Upper School

Duchesne’s college preparatory academic program in the Upper School is strong and challenging. Starting in fall 2020 with the new MOD Schedule, students are required to complete the following:

12 credits English

12 credits Social Studies

12 credits Science

12 credits Theology (including Social Awareness)

9 credits Math

9 credits World Languages

3 credits Physical Education and Health

3 credits Fine Arts

3 credits Computer Science

1 credits Research Paper*

8 credits Electives*

*Beginning with the class of 2027, two credits of Transformative Research and Action will be required rather than one credit of Research Paper, and the number of required Elective credits will be reduced to seven.

84 Total Bins Required

See the course catalog for additional information.

Students may elect to take Advanced Placement (AP) courses with the recommendation of the appropriate department and the approval of the Academic Dean, provided they meet the benchmarks in rubrics developed within each department. All AP courses at Duchesne have been audited and approved by The College Board.

• All AP students are expected to take the national AP exams in May.
• Students will receive an additional 0.5 quality point for each AP course passed.
• If a student is unable to take the AP exam and does not have a valid excuse, the 0.5 GPA quality point will be removed from their GPA.

In the Upper School, students live Sacred Heart Goal III by developing a social awareness which impels to action. Instead of counting service hours, Duchesne students engage in service-learning projects and research that inspire them to make change in the world. Each grade level has specific requirements to ensure that students confront some of our most pressing social issues, including homelessness, poverty, hunger, disability rights, elder care, mental heath, and criminal justice. 

Grades 9 and 10 Requirements:

• Freshman and sophomores are required to complete two service projects per year. Freshman and sophomore Sophie's Space Advisories will also sponsor a local site in the Greater Houston area.

Grade 11:

• Juniors will take the first course in a two-year sequence of Transformative Research and Action (formerly known as Research Paper and Writing for Change). After choosing a problem in their local, regional, national, or global community, students will conduct research, find a means to educate people about that program (including non-traditional methods like videos or podcasts), and propose possible solutions. This course introduces Juniors to the basics of research, including identifying sources, using the library databases, note taking, and incorporating research into a final product. As an added requirement and practice living Goal III, Juniors will also complete a bin of Social Awareness, traveling off-campus to a local site.

Grade 12:

• Seniors will complete the second course in a two-year sequence of Transformative Research and Action (formerly known as Research Paper and Writing for Change). Beginning with an essential question based on their Junior year research project, students will continue to develop their skills in conducting and presenting quality research. This includes evaluating sources, using academic databases, and adhering to appropriate citation and formatting guidelines, culminating in the completion of a college-level argumentative research paper. As an added requirement and practice of living Goal III, Seniors will also complete a credit of Social Awareness, traveling off-campus to a local site.

Participation in 1 season on a Duchesne athletics team satisfies 1 credit of the physical education requirement. For the exemption to be complete, the student must complete the appropriate paperwork from the Head of Athletics and Health Services.