Salinas High School - Areas of Study

Home

For Students

Academics

Areas of Study

Areas of Study

Forty (40) units are required for graduation

English courses ask students to read stories and literature, as well as more complex texts that provide facts and background knowledge in areas such as science and social studies. Students will be challenged and asked questions that push them to refer back to what they’ve read. This stresses critical-thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills that are required for success in college, career, and life.

English Language Development

Students are tested orally on the California English Language Development Test (CELDT) before they are enrolled in the appropriate level of ELD. Students are assigned two (2) periods of ELD so that they may make sufficient progress. One year or ten credits of Transitional English is accepted by the UC or CSU systems as meeting one unit of the English entrance requirements. A maximum of twenty (20) credits of ELD is applied to satisfy the English graduation credit requirement.

Foreign Language

Twenty (20) units of Foreign Language in the same language are required for graduation.

The focus is on the attainment of at least a semi-fluent proficiency level in the areas of listening, reading, writing, and speaking.

Health Education is a required year course. The following subjects will be covered: Disease prevention (HIV/AIDS, STD's), Family Health, Mental/Emotional Health (Suicide Prevention), Physical Fitness, Safety, Nutrition, First Aid, CPR, and Drug prevention.

Physical Education

Twenty (20) credits of Physical Education required for graduation.

This course is designed to give students the opportunity to learn through a comprehensive sequentially planned Physical Education program in accordance with the California Content Standards. Students will be empowered to make choices, meet challenges and develop positive behaviors in fitness, wellness and movement activity for a lifetime. Emphasis is placed on students analyzing skills for effective movement. Units of instruction include: personal fitness emphasis, fitness concepts and techniques, cardio respiratory endurance training, nutrition, individual activities, aquatics (where accessible), rhythms and dance, and dual activities.

Mathematics

Thirty (30) units of Math required for graduation; twenty (20) units must be in high school math including Algebra.

Since 2010, 45 states have adopted the same standards for English and Math. These standards are called the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Having the same standards ensures all students receive an equitable education, even if they change schools or move to a different state. Teachers, parents, and education experts designed the CCSS to prepare students for success in college and the workplace. To meet the challenges of the CCSS, our district will be adopting and implementing an “Integrated Math” pathway that will replace “Traditional” courses.

Science

Students must complete one year of Biological Science and one year of Physical Science to fulfill graduation requirements.

Within the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), there are three distinct and equally important dimensions to learning science. These dimensions are combined to form each standard—or performance expectation—and each dimension works with the other two to help students build a cohesive understanding of science over time.

A goal for developing the NGSS was to create a set of research-based, up-to-date K–12 science standards. These standards give local educators the flexibility to design classroom learning experiences that stimulate students’ interests in science and prepares them for college, careers, and citizenship.

Social Studies

Thirty (30) credits of Social Science required for graduation.

The objective of the history-social science curriculum is to set forth, in an organized way, the knowledge and understanding that our students need to function intelligently now and in the future. The Social Science disciplines (history, geography, economics, political science, anthropology, psychology, sociology, ethnic studies, and the humanities) span the major dimensions of human experiences locally and globally. Students will learn the cultural, economic, geographical, historical, political, psychological, and social dimensions of our society, along with other cultures and countries. Without the knowledge that these disciplines convey, our students will be buffeted by changes that are beyond their comprehension. But with a firm grounding in history and the related disciplines, students will better understand human behavior and the social dimensions of the world, acquiring skills useful in law, government, diplomacy, and many other careers. An additional (5) credits of College Prep elective in Intro to Ethnic Studies is required for graduation beginning with the class of 2024.