Academic Requirements

Students should carefully plan their academic program to ensure that they will meet Hotchkiss diploma requirements and complete a challenging, enriching course of study that complements their interests and talents.

Graduation Requirements

DIPLOMA REQUIREMENTS

  • 4 years of English
  • Math through the third level, including geometry, or the equivalent
  • 2 years of laboratory science
  • Humanities & Social Sciences: Prep Humanities, Lower Mid Humanities
  • A classic or modern foreign language offered at Hotchkiss through the third-year level (as determined by placement)
  • Visual and Performing Arts: Prep and Lower Mid Humanities (dance, theatre, music, photography, or studio art)
  • The human development course

CLASSICS DIPLOMA REQUIREMENTS

A student may qualify for a Classics Diploma with extensive work in Latin and Greek by completing one of the following: four levels of Latin and three of Greek; five levels of Latin and two of Greek; or four levels of Latin and two of Greek in addition to a classics independent study.

Students entering in the lower mid class

Earn a minimum of 14 credits at Hotchkiss. Diploma requirements:

  • 4 years of English, with one credit from their previous high school and three more from Hotchkiss
  • Math through the third level, including geometry, or the equivalent
  • 2 credits in a laboratory science, which may include high school credit earned for the equivalent of one year of biology, chemistry, or physics
  • Lower Mid Humanities and one credit, which may include high school credit earned prior to enrollment for the equivalent of one year of history, philosophy, or social science
  • Classical or modern foreign language offered at Hotchkiss through the third-year level (as determined by placement)
  • Visual and Performing Arts: Lower Mid Humanities (dance, theatre, music, photography, or studio art)
  • The human development course

Students entering in the upper mid class

Earn a minimum of 9 credits at Hotchkiss. Diploma requirements:

  • 4 years of English, with two credits from their previous high school and two more from Hotchkiss
  • Math through the third level, including geometry, or the equivalent
  • 2 credits in a laboratory science, which may include one or two high school credits earned prior to enrollment for the equivalent of two years of biology, chemistry, or physics
  • Humanities and Social Sciences: If you have already taken a year of U.S. history at your previous high school, you may apply to the history department for a waiver of this requirement. Should this waiver be granted, you would be required to take the equivalent of one year of history, philosophy, or social science.
  • A classic or modern foreign language offered at Hotchkiss through the third-year level (as determined by placement), or through the second-year level if you begin your course of study at Hotchkiss.

Students entering in the senior class (including postgraduates)

Earn a minimum of 4 credits at Hotchkiss. Diploma requirements:

  • 4 years of English, with three credits from their previous high school and one more from Hotchkiss
  • Humanities and Social Sciences: U.S. History
  • Math through the third level, including geometry, or the equivalent
  • Laboratory science: Students must have received credit for one year of biology, chemistry, or physics at their previous school in order for the Hotchkiss requirement to be waived.
  • New seniors must take one year of a new language or continue a previously studied language at placement level for one year, or complete the third-year requirement by placement. Postgraduates are strongly encouraged, but not required, to enroll in a foreign language.