Meridian High School
Course Descriptions
2008 2009
MERIDIAN HIGH SCHOOL
Graduation requirements for the class of 2008 to 2010
23 credits
are required to graduate. All subjects
receive ½ credit per semester. Only the
semester grades are recorded on the transcript, which is the official
record. The quarter grades are progress
reports.
ENGLISH 4 credits
Integrated Language Arts Level 9 A
& B -1 credit 2 semesters
Integrated
Language Arts Level 10 A & B -1 credit 2 semesters
Junior
or Senior English - 2 credits - 4 semesters
FINE ARTS 1 credit
(Includes: Choir, Band, Drama, and Art)
HEALTH AND
FITNESS 2 credits
Physical Education -1½ credit - 3
semesters
Health
- ½ credit - 1 semester
MATH - 2 credits - credits must be earned during 4 separate
semesters
Students
must complete Algebra (Integrated Math I) and Geometry (Integrated Math II) or
Geometry (Integrated Math II) and Algebra 2 (Integrated Math III) to fulfill
graduation requirements.
OCCUPATIONAL
EDUCATION 1 credit - 2
semesters
(Includes: industrial arts, home economics, business and
office education, trade and technical education, vocational, and agriculture class.)
NOTE: Agriculture Science or
Horticulture meet two semesters of the science requirement, or can be
used to fulfill occupational education requirements.
SCIENCE - 2 credits
(Agriculture Science or
Horticulture can satisfy 1 credit of the science requirement.)
NOTE: Freshmen are required to take one year of Freshman
Science Core. All sophomores are
required to take one year of Science.
SOCIAL
STUDIES - 4 credits
WA
St. History-1 semester - ½ credit (requirement may have been met at MMS)
World
Cultures 2 semesters - 1 credit
World
History 1 semester - ½ credit
U.S. History
2 semesters - 1 credit
Senior
Social Studies 2 semesters - 1 credit
ELECTIVES- 7 credits
The number of semester classes that
a student must pass to be officially listed as a:
Sophomore is 6 Junior
is 12 Senior is 18
NOTE:
All students
will be required to successfully complete a Senior Graduation Project in order
to receive a Meridian
High School diploma.
Beginning with
the class of 2008, ALL students will be required to pass all sections of
the WASL or a state approved alternative in order to receive a Meridian High School diploma.
MERIDIAN HIGH SCHOOL
Graduation requirements for the class of 2011 and 2012
23 credits are required to
graduate. All subjects receive ½ credit per semester. Only the
semester grades are recorded on the transcript, which is the official
record. The quarter grades are progress reports.
ENGLISH 4 credits
Integrated Language Arts Level 9 A
& B - 1 credit 2 semesters
Integrated
Language Arts Level 10 A & B - 1 credit 2 semesters
English
2 credits - 4 semesters
FINE ARTS 1 credit
(Includes:
Choir, Band, Drama, and Art)
HEALTH AND FITNESS 2 credits
Physical
Education 1½ credit - 3 semesters
Health
½ credit - 1 semester
MATH - 2 credits (credits must be earned
during 4 separate semesters)
Students
must complete Algebra (Integrated Math I) and Geometry (Integrated Math II) or
Geometry (Integrated Math II) and Algebra 2 (Integrated Math III) to fulfill
graduation requirements.
OCCUPATIONAL EDUCATION 1 ½ credit - 3 semesters
(Includes:
industrial arts, home economics, business and office education, trade and
technical education, vocational and agriculture classes.) All freshmen are
required to take 1/2 credit -1 semester of MOS.
SCIENCE - 2 credits
(Agriculture
science class or Horticulture class can satisfy 1 credit of the science
requirement.)
NOTE: Freshmen are required to
take one year of Integrated Biological Science 9. All sophomores are
required to take one year of Integrated Biological Science 10.
NOTE: Agriculture Science IA
and IB or Horticulture classes meet two semesters of the science requirement,
or can be used to fulfill occupational education requirements.
SOCIAL STUDIES - 4 credits
WA
St. History- ½ credit -1 semester (requirement may have been met at MMS)
World
Cultures 1 credit - 2 semesters
World
History ½ credit - 1 semester
U.S. History
1 credit - 2 semesters
Senior
Social Studies 1 credit - 2 semesters
ELECTIVES - 6.5 credits
The number
of semester classes that a student must pass to be officially listed as a:
Sophomore
is 6 Junior is 12 Senior is 18
NOTE:
All students will be required to successfully complete a
Senior Graduation Project in order to receive a Meridian High School
diploma.
Beginning with the class of 2008, ALL students will
be required to pass all sections of the WASL or state approved alternative in
order to receive a Meridian
High School diploma.
POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES
Senior Year Schedule Seniors schedules shall
include a minimum of one credit of English and one credit of Social Studies.
They are required to take a full load regardless of the number of credits
remaining to graduate.
Attendance Requirement An important learning objective
of all MHS classes is to help prepare students for the world of work. Good attendance is therefore necessary. Absences of more than ten days may result in
denial of credit. There is an appeal
process available should this become a concern.
Dropping and Changing Classes Dropping and Changing
Classes - Classes that students register for both fall and spring semesters are considered
final. Changes in schedules will be made
only when a COMPELLING EDUCATIONAL REASON for the change can be shown. The
student request must be submitted on a Class Change Request Form the first
three days of each semester. The form must include evidence of a compelling
educational reason and requires signed approval by teachers, parents,
counselor, and administrator. Changes
will be confined to the first two weeks of each semester. Classes that are dropped after the first four
weeks of the semester will result in an "F" grade being recorded on
the student's transcript. Attempts will be made to replace the dropped class.
