Curriculum

List of 7 items.

• Core Courses and Electives

  Westminster’s graduation requirements provide students with a strong college-preparatory foundation in English, mathematics, history, science, languages, and the visual and performing arts. Beyond these requirements, students are encouraged to pursue advanced coursework in the subjects that best match their interests, strengths, and future goals. Students should also consider the admission requirements of colleges and universities they may wish to attend.

• Promotion and Graduation Requirements

  For promotion from one form to the next, a student must have sufficient credits, including those expected to be earned in future years, to meet Westminster’s graduation requirements.
  
  To graduate with a Westminster diploma, students must earn a minimum of 18 credits in approved college preparatory courses, including:
  
  

  • English: 4 credits
  • Mathematics (Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II): 3 credits
  • U.S. History and one additional history course: 2 credits
  • Latin or a modern language: 2 credits
  • Science: 2 credits
  • Visual and Performing Arts: 1 credit

  
  
  Each student must also satisfy the Quality Requirement described below.
  
  Most Westminster graduates exceed these minimum requirements, typically completing four credits of English, four credits of mathematics, three credits each of history and science, three or four credits of a language, one credit of visual and performing arts, and additional elective coursework.

• Quality Requirement

  To earn a Westminster diploma as a Sixth Former or be promoted as an underformer, students must pass four major courses each year, including English, and earn a cumulative average of at least 75. To receive credit for an individual course, students must earn a minimum final grade of 70.
  
  Students are generally expected to enroll in five full-credit courses each year. Any exception requires approval from the Academic Office. The typical Westminster course load is five or six full-credit courses. Students wishing to enroll in seven full-credit courses must petition the Academic Office for approval.

• Advanced Placement® Courses

  Westminster offers a wide range of Advanced Placement® and honors courses across the curriculum. Placement is based on departmental recommendation and demonstrated academic achievement.
  
  Enrollment in Advanced Placement and honors courses requires departmental approval and a minimum average of 90 in the preceding non-honors or non-AP course. To remain in an honors or AP course, students must earn a minimum grade of 85 in the current course. Recommendations are conditional and may be rescinded by the Academic Office if a student’s performance falls below the required standard during the spring term.
  
  At the fall midterm, students earning below an 80 in an AP or honors course may be required to move to a less rigorous course or level.
  
  All Fourth and Fifth Form students enrolled in Advanced Placement courses are required to take the corresponding AP examination. Sixth Form students may opt out of the AP examination in consultation with their teacher.
  
  Students may not take an AP examination for a course in which they are not enrolled. Exceptions may be made for Sixth Form students who are unable to enroll in a course because of scheduling conflicts.

• Study Abroad

  Westminster students accepted into the prestigious School Year Abroad (SYA) program may spend a year studying and traveling in France, Italy, or Spain.
  
  Graduates may also apply to the English-Speaking Union’s scholarship program, which provides an opportunity to study and travel in the United Kingdom during the year following graduation.
  
  The Academic Office provides guidance throughout the application process. Admission decisions are made by each respective program.

• Independent Study Program

  Independent Study provides advanced students with opportunities to pursue original academic work after they have exhausted Westminster’s curriculum in a particular subject. Independent studies do not replace existing Westminster courses or precede courses offered in a sequence.
  
  Students must submit an Independent Study proposal by the end of the previous school year. Each proposal requires approval from the department head and the Academic Dean or Director of Studies and must include a course description, curriculum outline, and major assessments. Students are also expected to complete a public component that showcases their work.

• Postgraduate Year

  Students who have completed high school but would benefit from an additional year of academic, athletic, artistic, and personal growth before college may apply for a postgraduate (PG) year at Westminster. Typically, eight to 10 postgraduate students enroll each year.
  
  The application process is the same as for students applying to other grades. Because many postgraduate applicants have already completed college admission testing, they often submit SAT or ACT scores. However, standardized testing is not required. Applicants may instead submit a graded academic paper to satisfy the application requirement.
  
  Students accepted for a postgraduate year join Westminster’s Sixth Form and become members of the graduating class. They complete Sixth Form English and otherwise follow an academic program aligned with their interests and goals. Postgraduate students are expected to contribute to the Westminster community through leadership, involvement, and citizenship.
  
  Students who satisfy Westminster’s graduation requirements receive a Westminster Diploma at Commencement. Those who do not complete the diploma requirements receive a Certificate of Completion.