Cardinal McCarrick High School is a Catholic college preparatory high school that offers a challenging academic curriculum to all our students. Students can pursue AP, Honors, CP or Academic courses in all academic disciplines. We also partner with St. Peter’s College to offer college credit courses for qualifying students. Conscious of the need to stress critical thinking, problem-solving skills and collaboration and team work in order to prepare our students well for the challenges of the 21st century work place, CMHS is launching a new initiative in September, 2009, Educating for the 21st Century.
The academic highlights of this initiative include:
Extended School Day
Our school day will begin at 7:55am and end at 2:20pm and we will no longer begin the day with a homeroom period. The additional 25 minutes we gain from this change will be used to extend two periods/day to 54 minute classes, adding approximately twenty-nine hours of teacher/student contact time to the academic school year.
Formalized Academic Support Program
Each academic department will have specific days when teachers will be available after school consistently all year to provide tutorial help related to improved achievement. Peer tutors and on-line math and language arts programs will also be available to ensure that every student has the tools to be successful. Our goal is to use this academic support program to ensure that all students meet their personalized student achievement plan.
Enhanced Standardized Test Preparation
Teachers will consistently analyze student performance on all standardized tests and adjust curricular offerings and teaching methods to help improve student scores. Successful test strategies will be included in all subject area curricula.
Distance Learning
A unique on-line course pilot program has been introduced. Thirteen seniors have enrolled in 10 on-line courses for which they will receive credit towards high school graduation and, in some cases, college credits as well. These courses include Basic Italian, AP Spanish, AP Government & Politics, and Marine Science, and semester electives in Forensics, Current Events, Number Theory and Mythology.
Freshman Honors Program
Freshmen enrolled in the Humanities Honors courses in World History, English and Religion will participate in a new program that will link the three subject areas thematically, while exploring the normal curriculum content of each course. Quarterly projects, field trips and guest speakers will provide a unique opportunity for these students to explore real-life applications that cross subject lines.
Our Freshman Honors Mathematics course will combine the major elements of Algebra and Geometry in one year. Students will review elementary algebra concepts, and then progress quickly to higher level algebra and geometry theory.
Both these courses will prepare our brightest freshmen for AP courses in Mathematics and Humanities during Junior and Senior year.
Revitalized Academic Course Offerings
In recent years Cardinal McCarrick HS has developed a successful program for those students who struggle academically. Partnering with the Middlesex County Educational Services Commission we provide opportunities for Compensatory Education and Supplementary Education during the academic day. Our students also benefit from the presence of In-Class Support Teachers in English and Mathematics classes. As part of this new initiative, subject teachers, guidance counselors and MCESC teachers will work more closely to ensure that struggling students will reach the goals they include in their personalized achievement plan.
For additional information about Cardinal McCarrick HS course offerings, please refer to the Course Curriculum Guide. If you have questions about CMHS Academics, please contact Mrs. Arleen Morey, Assistant Principal/Academics.
