CHESHIRE PUBLIC SCHOOLS 29 Main Street Cheshire, 06410

SUPERINTENDENT’S COLUMN- OCTOBER 2005

Cheshire High School Program of Studies

Recently, there have been a number of questions raised concerning the course offerings at

Cheshire High School. Today, and in subsequent issues, I will share information regarding the class schedule, teachers’ course load, graduation requirements, as well as, the scope of academic offerings at Cheshire High School. The intent of these articles is to address some of the comments and questions regarding the current Program of Studies by clearly presenting the facts.

If you would like to read the 2005-06 Cheshire High School Program of Studies in its entirety, please visit the website www.cheshire.k12.ct.us/chs/ and click on Program of Studies.

As a comprehensive high school, Cheshire High School offers a range of programs to meet the academic and personal needs of its students and is structured around a rotating eight period schedule. There are six academic periods in each school day and periods are approximately one hour in length. Each period of the eight meets three times in a four-day cycle.

Teachers are assigned to teach six courses, except for department chairs who teach three. There are 99 subject area teachers serving 1671 students. Each student is required to take six and one- half credits each academic year and includes an annual requirement of one-half credit each year in health and physical education. However, students are strongly urged to take seven credits when possible and appropriate.

The graduation requirements specified by Board of Education policy include:

4 credits in English 3 credits in Mathematics 3 credits in Science (including laboratory sciences) 3 credits in Social Studies (including .5 Civics and U.S. History) 2 credits in Health and Physical Education 2 credits in Business and/or Technology Education and/or Fine Arts 5 additional credits in electives of the student’s choice

22 Total Credits

In addition to the credits listed above, students must demonstrate proficiency in the areas

of mathematics, reading and writing. To demonstrate these proficiencies, a student must achieve

a score in Level 5, 4, or 3 on the Connecticut Academic Proficiency Test. Students who do not

demonstrate proficiency in mathematics on the CAPT are enrolled in Practical Math

Applications, and those who do not demonstrate proficiency in reading or writing are enrolled in

American Literature during their junior year. These courses provide students with opportunities

to demonstrate proficiencies in the areas of mathematics or reading or writing.

The Program of Studies includes descriptions of all courses offered during the upcoming school year. Students make course selections each year in late winter and the schedule is

developed in early spring. Just because a course is listed in the Program of Studies does not

mean that it will be offered each year. Whether or not a course runs depends on several factors

including student demand for a particular course and staffing availability. Course offerings are

limited to the number of teachers available, which is dictated by budget.

Courses are also leveled. Honors courses and courses provide

instruction and learning experiences for those students whose academic performance has been of

the highest caliber. Level 1 courses provide instruction and learning experiences for those

students whose academic performance is well above grade level, and who have exhibited a

commitment to academic achievement. Level 2 courses provide instruction and learning

experiences for those students whose academic performance is at or above grade level, and who have demonstrated a willingness to fulfill their academic responsibilities, and Level 3 courses provide instruction and learning experiences to prepare students for college, business technical schools, or employment upon graduation. Average class size for core academic classes range from 18 students to 21 students. (English-19 students, Math-8 students, Science-19 students,

Social Studies-21students.) Smaller than average class sizes in some courses are dictated by

Special Education and Inclusion needs.

In my next column, I will present more specific information on the academic areas of study and the course offerings available. Again, if you are interested, please visit our website to learn more about Cheshire High School’s Program of Studies. We are proud of the depth and breadth of courses and programs we offer our students at Cheshire High School.

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