Curriculum 

Curriculum 

We prepare students for college and life by inspiring excellence, integrity and
compassion in an academic community dedicated to nurturing the mind, body and soul.

From attentive resident staff to caring faculty to hospitable local students and their families, RPS boarding students enjoy an enriching educational and life experience in a safe and nurturing environment. All members of the RPS community—from the students and faculty and parents—share a common spirit and expectation of success.  

RPS offers an atmosphere which encourages high academic achievement, a love of learning, concern for others, delight in creative expression and the satisfaction of accomplishment for all students.
From academics to athletics, resident students embrace success along with their peers. 

From attentive resident staff to caring faculty to hospitable local students and their families, RPS boarding students enjoy an enriching educational and life experience in a safe and nurturing environment. All members of the RPS community—from the students and faculty and parents—share a common spirit and expectation of success.  

We offer an atmosphere which encourages high academic achievement, a love of learning, concern for others, delight in creative expression and the satisfaction of accomplishment for all students. From academics to athletics, resident students embrace success along with their peers. 

PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS 

01

Students in Grades 9, 10 and 11 must have a scheduled class for every period. Seniors may have an off block if all graduation requirements are being met to provide ample time both to meet with their college counselor and to devote time to college applications.  

02

English must be taken each year. A student with a final average below C˗ is required to repeat English in summer school in order to advance to the next grade. 

03

Four years of Mathematics is required. Florida universities and in many state systems around the country require four years of Mathematics for admission, beginning with Algebra I. 

04

The successful completion of two credits in one language, is required for graduation. 

05

Three years of science are required for graduation. Two of these must be lab sciences, although a third year-long lab science is recommended. 

06

World History, U.S. History, Economics and Government are required in Grades 9-12. At least one academic elective credit in Social Studies is encouraged. 

07

One credit in Fine Arts is required. This may be taken as two semester courses or one full-year course. 

08

One credit in Fine Arts is required. This may be taken as two semester courses or one full-year course. 

09

In order to receive credit for a given course, the student must complete required semester exams or projects. Exception: Seniors may be exempt from these assessments based on an average determined by administration. 

10

All subjects are graded on a scale of A-F. 

11

Certain courses are labeled HONORS or ADVANCED PLACEMENT. These courses are accelerated or college-level courses designed for the highly qualified and ambitious student. Enrollment in these courses requires recommendation of the guidance counselor. 

01

Students in Grades 9, 10 and 11 must have a scheduled class for every period. Seniors may have an off block if all graduation requirements are being met to provide ample time both to meet with their college counselor and to devote time to college applications.  

02

English must be taken each year. A student with a final average below C˗ is required to repeat English in summer school in order to advance to the next grade. 

03

Four years of Mathematics is required. Florida universities and in many state systems around the country require four years of Mathematics for admission, beginning with Algebra I. 

04

The successful completion of two credits in one language, is required for graduation. 

05

Three years of science are required for graduation. Two of these must be lab sciences, although a third year-long lab science is recommended. 

06

World History, U.S. History, Economics and Government are required in Grades 9-12. At least one academic elective credit in Social Studies is encouraged. 

07

One credit in Fine Arts is required. This may be taken as two semester courses or one full-year course. 

08

One credit of Physical Education/Fitness is required. 

09

In order to receive credit for a given course, the student must complete required semester exams or projects. Exception: Seniors may be exempt from these assessments based on an average determined by administration. 

10

All subjects are graded on a scale of A-F. 

11

Certain courses are labeled HONORS or ADVANCED PLACEMENT. These courses are accelerated or college-level courses designed for the highly qualified and ambitious student. Enrollment in these courses requires recommendation of the guidance counselor. 

Advanced Placement Program

The Advanced Placement Program of the College Board gives students the opportunity to pursue college-level studies while still in secondary school and possibly to receive advanced placement and/or credit upon entering college.  


An AP course is a college-level learning experience. As can be expected, these courses require an increased level of commitment on the part of the student. When determining the appropriateness of placement into an AP course, consideration is given to the recommendation of the current teacher, the student’s overall schedule request, and the student’s test scores. Students enrolled in the AP classes take the national exams in May. The current fee for each examination is $97. Scores for the exams are sent by ETS in early July to the students, the Colleges they have designated, and their schools. 

Scheduling

The building of a student’s academic schedule is a very important undertaking and presents the opportunity for the student, teacher, family, and advisor to look carefully at the four-year experience at the upper school level. We encourage you to review the course options and their requirements and strongly recommend that you look at the overall four-year plan as well as the course load of each individual semester. 


Our commitment to small balanced classes means that requests for individual teachers or for specific class periods cannot be accommodated. 

1. Course Changes 


Schedules are emailed to students prior to the opening of school in August. In the event of a conflict or obvious error, students should contact your guidance counselor at [email protected]

Once school begins, students should contact their guidance counselor for all schedule changes. See the Drop/Add guidelines outlined below. 

Schedule changes cannot be made for non-educational reasons. Students and or parents should not request specific teachers or attempt to resolve temporary personal conflicts by changing classes. 


