Graduation Requirements Preparing for specific personal, vocational or college interests requires careful planning of the student’s course of study. Students interested in highly selective colleges should give special attention to a four-year sequence in mathematics, science, social studies and foreign languages. Most colleges nationwide require more than the minimum graduation requirements. Also, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has ruled that students entering a Division I or Division II college must have had at least 14 academic full-year courses, including two courses in science. Mentors and guidance counselors are ready to help students with their high school plan. Graduation Requirements Class of 2017 Class of 2018 of 2019 Class of 2020 English 4 credits 4 credits 4 credits 4 credits Math 3 credits 3 credits 3 credits 3 credits Science 2 credits 2 credits 2 credits 2 credits PE 3 ¼ credits 3 ¼ credits 3 ¼ credits 3 ¼ credits Health ½ credit ½ credit ½ credit ½ credit Computer Concepts ½ credit Career Exploration ½ credit ½ credit ½ credit Economics ½ credit ½ credit ½ credit ½ credit Driver’s Education ¼ credit ¼ credit ¼ credit ¼ credit Electives 12 credits 12 credits 12 credits 12 credits TOTAL 28 credits 28 credits 28 credits 28 credits Specific Requirements English – Successful completion of each of the four years of the English sequence is required for graduation (4 credits). In the junior and senior years, students choose from a number of course options. Mathematics – Students must complete three full years of mathematics, Algebra I or higher (3 credits. Social Studies – Two years of social studies is required. Semester courses Early U.S. History, Modern U.S. History, and Government are required for graduation. Science – Two years of science courses are required. Non-dissection courses are Earth Science, Environmental Science, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Chemistry—Advanced Studies, Physics and Physical Science. Consumer Economics – The following courses satisfy requirements for consumer economics. Agricultural Business Management Consumer Economics/Personal Finance Cooperative Education/SVE Further Considerations To keep career options open and because colleges acknowledge the of varied educational experiences, students are encouraged to take year
with Lake Land College and PCHS. Forms and instructions are available in the guidance office. Students will receive credit for a high school course at PCHS and semester hours at Lake Land. There is a $45 book fee if taught by a PCHS teacher, a cost of $145 if taught by a retired teacher, or a cost of $250 if taught by a Lake Land staff member per semester. Students planning to transfer this college credit to another college upon high school graduation should check with the receiving college to confirm acceptance of coursework. The following dual credit courses are offered at PCHS: Art Appreciation Information Processing Composition (Honors) Food Service Sanitation Nursing Assistant (Health Occ.) Mechanical Drafting Drafting Manufacturing Skills Pre-Calculus Technical Math Recommended Courses for College Admissions Students and parents must begin early to consider the general requirements for college admission. No single pattern of preparation will meet the admissions requirements of all colleges. However, a four-year comprehensive and balanced program in the traditional academic subjects is strongly advised and will meet most college requirements and/or recommendations. Students planning to attend an Illinois four-year university or a public community college with the intent to transfer should take a program including college preparatory courses. Specific course admissions standards are detailed below. Each state university may establish criteria for provisional admission. English – 4 years, emphasizing written and oral communications and literature Social Studies – 3-4 years, including world and U.S. history, and social science electives Mathematics – 3-4 years, including introductory algebra, advanced algebra, geometry and trigonometry Science – 3-4 years, such as biology, chemistry and physics Electives – 2-4 years, such as foreign language, music or art NCAA The NCAA eligibility standards for Division I athletes require students to have 16 core courses completed by graduation: 4 English 3 years math (Algebra I or higher) 2 years natural/physical science (1 year of lab if offered by high school) 1 year of additional English, math or natural/physical science 2 years of social science 4 additional courses from any area or foreign language Computer science courses may not be used to meet the core requirements. Courses Available to Freshmen Agriculture Introduction to the Agricultural Industry Art Art History Business
Textiles and Design I & II Parenting Foreign Language French II Spanish I, II Industrial Technology Introduction to Technology & Engineering Machine Tool Technology I Production Technology Mathematics Algebra II Algebra II (Honors) Geometry Geometry (Honors) Music Expressive Movement General Band Chorus Theory Physical Education, Health & Drivers’ Ed Physical Education Drivers’ Education—Classroom Science Environmental Science Biology Physical Science Chemistry Social Studies Modern European History World History--Overview Early U. S. History Modern U.S. History Courses Available to Juniors/Seniors Agriculture Introduction to the Agricultural Industry Basic Agricultural Science Horticulture Agricultural Mechanics and Technology Agriculture Machinery Service Agriculture Business Management Animal Science Art Art Appreciation (LLC) Art History Creative Art—Comprehensive Creative Art—Drawing/Painting Creative Art—Sculpture Crafts Crafts 2 Photography Computer-Assisted Art Business Information Processing (LLC) Web Page and Interactive Media Dev I & II Business & Technology Concepts Keyboarding & Formatting Entrepreneurship Accounting I & II Computer Concepts & Software Applications Computer and Information Sciences Visual Basic Programming C++ Programming Java Programming Computer Programming Drama Introduction to the Theater Theatre Arts English AP English Literature and Composition American Literature
Literature War Literature Monster Archetypes in Literature Autobiographies and Memoirs Composition Creative Writing Journalism Honors Composition (LLC) Family and Consumer Science Nutrition and Culinary Arts I & II Culinary Occupations Child Development and Parenting Textiles and Design I & II Care and Learning Services Occupations Parenting Family and Career Relationships Foundations to Teaching Foreign Language French I, II, III Spanish I, II, III Health Occupations Medical Terminology Nursing Assistant (Health Occ.)(LLC) Industrial Technology Introduction to Technology & Engineering Machine Tool Technology I & II Ad. Design Apps. Drafting (LLC) Architectural Drafting Mechanical Drafting (LLC) Manufacturing Skills (LLC) Mathematics Algebra II Business Math with Algebra Geometry Geometry (Honors) Pre-Calculus (LLC) Technical Math (LLC) Trigonometry/Algebra Music Expressive Movement General Band Chorus Theory Physical Education, Health & Drivers’ Ed Physical Education Fitness/Conditioning Activities Science Chemistry Science Biology Anatomy and Physiology Particular Topics in Biology (Biotechnology) Chemistry—Advanced Studies AP Chemistry Physics Social Studies Modern European History World History--Overview AP U.S. History Contemporary U.S. Issues U.S. Government—Comprehensive Sociology Particular Topics in Sociology (Criminology) Support Services Tutoring Practicum Community Service Courses Available to Seniors See course descriptions for each department.