Upper School Division Graduation Requirements

The graduation requirements listed below apply to students in the class of 2012 and beyond, and all new students entering the upper school in the 08-09 school year and thereafter.

The Upper School curriculum consists of regular academic courses that meet five times a week for a full year and are worth one credit. Some electives or fine arts courses meet for a semester only and are typically paired with a companion course that should be taken the subsequent semester so that students can be awarded a full elective credit for a given year. Every student must take a minimum of 25 class periods per week, based on a schedule of 35 periods per week (seven periods per day). A minimum of 22 academic credits are required for graduation and students must pass all required courses to graduate. A student is considered to have passed a required course if the semester grade for that course is a 60 or better.

Each student's course of study will depend on his or her personal goals. While fulfilling Oakwood's graduation requirements, students should consider their interests and talents as they select courses. Keep in mind that Oakwood's standard classes reflect at least honors-level work at most public high schools, with AP courses demanding an even greater level of content mastery.

Advanced Placement Courses

AP courses offered at The Oakwood Upper School are designed to prepare students for the Advanced Placement Examinations administered each spring by the College Board. The exams are scored on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 representing the highest grade. Most colleges will award college credit for scores of 4 or 5; some for scores of 3. AP courses are rigorous and require a strong background in the subject area. In almost all cases students who enroll in AP courses are required to take the AP Exam and will be required to pay for the exam registration, which is approximately $75 per exam.

Oakwood's Graduation Requirements

• English:  four credits
• Mathematics:  four credits
• Science:  three credits
• History:  three credits
• Foreign Language:  two credits of the same language
• Fine Arts: one credit
• Health and Wellness:  one credit
• Electives:  four credits

These requirements constitute the minimum standard for graduation from The Oakwood School. Admissions standards vary across colleges and universities and while Oakwood's curriculum is designed to prepare students for success in college, it is important to research specific requirements for admission to individual colleges and universities. Students should pay particular notice to college requirements for foreign language, as many colleges and universities prefer to see a student take at least three years of a high school foreign language.

Please note the following:

• Credit will not be awarded for participation in team sports.
• All Upper School students are required to take a full-year, curriculum-based PE/Health and Wellness course.
• Students enrolled in Algebra I and/or Spanish I in 8th grade will not be awarded high school credit nor will the class count towards fulfilling the math or foreign language requirements for Upper School graduation.