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 bins English

12 bins Social Studies

12 bins Science

12 bins Theology (including Social Awareness)

9 bins Math

9 bins World Languages

3 bins Physical Education and Health

3 bins Fine Arts

3 bins Computer Science

1 bin Research Paper

8 bins Electives

84 Total Bins Required

See the course catalog for additional information.

Students may receive Upper School credit for Algebra I, French I, or Spanish I taken in the eighth grade if they are placed in Geometry, French II, or Spanish II freshman year. In this case, students must take three additional classes of mathematics and complete the third level of a foreign language in Upper School.

Students may elect to take Advanced Placement courses with the recommendation of the appropriate teacher 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 at the semester for each AP course passed.

Maximum Allowed AP Course Load: 10th Grade - 1 AP; 11th Grade - 2 APs; 12th Grade - 3 APs.

A vital part of the Upper School curriculum at Duchesne Academy is the Global and Social Awareness program and its service-learning requirement. Social Awareness is integrated in daily curriculum and activities, and participation is continually encouraged through a variety of service project offerings annually.

Freshman and Sophomore Requirements:

• Active participation in a minimum of two approved service projects, offered through the Institute of Global and Social Awareness. These projects interact with, and benefit underserved communities.  Students are encouraged to select a variety of opportunities to increase exposure to diverse societal needs.

Junior and Senior Requirements:

• Completion of an assigned service-learning project to fulfill a sustainable need in the Greater Houston community during one MOD each academic school year. Students are assigned one bin for each of their junior and senior years and thus complete two active service opportunities to fulfill this requirement while at Duchesne. Students may also participate in a Sacred Heart Network Summer Service opportunity as rising juniors and seniors to fulfill the service-learning component typically completed during a MOD in the regular academic school year.
• Active reflection weekly will provide the basis for a culminating project at the conclusion of the MOD and can utilize a variety of media to showcase the student’s service-learning experience. The culminating project applies to students receiving credit in the MOD for a regular academic year and for those completing their requirement through the Network Summer Service program.

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