Consistent with the school’s mission and 21st Century Learning Skills, students enrolled in all Social Studies courses are presented with the opportunity to develop skills that teach them accountability, adaptability and tenacity in their academic, social, and civic interactions. Through participating in the Social Studies curriculum, students will be taught to generate their own questions regarding the content of each course, including, but not limited to, the themes of personal and public identities; concern for sources and their relevance; change over time; cause and effect; hypothesizing; compare and contrast; and local, state, national and global challenges. Students will be provided with opportunities to investigate independent topics of interest relating to history, geography, civics and economics. Students will work both independently and collaboratively to solve problems. Lastly, students will be held to high standards of both personal and academic behavior, which will serve to encourage them to act with integrity in all academic endeavors and to exhibit respect for themselves and empathy for others.
The Social Studies Department is committed to fostering a supportive learning environment where all students can succeed and develop a strong understanding of the social, political, historical, and economic systems that shape our world. In order to help all students progress and grow, we have established a grading policy that ensures no student receives a quarterly grade lower than 50 percent. The goal of our grading policy is to encourage continued learning and improvement, even when students may face challenges. By setting a minimum grade of 50 percent, we ensure that students have an opportunity to demonstrate their learning and show progress, rather than being penalized in ways that could hinder their motivation or academic development.We understand that many students encounter obstacles in their studies, and sometimes circumstances beyond their control can impact academic performance. The 50 percent minimum grade provides a safety net for students, allowing them to recover and engage in meaningful learning activities throughout the course.
Burlington High School students are required to take three years of Social Studies. The required course sequence is as follows:
Grade 9 – U.S. History I
Grade 10 – U.S. History II
Grade 11 – World History II