course of study grades 9-12

Gilman is a member of Global Online Academy. Juniors may register for a sixth course with Global Online Academy. Seniors may register for a fifth (or sixth) course. A GOA course may not be used to satisfy the graduation requirement in English. Please see Mr. Heubeck for details.

In addition to Gilman’s requirements, the State of Maryland requires a student to take 21 academic credits for graduation.

Fifty hours of community service must be completed at one location within any 12-month period prior to the start of senior year.

9th Grade

Freshmen take six courses that meet in the first three periods. Every freshman must take English, Mathematics, World Cultures, Physics, and Modern or Classical Language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Greek, Latin, Russian, or Spanish). (Freshmen who have taken the Gilman Summer Physics course will be placed in Academic Lab during their free period.) For their sixth credit, students choose from Science (Robotics), History (American Government), Mathematics (Baseball and Statistics), Art (Drawing/Painting I, Pinhole to Digital, or Sculpture), or a second language. Freshmen also take mandatory (non-credit) Health & Guidance and Freshman Seminar courses that meet during the afternoon.

10th Grade

Sophomores also take the equivalent of six courses that meet in the first three periods. In addition to continuing with Mathematics and Modern or Classical Language, most sophomores take the three-credit Humanities sequence, with parallel courses in English, The Making of Modern Europe, Art History, and Music History. Those students who elect to take a second language or to continue their work in the visual arts are exempted from the Art/Music History requirement. Sophomores generally complete their Science requirement by taking Chemistry or Honors Chemistry. Sophomores also take a mandatory (non-credit) Sophomore Seminar that meets during the afternoon.

11th Grade

The standard load for juniors is five major courses. The College Counseling Office advises: When considering a sixth class, on top of the core five, students and parents need to be mindful that academic success is a very potent factor in the admission process. If taking on the additional work necessary by another class will dilute the energy and success of the junior year on the whole, then adding an additional class will not be an asset within the admission process. All juniors continue with English, Mathematics, and Modern or Classical Language, and they all take United States History. Most juniors can expect that they will take either English or History at BMS or RPCS. Most juniors choose to continue with Science (usually either Biology or Honors Biology). Juniors may also select from a wide array of on-campus elective courses or a course at Global Online Academy. Juniors also take a mandatory (non-credit) Junior Seminar that meets during the afternoon.

12th Grade

Seniors must take five courses that meet in the first three periods each semester. Seniors must take an English elective each semester. Seniors have many options available for arranging a rich program from a wide variety of tri-school electives. They may also take a course at Global Online Academy. Their advisor and the college counselors will help guide them toward wise selections. Schedules that do not include courses from the five major academic disciplines (English, Math, Science, Modern or Classical Language, and History) will receive special scrutiny. With special permission, a senior may do independent study with a Gilman teacher, or he might take an approved course at a college. Courses taken at educational institutions other than Gilman, Bryn Mawr, and Roland Park must be paid for independently and thus represent costs beyond the Gilman tuition. Seniors also take a mandatory (non-credit) Senior Seminar that meets during the afternoon.

Acceptance into an honors or an Advanced Placement course is based on a careful departmental evaluation of the individual student. Specific criteria vary by department; most take into account, for example, the boy’s strengths and weaknesses, his prior performance in the department, and the overall rigor of his proposed schedule.

Credit for a full-year course is only issued after the successful completion of the full year. No partial credit is issued.

Courses not listed BMS (Bryn Mawr) or RPCS (Roland Park Country School) are offered on Gilman’s campus. Courses are yearlong unless otherwise noted.