What new courses are being offered at Coventry High School this year?

Many students are taking advantage of the new eight period schedule by taking additional courses.  New courses offered this year include Modern Military History, Geography, Acting II, Creative Writing, and AP Environmental Science. 

Do students have too many study halls with the new eight period schedule?

Actually, we have most of our students taking more than the required 6 courses. Last year we only required 5.5 courses. A student who takes 6 courses would have 8 periods of study hall in a week and 24 periods of class. This is considered normal. As we increase the rigor of our classes, many students will find that they will need their study hall time to keep up with the work load. Many of our students lead very busy lives with extracurricular activities and/or employment. Some time during the day to get work done allows them to successfully balance multiple aspects of their days.

What if a student finds that they do not need all their study hall time in order to keep up with their work?

The student could enroll in a Virtual High School on-line course by visiting the School Counseling office. Another possibility is applying for an independent study. Yet another option is to serve as a student aide (teacher's aide, tutor, library aid, computer lab tech, or office aide). Forms for independent study and student aides can be obtained in the School Counseling office. We hope that many students will take advantage of these opportunities to become independent learners and contributors to the school community.

Do other schools have similar schedules to the new CHS/CNH schedule?

Yes, E.O. Smith High School in Mansfield and Wethersfield High School has nearly identical schedules to the new eight period schedule.

What is the Project Opening Doors grant?

Coventry High School was one of nine schools in Connecticut to received funding to expand and improve our Advance Placement program. We were awarded $465,000 over five years. The 2008-2009 school year was the first year of the grant and we exceeded our goal of 60 passing scores on math, science, and English exams. The number of enrollments in AP courses has expanded from 198 in 2008-2009 to 295 in 2009-2010. While the ultimate goal of the grant, which is administered by the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, is to achieve scores of 3 (considered passing) or higher on the national exam, we know that exposure to a rigorous curriculum prepares students for the challenge of college.