Page | 1 COURSE DESCRIPTION GUIDE 2018-2019 444 Pleasantville Road Briarcliff Manor, New York 10510 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page | 2 Introduction/Course Prerequisite Chart 4 Planning a High School Program 5 Graduation Requirements 6-8 Briarcliff High School Diploma with Distinction 8 College Accredited Courses 9 Course Weighting System 10 NCAA Eligibility Center Standards 10 Criteria Review Process 11-12 English 13-18 Mathematics 19-24 Performing Arts 25-29 Health 30 Physical Education 30-31 Varsity Athletic Exemption 31-33 Out-of-School Activities Exemption 34 Physical Education Senior Alternative 34-38 Science 39-46 Social Studies 47-53 Technology 54-56 TABLE OF CONTENTS CONTINUED Page | 3 Visual Arts 57-61 World Language 62-69 Interdisciplinary Offerings: Senior Internship; Driver Education 70 BOCES Tech Center at Yorktown 71-74 Page | 4 INTRODUCTION USE OF PROGRAM OF STUDIES Each student enrolled in Briarcliff High School receives a copy of the Quick Reference Course Guide before the scheduling process begins. It is designed to assist students in planning for their next academic year and for the remainder of their high school academic experience. Students will be given an opportunity to indicate course preferences provided they have met the necessary requirements for courses. Please refer to the Prerequisite Guidelines listed below for course eligibility. NOT EVERY COURSE DESCRIBED IN THIS GUIDE WILL BE OFFERED EVERY YEAR. THE DETERMINATION OF COURSE OFFERINGS IS DEPENDENT UPON THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO PRE-REGISTER FOR A COURSE AND THE AVAILABILITY OF FACULTY. CERTAIN COURSES MAY ONLY BE OFFERED ON ALTERNATE YEARS. Parents are strongly encouraged to become involved in the scheduling process. Questions should be addressed to counselors, teachers and/or administrators. The school’s responsibility is to ensure that all students and parents have access to the course description information necessary for scheduling and to assist students and parents with course selection decisions. Placement in Honors, University co-enrollment and Advanced Placement courses is contingent upon continued academic performance through the end of the school year. Please refer to the following Prerequisite Guidelines Chart for placement criteria. The final determination for course selection is the responsibility of the student and the student’s parents. PREREQUISITE GUIDELINES Teachers input course recommendations for students in esd as per the following course prerequisite guidelines: Current Placement Course Requested Regents/Non Honors Honors 90 (A-) in prerequisite course Regents/Non Honors Advanced Placement 94 (A) in prerequisite course Honors Honors 85 (B) in prerequisite course Honors Advanced Placement 90 (A-) in prerequisite course Advanced Placement Advanced Placement 85 (B) in prerequisite course Regents UHS, ECE and SUPA Courses 90 (A-)in prerequisite course Honors UHS, ECE and SUPA Courses 85 (B) in prerequisite course Advanced Placement UHS, ECE and SUPA Courses 85 (B) in prerequisite course Page | 5 PLANNING A HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM Close to 100% of our graduates attend institutions of higher learning. This is a direct result of appropriate program planning. Such planning evolves from evaluations of one’s abilities and interests, coupled with careful course selection. To help in developing short and long-range educational plans, counselors begin working with students in January. They work towards: (1) choosing an appropriate course of study based upon a four year educational plan, (2) monitoring progress in fulfilling graduation requirements, and (3) utilizing career information related to individual interests, aptitudes and goals. All long-range plans should be viewed as tentative. Each year, early in the scheduling process, programs may be reviewed and revised as needed. Please contact your child’s counselor with questions/concerns at the following number/extensions: 914-769-6299 – Dr. Nathan Heltzel Ext. 3129; Mrs. Erin Ryan Ext. 3126; Mr. Michael Muranelli Ext. 3127; Mrs. Meredith Safer Ext. 3128. Page | 6 New York State Diploma Requirements Please Note: Briarcliff High School requires 23 units of credit including the addition of 1 unit of Community Service (¼ credit per year to equal 8 hours of service annually). Following are New York State Diploma Requirements: Diploma Type Available to Requirements Regents All Student Credit: 22 units of credit distributed as follows: 4 ELA, 4 Social Populations Studies, 3 Science, 3 Mathematics, ½ Health, 1 Arts, 1 Language other than English (LOTE), 2 Physical Education, 3 ½ Electives Assessment: 5 required Regents exams with a score of 65 or better as follows: 1 Math, 1 Science, ELA, Global History and Geography, US History and Government