Requirements

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

The upper school is a four-year college preparatory program. Students must meet several academic and co-curricular expectations to earn a North Shore Country Day diploma. First, they must be enrolled in at least five academic classes each semester, four of which must be core academic classes. In addition to the required diploma standards, students supplement their program with a variety of electives. Advisors, the appropriate department head, and the Head of Upper School must approve exceptions to these requirements.

CURRICULAR REQUIREMENTS

To graduate, students must complete 22 credits, including the following requirements and four elective credits.

4 credits in English over four years
3 credits in social studies, including one credit in United States history
3 credits in the same language (Chinese, French, or Spanish)
3 credits in mathematics
3 credits in science that include physics, chemistry, and biology
2 credits in the visual or performing arts

Students do not have the option of meeting any portion of the graduation requirements by taking a class in the summer. Occasionally, math students can take summer courses for acceleration within a discipline. Approval from the department head is required. NSCD's math department also permits students to take Geometry and AP Calculus AB over the summer. All other math class credits must be earned with North Shore Country Day School courses. This option is available only for students with exceptional math aptitude, strong conceptual thinking skills, and solid study habits. Please see the Math Department Summer Class policy for more specific information. New students entering tenth, eleventh, or twelfth grade will have their graduation requirements established at the time of admission at the discretion of the Divisional Leadership Team.

ACADEMIC WAIVERS

The required student course load is five academic courses (history, math, science, English, foreign language). In very rare circumstances, a student may need a reduced academic schedule. The determination to grant a fifth-course waiver will be made by appropriate School personnel.

INTERIM

One week in the fall is set aside from regularly scheduled classes so students can participate in an in-depth experience of educational value outside the traditional classroom environment. Teachers seek to provide learning experiences that challenge students to expand their horizons. The philosophy of Interim reflects the origin of the word educate: to lead out into the world.

All projects are faculty-sponsored or approved, and participation is mandatory. Interim projects must be planned so that at least one of the four experiences is in the category of local community service. The knowledge gained benefits the individual students—furthermore, the entire school community, when students share their experiences during Interim Night and Morning Ex. A student who needs financial aid for an interim trip can submit forms of financial assistance.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECTS

All twelfth graders conceive, design, prepare, and complete service projects during the second semester. Students may work individually or in groups of four or fewer. Students are encouraged to be independent and make this opportunity personal, worthwhile, and representative of the student’s total North Shore experience. We hope each student will learn more about serving a larger community and learning something about themself.

Twelfth grades who participate must have completed all other graduation requirements. In addition, they must meet all other school obligations while on their service project, such as athletics, yearbook, student government, etc. Students should be engaged in their project for at least six hours daily for the designated two-week period in May.

PERFORMING ARTS

Students are required to participate in school performances both onstage and offstage. Two dramatic or musical productions over a four-year high school career can fulfill this requirement. Courses that satisfy the onstage or offstage requirement indicate such in the associated course description.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION, COMMUNITY, AND WELLNESS

Upper school students are required to participate in one full semester (two quarters) of physical education during each year of upper school. Physical education courses are taught by specialized instructors in disciplines such as yoga, martial arts, athletic development, and pilates. The instructors provide instruction on campus twice weekly for forty-five minutes.

In addition to the physical education courses, students are required to enroll in community and wellness courses each year. The course requirements are as follows:

09 - Introduction to Upper School
10 - Digital Citizenship (one quarter) and Health (one quarter)
11 - ACT Prep Course (additional fee associated with ACT Prep; registration required) or Study Hall
12 - Senior Seminar