More math added at Coupeville High

More number crunching is in store starting with next year’s freshman class at Coupeville High School.

The school district will add another math credit to the high school’s graduation requirements. Officials are tweaking the graduation requirements to keep up with changes in state regulations and to help students better prepare for college.

Superintendent Patty Page said at last month’s school board meeting that the board has been proactive in ensuring the high school had enough classes to make sure students can meet the extra math credit.

The high school currently offers classes up to calculus.

The change in math credits stems from a requirement made by the State Board of Education.

The Coupeville School Board unanimously approved the first reading of the proposal.

Adding math isn’t the only change being considered to graduation requirements. The proposal calls for reducing the number of occupational credits from two to one while adding another elective credit.

Page said students who are planning to attend college have trouble meeting the second occupational class credit while taking courses to meet college requirements. By making the change students can still take a second occupational credit that will count toward elective requirements.

She said the change will give students a little more flexibility.

Once the changes are approved, the class of 2013 will have to complete 22 credits to graduate, which is up from the current 21.

Page said the additional credit won’t be a barrier for graduation.

The increase in graduation requirements comes as there is talk at the state level of requiring school districts to require that students earn 24 credits in order to graduate. The Oak Harbor School District requires students to earn 23 credits.

There is a state task force looking to redefine education and how it should be funded, Page said.

If the graduation requirements are increased, Page said staff would have to look at what model the high school would use. If the school kept its current six-period schedule, then it wouldn’t provide any leeway for students.

Other options could be to offer a seven-period day, adopting block scheduling or letting students earn high school credit in middle school.

Whidbey News Times Reporter Nathan Whalen can be reached at nwhalen@whidbeynewstimes.com or 360.675.6611.

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