Academic Requirements

Course Selection Process

Freshmen placement is determined by standardized test scores, academic performance, teacher recommendations and Catherine McAuley placement tests. After freshman year the classroom teachers are responsible for all level changes. Course selection takes place in guidance seminar during the month of February. Teachers notify students of any recommended level changes prior to beginning the selection process. Guidance counselors explain the process to students and design schedules to best prepare them for college acceptance.

Parents sign and return the course selection sheets, along with the appropriate re-enrollment forms, in mid-March. Course selection must be finalized before May 1. Changes after May 1 are very rare and are possible only if there is a level change or if the requested elective is available within the student's schedule. Schedule changes at the beginning of an academic term will be granted only during the first six days of the class. Classes dropped after the sixth day will be shown on a student's transcript as a withdrawal-fail.

Requirements by Grade

Students are required to carry the equivalent of six academic courses each year and must earn a minimum of 23 Carnegie units to graduate

Curriculum Overview

Minimum Requirements for Graduation

Subject	Credit
Religion	4.00
English	4.00
Foreign Languages	3.00
Science	3.00
Mathematics	3.00
Social Studies	3.00
Fine Arts	1.00
Physical Education	1.00
Computer Technology	.50
Health	.50

Online Textbook Purchase

Catherine McAuley High School students purchase textbooks online. The school has teamed with VarsityBooks.com, the leading provider of online bookstore services to private K-12 schools providing families with first-class service, competitive pricing and access to a wide selection of new and used textbook titles and other learning materials. Each year in late May or early June the preliminary booklist for the upcoming school year is made available to McAuley students and their parents and at the end of July the booklist is posted to the VarsityBooks.com website. This online program was designed to streamline textbook operations for schools and make book buying as easy as possible for families. Questions about purchasing textbooks should be directed to Varsity Books online at VarsityBooks.com, or phone 1-877-VAR-BOOK (877-827-2665).

Summer Reading Requirement

Information on McAuley’s summer reading requirement is made available to students and their parents each year in June. Books can be borrowed from local libraries, purchased at local stores, or purchased online at VarsityBooks.com, where the complete summer reading list is posted each year in June and remains until after the start of school the following fall. Summer reading requirements are listed by course, and students are expected to read the required books for each listed course before returning to school in the fall.