At Walnut Hill, all students elect a single arts concentration while committing to a full-time, college-preparatory academic curriculum. Coursework in the arts concentrations is demanding; most require work done outside of class time and the performing artists must factor in time for rehearsals, lessons, and practice. For this reason, the customary load is four courses.
Selecting Courses
In the spring, students meet with their advisors to discuss their academic course of study for the coming year, and their proposed schedules are forwarded to their families so that parents can review and discuss their plans before being returned to the Academic Dean. Arts courses are added to these preliminary schedules immediately before the opening of classes in the fall, after auditions and placement exams. Placement in arts courses, including Music Theory, occurs during Student Orientation in the fall.
For students in the Music concentration, the customary load for 9th, 10th, and 11th graders is four academic courses plus Music Theory. Music Theory carries academic credit, but does not conflict with other academic courses as it meets during the time scheduled for arts classes. (See Music sample schedule.) Music Theory may be accepted as a student’s fourth academic course by permission of the Academic Dean, the Director of Music, and the student’s advisor. As seniors, music students may take Music Theory and Music History as two of their four academic courses.
Academic Course Load
In the Nexus program, a load of four academic courses generally translates to two academic courses per semester. Exceptions to this are Spanish and French I, French II, and Algebra I, which meet all year, but give less nightly homework than semester courses. While some students, after careful consideration and consultation with their advisors and teachers, choose to elect more than four courses, no student may elect fewer than four. Students may elect six academic classes in one school year by permission of the Academic Dean and their advisor. Generally, students must have an “A” average to be given permission.
Academic Course Sequence
In the 9th grade year, students generally take English 9 and World History I (both required for 9th grade), French or Spanish 1 (depending on placement test), and a math class (usually Algebra I or Geometry, depending on placement test). After careful consideration and consultation with his or her advisor and the Academic Dean, a student may elect to add Biology to the academic course load in the 9th grade year.
In the 10th grade year, students generally take English 10, French or Spanish II, a math class (Geometry or Algebra II), and Biology. If a student has chosen to take Biology in the 9th grade, after careful considera–tion and successful completion of five courses in the 9th grade year, he or she may elect to take World History II, an additional math course, or Chemistry.
In the 11th grade year, students generally take English 11 (required), math (Algebra II and/or Advanced Algebra II), United States History, and Chemistry. A student who has finished through Advanced Algebra II in the 10th grade may advance to Precalculus and may also advance to an upper-level French or Spanish course.
In the 12th grade year, students generally take English 12 (required), and can then choose from a variety of electives—advanced coursework in math, science, French, Spanish, and English; the senior History elective; Science and Social Issues; Introduction to Creative Writing; or Art and Power, for example.
