Edwardsville High School Curriculum
Academics: Edwardsville High School provides a full range
of curricular offerings to meet the educational needs and
interests of its students as they prepare for post-secondary
education or the world of work. Through over 160 courses,
students are provided with a strong core curriculum in
English, Mathematics, Social Science, and Science. Four
years each of Spanish, French, and German classes are
offered. In addition, EHS offers an extensive selection of
fine arts and vocational courses.
A minimum of 20 credits is required for graduation.
Sixteen credits must be earned in academic subjects, 10.5 of
which are required courses. Transfer students must be
enrolled for a minimum of one complete semester to graduate.
A student may graduate early if he/she has the required
number of credits and has met the course pattern
requirements. Students are required to pass one year of
American History and one semester each of Civics, Global
Studies, and Consumer Education. A student must also pass a
U.S. and Illinois Constitution test in Civics to graduate. A
complete list of classes and course requirements are
available in the course handbook issued yearly by the high
school.
Ninety percent of those graduating typically go on to
institutions of higher learning. Students and parents should
check individual college requirements and NCAA requirements,
as they may vary from the high school’s graduation
requirements. While there is no placement service for
employment beyond high school, EHS will provide some of the
testing required for unions and the armed forces (ASVAB) for
interested students. Additional information can be obtained
in the Guidance Office.
The high school provides three work-study programs:
Special Education, Office Co-Op, and Interrelated Co-Op.
Students eligible for work-study must earn the appropriate
number of credits, attend regular classes, and possess the
skills required for the work-study program.
Children in the Edwardsville School District are required
to attend school through age 17. The dropout rate for the
2003-2004 school year was 2.5%. For students unable to
achieve success in the traditional school environment, there
is the option of attending the
Alternative High School. The
graduation requirements are the same, and the goal is to
reintegrate the student back into the regular high school.
The average annual student population at the Alternative
High School is from 25-40 students. For further information
on the Alternative High School,
click here.
Honors Program: Honors courses and Advanced Placement (AP)
courses are offered in the core academic areas.
Prerequisites and minimum grade requirements are required
for selecting these courses. Honors and AP courses are
weighted to address the increased academic demands within
these courses.
Grade Reporting and Parent Conferences: Students receive
report cards four times per year; progress reports are
issued to students with academic or behavioral difficulties
at the midpoint of each quarter. There are regular
opportunities for teachers and parents to confer about a
student. Teachers are typically available before and after
classes. They also have voice mail and e-mail to facilitate
communication. Formal parent conferences are conducted
annually in November. However, parents or teachers may
request a conference whenever the need arises.
Student Support: EHS offers a wide variety of services to
its students. Each student is provided with the EHS Handbook
and planner, an organizational tool designed to assist
students in recording and planning their work and other
school activities. The planner contains a schedule of all
school-based activities, including the District calendar.
Each of the six guidance counselors is responsible for a
certain portion of students, which is assigned
alphabetically. Every effort is made for the student to have
the same counselor for all four years. Counselors are
available for academic, vocational, and social guidance.
Students are assigned to an assistant principal, and every
effort is made for the student to remain with that assistant
principal until graduation. Specialists, such as social
workers and a psychologist, are available within the school
district to assist students with any problems they might
have.
Students planning to attend college receive support
through assistance in academic advisement, ACT preparation
courses, college visit days, and entrance testing.
Information on scholarships and financial aid is also
available through the Guidance Office.
Students preparing for the world of work receive support
through vocational planning and the development of
Individual Career Plans (ICP’s). If a student desires an
entry-level job upon graduation, it is advisable to follow a
specific sequence of courses in a particular vocational
field. Counselors work with students to ensure preparation
for their chosen field.
Tutoring is available on an informal basis. A student
unable to attend classes due to prolonged illness may
receive homebound tutoring. Teachers are available before
and after school for extra help.
A variety of programs exists for students experiencing
difficulty in school. EHS’s Student Assistance Program takes
referrals on students and helps guide them to the proper
support services. The high school has two full-time School
Resource Officers (SRO's) on-site. And, an in-district
suspension program is available to allow those students
whose infractions are of a non-violent nature to continue
their education while serving their suspension. In this way,
students receive consequences for poor behavior decisions
but have monitored school work time as well.
Extracurricular Activities: EHS offers a wide range of
extracurricular activities. A partial list of organizations
and athletic teams is available in the EHS handbook and
planner. Some teachers volunteer their time to help with
after-school activities; others are paid a stipend for their
assistance. For a list of activities click here.
Parent Involvement: There is no formal parent volunteer
organization, but most school committees include parents.
Parent involvement in booster programs is high, and some
parents volunteer during the school day for special projects
or events (e.g., distributing schedules on the first day of
school).
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