Fairview High School

Counseling Office and Post-Grad Center

What classes should I take in high school?

Course Requirements for High School Students – To Graduate from High School and To Meet College Entrance Requirements

As you choose your classes for your 4-year plan through high school, please be aware that there are one to four sets of criteria with which you should concern yourself, depending on your situation:

1. The requirements determined by the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) to graduate from high school.

2. The requirements set by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE) to be admitted to a 4-year, in-state public college or university. In 2003 CCHE adopted tougher standards for admission to public Colorado colleges and universities. The requirements will first affect the entering college class of 2008, and get tougher in 2010. The new standards apply to all four-year public schools in Colorado.

3. If you are planning to apply to a four-year college that is known to be extremely competitive, you will need to consider taking the most rigorous course load possible in high school in order to compete with the other students who will be applying to such colleges. For example, it would be wise to take four years of IB or AP language arts, a world language through level 5, math through calculus, science/s through the second year, and if social studies is of interest you can take some of the classes that are offered in the senior year. For other advice about strategies for entrance into very competitive colleges, please see your counselor or come to the Post Grad Center.

4. If you are considering getting an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma or IB course certificates, there is a third set of criteria, which is explained in detail in the IB Curricular Pathways document, available on the Fairview web site. See also the IB Handbook.

The charts on the next two pages provide a summary of the first two sets of requirements.

o Use the first chart for graduation years through 2009.

o Use the second chart for graduation years beginning with 2010.

Please note that although there is a lot of room within the high school graduation requirements to take electives, that flexibility shrinks considerably once you take into consideration all of the CCHE college admission requirements.

References:

o Follow this link for the BVSD subject area requirements.

o The CCHE approved new a new Admissions Standards Policy on November 1, 2007. It shows examples of acceptable courses for each subject area, as well as examples of unacceptable courses. Follow this link for Admissions Eligibility - Colorado Department of Higher Education

Please request assistance from the counselors to put together a workable four-year plan for you, or come to the Post-Grad Center for more information.

BOULDER VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS 2006-2009 COLORADO COMMISSION OF HIGHER EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS 2008-2010
The Boulder Valley School District requires that a minimum of 220 credit hours be earned for graduation; the CCHE requires a minimum of 15 academic units to fulfill admissions requirements.
BVSD For the classes of 2006 to 2009, 220 credit hours must be earned in the areas listed below. Ten credits are equivalent to one full year of credit in a specific subject. Language Arts. 40 credits in grades 9-12 10 in Language Arts 9 10 in World Literature & Composition, grade 10 10 in American Literature & Composition, grade 11 5 in language arts elective courses, 9-12 5 in communication courses, grades 9-12 Social Studies. 30 credits in grades 9-12 5 in US Government in grades 9-12 5 in World Geography in grades 9-10 10 in World History in grade 10 10 in US History in grade 11 Math. 20 credits in grades 9-12 10 credits of which must include Algebra I or higher level mathematics Science. 20 credits in grades 9-12 10 credits in courses designated as Life Sciences 10 credits in courses designated as Physical Sciences Physical Education. 15 credits in grades 9-12 5 in Comprehensive P.E., grade 9 10 in elective P.E. courses, grades 9-12, balanced between individual fitness and team sports Health. 5 credits in grades 9-12 Humanities. 10 credits in grades 9-12 Music, Art, Foreign Languages (Level 3 or above), and Diversity in the U.S. Practical Experiences. 5 credits in grades 9-12. Includes Computer, Business, Consumer and Family Studies, Industrial Technology, and Technical Education Additional credits in courses approved for grades 9-12, 75 credits	CCHE (Colorado Commission of Higher Education) Beginning with the class of 2008/2009, 15 academic units are required for admissions. An academic unit is equivalent to one full year of credit in a specific subject. Language Arts. 4 units Acceptable: World Literature & Composition, American Literature & Composition, Speech, Debate, Honors Courses, Advanced Placement, and/or International Baccalaureate Courses Not Acceptable: Business English, ESL English, Yearbook, Drama, and Journalism. Social Science. 3 units including 1 unit in U.S. History and/or World Civilization Acceptable: U.S. History, World Civilization, State and/or International History, Civics, Principles of Democracy, Geography, Economics, Psychology, Sociology, Honors Courses, Advanced Placement, and/or International Baccalaureate Courses Not Acceptable: Family Living, Marriage and Family, and Consumer Education. Mathematics. 3 units; Algebra I or higher Acceptable: 3 units in Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, Computer Science, Honors Courses, Advanced Placement, and/or International Baccalaureate Courses Not Acceptable: Pre-Algebra, general math, business math, accounting, and consumer math. Natural Science. 3 units including 2 units in courses designated as laboratory work Acceptable: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science, Physical Science, Honors Courses, Advanced Placement, and/or International Baccalaureate Courses Not Acceptable: General Science, Outdoor Education, Environmental Studies. Academic Electives. 2 units Acceptable courses may come from any academic area listed above with foreign languages, computer science, art, music, journalism, drama, honors courses, advanced placement, and/or international baccalaureate courses.

