class.
Student Records Review and Release
In compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as
amended, Black River High School provides students the right to inspect and
review their educational records and to challenge the contents of these records
to ensure that such records are not inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of
the student's privacy or other rights. Until a student reaches the age of
eighteen (18) or enters a post secondary school, his or her parents have the
right to access, but once the student turns eighteen (18) or enters a
post secondary school, the right moves from the parent to the student.
In addition, Black River High School will not release personally identifiable
records to any individual agency or organization without prior written consent,
except as provided by law. However, under federal law, the school is required
to release student's names, addresses, and telephone numbers to military
recruiters and institutions of higher education upon request unless a parent
specifically requests in writing that no student contact information be released
without the parent's consent.
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Nondiscrimination Policy
In accordance with Title VI, Title IX, NCLBA, IDEA, Section 504 ADA, and federal
and state law, it is the policy of Black River High School that no person shall
be excluded from the participation in, denied the privileges of, or subjected to
discrimination in any educational program or activity at the school upon the
basis of race, color, national origin, creed or faith, gender, age, handicapping
condition and/or disability, or sexual orientation. Inquiries concerning the
application of these policies should be referred to the Superintendent of
Schools, 8 High Street, Ludlow, VT 05149.
Courses are open to all students in Grades 9-12, unless prerequisites or restrictions apply. BRHS reserves the right to
cancel or combine courses with low enrollment or other instructional service conflicts.
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| Information on this page provided by the Guidance Department |
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Black River High School
43 Main Street
Ludlow, Vermont 05149
802 228-4721 |
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