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.

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

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.