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Programs of Study

In order to meet the needs of its diverse student population, DeSales has designed three Programs of Study.

Students, in consultation with their parents and the Student Services team, will select from one of the following Programs of Study at the end of freshman year:

The Honors Program is designed to provide students the academic background they will need to be successful in a college or university setting and to allow those students the opportunity to gain college credit while still enrolled in high school. Honors Program students are expected to enroll in a minimum of six Honors level courses and enroll in a minimum of four College Board endorsed Advanced Placement courses or dual credit courses. In addition to the Kentucky Core Curriculum and the opportunity to participate in AP or dual credit courses, the Honors Program requires a minimum of three years of the same world language study with the option of a fourth year of study. Students who demonstrate strength in the areas of reading, language and mathematics will benefit the most from the Honors Program of Study.

The Scholastic Program is designed for students who demonstrate average or above average proficiency in the areas of reading, language and mathematics. The program is designed to ensure that students earn the required credits prescribed in the Kentucky Core Curriculum, in addition to a minimum of two years of the same world language study. The Kentucky Core Curriculum courses and the two year minimum world language study requirement will prepare students in the Scholastic Program to pursue post-secondary education at both two and four year colleges and universities.

The Academic Program is designed for students who may need additional academic support to experience success during their high school career. Students in the Academic Program may be planning to attend a technical college, community college, or another form of post-secondary training upon graduation from high school. This program ensures that students earn the required credits prescribed in the Kentucky Core Curriculum.
 

Graduation Requirements

• Successful completion of a Service and Ministry Portfolio
• Successful completion of a Guidance Portfolio
• Successful completion of a minimum of 28 credits with the following guidelines:
  • English – 4 credits
  • Math – 4 credits
  • Social Studies – 4 credits
  • Science – 4 credits
  • Theology/Religion – 4 credits
  • Health/PE – 1 credit
  • Arts & Humanities – 1 credit
  • World Language/Electives – 6/8* credits minimum**

*The requirement for the classes of 2013 and 2014 will remain at 6 credits.  The new requirement of 8 credits is in effect for the classes of 2015 and 2016.

*Please note that the state of Kentucky’s pre-college curriculum requires two credits in the same world language and that the credit earned in any world language class will contribute to fulfilling the Elective requirement at DeSales.

Commonwealth Diploma

In addition to the Honors Program, which will earn the Honors Diploma from DeSales, a student may work toward the Commonwealth Diploma. The Commonwealth Diploma program was established to encourage students to take rigorous courses that better prepare them for college course work. The requirements for the Commonwealth Diploma were established by the Kentucky Department of Education and include the following:

• Successful completion of at least 22 approved credits, including the Kentucky minimum units required for high school graduation

• Successful completion of all minimum requirements of the Pre-College Curriculum established by the Council on Higher Education

• Successful completion of at least four AP courses in the following areas: English, science or mathematics, world language, and one additional elective

• Completion of examinations in at least three of the AP subjects

For additional information on the Commonwealth Diploma program, please access the Kentucky Department of Education website at www.education.ky.gov.

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