Honor Courses &
Early High School Regents Credit
for Advanced Studies Students
Students selected for honor courses demonstrate high order thinking ability, motivation, and skill in the subject(s) for which they are eligible.
Grades, standardized test scores, the student’s daily class performance, participation, study habits, communication skills, character, and teacher recommendations are among the many variables considered in electing students for honor courses.
Honor courses will include a fast paced but comfortable instruction rate, exciting problems to solve, high interest projects, and opportunity to earn advanced New York State Board of Regents high school credit or proficiency certification, where applicable. Honor courses and Honor Student status will be noted on report cards.
Honor level achievement must be maintained throughout each marking period to remain in an honor course.
Honors Math.
Students qualify by report card grades in mathematics, achievement test scores in math and teacher recommendation. The student must show readiness to take on intellectually challenging problems and the perseverance to sustain personal effort. Students must achieve at least an 85 average each marking period to maintain their Honors Math standing.
Honors Math students will take NYS Board of Regents courses in Mathematics A or Algebra; study will focus on select skills and concepts within these courses designed for the advanced student. Regents tests will be given by the close of eighth grade, or earlier.
Honors Science.
Students qualify by report card grades in science, achievement test scores in science and teacher recommendation. The student must show readiness to take on intellectually challenging problems, the ability to productively work in cooperative study groups, and the perseverance to sustain personal effort.
Eligibility for advanced studies in science requires on- or above-grade level reading and writing skills. Students must achieve at least an 85 average each marking period to maintain their Honors Science standing.
Students will take Chemistry in the seventh grade fall semester and then begin the NYS Board of Regents course in Earth Science in the spring. Study will focus on select skills and concepts within these courses that have been designed for the advanced student. The Earth Science Regents Test will be given at the close of eighth grade.
Honors English & Language Arts.
Students qualify by report card grades in ELA, achievement test scores in ELA and teacher recommendation. The student must show readiness to take on intellectually challenging problems, the ability to productively work in cooperative study groups, and the perseverance to sustain personal effort.
Eligibility for advanced studies in ELA requires above-grade level reading comprehension and the skill to write clearly and creatively with a minimum of mechanical errors (spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc.). Students must achieve at least an 85 average each marking period to maintain their Honors ELA standing.
Honors level ELA will include through high school level primary reading sources; advanced literary criticism; enhanced Writer’s Workshop for craft and style; publishing; and journalism. Students will assemble portfolios of their written work; study authors and literary genres; and submit stories, poems or research for publication or entry into recognized student writing competitions.
Honors French.
Students qualify by report card grades in French, test scores in French and teacher recommendation. The student must show perseverance to sustain personal effort. Eligibility for advanced studies in French requires above-grade level reading, speaking and writing in French. Students must achieve at least an 85 average each marking period to maintain their Honors French standing.
Honors French students will be eligible for early administration of the NYS French Proficiency Test by the close of seventh or eighth grade. A passing score on this measure qualifies the student for Level 2 French in New York – ordinarily, a ninth or tenth grade level course.