GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

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 28 units of credit. Each student must also:

• participate in at least one service project per year
• complete at least 50 hours of volunteer work during her junior year
• attend yearly retreats
• senior project

Students must take a minimum of:

• 7 credits per year
• 7 courses per semester
• 5 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

REQUIRED COURSES

AP & HONOR COURSES

GRADING

A cumulative grade point average is computed for every student at the end of each academic year. All subjects, including independent study, are averaged, with the exception of physical education, financial literacy math, pass/fail courses, eighth grade courses, and college courses taken for college credit.

Students in honors and Advanced Placement courses receive a weighting of +1 for grades of C+ or better in determining their grade point average (no extra weighting for grades below C+). The GPA is based on all courses except PE and some electives.

HONORS
Honor Roll is determined by the student's grade point average at the end of the first semester and at the end of the year as follows:

• Highest Honors: 4.00
• High Honors: 3.70
• Honors: 3.40

Honors at graduation is determined by the student's cumulative grade point average on a scale as follows:

• Highest Honors: 4.00
• High Honors: 3.70
• Honors: 3.40

For a student to be on the Honor Roll, no single academic grade may be below B-, except in honors courses where no grade may be below C+. A student must also have a B- or better in Physical Education to be on the Honor Roll. A student may not graduate with Honors, High Honors or Highest Honors if she has an F or more than one D as a final average in a course.

TESTING

Students take the PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT9, SAT, SAT Subject tests, ACT and AP tests. AP scores are always sent separately and typically only to the college they will attend.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS

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; cross country; golf; cheerleading; and indoor and outdoor track & 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 Global Exchange:
Exchange is available with other Sacred Heart schools in the U.S. and with other Sacred Heart schools abroad. Recent trips include Vienna, Austria; Rome, Italy; and Montreal, Canada.

Service Travel Trips:
The school sponsors a number of national or foreign travel service programs in Nicaragua and other U.S. states during the school year or summer.

NOCCA FRIENDLY

NOCCA/ASH STUDENTS
The Upper School is a NOCCA-friendly school with multiple students participating in both the half day and after school programs at NOCCA. Students participating in the half day program schedule all core class in the morning and leave Sacred Heart at lunch.

To learn more about NOCCA & ASH enrollment, contact:
Julie Boyd, Upper School Division Head