PROGRAM PLANNING

1. Read the descriptions of the available courses.  Students are encouraged to ask questions of their teachers and school counselors to determine whether a course is a good fit.
    
2. Refer to the “Planning Worksheet" to track progress toward graduation and post-secondary goals.
    
3. In a four-year program, a minimum of six credits each year is mandatory for underclassmen. A minimum of five credits is mandatory for seniors. For college-bound students, at least four of the six subjects should be college preparatory subjects.
    
4. Consultation with teachers and school counselors is recommended prior to finalizing course selections.
    
5. Classes may be canceled by administration. Reasons include low enrollment as well as staffing and space constraints.
    
6.  25 Credits are required for graduation.
    

1. Standard level courses are for those students planning to continue their education beyond high school (four-year, two-year, or technical colleges/universities). The pace and level of instruction are advanced and require students to be organized and motivated. These classes will prepare students well for the rigor of college-level programming. They have no special designation and are available to all students. The majority of the student population will select courses at this level. Some (non-honors) courses qualify for college credit through Early College Experience (ECE), College and Career Pathways (CCP), or other college partnerships.
    
2. Early College Experience (ECE) classes are college-level courses for which content is prescribed by the University of Connecticut.  ECE courses may be offered at both the standard and Advanced Placement (AP) levels, depending on course content. Semester exams have specific content prescribed by the University of Connecticut. 
    
3. College and Career Pathways (CCP) classes are college-level courses for which content is prescribed by CT State.  CCP classes are generally offered on the standard level.  In many CTE courses, students will have an opportunity to earn industry badging and national certifications.
    
4. Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) courses require higher levels of organization and motivation because of the advanced pace and level of instruction. Advanced Placement courses are college-level courses. Course content is prescribed by the current College Board’s Advanced Placement syllabus. The College Board Advanced Placement Examination is an expectation for students enrolled in AP level courses.
    
5. Other Courses: Certain subjects offer courses (by recommendation only) that have been grouped according to achievement levels to provide for students who have demonstrated special abilities or needs.

Students who receive lower than a grade of  "C" or "P" in sequential subjects such as math or language may consider attending summer school to improve their skills and their chances of success in the more advanced levels of the subjects.

Due to the sequential nature of certain courses and the necessity for establishing a firm foundation prior to moving on to advanced work, many courses have prerequisites listed (e.g., Algebra I is a prerequisite for Algebra II). For the majority of students, these prerequisites should be followed. Students who feel they have sufficient preparation in a specific area must discuss this with the teacher, school counselor, and department supervisor prior to the selection of a course for which they have not met the stated prerequisite.

For placement other than the normal sequence in sequential courses, examination may be necessary, but credit will not be granted. Refer to Graduation Requirements for further details.

All students are encouraged to participate in the interscholastic program. Twenty nine varsity sports are offered with numerous opportunities for sub-varsity experiences. Both boys' and girls' teams compete in the Central Connecticut Conference. Students should note that participation in sports is not to be considered as a replacement for the regularly scheduled physical education program.

Athletic Team Eligibility

Student eligibility on High School athletic teams is controlled by the rules of eligibility adopted by the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference.

You are NOT eligible:

1.     If you are not taking at least four units of work.
2.     If you have not passed at least four units at the end of the last marking period.
3.     If you have reached your 20th birthday. A student-athlete will not be allowed to start a season or compete during a season in which his/her twentieth birthday falls.
4.     If you have changed schools without a change of residence (for a period of 365 days in a sport).

• If you transfer from one member school to another in grades 10-12 without a corresponding change of legal address, you may be subject to a 50% sit out in your first varsity sport you played at your previous school that you may wish to play at your new school. Check with your athletic director to see whether this rule applies to your transfer.

5.     If you play or practice with an outside team in the same sport while a member of the school team.
6.     If you play under an assumed name on an outside team.
7.     If you receive payment for participation in any athletic activity.

Eight Semester Rule:  A Student has Eight (8) consecutive semesters or four (4) consecutive years of eligibility from the date of initial entry into the ninth grade to be eligible for interscholastic competition.  Students who are not eligible or elect to not participate do not preserve additional semesters for use at a later time.  There is no fifth year of eligibility per se.

Academic Requirements - During the Season

Student-athletes at all levels of play, e.g. freshman, junior varsity and varsity, must conform to all CIAC eligibility rules. Eligibility for fall sports is determined by the number of credits received toward graduation at the close of the previous school year, not the fourth marking period grades. You must have received credit in at least four Carnegie units of work for which you did not previously receive credit to be eligible for fall sports participation. This may include credits earned during the summer. Thereafter, marking period grades, not semester grades, are used to determine eligibility. You must take and earn passing grades in at least four quarter Carnegie units and meet the academic requirements of your school to achieve eligibility. For additional information on academic eligibility, consult your athletic director, school counselor or school principal. Also, see Appendix B in the CIAC Handbook for additional information on eligibility.

Scholastic failures may not be made up for eligibility purposes in any manner until the next report period when grades are distributed. Scholastic incompletes must be made up within ten (10) school days following the date that student eligibility was determined for that marking period. Year-end failures may be made up through successful completion of local school system approved summer school courses in the courses failed.

A student-athlete has eight (8) consecutive semesters, or four (4) consecutive years of eligibility from the date of initial entry into ninth grade to be eligible for interscholastic competition. Students who are not eligible or elect to not participate do not preserve additional semesters for use at a later time. There is no fifth year of eligibility per se.

Academic Requirements

In-Season Rules

You are not permitted to start a sport during a season in which your twentieth (20) birthday falls. The season is from the first allowable play date until the posted date of the state championship in that sport. Student-athletes may not switch from one school team to another after the first scheduled contest in that sport.

During the high school season, starting with the first scheduled contest through the CIAC and New England tournaments, you may not practice or play with an outside team in the same sport. If you are a member of a golf, swimming, gymnastics, track and field or tennis team, refer to the CIAC Handbook for exceptions to this rule. Direct any questions related to outside participation to your athletic director or high school principal.

Boys' Sports			Girls' Sports
Fall	Winter	Spring	Fall	Winter	Spring
Football Varsity, J.V., Freshman    Cross Country Varsity, J.V. Golf Soccer Varsity, J.V., Freshman   ESPORTS	Basketball Varsity, J.V., Freshman   Swimming & Diving   Ice Hockey   Indoor Track   Wrestling Varsity, J.V.	Baseball  Varsity, J.V., Freshman   Tennis Varsity, J.V. Lacrosse Varsity, J.V., Freshman   Track Varsity, J.V.    Volleyball   Varsity, J.V. ESPORTS	Field Hockey Varsity, J.V., Freshman   Swimming & Diving   Cross Country Varsity, J.V.   Cheerleading   Volleyball Varsity, J.V., Freshman   Soccer Varsity, J.V., Freshman ESPORTS	Basketball Varsity, J.V., Freshman   Gymnastics Varsity   Indoor Track   Cheerleading   Ice Hockey	Tennis Varsity, J.V. Developmental     Softball Varsity, J.V., Freshman   Golf   Lacrosse Varsity, J.V., Freshman   Track Varsity, J.V.    ESPORTS

NCAA Eligibility Standards