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Academics

The HUM Approach to College Readiness

Hum offers all students a college prep curriculum that challenges students to use critical thinking skills to discover, analyze, and critique real-world issues. All students will graduate from HUM equipped with the reading, writing and speaking skills to effectively communicate their ideas to others, and to succeed in the future. The HUM approach features:

• Learning by doing: Students learn through hands-on projects to help them connect the classroom to real life. In every class, students work in groups, conduct research, analyze texts, and present their findings. Through their classroom experiences, HUM students will be ready for success in college.
• Laying the foundation for success: Students take accelerated classes in the 9th and 10th grade (Lower House) to prepare for Advanced Placement and college-level English and courses in the 11th and 12th grade (Upper House).
• Writing across the curriculum: Writing skills are emphasized in every subject to ensure students can express their original thought and meet college readiness standards.
• Extra time to succeed: With an extended school day, Saturday school, and a required Summer Program, students have time to develop reading, writing and speaking skills in every subject.
• Personalization: Teachers and staff get to know students in small classes and in small-group advisories. Teams of teachers who monitor student progress throughout their high school career ensure students stay engaged in learning and that no student falls through the cracks.
• All students are college-bound: In addition to a college-prep curriculum, students are supported in every step of the college application process - from early conversations about college and careers in 9th grade to a successful transition in to the first year of college.

A Typical School Day

The school day begins at 8:30 AM, ends at 4:30 PM, and includes:

• Morning Meeting in the Town Hall to set goals, hear important announcements, and celebrate accomplishments.
• Class periods that are 60 minutes long.
• Classes with an average of 25 students.
• Individual and small group collaborative learning.
• 45 minutes of each day dedicated to focused enrichment and/or remediation.

SAMPLE 9th GRADE SCHEDULE

* Students are dismissed at 1:57 PM on Wednesday

Advisory and Enrichment

The last period of each day is devoted to Advisory and Enrichment classes.

Each student is assigned to a teacher or staff member who will serve as a mentor and counselor throughout his/her high school career. Advisory classes will meet twice a week and will consist of about 15 students. This small group setting fosters personalized attention and provides a forum for discussion about academic challenges and successes, as well as social issues. During Advisory, students will also explore colleges and careers through a College Readiness curriculum in order to prepare them for the ultimate goal of admission to a top-tier college or university, or other challenging post-secondary option.

Two days per week, students will attend an enrichment or acceleration class designed to meet their individual needs. The supports students recieve during this time are developed based on a team of teachers' study of each student's progress.

Graduation Requirements

HUM is divided into a Lower House (9th and 10th grade) and an Upper House (11th and 12th grade). In order to graduate from the Lower House, by the end of the 10th grade students must:

1. Successfully complete curriculum coursework and pass corresponding Regents exams.
2. Demonstrate the ability to research, produce, present and defend their ideas as evidenced through Anchor Projects.
3. Demonstrate proficiency in writing informational and argumentative texts at the 10th grade level, as indicated by the Common Core Standards.

In order to earn a high school diploma, students must satisfy all graduation requirements outlined by the state. Our goal is for all students to qualify for an Advanced Regents Diploma. Additional course requirements and supports will be provided to help students to exceed the state graduation requirements and be college-ready.

Assessments and Exams

Students will take regular assessments to help teachers determine areas of strength, weakness, and their progress toward mastering core content knowledge. Additionally, students will take a number of exams to measure their progress toward college readiness and to fulfill New York State graduation requirements. To download a detailed chart of exams, click on "Four-Year Exam Timeline" under Related Materials to the left.