Office of Curriculum and Development
What Programs Distinguish Our School District?
Departments
Business Education
English
Family and Consumer Sciences
Health and Physical Education
IMC
Math
ROTC
Science
Social Studies
Special Education
Technology Education
Visual and Performing Arts
World Language
Return to
Curriculum
Return to
District
 
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.