Academic challenge is a big part of the Riverdale experience, and our goal is to be sure all students are challenged to their level of ability and commitment. Riverdale's basic curriculum is a challenging college-prep set of classes well beyond what the state of Oregon requires and what most competitive colleges expect to see on a transcript.

Requirements to graduate include four years of English, Math, History, Science, and Art, plus two years of a Foreign Language and the completion of a Senior Exhibition. For most students, this course line-up, coupled with our high expectations and differentiated instruction within each classroom, means they will be well-served without any additional challenge.

As one of our teachers said recently, "At Riverdale, I'm teaching the same curriculum and holding kids to the same standard as I did in my previous teaching position. The only difference is that at my prior school, they called what I teach "honors" and here we call it "the regular course."

But there are and always will be students who want to and should go beyond the basic curriculum. We serve them in a variety of ways. In Math, where measurement is more straightforward, we offer 9th and 10th grade Advanced sections as well as Regular core sections. Select students can place out of 9th grade math. In 11th and 12th grade, students choose between a scientific math track (Pre-Calculus, Trigonometry, Calculus) and a social science track (Pre-Discrete, Discrete). In senior English we have worked with Portland Community College to offer college credit for our coursework in writing (Writing 121).

However, the most fundamental part of higher levels of challenge at Riverdale is the Honors Curriculum & Honors Credit Program. Unlike most other high schools, Riverdale students can earn Honors Credit in any core subject, starting any term, without having to be split off into a separate section and have their class schedule thereby restricted. Here is how the system works:

Each core subject teacher offers a specific Honors Curriculum that extends the regular course plan. The Honors Program essentially creates a "class within a class" and is unique in that all students, regardless of what other classes they are taking, or how they did last term or last year, can choose to step up to Honors Credit in a core class for either one term or two (two advised). Students may take as many Honors Credits each term as they choose and can handle, with the exception of first term freshman year. Riverdale believes the transition to high school has enough stress associated with it that students coming from a variety of educational backgrounds need to sort out where they stand versus Riverdale's basic curriculum. It is important not to overload kids as they come together as a community. Therefore, in the first trimester of 9th grade, we limit students to no more than two Honors Credit classes.

Learning to "Use Your Mind Well" is what a Riverdale education is all about. We think you'll find the Honors Program a flexible and powerful tool on this journey.