In order to graduate, a student must successfully complete the required coursework and four years of credit-worthy academic study at the Rhetoric School level.
All students must complete a minimum of 29.5 credits, as outlined below, in order to graduate. Additionally, students are encouraged to take advanced courses beyond the graduation requirements as dictated by their academic interests or goals. No matter their credit accumulation, 12th grade students are required to maintain a 5.5 credit course load minimum their senior year.
Humanities: 8 credits
All Rhetoric students must complete four years of humanities studies, the cornerstone of a Geneva education. Humanities studies integrate two courses per year, one emphasizing history and cultural progression, the other focused on the literature of the periods studied. Both incorporate significant rhetorical components. The study of humanities also integrates biblical and doctrinal material as the significant ideas of western culture are discussed and evaluated. Fulfilled by two 1-credit classes (history and literature) of required humanities each year in grades 9 through 12.
Math: 4 credits
All Rhetoric students must complete four credits of math. Fulfilled by four 1-credit math courses: eighth grade Algebra 1, ninth Geometry, 10th Algebra 2, and 11th Pre-Calculus. The eighth-grade course is included in the student’s transcript as a pass/fail and does not factor into the student’s Rhetoric School GPA. Students are encouraged to continue math studies their senior year with AP Statistics and/or AP Calculus AB.
Science: 4 credits
All Rhetoric students must complete four credits of science. Fulfilled by four 1-credit science courses: ninth Biology, 10th Chemistry, and two science electives. These offerings include the following: Anatomy & Physiology (I and II), AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics, and Physics. Students who completed Conceptual Physics or IPC at Geneva in 8th grade may count it as one of their two science electives. This course will be added as Pass/Fail credit and will not impact cumulative GPA.
Foreign Language: 3 credits
All Rhetoric students must complete three years of high school instruction in any one foreign language and earn at least one (1) high school credit in Latin. Current offerings include Latin and Spanish. AP Latin and AP Spanish are also a part of the language track. Koine (biblical) Greek is offered only as an elective credit, not as a language track.
Students who complete Latin in the Logic School at Geneva have earned the required 1 credit of Latin, equivalent to high school level Latin 1, although the grades do not factor into students’ GPA on their transcript. Having fulfilled the required Latin credit, students may choose to continue in Latin 2 and 3 or switch languages and study Spanish 1, 2, and 3 to fulfill their language requirement.
Rhetoric: 1.5 credits
All Rhetoric students must complete two years of liberal arts studies. Fulfilled by two required classes: 11th Classical Rhetoric, and 12th Senior Thesis. The Rhetoric track provides instruction and practice in classical forms of both written and oral persuasive expression. Senior Thesis provides guidelines and coaching on the way to the capstone Senior Thesis presentation.
Theology: 2 credits
All Rhetoric students must complete four years of theological training, incorporating biblical, theological, philosophical, and apologetics instruction. Fulfilled by four required .5 credit classes: ninth Bible Interpretation, 10th Pauline Ethics, 11th World Religions and Christian Theology and 12th Apologetics.
Fine Arts: 2 credits
Fulfilled by two years (9th and 10th grades) of fine arts. Fine art offerings include Band, Art, Guitar, Orchestra, and Vocal Music.
“Chamber Orchestra,” “Praise Ensemble” and “Jazz Ensemble” are additional fine arts electives available outside the normal fine arts period and do not fulfill the fine arts credit requirement.
Athletics: 1 credit
Students in the Rhetoric School do not take P.E. Various sports are offered to fulfill the athletics requirement. This is to encourage the advantages of participating on a team. Opportunities to serve as team managers or trainers are available to fulfill the athletics requirement. All sports are extracurricular (no time is scheduled during the day for athletics periods). Fulfilled by either two seasons or two sports (one sport for one season is .5 credit).
Electives: 4 credits
Fulfilled by combinations of electives that are either 1 or .5 credit. Elective offerings vary from year to year and are detailed in the Rhetoric School Curriculum Guide for the current school year.