Lexington High School Curriculum Overview
251 Waltham Street, Lexington, MA 02421	781-861-2320

Lexington High School Overview
Lexington High School is a vibrant learning community, a place that engenders a spirit of shared purpose among students, faculty, parents and administration. It sustains a culture that connects personal growth to academic excellence.
The core values of respect for diversity, shared responsibility and continuous improvement are implicit in the operations and planning for Lexington High School. Every student is supported so that he or she can reach and demonstrate levels of academic achievement. Each student is recognized as an individual with an array of interests, talents and needs.
In the course of a student’s tenure at LHS, he or she should reach and demonstrate specified levels of academic achievement that meet or exceed State Curriculum Frameworks. This “floor of excellence,” or core of acquired skills and knowledge, will guarantee every graduate of the high school a strong academic foundation for lifelong learning. From this solid base, each student should build to a “vaulted ceiling of excellence” through in-depth studies.
For graduation, students must earn at least 104 credits and fulfill minimum course distribution requirements. Also, students must perform 40 hours of approved community service. Distribution requirements, by credits, are: English–16, Fine and Performing Arts–8, Foreign Languages–8, Mathematics–16, Science–18, Social Sciences–16, Physical Education/Health–8. AP courses are offered in several subjects, designated (AP) or AP in the title. Examples of course offerings (with links to full descriptions in LHS Program of Studies):
	English – Literature and Composition I & II, American Literature/Studies; Beginning Semiotics, Senior Literature and Composition, Writing: Memoir, Fiction, Poetry; Theology in Literature, British Literature, Contemporary Literature, Modern Literature, Art of the Film, Western Traditions.
	Fine and Performing Arts –Dance: Modern/Ballet, Jazz, Musical Theater, Choreography and Performance, and others; Drama: Art of the Theater, Improvisational Theater, Public Speaking, Drama of Social Issues Performance Workshop, Art of Directing and Playwriting; Music: Music Theory, Harmony, Music and Humanity, Symphonic Band, Wind Symphony, Mixed Chorus, Concert Choir, Madrigals, Repertoire Orchestra, Honors Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Improvisation (beginning, intermediate, honors); Visual Arts: Foundations, Computer Animation, Drawing I & II, Painting, Ceramics I & II, Watercolor I & II, Portfolio, Photography I & II, Graphic Design, Art of Book Design, Traditions of Textile Expression, Sculpture.
	Foreign Languages – French (AP), Spanish (AP), German I-IV, Italian I-IV, Latin I-IV, Mandarin I-IV, English Language Learners, American Sign Language. Foreign exchange opportunities.
	Guidance Seminars – All students are scheduled for six-week seminars with their guidance counselors. The program is designed to meet the needs of each grade. Topics include high school adjustment and academic planning, college admissions, etc.
	Health Education – Required one-semester courses for freshman and juniors focus on health education from a developmental perspective and emphasize skill building and decision making.
	Interdisciplinary Studies – American Studies; Web Ventures; Dance–modern, ballet, jazz and others; Math and Physical Science, Integrated.
	Mathematics – Algebra I & II, Advanced Mathematics, Integrated Math with Applications I & II, Geometry, Pre-calculus, Calculus (AP-AB, BC), AP Statistics, Introduction to Programming I, II & advanced; Computer Applications, Computer Science (AP), Spreadsheet Applications, Accounting I & II.
	Physical Education – Courses consider the need for an educated person to understand the importance of movement to his/her development. Students develop an understanding that physical activities provide enjoyment, challenge, self-expression and social interaction.
	Science – Earth Science, Biology (AP), Chemistry (AP), Physics, AP Analytical Physics, Astronomy, Research Projects
	Social Studies – World History I & II (AP); US History (AP); AP European History, American Popular Culture in the 20th Century, Political Thought, US Government and Politics, AP Human Geography, AP Macroeconomics, AP Microeconomics, Field Research in Lexington's History, Contemporary China, Modern Japan, Speech and Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Debate I & II, International Relations-Focus on Human Rights, Seminar-Women in American History, Psychology, American Experience in Vietnam, Facing History-The Holocaust and Other Genocides; Emergence of the New South since 1877, The Civil Rights Movement, Introduction to Business, Business Management, Marketing, Television Production I & II.
LHS Extracurricular Activities LHS has 51 athletic teams in 27 sports and over 40 student-run activities. These include: publications such as newspaper, yearbook and literary magazine; service groups including the National Honor Society; student government; other clubs and groups––math, chess, science, drama, vocal and instrumental music ensembles, foreign languages, social studies, peer leader program, etc.
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