AHS Academics

Overview of Academic Departments

Amesbury High School is composed of the following academic departments:

English
Mathematics
Social Studies
Science/Educational Technology
World Languages
Visual Media/Performing Arts
Health, Physical Education, Wellness and Family /Consumer Science

The courses that each department offers are contained in our Program of Studies, listed below.

Students meet with their guidance counselors twice per year to review their chosen course selections and discuss future college and/or vocational goals. If you have specific questions regarding your son/daughters courses and/or schedule please contact the Guidance department.

Program of Studies

The Amesbury High School Program of Studies is a very important booklet as it contains all the course descriptions and graduation requirements. It is especially useful in mapping out a student’s course of study as they work their way toward graduation.

The Program of Studies and the Learning Expectations Rubric are always available. The Program of Studies for the next school year will be finalized in January.

The Program of Studies Google site can be found here.

During February and March, course request entry instructions and grade-specific elective reference sheets will be added below.

Competency Determination

One of the requirements for graduation in Massachusetts is a determination of competency in subjects previously covered by the MCAS. In addition to other requirements for graduation, students must have been determined by the district to have achieved mastery of the common core of skills, competency, and knowledge in said areas, and satisfactorily completed coursework that has been certified by the student's district as showing mastery of the skills, competencies, and knowledge contained in the state academic standards and curriculum frameworks.

Competency Determination Requirements

As described in the new regulations (603 CMR 30.00), the CD represents two accomplishments:

showing a mastery of skills in English language arts, mathematics, and science;
and the satisfactory completion of relevant coursework aligned to the standards measured by the high school English language arts, mathematics, and science MCAS assessments administered in 2023.

To show mastery, a student must successfully complete in accordance with the district’s grading policy:

the final assessment for a course; or
a capstone or portfolio project;
an equivalent measure approved on a case-by-case basis by the High School Principal.

To satisfactorily complete coursework, a student must earn full credit in accordance with the district’s grading policy in the courses listed in the table below. Full credit is earned through achieving a 60 or better (or a P = “Passing”) in the courses listed below.

Content Area	Coursework Requirements	Notes
English Language Arts	The equivalent of two years of high school English language arts courses.	To satisfy this course requirement, the English Language Arts courses must be taken in grades 9-12.
Mathematics	The equivalent of one year of both Algebra I and Geometry courses. Integrated math courses that cover the same standards will also fulfill this requirement (ie. Integrated Algebra and Integrated Geometry).	Middle school math courses may be certified by the district as meeting the coursework requirement for the mathematics component of the CD. Districts must confirm that the course aligns to the high school Algebra I/Geometry/Integrated Math I/Integrated Math II standards as listed in the 2017 Massachusetts Mathematics Curriculum Framework.
Science	The equivalent of one year of any one of the following disciplines: Biology, Physics, Chemistry, or Technology/Engineering.	To satisfy this course requirement, the science course must be taken in grades 9-12.
U.S. History (Beginning with the graduating class of 2027)	The equivalent of a one-year United States history course.	To satisfy this course requirement, the U.S. History course must be taken in grades 9-12.

Aligned Courses

Amesbury High School offers the following courses in alignment with the state curriculum frameworks that meet the above requirements.

English Courses	Math Courses	Science Courses	US History Courses
CP English 9 H English 9 CR English 9	CP Integrated Algebra I H Algebra I** CR Algebra I CP Integrated Math I	CP Biology H Biology AP Biology CR Biology CP Biology II CP Bio Ethics	CP US History I H US History I CR US History I
CP English 10 H English 10 CR English 10	H Geometry CP Integrated Geometry CR Geometry CP Integrated Math II	CP Chemistry H Chemistry AP Chemistry CR Chemistry	CP US History II H US History II H American Studies CR US History II
CP English 11 H English 11 H American Studies CR English 11		CP Physics H Physics AP Physics CR Physics CP Intro to Physical Science*	AP US History

English Courses

Math Courses

Science Courses

US History Courses

CP English 9

H English 9

CR English 9

CP Integrated Algebra I

H Algebra I**

CR Algebra I

CP Integrated Math I

CP Biology

H Biology

AP Biology

CR Biology

CP Biology II

CP Bio Ethics

CP US History I

H US History I

CR US History I

CP English 10

H English 10

CR English 10

H Geometry

CP Integrated Geometry

CR Geometry

CP Integrated Math II

CP Chemistry

H Chemistry

AP Chemistry

CR Chemistry

CP US History II

H US History II

H American Studies

CR US History II

CP English 11

H English 11

H American Studies

CR English 11

CP Physics

H Physics

AP Physics

CR Physics

CP Intro to Physical Science*

AP US History

CP - College Preparatory; H - Honors; AP - Advanced Placement; CR - Credit Recovery

*This course offering will be added to the AHS Program of Studies for the 26-27 school year.

**Please note that any incoming freshmen who have been placed into geometry will have met the Algebra I CD.

Additional Considerations

Students with Disabilities

The Amesbury Public Schools must both provide a Free and Appropriate Public Education to students with disabilities and must also determine that the student has met the competency determination and local graduation requirements prior to graduating that student. Students with disabilities who have been placed in out-of-district placements must meet the requirements of the competency determination policy of the placing school district. Discussion of the competency determination must be a part of the IEP Team’s transition planning.

English Learners

The Amesbury Public Schools shall, on a case-by-case basis and with the approval of the High School Principal, determine the appropriate courses necessary for English Language Learners to both achieve language proficiency and meet the competency determination requirements.

Late-Enrolling Students

Students who enroll in a Massachusetts public high school after their ninth-grade year may be granted a determination of competency by the Amesbury Public Schools in one or more of the following ways:

Transcript review by the Principal of the High School.
Additional course requirements as determined by the Principal of the High School.

Appeals Process

Current students and/or parents/guardians may appeal the determination of competency in accordance with the following district procedures:

Provide written appeal to the High School Principal at least two weeks prior to the scheduled graduation date. The Principal will hold a hearing with the student and parent/guardian within three school days of receipt of appeal. Following the appeal hearing, the Principal shall render a final decision within two school days.

Diploma Request Process for Previously Enrolled Students

Those enrolled in the Amesbury Public Schools in the classes of 2003 through 2024 that did not earn a diploma may also appeal the decision through the following process:

The student may request a transcript review to determine if they are currently eligible for a diploma pursuant to the district’s current CD requirements. This request should be in writing sent to the high school principal. To be deemed eligible, the individual must have been previously enrolled in the district, met all local graduation requirements, not previously reported as a graduate in any district’s Student Information Management System (SIMS) submission, and must meet the district’s current CD and local graduation requirements.

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