BOULDER VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS 2010 COLORADO COMMISSION OF HIGHER EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS 2010
The Boulder Valley School District requires that a minimum of 220 credit hours be earned for graduation; the CCHE requires a minimum of 18 academic units to fulfill admissions requirements.
BVSD Beginning with the class of 2010, 220 credit hours must be earned in the areas listed below. Ten credits are equivalent to one full year of credit in a specific subject. Language Arts. 40 credits in grades 9-12 10 in Language Arts 9 10 in World Literature & Composition, grade 10 10 in American Literature & Composition, grade 11 5 in language arts elective courses, 9-12 5 in communication courses, grades 9-12 Social Studies. 30 credits in grades 9-12 5 in US Government in grade 9 5 in World Geography in grades 9-10 10 in World History in grade 10 10 in US History in grade 11 Math. 20 credits in grades 9-12 10 credits of which must include Algebra I or higher level mathematics Science. 20 credits in grades 9-12 10 credits in courses designated as Life Sciences 10 credits in courses designated as Physical Sciences Physical Education. 15 credits in grades 9-12 5 in Comprehensive P.E., grade 9 10 in elective P.E. courses, grades 9-12, balanced between individual fitness and team sports. Health. 5 credits in grades 9-10 Fine Arts. 5 credits in grades 9-12 (includes music or art). Second Language Acquisition. 10 credits in World Language, Level 2 or higher; or, for ELL students, achievement of approved level of English language acquisition. Practical Experiences. 5 credits in grades 9-12 5 credits in Computer Science or Applied Technology unless fulfilled in middle level; otherwise, 5 credits in Business, Consumer and Family Studies, or other career and technical education course; AND evidence of completion of a 12 hour course in Money Management & Personal Finance unless fulfilled in middle level or through qualified district course. NOTE: Computer Science/Applied Technology and Money Management/Personal Finance are new requirements beginning with this graduating class. Additional credits in courses approved for grades 9-12,70-80 credits, depending on how the Second Language Acquisition requirement is met.	CCHE (Colorado Commission of Higher Education) Beginning with the class of 2010, 15 academic units are required for admissions. An academic unit is equivalent to one full year of credit in a specific subject. Language Arts. 4 units Acceptable: World Literature & Composition, American Literature & Composition, Speech, Debate, Honors Courses, Advanced Placement, and/or International Baccalaureate Courses Not Acceptable: Business English, ESL English, Yearbook, Drama, and Journalism. Social Science. 3 units including 1 unit in U.S. History and/or World Civilization Acceptable: U.S. History, World Civilization, State and/or International History, Civics, Principles of Democracy, Geography, Economics, Psychology, Sociology, Honors Courses, Advanced Placement, and/or International Baccalaureate Courses Not Acceptable: Family Living, Marriage and Family, and Consumer Education. Mathematics. 4 units; Algebra I and higher Acceptable: Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, Honors Courses, Advanced Placement, and/or International Baccalaureate Courses Not Acceptable: Pre-Algebra, general math, business math, accounting, and consumer math. Natural Science. 3 units including 2 units in courses designated as laboratory work Acceptable: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science, Physical Science, Honors Courses, Advanced Placement, and/or International Baccalaureate Courses Not Acceptable: General Science, Outdoor Education, Environmental Studies. Foreign Language. 2 units World Language, Level 2 or higher (same language) Correction to chart in Fairview’s “Four Year Academic Planning Guide,” page 3: Foreign Language. 1 unit Academic Electives. 2 units Acceptable courses may come from any academic area listed above with foreign languages, computer science, art, music, journalism, drama, honors courses, advanced placement, and/or international baccalaureate courses.