Boyle County High School offers its 867 students a dynamic curriculum responsive to the needs of young people and the business community. Seventeen Advanced Placement courses and over 60 hours of dual credit provide students the opportunity to earn college credit and the Commonwealth Diploma. Students who are not college bound may choose a challenging career-oriented curriculum based on the High Schools That Work / Tech Prep initiatives that offer practical studies to prepare students for the work force and postsecondary study. Over 75% of the 44 regular classroom teachers hold Master degrees.
People are more productive when work and play are properly balanced. A nationally-recognized competitive band, Jazz Band, choral groups, numerous clubs, academic teams, and an extensive athletic program complement the curricula. The Jazz/Swing Band entertains locally, specializing in jazz fusion and big band swing music. Boyle County students score at or above state and national levels in nearly all components of American College Test (ACT), Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) reporting. These nationally-normed tests are used by colleges to predict the success of students. Seventy-five percent of our graduates intend to pursue postsecondary education, according to data gathered over the past three years by counselors. Career clusters group career majors within an occupational interest area to encourage postsecondary planning. Clusters exist in Arts and Humanities, Business and Financial Studies, Technical and Pre-engineering. Majors exist within each cluster. For instance, in the Arts and Humanities cluster, students may choose a major in Art, English/Humanities, Foreign Language, Instrumental Music, Social Studies, or Vocal Music. Boyle County High School requirements exceed the state course requirements. Boyle graduates in 2007 will be required to earn 28 credits, six above the state minimum of 22. Students must earn 3.5 elective credits, four credits in English, four in math, three in science, four in social studies, .5 in arts/humanities, .5 in health, .5 in physical education, one in computers, seven in a declared major.
Health: All freshmen receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in health classes. Emergency Medical Services technicians and registered nurses from Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Hospital use the finest training mannequins available that replicate human chest action. French students tour France during spring break. Events such as Monet Tea at Elmwood Inn, celebration of Mardi Gras with authentic King Cake and Mardi Gras masks, and simulations such as a French restaurant with students role playing both restaurant employees and customers provide learning through fun activities. Advanced Placement U.S. History students assist Perryville Elementary students with tours of historic downtown Perryville during the Commemoration weekend for the Battle of Perryville. Anatomy students are eligible to bypass the anatomy portion of their postsecondary health technology study thanks to an articulation between Boyle County High School and The Danville Health Technology Center. Taught by a registered nurse from the faculty of the Danville School of Practical Nursing, the class uses the same textbooks and teaching aids used by the Danville School of Practical Nursing. Health Occupations students also may earn health career credit that can be applied to postsecondary study. As with the anatomy class, health occupations is taught by a registered nurse from the faculty of the Danville Health Technology Center. Both the anatomy and health occupations classes are products of the Tech Prep program at Boyle County High School designed to provide a meaningful career education for high school students. Pathway to Careers/Cooperative Work Release offers young people a head start on life by providing instruction focusing on employability skills as well as the ever important soft skills while being given an opportunity to maintain a job in the workforce in order to develop and enhance these desired occupational skills. Over 40 employers in Boyle County work with students who are supervised by a representative from the school who, along with the employer, monitors job performance. Principles of Technology offers hands-on physics with special laboratory equipment and training materials designed for schools by industry. Seven concepts -- force, work, rate, resistance, energy, power, and force transformers -- are explored in terms of mechanical, fluid, electrical, and thermal systems. An Information Technology Lab offers real-life experiences with digital communications, software development, web page design, network design/implementation, and computer architecture. The lab also provides the opportunity for students to prepare for the A+ examination. Professional software, specialized equipment, and computer-assisted learning provide the backdrop for this exciting learning experience. Technical mathematics students study training materials used in industry and follow up their study with a visit to the work place to see what role math concepts play on the job. R.R. Donnelley and Sons, Inc., provides training materials and insights. Child Development class offers a two-way education between teens and preschoolers in a two-week child care program coordinated by the Family and Consumer Science Department. Students plan activities that include story telling, physical fitness, art, music, and games. The Family and Consumer Science curriculum is aligned with the program at Eastern Kentucky University to facilitate a smooth transition to postsecondary study. Family, Career and Community Leaders of America provides training and leadership opportunity for students involved in the Family and Consumer Science curriculum. A strong FFA chapter complements studies for those students interested in pursuing careers related to agriculture. The Community Based Work Transition Program places special needs students in work settings with a job trainer. Approximately 35 employers participate. |
|
|
