Table of Contents - High School Course Catalog
Sample Course Schedules
Students select courses each school year with their school counselor. These very personal choices should reflect a student’s interests and post high school plans. The sample schedules below are intended to guide parents and students as they navigate high school graduation requirements. A student’s specific schedule may look different than the samples listed below.
Sample Schedule for Advanced Studies Diploma — 26 standard units of credit required
| Grade 8 | Grade 9 | Grade 10 | Grade 11 | Grade 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English 9 | English 10 | English 11 | English 12 | |
| Advanced Algebra I | Advanced Geometry | Advanced Algebra II (Advanced Algebra II-Trigonometry 2020–21 and earlier) | Pre-Calculus for BC | Calculus AB or BC/ Statistics/Computer Science |
| Earth Science | Biology | Chemistry | Physics I | |
| World History from 1500 | World History to 1500 | U.S. and Virginia History | U.S. and Virginia Government | |
| World Language I | World Language II | World Language III | World Language IV | World Language V |
| HPE I | HPE II | Economics and Personal Finance | Elective | |
| Elective | Elective** | Elective** | Elective |
A student’s elective choice may be a Fine Arts, CTE, or other elective course that meets a student’s individual needs. Students in need of additional academic support may take an elective course that is prescribed in their Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) or English Language Service Delivery Plan (SDP).
** Students who enter the 9th grade for the first time in the 2018–19 school year and beyond must meet the sequential elective requirement during their high school career.
Sample Schedule for Standard Diploma — 22 standard units of credit required
| Grade 9 | Grade 10 | Grade 11 | Grade 12 |
|---|---|---|---|
| English 9 | English 10 | English 11 | English 12 |
| Algebra I | Geometry | Algebra II or Algebra Functions and Data Analysis | Upper Level Math Course or Career Preparatory Elective |
| Earth Science | Biology | Chemistry | Upper Level Science Course or Career Preparatory Elective |
| World History from 1500 | World History to 1500 | U.S. and Virginia History | U.S. and Virginia Government |
| HPE I | HPE II | Economics and Personal Finance | Career Preparatory Elective |
| Elective | Elective | Sequential Elective | Sequential Elective |
| Elective | Elective | Elective | Elective |
A student’s elective choice may be a Fine Arts, CTE, or other elective course that meets a student’s individual needs. Students in need of additional academic support may take an elective course that is prescribed in their Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) or English Language Service Delivery Plan (SDP).
All PWCS high schools operate under a standard seven-period A/B schedule. Some schools modify the school schedule to embed flexible instructional time into the day.
In 9th and 10th grade students are encouraged to select elective courses that allow them to explore interests which match their intended post-secondary plan. Electives may also include an additional course in a core subject area.
In 11th and 12th grade students are encouraged to focus on elective courses which may lead to work readiness and/or a college major choice. Students pursuing the Standard Diploma must take sequential electives which broaden a student’s skill set in a specific area.
Sequential Electives
Any two credits, from the subject areas listed below, taken in sequence, that allow students to build upon and increase their knowledge of the academic subject will meet the sequential elective graduation requirement.
Art
Art 1-5
Art History
Art Portfolio Preparation
AP Studio Art 2D Design
AP Studio Art 3D Design
AP Studio Art Drawing
AP Art History
Photography
Photography II
CFPA Art I
CFPA Art II
CFPA 2D Painting / Printmaking
CFPA 3D Ceramics / Sculpture
Computer Art
IGCSE Art and Design
AICE Art and Design (Level AS; Level A)
IB Visual Arts I
IB Visual Arts II
IT Graphic Design
IT Computer Graphics I
IT Computer Graphics II
IT Multimedia Software Design and Dev I
IT Multimedia Software Design and Dev II
IT Photography
Scientific Illustration
Career and Technical Education
CTE sequential electives vary by course. Please see your school counselor or view the CTE Sequences webpage.
CFPA - Creative Writing
Creative Writing Exploration
Writing Short and Long Fiction —Advanced Genre Focus
Writing Creative Nonfiction —Advanced Genre Focus
Writing Poetry — Advanced Genre Focus
Writing for the Screen and Stage — Advanced Genre Focus
Creative Writing Publications
Advanced Creative Writing Workshop and seminar
Dance
CFPA Dance I–IV
CFPA Dance Composition and Repertory
Dance I-II
English
Creative Writing I & II
Creative Writing Publications
Journalism I–III
Photojournalism/Yearbook
Intro to Speech Communication
Enrichment in Speech Communication
General Cross-Curricular
Athletic and Sports Leadership Development
AP Computer Science Principles
AICE Global Perspectives
IGCSE Global Perspectives
Leadership Development I, II, and III
Learning Strategies I, II
AP Research
AP Seminar
AICE Thinking Skills A
AICE Thinking Skills AS
Governor's School @ Innovation Park
GS Bioengineering
GS Computer Science
GS Computer Science II
GS Computing for Scientists
GS Geomatics
GS Innovations
GS Intro to Engineering
Math
Advanced Computer Math
AP Computer Science A
Data Structures and Algorithms
AICE Computing
IB Computer Science SL/HL
Advanced Computer Studies
Science
Earth Science II Courses
Biology II Courses
Theatre
Theatre I: Introduction to Theatre
Theatre II: An Exploration of Performance in Theatre
Theatre III
Theatre IV
Technical Theatre/Production
IB Theatre Arts
Musical Theatre
Performance Theatre
Directing for the Stage and Screen
Film Studies
IB Film
Music
Any two band, orchestra, or choir performance classes
AP Music Theory
IB Music I and IB Music II
Music Theory I
Music Theory II
Music Technology
Advanced Music Technology
A Survey of World Music
Class Voice I
Class Voice II
Class Voice III
IGCSE Music Studies
AICE Music
Class Piano
CFPA Piano
Guitar I
Guitar II
Ukulele
Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC)
Navy JROTC I-IV (NJROTC)
Army JROTC I-IV (AJROTC)
Marine Corps JROTC I–IV (MCJROTC)
Air Force JROTC I–IV (AFJROTC)
Physical Education
Aquatic Fitness and Activities and Lifeguard Training
Personal Fitness*
Unified Physical Education Recreational Activities*
Weight Training*
Special Education
Compensatory Skills I–IV
Social Skills I and II
Employ I, II, III, and IV
Office Specialist I, II, and III
Learning Strategies I and II
World Language/ESOL
Any two sequential world language courses which are not being used to meet the world language requirement for the Advanced Studies Diploma or the English requirement for English Language Learners.
*If a sequential course is not offered, or unavailable due to the student’s placement within a performance-based program, then a repeated course may be considered as a sequential elective.