http://www.p12.nysed.gov/part100/pages/1005.html#regentsdiploma Regents with All Student Credit: 22 units of credit distributed as follows: 4 ELA, 4 Social Honors Populations Studies, 3 Science, 3 Mathematics, ½ Health, 1 Arts, 1 Language other than English (LOTE), 2 Physical Education, 3 ½ Electives Assessment: 5 required Regents exams with a computed average score of 90 or better as follows: 1 Math, 1 Science, ELA, Global History and Geography, US History and Government http://www.p12.nysed.gov/part100/pages/1005.html#diplomaHonors Regents with All Student Credit: 22 units of credit distributed as follows: 4 ELA, 4 Social Advanced Populations Studies, 3 Science, 3 Mathematics, ½ Health, 1 Arts, 1 LOTE, 2 Designation Physical Education, 3 ½ Electives. In addition, a student must earn an additional 2 units of credit in LOTE or a 5 unit sequence in the Arts or CTE. These credits can be included in the 22 required credits Assessment: 8 required Regents exams with a score of 65 or better as follows: 3 Math, 2 Science, ELA, Global History and Geography, US History and Government; and either a locally developed Checkpoint B LOTE examination or a 5 unit sequence in the Arts or CTE http://www.p12.nysed.gov/part100/pages/1005.html#regentsAD Regents with All Student Credit: 22 units of credit distributed as follows: 4 ELA, 4 Social Advanced Populations Studies, 3 Science, 3 Mathematics, ½ Health, 1 Arts, 1 LOTE, 2 Designation Physical Education, 3 ½ Electives. In addition, a student must earn an with an additional 2 units of credit in LOTE or a 5 unit sequence in the Arts annotation that or CTE. These credits can be included in the 22 required credits denotes Assessment: Meets all assessment requirements for the Regents with Mastery in Advanced Designation (see above) and, in addition, scores 85 or Math better on each of 3 Regents Examinations in Mathematics See 100.5(b)(7)(x) http://www.p12.nysed.gov/part100/pages/1005.html#regentsAD Page | 7 Regents with All Student Credit: 22 units of credit distributed as follows: 4 ELA, 4 Social Advanced Populations Studies, 3 Science, 3 Mathematics, ½ Health, 1 Arts, 1 LOTE, 2 Designation Physical Education, 3 ½ Electives. In addition, a student must earn an with an additional 2 units of credit in LOTE or a 5 unit sequence in the Arts annotation that or CTE. These credits can be included in the 22 required credits denotes Assessment: Meets all assessment requirements for the Regents with Mastery in Advanced Designation (see above) and, in addition, scores 85 or Science better on each of 3 Regents Examinations in Science See 100.5(b)(7)(x) http://www.p12.nysed.gov/part100/pages/1005.html#regentsAD Regents with All Student Credit: 22 units of credit distributed as follows: 4 ELA, 4 Social Advanced Populations Studies, 3 Science, 3 Mathematics, ½ Health, 1 Arts, 1 LOTE, 2 Designation Physical Education, 3 ½ Electives. In addition, a student must earn an with Honors additional 2 units of credit in LOTE or a 5 unit sequence in the Arts or CTE. These credits can be included in the 22 required credits Assessment: 8 required Regents exams with a computed average score of 90 or better as follows: 3 Math, 2 Science, ELA, Global History and Geography, US History and Government; and either a locally developed Checkpoint B LOTE examination with a score of 65 or a 5 unit sequence in the Arts or CTE http://www.p12.nysed.gov/part100/pages/1005.html#diplomaHonors Local Students with Credit: 22 units of credit distributed as follows: 4 ELA, 4 Social disabilities Studies, 3 Science, 3 Mathematics, ½ Health, 1 Arts, 1 LOTE, 2 with Physical Education, 3 ½ Electives an 1 individualized Assessment: Low Pass Safety Net Option : 5 required Regents exams education with a score of 55 or better as follows: 1 Math, 1 Science, 1 program or ELA, 1 Global History and Geography, 1 US History and Government section 504 http://www.p12.nysed.gov/part100/pages/1005.html#assessment or; Accommodation Regents Competency Test (RCT) Safety Net Option for students Plan entering grade 9 prior to September 2011: passing score on corresponding RCT if student does not achieve a score of 55 or higher on the Regents examination http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/localdi plomaoptions-may2011.htm; or; Compensatory Safety Net Option: Scores between 45-54 on one or more of the five required Regents exams, other than the English language arts (ELA) or mathematics exam, but compensates the low score with a score of 65 or higher on another required Regents exam. Note: a score of at least 55 must be earned on both the ELA and mathematics exams. A score of 65 or higher on a single examination may not be used to compensate for more than one examination for which a score of 45-54 is earned http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/safetynet- compensatoryoption.html