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An Episcopal, co-educational 100% boarding school in Middletown, Delaware for grades 9 – 12
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St. Andrew's School
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Diploma Requirements
Four credits in English, one credit at each grade level (9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade).
Four years, four full-credit courses, one course per year.
Three years, one yearlong, full-credit course in each of the following three disciplines: biology, physics, and chemistry.
Two years plus one semester; one yearlong U.S. History course taken in the student's first year at SAS, 3 semester-long courses, one of which must be AS Research Seminar taken in the junior or senior year.
One year plus one semester; one year-long, full-credit course in the IV Form year, one semester-long, half-credit elective in the V or VI Form year.
Classical or Modern Languages
Two years or three credits in the same language (whichever is more advanced), one full-credit course per year; at least three consecutive years strongly recommended.
The school requires all students to earn two half-credits in the arts before graduation. All III Formers must take one semester-long course in the arts. Students can complete their other arts requirement in a variety of ways:
successful completion of any of our for-credit courses in the arts
participation in the School Orchestra or Noxontones for a full-academic year
participation in the Theatre or Afternoon Dance programs for at least two terms (not necessarily consecutively)
One semester-long, half-credit course in the IV Form year.
Maximum & Minimum Courseloads Per Year
The maximum courseload for students in any Form is five yearlong, full-credit courses and two semester-long, half-credit courses. This translates to a maximum of six courses in a single semester. Please contact Dean of Studies Melinda Tower with questions or for permission concerning additional electives.
The minimum courseload for each Form is as follows:
III Form: five and a half credits—five yearlong, full-credit courses + one semester-long, half-credit arts elective
IV Form: five and a half credits—five yearlong, full-credit courses (including History of Religious Thought) + Health & Wellness (half-credit)
V Form: five credits—five yearlong, full-credit courses or four yearlong, full-credit courses and two semester-long, half-credit courses
VI Form: five credits—five yearlong, full-credit courses, or four yearlong, full-credit courses and two semester-long, half-credit courses, or three yearlong, full-credit courses and four semester-long, half-credit courses
Course Planning & Placement
Students plan the next academic year's course schedule in the early spring of the preceding year with the help of their faculty advisors. Course selection is based not only on the next year's requirements, but also on the student's academic goals for their remaining years at St. Andrew's. After consultation with advisors, parents, other faculty and, in the V Form, a college counselor, students submit their class selections to a committee composed of the dean of studies, director of college counseling, and academic department heads for final review.
For incoming students, the dean of studies, academic department heads, and registrar will examine the student's previous course of study, transcripts, and recommendations to help determine proper placement in St. Andrew's courses. New students may also be asked to take online placement tests in mathematics and foreign language before arriving at St. Andrew's; such tests are typically administered in May or June.
Examinations & Assessments
Students take examinations in their courses at the end of the first and second semesters. The School sends reports home via email in November, February, and April. In October and March, each student's faculty advisor writes a letter to parents detailing the student's mid-term performance. In June, the student's advisor writes a complete review of the year that accompanies final grades and teacher class comments. The Dean of Studies and academic advisors may also write letters or comments about a student in special instances.
Students take standardized tests as the School recommends for college preparation and admission. Fourth Form and V Form students take the PSAT, which for the V Form serves as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. In their V and VI Form years, students generally take the SAT, the ACT and at least two SAT subject tests.
Students may take Advanced Placement examinations in various subjects; some Advanced Study courses will prepare students for these tests, but in most cases students will have to study for AP tests independent of general class instruction.
350 Noxontown Road, Middletown DE 19709