Graduation Requirements

To graduate from GFS, students must complete satisfactory work in 19 major courses and meet all departmental major and minor course requirements. All students must participate in January Term, fulfill the Athletics requirements, and complete a Junior Project. See departmental course descriptions for more details. All exceptions to these requirements must be approved by the Academic Standards Committee.

REQUIRED MAJOR COURSEWORK English (4 years) History (3 years) • Comparative Cultures (9th Grade) • African-American History (10th Grade) • U.S.History (11th or 12th Grade) Language (through Level 3) Completion to level three of one classical or modern language. Typically the first level of coursework is completed by the end of Middle School (Note: 7th and 8th grade 1a and 1b study count as Level 1). Mathematics (3 years) Information about course sequence options appears in the Mathematics Department section. Science (3 years) Recommended sequence: Physics (9th Grade), Chemistry (10th Grade), Biology (11th Grade).

OTHER GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS January Term: Students complete January Terms in grades 9, 10, and 12. Please note that in 2021 May Term was held and satisfied the January Term requirement for that year. Junior Project: An independent, out-of-school project that takes place during the month of January of junior year.

REQUIRED MINOR COURSEWORK

ARTS MINORS REQUIREMENTS

Please note: Our expanded Arts Requirements became effective in the 2020-21 school year.

Class of 2024 and all subsequent classes

• Art (1 year Foundation) • Music (1 year or the equivalent of 2 semesters) • Theatre (1 semester Ninth Grade Theatre)

Classes of 2022 and 2023

• Music (1 year or the equivalent of 2 semesters) • Art or Theatre (1 year or the equivalent of 2 semesters)

HEALTH

• 10th grade: Health Education 10 • 12th grade: Life Issues (coordinated with Advisory)

ATHLETICS AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Athletics and PE are distinct but complementary departments. Across all four years of Upper School, students participate in movement-based activity in PE and/or Athletics. In ninth and tenth grades students may elect Winter Musical Workshop for PE or Athletics Credit. • Ninth grade: One semester PE 9 Fitness and Wellness; two seasons Athletics. • Tenth grade: Three seasons: one season of Athletics; choice of Athletics or PE for other two seasons. • Eleventh grade: Three seasons, choice of Athletics or PE each season. • Twelfth grade: Two seasons, choice of Athletics or PE.