Academics FAQ
What are the academic requirements for attendance and graduation?
While attending SHA, students are expected to maintain a 2.0 GPA while taking a minimum number of credits each year: 7 credits per year for Freshwomen and Sophomores and 6.5 credits for Juniors and Seniors. All students are required to take four years of Religion. Twenty-seven and a half credits are required to graduate from Sacred Heart Academy.
What are the curriculum requirements at SHA?
Sacred Heart Academy is a Regents school, which means that students must pass 5 Regents exams for a Regents diploma and 8 Regents exams for a Regents Advanced Designation diploma. More information about graduation and Regents requirements can be found in the SHA curriculum book.
Are Honors and Advanced Placement courses available?
Sacred Heart Academy currently offers honors courses in English, Social Studies, Mathematics, and Science. AP courses are available for English, Social Studies, Mathematics, Foreign Language, and Science. Students enrolled in AP courses at SHA are required to sit for the exam in May. We also offer on our campus math courses through Canisius College and Distance Learning courses from Daemen College, both of which are credit-bearing. Honors, AP, and college course grades are weighted heavier than Regents and SHA courses.
Do I have to repeat 9th grade math, science or foreign language if I have taken them already at my middle school?
Sacred Heart Academy offers placement exams for math and foreign language, for which successful completion translates into credit. Students who have taken earth science or biology and/or have taken the Regents exam will receive credit for the course, the exam or both. SHA also offers a placement exam for computer technology, which does not bear credit but allows the student to skip over the introductory Computer Applications course.
If I am a student athlete, must I take physical education?
Yes. New York State requires that all students take physical education every year.
Will I have access to technology at SHA?
Sacred Heart Academy has a computer lab that is open and available for student use every period of every day. The Library Media Center also has computers available for students to use during their lunches, free periods or study halls. Our Library Media Center hosts several Online Databases for student research. Students also have access to multi-media stations in the Learning Center and computerized keyboard and percussion stations in Clare Music Hall. Many SHA teachers have a personal web page where students can retrieve notes, homework assignments, and additional help through online links and extra assignments.
