2022-2023
TOWER HILL SCHOOL ACADEMIC PROGRAM
GRADES 9-12
The Upper School academic program is built around three content areas: Humanities, Sciences, and Visual and Performing Arts. The Humanities program consists of courses offered in English, history, language, and social science. The Sciences program consists of courses offered in science, technology and engineering, and mathematics. The Visual and Performing Arts program consists of courses offered in music, theater, visual art and design, and yearbook. As outlined below, students take foundational courses in each of the content areas in grades 9 and 10 and then move into more advanced work in grades 11 and 12. Students in grades 11 and 12 have minimum credit requirements for graduation that must be completed in each content area, but they also have the opportunity to focus on areas that are of greatest interest to them and to experience coursework that is interdisciplinary in nature. All Upper School students participate in Tower Term, which serves as the culminating experience of each academic year.
SUMMARY OF COURSE REQUIREMENTS Humanities (English, History, Social Science, Language) • Grade 9 – English 9, Modern World History, Language • Grade 10 – English 10, U.S. History, Language • Grades 11/12 – minimum of 18 total credits, which must include the following: - English – 2 credits per semester - History – minimum of 4 credits - Language – any credits needed to complete a minimum of level 3 coursework in one language or a minimum of level 2 coursework in two languages
Sciences (Science, Technology and Engineering, Mathematics) • Grade 9 – Biology, Mathematics • Grade 10 – Chemistry, Mathematics • Grades 11/12 – minimum of 12 total credits, which must include the following: - Mathematics – minimum of 4 credits - Science, Technology and Engineering – minimum of 6 credits; Physics, unless the department recommends otherwise
Visual and Performing Arts (Music, Theater, Visual Art & Design, Yearbook) • Grades 9/10 – minimum of 2 credits • Grades 11/12 – any credits needed to reach a minimum cumulative total of 4
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS • • • • •
Grade 9 – Freshmen Seminar; minimum of 21 total credits Grade 10 – Health and Decision Education; minimum of 21 total credits Grades 11 – minimum of 20 total credits Grade 12 – minimum of 19 total credits; at least 4 major courses each semester Grades 9-12 – Tower Term
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