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Upper School
 The Upper School operates on a semester basis and utilizes flexible scheduling providing for small group instruction, independent study, and the possibility of taking college courses on nearby campuses or online. To meet graduation requirements, the student is expected to earn a minimum of 25 units of credit. In addition, each student must participate in at least one service project per year, complete at least 50 hours of volunteer work by the end of April of her junior year, attend yearly retreats and give a senior speech during her final year of high school in order to meet graduation requirements. Students must take a minium of six credits per year , six courses per sememter, five of which must be courses in English, math, science, foreign language or social studies. Any exceptions are only granted by special written permission from the Head of the Upper School. Required courses include:
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English
Religious Studies
Foreign Languages
Mathematics
Science
Social Studies
Physical Education
Fine Arts
Computer
Electives |
4 units
4 units
3 units (of the same language)
4 units (including Algebra I, II and Geometry)
3 units (Biology, Chemistry, and Physics)
4 units (World History I, World History II, U.S. History, and Government)
2 units (2 fall and 2 spring semesters)
1 unit
1/2 unit (Laptops required)
1/2 unit | 
Honors Courses are offered in:
- English II, III, IV
- French II, III, IV, V
- Spanish II, III, IV, V
- Geometry, Algebra II, Precalculus, Calculus, AP Statistics
- Chemistry, Physics, AP Biology, AP Chemistry
- U.S. History, U.S.Government & Politics, Western Civilization/World History II
Advanced Placement courses are offered in Western Civilization-World History II, English III and IV, French V, and Spanish V, U.S. History, Government, Calculus, Biology, Statistics and Chemistry. Students in these courses are prepared for and required to take Advanced Placement tests. Advanced Placement courses are considered honors courses.
Course titles containing "LVS" indicate courses taken for credit on-line through the Louisiana State Department of Education's Louisiana Virtual High School. Under most circumstances these courses do not fulfill Sacred Heart's basic graduation requirements.
Blackboard.com website
Curriculum
More information on the Upper School Curriculum
Grading
Students receive formal grades at the end of each semester and progress reports in mid-October and mid-March. A cumulative grade point average is computed for every student at the end of each academic year. The GPA is based on all courses except PE and predesignated pass/fail courses. Class rank is reported by decile according to the following grading scale:
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A+ (97-100)
A (93-96)
A-(90-92)
B+(87-89)
B (83-86)
B-(80-82)
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Grade Points
Regular Courses
4.3
4.0
3.7
3.3
3.0
2.7 |
Honors Courses
5.3
5.0
4.7
4.3
4.0
3.7 |
C+ (77-79)
C (73-76)
C-(70-72)
D (65-69)
F (64...) |
Grade Points
Regular Courses
2.3
2.0
1.7
1.0
0 |
Honors Courses
3.3
2.0
1.7
1.0
0 |
 Honor Roll
A minimum 3.40 GPA for the year with no grade below B- (except honors courses where no grade may be below C+) is required.
4.00 Highest Honors 3.70 High Honors 3.40 Honors
Based on grades from June 2005 the class of 2006 had the following record:
9/58 received Highest Honors 10/58 received High Honors 4/58 received Honors
Testing
Students take the PSAT/NMSQT, PLAN, SAT, SAT Subject tests, ACT and AP tests. In the present senior class, there are 2 National Merit Semi-Finalists and 4 Commended Scholars. Students have the option of requesting that their PSAT, PLAN, SAT, and ACT scores be included on the transcript. AP scores are always sent separately and typically only to the college they will attend.
Special Programs 
- Co-Curricular Activities and Clubs
- Religious Education - Daily chapel, weekly liturgies, celebrations of special feasts, reconciliation services, one and two day retreats, and campus ministry are included in the Religious Education program.
- Athletics - Students may compete in 10 varsity sports: volleyball, basketball, swimming, soccer, tennis, softball, cross country, golf, cheerleading, and track and field.
- Community Service - 50 hours are required for all Juniors. Clubs have service projects for the benefit of those in need in this city and beyond. Each student participates in a yearly service project. Students may apply for service programs with the Network of Sacred Heart Schools. Mission trips to Nicaragua and Mexico are also available to students.
- Peer Support Group - Students in the upper level grades participate in a peer counseling program with students in Grade 8 to assist them in dealing with questions and issues that arise during adolescence.
- Sacred Heart Exchange - Exchange is available with the other Sacred Heart schools in the U.S. and with other Sacred Heart schools abroad.
- Travel - The school sponsors a number of foreign travel and/or programs in Europe, Mexico, and Canada during the school year or during the summer.
- Current College Acceptances
Generally, 100% of Sacred Heart students attend college. Among the out-of-state private colleges and universities accepting graduates in recent years are: American, Amherst, Barnard, Bates, Baylor, Boston College, Boston University, Bryn Mawr, Catholic, Chicago, Colgate, Columbia, Dallas, Dartmouth, Davidson, Denver, Duke, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Emory, Fordham, Georgetown, George Washington, Harvard, Hollins, Holy Cross, Howard, Johns Hopkins, Lewis and Clark, Loyola of Chicago, Loyola College in Maryland, Mary Baldwin, Marquette, Miami, Middlebury, Millsaps, New York University, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Pennsylvania, Princeton, Rhodes, Rice, Richmond, Rochester, Rollins, St. Louis University, Santa Clara, San Diego, Savannah College of Art and Design, Southern Methodist, Spring Hill, Texas Christian, Trinity College, Trinity University, University of the South, Vanderbilt, Villanova, Wake Forest, Washington, Washington and Lee, Wellesley and Yale. Students have also been accepted to many out-of-state public universities. Among them are Alabama, Arizona, Auburn, California ( Berkeley, Los Angeles, ), Clemson, College of Charleston, College of William and Mary, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, James Madison, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
For more information on your college search, visit College Counseling Procedures.
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