CALHOUN ACADEMY

Programs of Study

Below are the programs of study and courses required by Calhoun Academy. These
programs of study have been developed using the requirements from Calhoun Academy, the SC
Commission on Higher Education (entrance requirements for state supported colleges), and
SC Independent School Association that accredits Calhoun Academy.
Please consult this information carefully as you select courses for your student to
take next year.

Three programs of study are offered the students at Calhoun Academy. The College
Preparatory programs are designed primarily for the student who desires college
preparation and/or who has demonstrated an ability to do college preparatory work. The
Honors Diploma will be the highest degree. The College Preparatory Diploma will meet all
of the requirements for entrance to the state-supported colleges and universities but not
in as much depth as the honors program. The General Diploma may allow students to enter a
private college or technical school. In this program of study the student will be
prepared for college work but this preparation will not be as extensive or in depth as
that of the college preparatory programs.

The basic minimum requirements for an Honors Diploma are English I, II, III, IV,
(advanced composition is strongly recommended); Algebra I, II, geometry, and either
Algebra III or calculus; physical science, biology, chemistry, and a third
laboratory science is required (advanced biology or physics); government/economics,
U. S. history, and western civilization; three units of the same foreign language;
physical education; one unit of world history, computer science, or calculus/Algebra
III; any four electives. In courses where there is an Honors and a College Prep
section offered, students in this program must take the Honors section. Senior
Honors courses are taught with influence from Advanced Placement guidelines and
those students may take AP exams for possible college credit. Additional work must
be done in courses for which AP exams are given.

The basic minimum requirements for a College Preparatory Diploma are English I, II,
III, IV, (advanced composition is strongly recommended); Algebra I, II, and
geometry; a fourth unit of math is strongly recommended; physical science, biology
and chemistry and a third laboratory science is required (Advanced Biology II,
physics, or environmental science); government/economics, U. S. history and world
history or western civilization; two units of the same foreign language; physical
education; one unit of calculus/Algebra III, computer science, psychology or the one
not used of world history or western civilization; any four electives.

The basic minimum requirements for a General Diploma are English I, II, III, IV;
Algebra I, geometry, and Algebra II; advanced math may be used as the fourth credit;
biology and any two of physical science, environmental science, or chemistry; U. S.
history; any two of world history, western civilization, or government/economics;
any seven electives.

A total of 24 credits are required for the Honors Diploma; a total 22 credits are
required for the College Preparatory Diploma. To receive a General Diploma a total of 20
credits are required. In order to go into the tenth grade, 5 credits are necessary; into
eleventh, 10 credits; into twelfth, 16 credits.

Please be aware that college requirements have become more stringent and failure to
take prerequisites in high school will likely result in denied acceptance. South
Carolina public colleges and universities (state supported) require that the following
courses be taken in high school. English - 4 units; Math - 3 units (Algebra I, Algebra
II and geometry); Science - 3 units in 2 different lab sciences; Social Studies - 3 units
(two of which must be US History and Government/Economics); Foreign Language - 2 units in
the same foreign language; Physical Education - 1 unit; and other: 4 units of required
electives from 3 different fields-- must come from computer science, English, fine arts,
foreign language, humanities, lab science, math or social science. In addition, many
 CALHOUN ACADEMY
Programs of Study
colleges now require: 4 units in math, 3 units in the same foreign language, and some
require 1 unit in fine arts. Please contact the college in which you are interested or
the school guidance counselor for specific requirements prior to registering each year,
especially prior to entering the ninth (9th) grade.
Students will be counseled by the guidance counselor and the headmaster as to which
program they should possibly enter, but the final decision as to their course of study
will be made by the student and parent. Certain academic criteria must be met in order
to enroll in each program.