SECONDARY CURRICULUM

The course selection books for the Middle School and High School are attached below.  Both selection books are a comprehensive review of all core content and elective courses.  Students and their parents/guardians can use the selection books to map out a course of studies for their Middle School and High School academic careers.

ELEMENTARY CURRICULUM

The content, skills, and assessments for each course are presented in the District’s Curriculum Maps. These maps are aligned to the Pennsylvania Standards.  The elementary course of study is organized as prescribed by the Department of Education.  Reading which is considered to be the most important area, receives the greatest time allotment, and is integrated within all other areas.  In reading, the children are exposed to multi-teaching strategies. Numerous supplemental materials are utilized to enrich and enhance the program.

Social Studies is taught as a combination of geography and history.  Mathematics, health, science, and handwriting are included in the daily schedule.  Art, music, and physical education are once a week. Kindergarten students receive library and physical education once a week.  Instrumental music lessons and chorus are offered to fifth and sixth grade students as part of the curriculum.  Libraries are in operation in all the elementary buildings with the services of a librarian/media specialist.

The district has built an intervention block into the elementary schedule. During this time the students are placed into flexible groups where the students receive remediation and or enrichment on a given skill. The students are placed into smaller groups led by the grade level classroom teachers, Title I reading specialists and special education teachers the size of the groups are much smaller than during a regular instructional period, allowing for a better teacher to student ratio. The students are pre-assessed to identify what group they should be in and our post-assessed to determine if they have mastered the skill or additional remediation is necessary. The intervention periods allow for intense research based remediation for all students that need it, not just those who have an Individualized Education Plan. In addition it allows students who do not qualify for the gifted program to still receive the appropriate enrichment activities on the given skill.

Grades in most classes will be calculated by percentage and be reflected as such on the report card.  The grading scale used at Ambridge Area School District will be based on a four point system (i.e. A=4; B=3; C=2, D=1; E=0).

A student must earn an “A”, “B”, or “C” grade to receive the additional weighted value.  A student who receives a “D” will obtain the credit value for the course but not the weighted value.  The following is an outline of courses which have additional weight.

Weighted GPA will be calculated in two steps.  The first step is to calculate a “Non-Weighted GPA” on a 4.0 scale.  Once this GPA is calculated, an add on factor for “Advanced Placement” and “Honors” courses in grades 11 & 12 will be combined with the Non-Weighted GPA in the following manner.