To graduate from NHA, students must successfully earn a number of credits in each discipline. The 9th and 10th grades are built around a core set of year-long courses. The 11th and 12th grades are modeled on a typical college schedule, featuring semester-based, thematic courses. By 11th grade, students are expected to take an active role in developing their schedules.

English/Literature

Students are expected to complete 4 full years of coursework in English / Literature.  Students take year-long courses in 9th and 10th grades and must complete at least 4 semester-long, thematic courses in 11th and 12th grades.

History/Humanities

Students are expected to complete 3½ years of coursework in History/Humanities. Students take World History in 9th grade, and US History 1 in 10th grade, and must complete at least 3 semester-long, thematic courses in 11th and 12th grades.

Facing History/Civics

Students are expected to complete two semester-long Facing History seminar courses by the end of 10th grade and complete 1 year-long Civics course in 12th grade.

Math

Students are expected to complete 4 full years of coursework in Math and must complete coursework through Algebra 2. Courses offered include Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Pre-Calculus, Statistics, and AP Calculus.

Science

Students are expected to complete 3 core science courses plus 1 additional elective course. Students take Phy-Chem, Biology, and Chemistry, and can choose among Anatomy, AP Biology, Forensic Science, Brain and Behavior, and Physics.

Spanish

Students are expected to complete 3 full years of coursework in Spanish. NHA offers courses from Spanish 1 through Native Speaker Spanish and AP Spanish.

Physical Education

Students are expected to complete at least 2 semester-long PE courses (PE or Yoga).

The Arts

Students are expected to complete at least 2 semester-long courses in the arts. Courses offered include visual arts, drama, dance, and music.

College-Bound/Internship

In order to prepare all of our students to succeed in college, we have developed a unique College Bound Program that integrates academic preparation with a four-year program of college and career exploration and guidance. Courses include a High School Seminar class for all 9th and 10th graders and a weekly College Bound Seminar class for all 11th and 12th-grade students. The College Bound Program also includes a 3-week intensive internship experience for 11th graders in which each student spends four days each week at one identified job site, completing a project for his/her internship host.

College Courses/Electives

Students are encouraged to take at least 1 college course and are required to earn at least 2 elective credits by the end of 12th grade. Elective choices include courses in history, science, technology, personal finance, the arts, and more. College courses are made possible through the Southern CT State University Partnership and the NHA /Quinnipiac University Dual Enrollment Program. 

AP© Classes 

Enrollment in an AP course requires that the student take the AP exam. If a student does not take the AP exam for an AP class, the class credit earned for satisfactory completion of the course will be reflected on the academic transcript as “Honors” (rather than “AP”). Additionally, if a student does not take the required exam, she/he will pay to the New Haven Board of Education any and all fees for each exam ordered and paid for by the Board of Education.

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