Curriculum
DCP emphasizes a strong and well balanced college preparatory program. Emphasis is placed on rigorous academic standards with the development of individual initiative and responsible independent study habits.
Units/Credits
To graduate from DCP, every student must complete a minimum of 23 units of earned credit in grades 9 through 12, which is equal to 230 semester hours of class work. For each course, per semester, a student will receive 5 semester hours of credit. A full year (two semesters) of a single course, if passed, will earn a student 10 semester hours of credit or one (1) unit. No Credit toward DCP graduation is earned for courses in which the student receives a grade of "D" or "F". These grades must be raised by successful completion of the Summer Session.
Required Subjects
There are certain courses which are required by the California Educational Code for graduation. At the present time, California requirements include U.S. History, health, U.S. Government, economics, English, and math. These requirements, plus courses required by DCP, are included in the program. The school also endeavors to make sure that each student meets or exceeds all the requirements of the college or university of his/her choice.
| GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS 9 - 12 |
| 4 years English 3-4 years Math 2 3 years Lab Science 3-4 years Social Studies World History 1 yr. Modern World History U.S. History U.S. Government | 1 yr. Economics 2 4 years Foreign Language 1 yr. Computer Science 1 yr. Combination Health / Guidance 1 yr. Visual / Performing Arts |
The above graduation requirements meet the admission standards of most colleges and universities. Depending on the proposed major, an extra year or more of the following may be desirable and are available to our students:
Advanced language
Advanced literature
Advanced math
Advanced social studies Advanced Foreign Language
Fine Arts courses
Lab Sciences
Computer Science
Colleges and universities also require an acceptable score on college entrance exams. Further information about individual colleges and general college counseling will be provided in the upper grades.
Tracking
Students are placed in what is believed to be the optimum learning environment to maximize individual student's progress. Track placement is based on Entrance Exam scores, teacher assessment, recommendations, and student achievement. Student or parent requests do not receive consideration. Student placement is periodically reevaluated and changes may be made.
Curriculum Outline
| GRADE 6 | GRADE 7 |
| English 6 AB Math Fund. Social Studies Science Language Arts P.E.** Elective or Study Hall | English 7 AB Basic Math I or Pre-Algebra Life Science J.H. Foreign Lang.* Geography P.E.** Elective or Study Hall |
| GRADE 8 | GRADE 9 |
| English 8 AB Pre-Algebra or Algebra I Earth Science J.H Foreign Lang.* American History P.E.** Elective or Study Hall | English 9 AB Algebra I or Geometry Physical Science Foreign Lang. I AB* World History 9 AB P.E.** Elective or Study Hall |
| GRADE 10 | GRADE 11 |
| English 10 AB Modern World History 10 Foreign Language II AB* Biology I AB (Lab) Algebra II/ Geometry AB Health/Life Skills | English 11 AB U.S. History AB Foreign Language III AB* Chemistry I AB (Lab) Algebra II or Pre-Calculus (Trig) Elective |
| GRADE 12 |
| Adv. English Composition US Government Economics Math (Pre-Calc/Calculus) Psychology Elective |
* Russian, Spanish, or French
**All students in grades 6 9 are required to participate in regularly scheduled P.E. classes
This sequence of subjects will be followed, although not always in these years. For example, Algebra I AB may be scheduled in the 8th grade for honors students and in 10th grade for students who did not take it in the 9th. The number and type of electives vary from year to year depending on the interest of teachers and students.
| ELECTIVES |
| Art Calculus Creative Writing Humanities Calligraphy Physics Philosophy Advanced Math | Advanced Foreign Language Environmental Studies Computer Science Economics Speech Journalism Music Work Study (12th graders Spring Semester) |