Honors Program

The York County School Division Honors Program is designed to provide students in grades 8-12 with the opportunity to complete a rigorous academic program.

Eligible students choosing to participate in this program are required to complete courses prescribed by the Honors Program, maintain a specified Grade Point Average (GPA), and complete 20 hours of community service outside of school. For going beyond the state's requirements for an Advanced Studies Diploma, students who successfully complete the Honors Program will be recognized with the Honors Program Seal on their diplomas.

Eligible high school Honors Program students may participate in the Dual Enrollment or the Governor's School for Science and Technology at New Horizons as their home school class schedules permit.

Eligibility

Students who have demonstrated general academic strength and high ability in English and mathematics are eligible to enter the program in their eighth-grade year.

After grade 8, only students who transfer into York County from other school divisions are eligible to enter the Honors Program. Transfer students must be able to demonstrate that they have taken comparable courses and that they have met grade requirements in order to participate in the program.

Course Requirements

Grade 8

Advanced English 8; Civics and Economics; Algebra I or Advanced Geometry; Physical Science 8; World Language I/II (French, German, Spanish), Physical Education & Lifetime Fitness 8; Elective

Grade 9-12

• Students currently in the Honors Program must maintain a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.25 in grades 9 and 3.50 in grades 10, 11 and 12. All Honors Program students may not earn a final grade lower than a "C" in any course throughout their participation in the program.
• Students must take a minimum of six honors program course requirements, including Advanced Placement (AP) courses, dual enrollment (DE) courses for transferable college credit, and/or qualifying Governor's School courses representing four different content areas. A full list of these courses is published in the Program of Studies.
• Students must take a minimum of four years of a world language. World language courses taken for high school credit and successfully completed in the seventh grade may count as one of the four years.

Enrollment

Enrollment in the Honors Program takes place in the fall of a student's eighth grade year. Additional information on this academic opportunity is available in the school counseling department of each middle and high school.