Graduation Requirements:
EPS Students are required to meet graduation requirements in four categories:
1) Total course credits
2) Distribution requirements
3) Participation requirements
4) Residency requirements
These are outlined in more detail below:
1) Total course credits: All EPS students are expected to earn a minimum of 72 total trimester credits. (6 courses per trimester for a full four years) These trimester credits must be earned in enrollment at EPS. Work completed outside of EPS may be used toward advancement in specific subject areas, but not toward the total credit count.
2) In addition to the total credits required, coursework must be distributed between the following departments in the manner charted below.
| Arts |
2 years |
6 trimester courses must be taken in grades 9-12 |
| English |
4 years |
12 trimester courses taken one/trimester grades 9-12 |
| History |
3 years |
Required grades 9-11 |
| Spanish |
3 years |
Required in grades 9-11 |
| Math |
3 years |
Required in grades 9-11 |
| Physical Education |
2 years |
6 trimester courses must be taken in grades 9-12 |
| Science |
3 years |
Required in grades 9-11 |
| Impact Project |
4 years |
Students must complete, with a passing mark, each class impact project, grades 9-12 |
3) EPS has certain experiential pieces of their educational program that are required. Students must participate, in a satisfactory manner as judged by the faculty leaders, in a yearly Impact Project and our Spring Adventures program.
4) The above requirements must be met while in residence as a student at EPS.
Students who enter EPS at a grade level of 10th or higher, with previous high school credit earned will be allowed to have that work considered toward the total course credits and distribution requirements. In general, course requirements for the total course credits will be prorated over the remainder of the student’s high school career. (eg. An entering 10th grader will be expected to earn three-fourths of the remaining credits or 75% of 72 = 54) Starting in the fall of 2008, all students new to the Upper School, who enter in the 10th grade or above, will receive from the US Head, a formal declaration of awarded credits for work done prior to enrollment at EPS. This declaration will be received around the close of the first trimester, and after the student (and family if desired) has met with the US Head to discuss and clarify previous work. The determination of prior credit will be made jointly by the Head of School and the Upper School Head. Credit will not be required for EPS experiential learning completed before enrollment. (An entering 10th grader is not responsible to fulfill the 9th grade Impact Project, for instance.)
In some cases, students may wish to apply for modification of one or more of the four requirement areas. EPS will consider all such requests, but is unlikely to allow such a request unless the following criteria are met.
1) The student submits a written proposal, outlining objectives and providing rationale for explaining why the same objectives can’t be met within EPS. This proposal will be submitted at least 8 weeks before any modification would take place.
2) If a student seeks credit for coursework taken outside EPS, it will generally only be granted if the coursework offers advancement beyond the classes taught at EPS. Coursework will only be considered toward graduation credit if it is academically comparable in challenge and content to other courses given credit at EPS.
3) In general, the intent of such an endeavor would be to continue in the same academic fields required at EPS, while experiencing a new environment. Courses taken away from EPS in this circumstance will be considered for credit only if they are of comparable academic focus and quality.
This set of requirements represents Eastside Preparatory School’s minimum expectations for graduation. Eastside Prep fosters an intellectual curiosity in students, and they take full advantage of our curriculum for all four years of study. Furthermore, Eastside Prep recognizes that students enhance their chances for admission to most selective colleges and universities by taking the most demanding set of courses available to them. Students also distinguish themselves by pursuing supplementary and/or non-traditional studies. Eastside Prep encourages students to consider varied options for senior year. Our graduation requirements are designed to add this flexibility and students receive extensive, personalized advising from faculty and our college counselor to consider and best navigate these choices.
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