Students must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 22 credits (most students complete between 22 and 25) and carry a minimum of 2 ½ credits each semester. In addition, all students must satisfactorily complete all course and other graduation requirements and earn a minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 1.7 to be eligible for consideration for The Newman School diploma. Students who have successfully completed all course and credit requirements but who have not met the minimum grade point average requirement must meet with the Assistant Head of School prior to the end of the academic year to determine what additional study is required.
STUDENTS MUST TAKE ALL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS AT NEWMAN.
Newman School may accept up to 16 credits a student has earned from successful completion of high school courses (up to 5 credits for 9th grade, 5 credits for 10th grade, and up to 6 credits for 11th grade). The specific courses and number of credits accepted in transfer is based on matching those courses and credits to the required course of study at Newman and will be determined by the administration. All transfer students must complete a minimum of 6 credits at The Newman School with those being the last credits necessary for a diploma. Please note that G.P.A.’s for transfer students are calculated based only on the work students do at The Newman School and does not include the grades or credits earned at previous schools, even those grades and credits accepted in transfer. (The Newman School does not accept courses taken prior to high school for high school credit; including summer courses taken at Newman prior to the student’s freshmen year)
In addition to the following required courses, students will select among a number of academic electives to complete their credit requirements.
An important component of a student’s education at Newman is the enrichment activities we offer. All students are required to attend and fully participate in a serious manner in the enrichment activities that are offered every semester.
English (4 credits) including English 9: Essential Skills, English 10: Literary Genre and Grammar, English 11: American Studies Literature, and either English 12: World Literature and Composition, British Literature or A.P. English and Classical Literature
Mathematics (4 credits) Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Trigonometry or Math 11-12. In addition students may elect Calculus and Advanced Placement Calculus. (Students entering their freshmen year who do not qualify for Algebra I are required to attend, and successfully complete a summer session for pre-algebra).
Laboratory Science (3 credits) including Biology, Chemistry, and Physics/or Anatomy and Physiology. In addition students may elect A.P. Biology.
Social Studies (3 credits) including World History (freshmen), A Study of Western Civilization (sophomores), and American Studies History (juniors). In addition, students are encouraged to enroll in The World’s Religion course during their junior or senior year.
Foreign Language (2 credits minimum in the same language) customarily French or Spanish. In addition, students may elect Latin as a second language.
Computer Science required: demonstrated proficiency and completion of a portfolio as detailed in our “technology integration across the curriculum” program.
Visual/Performing Arts 1 course in addition to the Arts Integration component for freshmen.
(Please note: credit earned for any course that has been taken more than once may not be used toward fulfilling course/credit requirements; for example: a student who takes French I twice and earns a credit each time, may only apply one of those credits toward fulfilling the language requirement)
Based on academic performance, faculty recommendations, consistent demonstration of sincere effort and seriousness of purpose, students may enroll in Honors or Advanced Placement courses. Students who complete those courses will have that designation noted on their transcripts and school related information. Advanced Placement courses are year-long and students must successfully complete the entire course in order to earn the Advanced Placement designation. Students who withdraw from an A.P. course anytime prior to the completion of the course will receive an Honors designation on their transcript. Students who complete a semester with a deficiency grade in an Honors course will be considered for a change to a non-honors section in the course (or the next course in the sequence) for the subsequent semester.