By the eighth grade, it is time to think about your student's future. It is not too early to begin to discuss this and make plans for graduation, college and/or career. While this may seem like rushing some students, you will find that your teen will start to do this for himself or herself soon, naturally. By exposing the student to a range of choices and guidance regards career and college, you can help the student broaden his goals and make informed choices about how to handle and align his education with his future plans.For the college-bound student, or a student who is not certain whether to choose college but wants to keep future options open, we recommend a traditional high school program earning at least 24 credits for a standard diploma covering the required subjects as delineated in Florida law. Accelerated 18 credit programs are also possible and are described in the law for specific purposes and with detailed curriculum and grade requirements. To inquire about these and non-traditional program options, contact the office for Guidance.
All students should be challenged to think, read widely, discuss and analyze history and culture, experiment and evaluate in the sciences, and gain advanced skills in mathematics to understand and order the world around them. A traditional program does not mean a lack of relevance to the real world. Students are encouraged to use the principles and methods of inquiry to observe and evaluate what they see, and consider how the knowledge is put to use by themselves and others.
We recommend that students' interests and career goals be incorporated into the program of academic courses and electives. We strongly encourage extra-curricular activities and dual enrollment options to enable each student to gain strong skills and advanced knowledge in his or her fields of interest. A broad exposure will help students who haven't focused on a particular field yet., as will experiencing in-depth study in a couple of areas.
Standard High School Program Earning 24 Credits
[Required credits may be changed by legislation. The following is from current law for students entering high school in 2007-8.] (One credit is equivalent to 135 hours of course work in a subject, or equivalent progress.)
4 credits in high school English (with literature and composition focus)
4 credits in high school Mathematics (must include Algebra 1 for graduation)
3 credits in natural sciences ( 2 with labs)
1 credit in American history
1 credit in World history
1/2 credit in American government
1/2 credit in Economics
1 credit in the Arts (performing or fine Arts, and may include speech and debate)
1 credit in Physical education, including health
4 credits in Major Area of Interest (chosen by student yearly and related to possible future studies or career)
4 credits in other electives (courses of choice)
* for college-bound and Bright Futures scholarships, electives must include 2 credits in one foreign language
Academic and elective course choice list coming soon...
If you would prefer to explore a non-traditional high school program and would like some guidance,
please contact the office.