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Overview of High School Instructional Program |
Washington Township High School prides itself on the rich
and varied offerings comprising its instructional program. With nearly
3,000 students, our high school strives to provide diverse opportunities
reflective of our students' instructional needs and interests. Instruction
in the core subjects is complemented by a broad array of offerings in
the visual, practical and performing arts. The program of studies allows
students the opportunity not only to meet state and district graduation
requirements as listed below, but to gain a balanced educational experience
intended to prepare them for post secondary education and to assume
a meaningful career as they enter adulthood. |
Graduation: Course/Credit Requirements
In order to obtain a high school diploma at Washington Township High
School, each student must earn 116 credits, which shall include:
- Twenty credits in Language Arts Literacy;
- Fifteen credits in Mathematics;
- Fifteen credits in Social Studies including United
States and New Jersey history and civics as required by N.J.S.A. 18A:35-1
and 35-2 and Genocide/Holocaust Studies as required by N.J.S.A. 18A:35-28;
- Fifteen credits in Science.
- Three and three-quarters credits in Physical Education,
Health, and Safety during each year of enrollment, as required by
N.J.S.A. 18A:35-5, 7 and 8, distributed over at least one hundred
fifty minutes per week;
- Ten credits in Visual, Practical and Performing Arts.
- Five credits in World Languages.
- Cross Content Workplace Readiness Standards, which
may be satisfied by infusion into existing courses, course equivalents,
or career education courses.
- Electives, as determined by the high school program,
sufficient to total a minimum of 116 credits.
A credit is defined as the equivalent of a class period
of instruction, which meets for a minimum of forty minutes one time per
week during the school year. |
Graduation: State Proficiency Test Requirements
Additionally, in order to obtain a diploma in the State of New Jersey,
a student must take and pass all sections of the High School Proficiency
Assessment (HSPA 11). This state mandated test, which made its
debut in March 2002, is administered to all 11th graders. Presently
comprised of a Language Arts Literacy subtest and a Mathematics subtest,
the HSPA is scheduled to include a Science subtest in the next few
years. All sections of the test require the students to demonstrate
effective reading, writing, and critical thinking skills, as well
as proficiency in the knowledge and skills outlined in the New Jersey
Core Curriculum Content Standards for each specific tested subject
area. Students who do not pass all sections of the test at the end
of the Junior year, will be required to retake the test again in the
Fall and Spring of their Senior year until such time that the student
demonstrates proficiency in all sections of the HSPA. |
Course Selection Guide
Information, descriptions, and pre-requisites for specific courses
offered by each department can be found in the High School Curriculum
Guide. |
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