Graduation Requirements
By the time you graduate from Commonwealth, you will feel amply prepared for whatever comes next. The standard course load is five academic credits and one or two half-credit art courses per year. All classes run for the entire year. You must take a minimum of four academic credits and one half-credit art course each year to remain in good standing. Our minimum graduation requirement is eighteen credits.
Because new students come to Commonwealth from many different types of schools, their levels of preparation for our courses vary, and so do their schedules. We use placement tests in math and foreign language, along with conversations with the Assistant Head of School and teachers, to develop a first-year schedule suited specifically to your needs and interests. In subsequent years, your advisor (in consultation with the faculty) will help you shape your course load.
The progression below represents one path through our curriculum. For example, it is not uncommon for students to start with Intermediate Algebra rather than a Geometry course. Or students might place into an Algebra 2/Precalculus or Calculus course, allowing them to take college-level courses like Differential Equations or Axiomatic Set Theory before graduating. Similarly, while some students start in the first level of a foreign language, others might be ready for a second- or third-level class. Like everything at Commonwealth, your schedule is personalized; we want to make sure that the level of challenge is just right for you.
Questions?
Please do not hesitate to reach out. Our faculty and administrative team would be happy to help.
I'm forever grateful for the rigor of Commonwealth's academic curriculum, for the passion my teachers taught with, and for the school's excellent leadership that allowed us to foster and explore our interests.Amanda Dai ’15
