Academics at North
North Decatur Jr/Sr High is committed to meeting the academic needs of our students to prepare them for success in a competitive global economy; thus we strive to offer a variety of career pathways within our curriculum. Our curriculum is based on Indiana’s Core40 Standards and includes Advanced Placement (AP), dual credit, and career and technical course options.
In 2007, lawmakers updated the high school graduation requirements for all students in Indiana to Core40. At the same time, they drafted legislation that made Core40 a standard admission requirement for colleges and universities across the state. This legislation included an opt-out provision for parents who felt their students would receive greater benefit from a general education diploma. Today, under current requirements, students may earn one of four diploma types:
Weighted Grades
Some of our upper level courses carry more “weight” than others. Students who successfully complete these advanced classes are given one additional point value when figuring their GPA.
- Any Advanced Placement (AP) course
- Any dual credit English course
- Any 4th year world language course
- Any 3rd or 4th year Project Lead The Way (PLTW) course
For example, a student finishing AP Chemistry with a B- average (regular GPA of 2.667), will earn a weighted GPA of 3.667.
Advanced Placement (AP) courses are college-level classes that offer challenging coursework to help high schoolers improve their writing and problem-solving skills, develop time management skills, and improve their study habits so they can be successful in college. Most colleges offer credit to students who complete AP courses in high school and pass their final exams. North Decatur currently offers:
- AP US History
- AP Macroeconomics
- AP Calculus AB
- AP Biology
- AP Chemistry
- AP Physics I
- AP Physics II
- AP Art History
- AP Music History
Dual credit classes give high school students the opportunity to earn both high school and college credits at the same time. Our dual credit classes are taught by NDHS staff who have been trained and credentialed by the Ivy Tech dual credit program to award college credit to students who successfully complete:
- Agribusiness Management (AGRI 102, 3 credits)
- Animal Science (AGRI 103, 3 credits)
- Ag Power 1 and 2 (AGRI 106, 3 credits)
- ALS, Animals (AGRI 107, 3 credits)
- Natural Resources (AGRI 115, 3 credits)
- Horticultural Science (AGRI 116, 3 credits)
- Digital Apps & Responsibility (CINS 101, 3 credits)
- Computers in Design & Production (DESN 101, 3 credits)
- PLTW Intro to Engineering Design (DESN 101/113, 6 credits)
- PLTW Principles of Engineering (DESN 104, 3 credits)
- PLTW Civil Engineering & Architecture (DESN 105, 3 credits)
- PLTW Digital Electronics (EECT 112, 3 credits)
- Honors English 12 (ENGL 111/112, 6 credits)
- French 3 (FREN 101/102, 8 credits)
- French 4 (FREN 201/202, 6 credits)
- Human Development & Wellness (HLHS 111, 3 credits)
- Finite Math (MATH 135, 3 credits)
- Pre-Calculus (MATH 136, 3 credits)
- Trigonometry (MATH 137, 3 credits)
- AP Calculus AB (MATH 211, 4 credits)
- Spanish 3 (SPAN 101/102, 8 credits)
- Spanish 4 (SPAN 201/202, 6 credits)
- Visual Communication (VISC 115/102, 6 credits)
Project Lead the Way is a nationally recognized program that empowers students to step into the role of an engineer or scientist, adopt a problem-solving mindset, and meet real-world challenges that help them become better collaborators and thinkers.
We offer PLTW courses at both the junior high and high school levels. Our PLTW engineering courses earn dual credit through Ivy Tech and include:
- Introduction to Engineering Design (DESN 101/113)
- Principles of Engineering (DESN 104)
- Digital Electronics (EECT 112)
- Civil Engineering and Architecture (DESN 105)
We offer PLTW Biomedical Science courses in junior high and transport interested students to South Decatur to continue their PLTW sequence through high school.
- Principles of the Biomedical Sciences
- Human Body Systems
- Medical Interventions
- Biomedical Innovations
Thanks to our partnership with C4 Columbus Career Connection, juniors and seniors at North Decatur may take Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses (and possibly earn certifications) in:
- Communications
- Computer Technology
- Construction Engineering Technology
- Engineering Manufacturing Technology
- Health Sciences
- Human Services
- Protective Services
- Transportation
The Indiana College Core allows high school students to earn 30 general education credits that can be transferred as a block to any public college or university in Indiana, as well as some private institutions. In other words, students who earn the College Core in high school may already be finished with their first year of college at a fraction of the cost. To learn more about the Indiana College Core and put together your plan, use My College Core and work closely with your school counselor.