The academic curriculum at Seton Catholic Central High School is designed and applied to serve the needs of each student as an individual. This means that each student, no matter what his/her academic ability, is challenged to excel by striving for and reaching his/her maximum academic potential. To this end, courses are selected by the student in conjunction with parents/guardians, teachers and members of the Guidance Department. Care is taken by all involved that the courses selected are those which will best serve to enhance the total growth of the student.
The school year is divided into two semesters. The first semester begins in September, the Wednesday after Labor Day, and concludes near the end of January. The second semester begins near the end of January and concludes in the middle of June. School examinations and New York State Regents examination are given in January, June, and August.
The year is further divided into four 10-week marking periods, with interims (reports sent home) at five-week intervals. The school day is divided into nine periods on a six-day rotating schedule. All major academic subjects (English, Social Studies, Mathematics, Science, and Foreign Language) meet daily.
Graduation Requirements
In order to graduate from Seton Catholic Central, each student is required to complete successfully courses mandated by the Board of Regents of the State of New York, as well as additional requirements mandated by the school. A complete record of achievement in these courses, as well as in elective courses selected by the student, is maintained in the form of an official transcript.
Each student graduating from Seton must acquire a minimum of 24 units of credit. (Exceptions may be made at the administrative level for any student entering the school after the ninth grade.) In keeping with the educational objectives of SCCHS, each student is required to carry a minimum of seven units of credit each year, including at least eight courses each semester. The student must be enrolled in one of the course offerings of both the Theology and the English Departments. Each student is expected to be involved in service to the school, fellow students, the parish and the community.
The New York State Board of Regents requires that students be able to demonstrate competency "through Regents Competency or Regents Examinations" in the basic subject areas before a diploma is issued. As each competency test is eliminated, all students will be required to take the corresponding Regents Examination. Requirements are as follows:
Successful completion of all these requirements for regular education students:- Regents Comprehensive Examination in English
- Regents Examination Mathematics A or Integrated Algebra
- Regents Examination in Global Studies
- Regents Examination in United States History and Government
- Regents Examination in any Science
Course Selection
| Download in MS Word: 1. Academics (this page) 2. Complete Course Guide 3. Course List | |||||
| Art | Business | Computer Science | English | Foreign Language | Mathematics |
| Music | Physical Education | Science | Social Studies | Theology | Special Programs |
Great care is to be taken by the student in selecting courses which best fulfill his/her academic objectives. While selecting courses, the student must be aware of specific course and credit requirements for each year; unit, course and sequence requirements for graduation; the most appropriate course levels; and the student's own plans for the future. In addition, it is recommended that the student choose electives over as broad a spectrum as possible, so that all areas of interest are investigated and developed.
The ninth grade student registering at SCC is counseled regarding course selection by teachers of specific departments and by guidance counselors. Placement in course levels is based upon standardized testing, performance achievement, and recommendations by subject teacher in the student's middle school. In some instances, placement examinations are administered.
In general, the student at SCCHS is required to take certain courses certain courses at each grade level. An outline of these requirements follows:
| Grade 9 | Grade 10 |
|---|---|
| Theology English Global History 1 Mathematics Science Art or Music Physical Education + 1 credit of electives in Language or Business |
Theology English Global History 2 Mathematics Science (Biology) Physical Education + 2 credit of electives |
| Grade 11 | Grade 12 |
| Theology English U.S. History Mathematics Science Physical Education + 2 credits of electives |
Theology English Health Economics/Government Physical Education + 3.5 credit of electives |
Advanced Placement Courses are offered in : Economics, Statistics, English Language, English Literature, American History, European History, World History, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Calculus, Studio Art, and Latin.
University in the High School offers college-level courses and credit in Spanish and French.
Honors Courses offered included Freshman Physics, English 2, English 3, English 4, Math 2.
Special Courses include Accelerated Mathematics, Language, Science, Cooperative Education and Apprenticeship Programs with local industries.
Graduation Requirements
| Course | Regents Diploma | Advanced Regents Diploma |
|---|---|---|
| Theology | 2 | 2 |
| English | 4 | 4 |
| Social Studies | 4 | 4 |
| Mathematics | 3 | 3 |
| Science | 3 | 3 |
| Health | .5 | .5 |
| The Arts | 1 | 1 |
| Foreign Language | 1 | 3 * |
| Physical Education | 2 | 2 |
| * One of the following must be completed: 3 credits in Foreign Language OR 5 credits in Business and Career & Technical Education OR 5 credits in the Arts |
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| Course | Regents Diploma | Advanced Regents Diploma |
|---|---|---|
| English | Yes | Yes |
| Math | Yes | Yes |
| Global History & Geography | Yes | Yes |
| 2nd Math test | No | Yes |
| U.S. History & Geography | Yes | Yes |
| Science | Yes | Yes |
| Foreign Language | No | Yes |
| 2nd Science test | No | Yes |
| Info: New Mathematics Regents Implementation / Transition Timeline (transition to new tests takes place 2008-2010) |
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Electives
Elective courses are available in almost every department. The student is advised in the choice of elective courses by guidance personnel and by teachers in the respective departments. During the time of course selection each year, special arrangements are made for the student to discuss elective choices with teachers in departments in which the student is not already enrolled. In any given year, courses may be dropped from the curriculum if the number of students registering for the course is insufficient. Students are required to choose alternate electives if courses are dropped or scheduling is not possible.
Course Levels
In keeping with the aim of Seton Catholic Central High School to help each student develop his or her maximum academic potential, course are offered on a wide variety of levels. For courses that are offered on more than one level, the following designations are used:
AP: These courses culminate in a national Advanced Placement examination. A successful score can be presented for possible college credit.
H: These Honors courses go beyond the work required in the New York State Regents syllabus, in scope as well as in intensity of material.
R: These Regents courses follow the New York State Regents syllabus.
Grading
Seton Catholic Central High School uses numerical system for grading in most courses. A passing grade in any course is 65% or above. The final average for a course is determined by averaging together the quarter marks and the final examination in such a way that the final examination counts for 20% of the average. In those courses in which a final examination is not given, the average is reached by averaging the quarter marks.
Interim reports may be sent by teachers at the midpoint of each grading period. Such reports are designed to inform the student, parents, and counselors of the student's academic status. Interims are most often sent to apprise all concerned of difficulties which a student is experiencing in a particular course so that corrective measures may be taken.
Failure of a required course must be made up before graduation. Failures in courses which are prerequisites for another course must be made up before entering that course. Generally, the failure is to be made up in summer school if the course in question is offered in order that the student not fall behind in sequential courses or fail to complete enough units of credit for graduation.
The minimum quarter mark recorded on the student report card is 60%. If the actual quarter mark is below 60%, a comment to that effect will be made on the report card. Quarter grades below 60% may be used to compute the final average.
Transcripts
The official transcript for each student contains a complete and comprehensive record of the following:
a. All courses taken during the student's high school career, whether taken during the regular school term or during summer school.
b. All high school level courses taken by accelerated students in the middle school.
c. Reports of standardized tests taken during the student's high school career. (This includes, but is not limited to, results from DAT, CAT, PSAT, SAT, ACT, Advanced Placement, and Regents testing.)
d. Grades earned upon repeat attempts of Regents examinations.
Copies of the transcript are made available to the student and parents/guardians upon request. When requested by the student or a parent/guardian, a copy of the official transcript embossed with the school seal will be sent directly to an educational institution, scholarship committee, or prospective employer.
Once the student has graduated from Seton Catholic Central, requests for transcripts may be made to the Guidance Office secretary, accompanied by a $2.00 fee to cover the costs of processing and mailing.