Using DHS Course Description Booklet
All students are required to complete the course selection form which is available on-line. Students are reminded to choose their classes carefully. Courses should be chosen that will challenge and prepare students for their future in colleges and universities. Students will be scheduled into the classes selected on the course selection form unless those classes are filled, the course does not meet the students’ graduation requirements, does not fit their schedule, or the course is canceled.
Counselors make every effort to aid students in planning high school programs, projecting these programs towards long-term college and career goals. The counselors will work hand in hand with the student and parents to assure the appropriate courses are incorporated into the student’s schedule. Therefore, when selecting courses, we encourage students to consider both graduation and college/university education requirements.
- Course Prerequisites: Please read the course descriptions which follow before completing the course selection form. Prerequisites are listed in this booklet to help students and parents make the best educational decisions. Students must meet these prerequisites before they may enroll in certain courses.
- Electives: Students should select their required and elective courses for the entire yearIncluding alternative elective choices on the course selection form. These elective offerings are listed on the back of the course selection form. In the event that some elective classes are filled, students will be enrolled in their alternate choices in the order listed.
- Repeat Credit: Students will not receive credits for repeating a course that was passed previously with the exception of courses (i.e. Physical Education and Fine Arts courses) as indicated in the course description.
- Schedule Adjustments: The need for schedule adjustments are kept to a minimum. Valid reasons for requesting an adjustment are: 1) Graduation requirement; 2) Has not taken the prerequisite course required to take the class; 3) Did not sign up for the course; 4) Counselor recommendation. Adding and dropping courses will be allowed only during the first week of each semester. In the case of AP classes, adjustments will be made with counselor, parent and teacher approval.
- Honors/Advanced Placement Prerequisites: Please refer to the Honors and Advanced Placement Addendum for more information.
- AP Exams: Students enrolled in an AP course are expected to take the spring AP exams. Each AP exam costs approximately 400 SAR due at the start of the second semester. High school students passing an end of course exam (scaled 1 – 5) with a 3, 4, or 5 often receive university credit. While success in AP courses is highly regarded, each university chooses whether to offer university level credit.
- IB: The IB Programme is a comprehensive two-year programme for grades 11 and 12. Students will complete 6 courses, a Theory of Knowledge course, Creativity Action and Service programme and an Extended Essay as part of the diploma requirements. Admission into the IB Diploma Programme is based on an application procedure. Questions may be forwarded to the IB Coordinators: erutherford@isgdh.org or elvallejo@isgdh.org
Minimum Credits Required for Graduation: 24 Credits
Course |
Required |
Recommended |
English |
4.0 |
4.0 |
Math |
3.0 |
3.5 |
Science |
3.0 |
4.0 |
Social Studies |
4.0 |
4.0 |
Global Languages: |
2.0 |
3.0 |
Physical Education |
2.0 |
2.0 |
Fine Arts |
1.0 |
1.0 |
Technology |
1.0 |
1.0 |
Health |
0.5 |
0.5 |
Computer and Information Management |
0.5 |
0.5 |
Speech |
|
0.5 |
Arabic Culture: |
||
Electives |
3.0 |
3.0 or more |
- A semester course earns 0.5 credit with a passing grade
- A year-long course earns 1.0 credit with a passing grade
Sample Academic Plan
Dhahran High School is a college preparatory high school. Successful completion of this college preparatory program will earn each student a high school diploma and will help to prepare them for a four-year college or university program. We assist each Dhahran High School student in developing a four-year academic plan to outline his or her own high school program. The school counselors are available to recommend course selections to assist students in preparing this plan. A sample plan follows:
Grade 9 |
Grade 10 |
Grade 11 |
|
Grade 12 |
|
English 9 |
English 10 |
American Literature or |
IBDP I (or Grade 11) |
British Literature or AP Literature & Composition |
IBDP II (or Grade 12) |
(Algebra I) |
(Geometry) |
(Algebra II) |
CALCULUS |
||
Physical Science |
Biology |
Chemistry |
Physics, AP Science |
||
Ancient World History |
Modern World History |
US History or |
AP Economics, |
||
Global Language I |
Global Language II |
Global Language III |
Global Language IV or |
||
Physical |
Physical Education/ |
PE Elective/ |
PE Elective/ |
||
CI&M/ |
Technology/ |
Technology/ |
Elective/ |
||
Fine Arts and |
Fine Arts / Elective |
Elective / Elective |
Elective / Elective |
Testing
The PLAN, SAT 10, PSAT, SAT I, SAT II, and ACT exams are offered on the Dhahran High campus.
- PLAN: All 10th Grade Students at DHS take the PLAN during their sophomore year.
- SAT10/OLSAT 8: All 10th Grade Students take the Stanford Achievement Test in April.
- PSAT: All 10th and 11th Grade Students take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) in October.
- ACT: The American College Test (ACT) is offered twice a year to students in their junior or senior years. The ACT is a subject-based college entrance exam accepted by many colleges and universities in the United States.
- SAT Exams: SAT exams are offered to students at various dates during their junior and senior years. Students often take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT I) and the subject area Scholastic Aptitude Test II (SAT II) in the spring of their junior year and/or fall of their senior year. Students should plan the subject area test if they are required by the colleges and universities to which they would like to apply.
SAT TEST DATES |
ACT TEST DATES |
October 1, 2011 |
October 22, 2011 |
December 3, 2011 |
December 10, 2011 |
May 5, 2012 |
|
June 2, 2012 |
|
NOTE: Students need to register on-line for the above tests 3 – 4 months prior to the test dates
College and University Requirements
It is the responsibility of each student to make sure that his or her academic plan for high school will meet the requirements for entrance into the college or university of his or her choice. Some programs may have additional requirements. Most American colleges and universities require that students graduate from an accredited or approved high school. Dhahran High School is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, one of the six major U.S. accreditation agencies.
TOEFL
International students should plan to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The TOEFL is required of international students and students for whom English is a second language who are applying to colleges and universities in the United States, Great Britain, or other countries where the college/university language of instruction is English. The TOEFL is offered online and in Dammam at two different sites for men and women. More information is available online at www.toefl.org.
IELTS
IELTS is the International English Language Testing System which tests English proficiency across the globe. IELTS tests all four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking. The Speaking test is a face-to-face interview with a certified Examiner. IELTS is available in two test formats: Academic or General Training. All candidates take the same Listening and Speaking modules but different Reading and Writing modules. www.ielts.org
Course Descriptions
- English
- Fine Arts
- Global Languages
- Mathematics
- Physical Education and Health
- Science
- Social Studies
- Technology
- Ministry of Education Requirement
- Additional Elective
- Advanced Placement/Honors Prerequisite Addendum
- IB Diploma Programme
Click here to download the Course Description Booklet PDF format
