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For your final year at The Pennington School, you will have more
options when deciding on your 12th grade curriculum. Most students
will continue with English, history, math, science, and a foreign
language, but you will have the choice to drop a final year of one
discipline (with the exception of English) in order to add another
course in a favorite department. Keep in mind that colleges will
question your transcript if there is a perception that you have
chosen an easier course of study in your senior year. It is highly
recommended that you maintain at least four of the five academic
subjects listed above.
Seniors in English will have a prescribed first semester course
and an elective second semester course, focusing on British or world
literature, depending on the year. Students in AP English do not
have this option, as they are preparing for the AP exam in May.
We
strongly recommend that you take a math course in your senior year.
Although we require only three years of math, most colleges are
looking for students who take four years of math. Math placement
is based on previous performance and recommendation.
The history department offers several options for semester electives.
AP courses offered in history are full-year courses and require
a minimum grade of B+ in US History II or a minimum grade of A in
US History II, with the approval of your most recent history teacher.
In the sciences, students have the option to take any of the non-lab
science courses, including Environmental Studies, Brain and Behavior,
and Advanced Biology. Students who elected AP Chemistry in the 11th
grade without also taking physics, must take physics in the 12th
grade. Placement in AP Chemistry or AP Physics is based on the recommendation
of their previous science teacher and their level in math. Students
in AP Chemistry should be taking Pre-Calculus or higher, and students
in AP Physics should be taking at least Calculus concurrently. Students
who have demonstrated strong aptitude and discipline in AP Chemistry
as 11th graders and are highly motivated to pursue chemistry, may
elect to take Organic Chemistry as an independent study program,
with the permission of the instructor.
Language placement is based primarily on your previous placement
and performance. Fourth-year study in either French or Spanish is
offered at the honors level only. Prerequisite for admission into
these courses is based on a minimum of a B+ average in the previous
honors section at level III or a minimum of A- in a third-year non-honors
section. Fifth-year study in French or Spanish will either be AP
or honors. This determination is based on first-quarter performance
and teacher recommendation. A sixth-year independent study is available
after successful completion of the fifth year.
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