Rancho Bernardo High School

Academic Information

CURRICULUM The curriculum is divided into three major programs: University-bound, College-bound, and high school graduation.

UNIVERSITY-BOUND STUDENTS - In general, these students take four years of higher math (algebra-calculus), two to four years of science, four years of English, two to five years of foreign language, and three years of social science and history, plus additional and required electives.

COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENTS - These students generally take three years of higher math (algebra, geometry, advanced algebra), four years of English, two years of science, two years of foreign language, and three years of social science and history, plus required electives.

HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION - These students take required graduation courses and are encouraged to take electives appropriate to their vocational interests.

ELECTIVES COURSES - Courses are offered in arts/visual & technical, speech, business, computers, drama, home economics, music (instrumental and choral), industrial/technology, and school service (teacher assistants and office assistants).

OTHER PROGRAMS-HONORS (H) - Courses are offered in English (9th-12grades), Math (9th-11th grades) and Science (9th and 10th grades).

ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) - Courses are offered in English, chemistry, biology, physics (2 years), computer science, calculus (2 years), statistics, European history, U.S. history, government/economics, French, German, Spanish, studio Arts/Visual & Technical and Arts/Visual & Technical history. Grade points assigned 5, 4, 3, 1, 0.

TRANSFER STUDENTS - RBHS will award 5-point scale credit only for those classes for which it is award in the Poway Unified School District. Honors and AP classes taken in another district but not offered in PUSD will receive 4 grade points, not 5. (3.7.1)

ADVANCEMENT VIA INDIVIDUAL DETERMINATION (AVID) - A program designed to help students under-represented in the UC and CSU systems who have average to high test scores on standardized tests prepare for college.

BRIDGES CLASSES - A special program to help at-risk 9th, 10th and 11th grade students. Classes offered are in English, math, science, social science.

ALTERNATIVE COURSES - Courses are available for students needing special help in math, English, science and social studies. (Limited enrollment.)

ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER (ELL) - Courses for students needing to learn to speak, read and write English are offered through the ESL program.

SPECIAL EDUCATION - Special instruction is provided for students with more severe learning problems by pArts/Visual & Technicalicipation in either a special day class or the resource specialist program and other programs as needed. Students qualify for special education through a series of psychological tests.

STUDENT STUDY TEAM - A program involving teachers, counselors, administrators and the school psychologist to assist troubled students through group counseling, peer counseling, etc.

REGIONAL OCCUPATIONAL PROGRAM (ROP) - Career & vocational training classes are offered through ROP in a number of areas including business, CAD drafting, fashion merchandising, culinary arts, floral design, screen printing, animation, laser graphics and digital media production.

PALOMAR CLASSES - Palomar Community College classes are available for Rancho Bernardo students. Juniors and seniors may take advantage of very advanced and special interest courses offered by the community college.

ADULT EDUCATION - The Poway Unified School District offers an extensive adult education program. Adult Education can be contacted at (858) 668-4000.

Academic Recognition

ADVANCED PLACEMENT RESULTS - 2003: 77 percent of 546 students taking 1,053 AP exams received a grade of 3 or higher.

SAT - CEEB #052536. During the 2002-2003 school year, RBHS students obtained the following mean scores on the SAT tests (these scores reflect the new re-centered SAT):