Academic Policies

Transfer Students: Students transferring to LCS during the school year do not necessarily need to make up courses in which they were not previously enrolled. The guidance counselor, along with the principal, will determine placement in LCS courses based on LCS and NYS Regents requirements. The student’s public school district personnel and/or the NYS Department of Education will be consulted in the case of transfer students who will not fulfill the Regents diploma requirements (e.g., home schooled, enrolled in non-registered high schools, out-of-state transfers, etc.).

Mathematics: Students attending the high school at LCS will take a math course during each year of enrollment. At a minimum, every student (including transfers) will fulfill the Regents diploma requirements in mathematics. Students attending LCS for four full years of high school must take Math Sequence Courses I, II, and III or Algebra 1, Geometry and Algebra 2/Trigonometry. Students in their senior year may take Pre-calculus or another senior elective in math (if offered). Accelerated math students may take the college level calculus course or the other senior level math course. All seniors will take a math course unless they receive approval for participation in the senior Internship program.

Science: Students attending the high school at LCS will take a science course during each year of enrollment. At a minimum, every student (including transfers) will fulfill the Regents diploma requirements in science. Students attending LCS for four full years of high school must take earth science, biology, and chemistry. Students in their senior year may take physics or college-level biology, unless they receive approval for participation in the senior internship program, as described below. Accelerated science students may take college-level biology or participate in the senior internship program.

Senior Internship: Students wishing to gain work experience in a field of interest or study may apply to participate in the student internship program. This opportunity is meant to help the student in their future career or interests. Assistance for obtaining an approved internship is available through the internship supervisor. Approval of internships must take place before the first day of classes during the student’s senior year. The administration appoints the internship supervisor who is responsible for administration of the program and supervision of students registered in the program.

Students taking the internship are expected to work a minimum of the same number of hours per week as the number of credits of the course the Internship replaces. A student who takes the Internship in lieu of mathematics will work a minimum of five hours per week because mathematics is a five-credit course. Opting out of science will require a minimum of seven hours of work per week.

The student is responsible for keeping track of the number of hours using the student time sheet provided by the internship supervisor. The intern is also responsible for keeping a journal with weekly entries detailing on-the-job activities. An evaluation form will be presented to the field supervisor who will rate the intern in several areas at the end of each marking period.

College Courses: Students wishing to take a college course will be permitted to opt out of either mathematics or science during their senior year. In lieu of the math or science class, students must take a college level class each semester at an accredited college. The student must be registered for the fall semester and receive approval by the guidance counselor prior to the first day of school. Credit for college courses may be recognized at LCS provided the course or its equivalent is not offered as part of the school’s program. Students must take either math or science at LCS during their senior year. They may not opt out of both.

Special Considerations: By parental request, the secondary principal, in consultation with the guidance counselor and teachers, may adapt course and/or examination requirements for students. Such adaptations will take into account the student’s academic background, ability, and other relative factors.

Changing Courses: Students who wish to change courses must make a formal request to the guidance counselor, in writing, during the first ten days of the school year. The request must explain the change desired and the rationale for the change. The student and his or her parent(s) must sign the request.