However, the lack of an available class may result in a reduction in the
student schedule which may negatively affect the student's ability to graduate
on time. Students will not be allowed to remain on campus during any period
they are without a scheduled class.
COLLEGE
PREPARATION
Colleges specify that certain
courses must be taken by high school students in order to gain admission, and
all strongly recommend a high level of competence in English, foreign language,
mathematics, technology, natural science, and social science. In addition, certain courses are helpful for
a given major in college. Students
should consider the following as minimum high school requirements for college
entrance:
English:
4 credits
Math:
3
credits - Algebra (Integrated Math I), Geometry (Integrated Math II) or
Geometry (Integrated Math II) and Algebra 2 (Integrated Math III) and beyond.
Science: 3
credits Integrated Biological Science 9, Integrated Biological Science 10,
Chemistry, (Physics, recommended by WWU).
Social Studies: 3 credits
Foreign
Language: 2 credits (in one language)
Fine Arts: 1 credit
Since the college admission
process has become increasingly competitive, the majority of students who are
admitted have maintained at least a 3.0 grade point average. Check the specific
requirements for the school you plan to attend.
During the junior year, and/or
early in the senior year, students should take the SAT or ACT test. Most colleges will require one of the
tests. Information on specific colleges
is available in the Counseling Office.
NCAA CLEARINGHOUSE: (NEW ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS)
Students planning to
enroll as college freshman, and wishing to be eligible TO PARTICIPATE IN
Division I or II intercollegiate athletics must first register with the NCAA
Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse.
Students are encouraged to register and apply online for certification
by the end of their junior year.
TO BE CERTIFIED BY THE
CLEARINGHOUSE, STUDENT MUST MEET NEW ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS:
·
Students entering
any college or university on or after August 1, 2005, your NCAA initial eligibility will be
evaluated using the new rule, which increases the number of core courses from
13 to 14.
·
For students
entering any college or university on or after August 1, 2008, your NCAA initial-eligibility
will be evaluated under the 16-core course rule, which increases the number of
core courses from 14 to 16.
MUST ALSO:
1.
Graduate from
high school
2.
Earn a grade
point average of at least 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale)
3.
Successfully complete core-curriculum of at least 14
NCAA Approved academic core courses (2007)
or 16 core courses (2008) during
grades 9-12 (see table below)
NEW
Core Units Required for NCAA Certification
|
|
Division
I
(2005-2007)
|
Division
I (16 core)
(2008
& after)
|
Division
II
(2005 & after)
|
|
English Core
Math Core (Algebra I or
higher)
Natural/Physical Science
Core
(including
at least one year of lab science, if offered)
Social Science Core
|
4 years
2 years
2 years
2 years
|
4 years
3 years
2 years
2 years
|
3 years
2 years
2 years
2 years
|
|
From English, Math or
Natural/Physical Science
|
1 years
|
1 year
|
2 years
|
|
Additional Core
(English, Math, Science, Social Science, Foreign
Language, Philosophy, Non-doctrinal Religion)
|
3 years
|
4 years
|
2 years
|
|
TOTAL CORE UNITS
REQUIRED
|
14
|
16
|
14
|
4.
Receive the
necessary and minimum score on the SAT or ACT college entrance exam (necessary
score depends on students GPA; see table below)
5.
The minimum GPA
in the 14 and 16 core courses and required ACT or SAT score vary according to
the Initial-Eligibility Index.
The new core GPA/Test Score
Index
(to be used with 14 and 16
core courses)
|
Core
GPA
|
SAT
|
ACT
|
|
Core
GPA
|
SAT
|
ACT
|
|
Core
GPA
|
SAT
|
ACT
|
|
3.550 & above
|
400
|
37
|
|
3.025
|
610
|
51
|
|
2.500
|
820
|
68
|
|
3.525
|
410
|
38
|
|
3.000
|
620
|
52
|
|
2.475
|
830
|
69
|
|
3.500
|
420
|
39
|
|
2.975
|
630
|
52
|
|
2.450
|
840-850
|
70
|
|
3.475
|
430
|
40
|
|
2.950
|
640
|
53
|
|
2.425
|
860
|
70
|
|
3.450
|
440
|
41
|
|
2.925
|
650
|
53
|
|
2.400
|
860
|
71
|
|
3.425
|
450
|
41
|
|
2.900
|
660
|
54
|
|
2.375
|
870
|
72
|
|
3.400
|
460
|
42
|
|
2.875
|
670
|
55
|
|
2.350
|
880
|
73
|
|
3.375
|
470
|
42
|
|
2.850
|
680
|
56
|
|
2.325
|
890
|
74
|
|
3.350
|
480
|
43
|
|
2.825
|
690
|
56
|
|
2.300
|
900
|
75
|
|
3.325
|
490
|
44
|
|
2.800
|
700
|
57
|
|
2.275
|
910
|
76
|
|
3.300
|
500
|
44
|
|
2.775
|
710
|
58
|
|
2.250
|
920
|
77
|
|
3.275
|
510
|
45
|
|
2.750
|
720
|
59
|
|
2.225
|
930
|
78
|
|
3.250
|
520
|
46
|
|
2.725
|
730
|
59
|
|
2.200
|
940
|
79
|
|
3.225
|
530
|
46
|
|
2.700
|
730
|
60
|
|
2.175
|
950
|
80
|
|
3.200
|
540
|
47
|
|
2.675
|
745-750
|
61
|
|