2. Level Changes 


Level changes may be made without petition up until the end of the first semester. Students who petition to move from an Honors or AP class to a regular section may make such a change at any time, but the transcript will reflect enrollment in the regular section and there will be no special weight assigned in the computation of grade point average for students who do not complete the semester in the Honors or AP class. 

Scheduling

The building of a student’s academic schedule is a very important undertaking and presents the opportunity for the student, teacher, family, and advisor to look carefully at the four-year experience at the upper school level. We encourage you to review the course options and their requirements and strongly recommend that you look at the overall four-year plan as well as the course load of each individual semester. 


Our commitment to small balanced classes means that requests for individual teachers or for specific class periods cannot be accommodated. 

1. Course Changes 


Schedules are emailed to students prior to the opening of school in August. In the event of a conflict or obvious error, students should contact your guidance counselor at [email protected]

Once school begins, students should contact their guidance counselor for all schedule changes. See the Drop/Add guidelines outlined below. 

Schedule changes cannot be made for non-educational reasons. Students and or parents should not request specific teachers or attempt to resolve temporary personal conflicts by changing classes. 


2. Level Changes 


Level changes may be made without petition up until the end of the first semester. Students who petition to move from an Honors or AP class to a regular section may make such a change at any time, but the transcript will reflect enrollment in the regular section and there will be no special weight assigned in the computation of grade point average for students who do not complete the semester in the Honors or AP class. 

Graduate Qualification

To qualify for graduation, a student must be in full-time attendance for his or her entire senior year. A senior must take and pass at least four academic subjects during each semester, regardless of the total number of credits previously earned. Additionally, a senior must earn a college-certifying grade of at least C˗ in all course work. Successful completion of a course requires taking the semester examination (except when a senior is exempt from an exam). It is the student’s responsibility to make sure he/she is properly enrolled in the correct courses. A senior who is deficient in one subject, meaning the final average was below C˗, may make up the deficiency during the summer, thereby qualifying for graduation in August. 

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS CHECKLIST 

ENGLISH:

I, II, III, IV -- (4)

MATH: 

ALGEBRA I, GEOMETRY, ALGEBRA II,
4th Year Math (4)

ENGLISH:

BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, 2 ADDITIONAL SCIENCE (4)
(Two of the sciences must be lab sciences, three are recommended.)

ENGLISH:

WORLD HISTORY, U. S. HISTORY, ECONOMICS/GOVERNMENT (3)

LANGUAGE: 

I, II (2)
The successful completion of two
credits in one language is required for
graduation.

MATH: 

1 (1)

ENGLISH:

1 (1)
(Can be two semester courses)

+ ELECTIVE:  (5) 

TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION: 24 

Courses taken through the Global Online Academy cannot be used to fulfill graduation requirements for core courses. They will be applied to the requirement for 3 ½ credits in elective courses. 

Graduate Qualification

To qualify for graduation, a student must be in full-time attendance for his or her entire senior year. A senior must take and pass at least four academic subjects during each semester, regardless of the total number of credits previously earned. Additionally, a senior must earn a college-certifying grade of at least C˗ in all course work. Successful completion of a course requires taking the semester examination (except when a senior is exempt from an exam). It is the student’s responsibility to make sure he/she is properly enrolled in the correct courses. A senior who is deficient in one subject, meaning the final average was below C˗, may make up the deficiency during the summer, thereby qualifying for graduation in August. 

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS CHECKLIST 

ENGLISH:

I, II, III, IV -- (4)

MATH: 

ALGEBRA I, GEOMETRY, ALGEBRA II,
4th Year Math (4)

ENGLISH:

BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, 2 ADDITIONAL SCIENCE (4)
(Two of the sciences must be lab sciences, three are recommended.)

ENGLISH:

WORLD HISTORY, U. S. HISTORY, ECONOMICS/GOVERNMENT (3)

LANGUAGE: 

I, II (2)
The successful completion of two
credits in one language is required for
graduation.

MATH: 

1 (1)

ENGLISH:

1 (1)
(Can be two semester courses)

+ ELECTIVE:  (5) 

TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION: 24 

Courses taken through the Global Online Academy cannot be used to fulfill graduation requirements for core courses. They will be applied to the requirement for 3 ½ credits in elective courses. 

Scholarship Program

The Bright Futures Scholarship Program is available for students who are Florida residents attending a four-year public or private college or university in Florida and who meet the following criteria: 

2023-24 Academic Scholars Award* 

  • 3.5 GPA as calculated by Bright Futures using 16 units of high school credit (4 English, 4 Math, 3 Science, 3 Social Science, 2 Foreign Language).  
  • 1340 SAT or 29 ACT 
  • 100 hours of community service or 100 hours of paid work 

2023-24 Medallion Scholars Award* 

  • 3.0 GPA as calculated by Bright Futures using 16 units of high school credit (4 English, 4 Math, 3 Science, 3 Social Science, 2 Foreign Language) 
  • 1210 SAT or 25 ACT 
  • 75 hours of community service or 100 hours paid work 

*Eligibility requirements are subject to change with each legislative session. 
 More information about Bright Futures can be found at http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org.