Course Catalog
Statement of Purpose for Deering High School
Selecting Courses to Achieve Your Goals
Equal Opportunity
Graduation Requirement
“The Mission of Deering High School is to Graduate Students Who Are College and Career Ready and Globally Competent.”
Selecting Courses to Achieve Your Goals
Thoughtful planning will help you achieve the goals you have for high school and your future. Take time to read through the information in this guide to make sure you are familiar with everything from minimum graduation requirements to the wide variety of elective courses available to you. Below are several suggestions to assist you in making these important decisions.
Challenge yourself. Use high school as an opportunity to discover how much you are capable of accomplishing.
Consider the grades you have earned in the past. Some courses build upon the knowledge or skills you have acquired in previous work (prerequisites), while other courses build upon knowledge in related subjects. For example, Physics requires math proficiency and Chemistry requires the prerequisites of Environmental Science and Biology.
Consider the things that interest you and take courses that will help you increase your knowledge in your area of interest.
Discuss possible courses with your parents, teachers, school counselor, advisor, and peers.
Be certain that you select courses to meet the DHS high school graduation requirements, as well as courses that support and develop your individual interests.
Remember, the more planning and thought you give to course selection, the more meaningful your high school experience will be.
Although Deering High School makes every effort to meet your course requests, certain course configurations are not always possible. The counselors in the Guidance Department are available to assist students with exploring course options. The counselors can work with students to map out four-year plans and assist students in making decisions around selecting courses to meet particular goals. Students are welcome to drop in to the Guidance Office or make an appointment to meet with their counselor.
The high school counselors are:
Ms. Asia Alexis Ms. Leah Dixon Mr. Shawn Kennedy
Ms. Aley Watts Ms. Laurie Medeiros
Equal Opportunity
The Portland Public Schools ensure equal educational opportunities regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, handicap, religion, gender, or sexual orientation in accordance with state and federal guidelines.
Graduation Requirements
In order to earn a diploma, students will need to show proficiency on a set of Graduation Standards. These standards will be the same, no matter which Portland Public Schools high school the student attends.
The Portland School Committee has established that each student must earn a total of forty-one (41) credits/twenty-one (21)Units of Proficiency (UPS) and meet a computer proficiency standard to participate in graduation exercises and receive a high school diploma. The 41 credits are typically earned over a four year period, barring extenuating circumstances such as serious illness or academic failure. The computer proficiency standard is typically met by the end of middle school. All course credits and requirements must be completed in order for a student to participate in graduation exercises.
Students will need to earn 21 Units of Proficiency (UPS)/41 credits in order to graduate. In order to earn a Unit of Proficiency/credit in a class or alternative pathway, students must earn a grade of at least a 70 (on a 0-100 scale ) or a 2 (on a 1-4 scale) on all Performance Indicators
Students are expected to select their courses in consultation with their parents/guardians, teachers, and school counselors. Credits are awarded upon successful completion of a course. Typically, full-term courses at Deering High School are worth two credits each; half-term courses earn one credit each. Within this guide, each academic cluster has defined the courses recommended to meet the following graduation requirements:
| 4 courses of English | 8 credits (4 units of proficiency) |
| 3 courses of Mathematics | 6 credit (3 units of proficiency) |
| 3 courses of Science | 6 credit (3 units of proficiency) |
| 3 courses of Social Studies | 6 credit (3 units of proficiency) |
| 1 course of Visual/Performing Arts | 2 credits (1 unit of proficiency) |
| 1 course of Physical Education | 2 credits (1 unit of proficiency) |
| 1 course of Health | 1 credit (1 unit of proficiency) |
| Elective Courses | 10 credits (5 units of proficiency) |
| Senior Capstone | Counts as 1 of the 10 electives |
| Total for graduation | 41 credits (21 units of proficiency) |
Note: The requirements to graduate from Deering High School are not always the same requirement that college admissions offices will ask for. For example, it is highly recommended that students planning to attend college should complete at least two courses of World Languages through Level II and many selective colleges want students to have a full schedule of courses which includes a course from each core subject every year.
University of Maine’s High School Recommendations
The University of Maine, and most colleges offering Bachelor's degrees, expect the following course program to be completed during high school in order for students to be college ready. In addition to these core courses, students also need to choose a variety of elective courses to develop interests and a broad knowledge base. High school coursework should be at the college preparation level or higher. Advanced, honors, or AP coursework is encouraged.
The following core courses are recommended by the University of Maine system:
- 4 courses of English
- 4 courses of Math including Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry and a senior year math course
- 3 courses of Social Science
- 3 courses of Lab Science
- At least through level II in a language other than English
- Computer science and technology courses are strongly recommended
Reminders for Course Selections
- Except in special cases, students are expected to take a full schedule of 8 courses per year.
- Credit cannot be granted twice for the same course. Courses in the music program and JMG are exceptions to this rule.
- To select and remain enrolled in a course, students must meet prerequisites, which may include teacher recommendation.
- All students are encouraged to pursue rigorous courses. A number of tools are used to identify students for honors and AP courses including parent and teacher recommendations and students’ own requests.
- Students with learning differences and disabilities should discuss and plan their course selections with their case-manager who is responsible for implementing the student’s Individualized Education Plan (I.E.P).
- Multilingual students should discuss and plan their course selections with their English teachers and school counselors.
Fine Arts Requirements
Courses counting for fine arts credit are marked by the letters FA following the course title in this Course Selection Guide.