High School Academics

Click here for the High School Course Catalog

Click here for the book list

Credits are assigned to each course.  To receive the assigned credits, a student must receive a passing grade in that subject for which he or she has been enrolled.  A student may not apply for early graduation from Bishop Walsh School.  All students must take a minimum of 7 credit hours all 4 years at Bishop Walsh.  A minimum of 24 credits is required for graduation.  One credit is equal to 120 clock hours of instruction. The office of Campus Ministry has the responsibility of overseeing the religious activities of Bishop Walsh School.  The program of School Ministry addresses three important areas of Christian Formation: Growing as a person of faith, experiencing Christian Community, and reaching out in service.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS AND CREDITS – completed at Bishop Walsh School

  1. One credit in Religion for each year in attendance at Bishop Walsh- residency courses
  2. Four credits in English – residency courses
  3. Three credits in Social Studies (Civilizations of the World, American Government, and U.S.History)
  4. Three credits in lab-based Sciences
  5. Two credits in the same modern Foreign Language (French and Spanish are offered)
  6. Three credits in Mathematics (two in Algebra and one in Geometry)
  7. One-half credit in Keyboarding and one-half credit in Computer Education
  8. One-half credit in Art and one-half credit in Music
  9. One-half credit in Physical Education and one-half credit in Health
  10. Electives to complete a total of 24 credits, the minimum number required for graduation.

We recommend four credits in Social Studies, Science, Math, and Foreign Language.

COURSE OFFERINGS

Course offerings include complete academic programs for the college-bound student as well as courses available at the Center for Careers and Technological Education.  The Administration at Bishop Walsh has worked in conjunction with the Superintendent of Schools for Allegany County to arrange for qualified students of Bishop Walsh to select courses at C.C.T.E. during their Junior and Senior years.  This can be achieved only if there are at least 10 students who are interested and who qualify. 
Qualifications include:
- The students have earned a minimum of 6 credits per year at Bishop Walsh.
- The students have fulfilled the credit requirements for 9th and 10th grades in Religion, English, Social Studies, Science, Mathematics, Fine Arts, Physical Education/Health, Keyboarding, and Computer.

The Course catalog is available on our website.  Copies are available in the Main Office.  Registration takes place in March for the following academic year.

THE PHASE SYSTEM

Phase 1   - Courses are designed for students who need emphasis on the skills of the course.
Phase 2 - Courses are designed for students who need moderate emphasis on the basic skills of
the course.  They are college preparatory in nature.
Phase 3 - Courses are designed for students whose command of the basic skills enables them to pursue   
a more detailed study of the course material.  They are college preparatory in nature.
Phase 4 - These courses are Advanced Placement and taking of the national exam is mandatory.

CYCLE

Bishop Walsh School employs a six-day cycle in its academic calendar.  The number A through F identifies school days.  Thus, if Monday is Day A, the following Monday is Day F (and Tuesday is Day A again).  If the sequence of days is interrupted by a holiday, the sequence resumes with the next numerical day; therefore labs and classes which do not meet daily are never skipped.

GRADING SYSTEM

The year is divided into four marking periods at the end of which reports are issued.  The minimum passing grade is D.  To receive credit the yearly average must be D or better.  The letter grades and their numerical equivalents are:
A+       100-98
A         97-93
B+       92-90
B         89-85
C+       84-80
C         79-75
D+       74-73
D         72-70
F          Below 70

 

RANK IN CLASS

Courses at Bishop Walsh School, High School Level, are weighted according to difficulty and assigned quality point values for corresponding grades.

Grade
Phase 4
Phase 3
Phase 2
A+
98-100
4.5
4.25
4
A
93-97
4.25
4
3.75
B+
90-92
4
3.75
3.5
B
85-89
3.5
3.25
3
  C+
80-84
3
2.75
2.5
C
75-79
2.5
2.25
2
D+
73-74
2
1.75
1.5
D
70-72
1.5
1.25
1

 

HONOR ROLL

The Honor Roll is determined by general average.  The grade is meant to indicate whether or not the student is working to his or her ability level.
- A student whose quarter grades are all 93% or higher earns PRINCIPAL’S HONORS.
- A student whose quarter GPA is 3.5 and has no grade lower than 85% earns FIRST HONORS.
- A student whose quarter GPA is 3.0 and has no grade lower than 80% earns SECOND HONORS.