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Guidance Program
One of the major goals of our school is to meet the educational needs of all our students to the greatest extent possible. Good planning is required on your part if you are to meet your educational goals. You, your parents and your counselor should be involved in the selection of the courses you will take each year. In doing this, you must consider your record of achievement in school, your educational and vocational goals, and your interests and abilities. All of these factors should combine to form a long-range educational plan tailored especially for you. Each year you should review this plan and modify it as your interests and goals change. Your selection of courses should reflect those changes. However, at all times the selection of courses must be approved by your parents. We hope to introduce you to as many areas of study as possible. This is important for a well-rounded high school education. Therefore, we recommend that you avoid extremes of specialization in any one subject area. Specialization is more appropriate for later levels of education.
You are encouraged to visit the Guidance Office for advice concerning college selections, national testing programs, academic problems and registration for the coming year. When your achievement or behavior indicates the need for adjustment, the counselor may call for you. Parent-initiated conferences are also encouraged.
Preparation for College
If you plan to enter a four-year college or university, you should know that entrance requirements vary with each institution. When you decide that you want to continue your education in college, consult with your counselor and begin to study college catalogs as early as possible. This will give you a firm idea of the requirements for entrance into the various colleges/universities in which you are interested. College Bound students should undertake a rigorous program of study in English, history, mathematics, science and foreign languages. The program should meet the limits of your own abilities, not the minimum requirements of any one college.
Every college admissions committee looks favorably upon the student who has studied beyond the minimum requirements. Many colleges will exempt students from basic required courses when high school records indicate successful advanced study. In addition to wise course selection, high academic achievement is an essential requirement for college admission.
Almost all colleges still require the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or the American College Testing Program (ACT). Our school administers the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) to all sophomores and juniors in October. You should take either the SAT or ACT in the spring of your junior year and again in the fall of your senior year.
Preparation for Employment in Business
If you desire to prepare for employment as a secretary, bookkeeper, typist, file clerk, receptionist, etc., you should select as many courses as possible which are offered for business training. These courses are demanding and should be selected only by those who are willing to do work of average quality or better. We recommend that business students continue to study higher levels of mathematics whenever possible. The study of a foreign language is also appropriate, as are additional English, history or science courses. Careful selection of academic electives, combined with high grades, will improve your opportunities for employment after graduation, or for enrolling in college.
Preparation for General Employment
Not everyone will choose to go on to higher education after high school. Some of you will choose to enter the work force directly, or to attend a technical or trade school. A solid foundation of academic courses is the best preparation for this career goal. Employers want workers who can think, read, write, communicate, follow directions, and get along with other people. Therefore, you should plan to take academic courses which challenge you to your maximum abilities.
Preparation for Trade and Industrial Employment
You can be prepared for employment or for post high school training in one of the variety of trade and technical fields through a program in which you study academic subjects at Manchester Twp. H.S. one-half of each day, and your chosen occupational course at Ocean County Vocational School for the other one-half day. Students are selected for this program on the basis of achievement, aptitude, citizenship and teacher/counselor recommendation. Since the time spent in attending academic classes is limited, students in the vocational/technical program are not always able to choose from the entire list of course offerings. Also, they are limited in the number of elective courses they may choose. However, the benefits of this program for some students may far outweigh its limiting aspects.
Students may continue their education at the vocational school in a post-secondary program after high school graduation. There is scholarship funding of up to $750 available for this option. To apply, see your guidance counselor.
Graduation Requirements
In order to graduate from Manchester Township High School, students will be required to earn a minimum of 110 credits. Required courses include:
- 4 credit years of English
- 3 credit years of Mathematics
- 3 credit years of science (effective for graduating class of 2004)
- 3 credit years of social studies and history (World Cultures, U.S.History I and U.S. History II).
- 1 year of Health/Physical Education for each year of enrollment.
- 1 year of World Language
- 1/2-year of Career Education (infused)
- 1 year of fine, practical and/or performing arts
In addition to the above listed curricular requirements, a student must successfully pass state minimum basic skill examinations in reading, writing and computation. All public school students must pass the New Jersey High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA) in reading, writing, and mathematics as part of the requirements for high school graduation.
Awarding of Credit
Credit shall be awarded upon satisfactory completion of the entire course. This is a numerical average of 70 or better as a final average. You must also adhere to the State of New Jersey's mandatory attendance laws. Students who exceed 20 absences will not receive credit in the course(s) affected.
Make-up of Failed Courses
If you fail a course, you must make it up if it is a course required for graduation. You must also make up a failed course if the failure results in a shortage of credits required for graduation. A failed course must be made up by attending summer school. Exceptions will be made only if the student in question attended and completed summer school and still cannot meet the graduation requirements due to circumstances beyond his/her control.
Grading System
Numerical grades are given at the end of each nine week marking period. Below is an interpretation of the marking system.
93 - 100 Excellent
85 - 92 Above Average
76 - 84 Average
70 - 75 Below Average
69 & Below Failing
WP Withdrawn Passing
IC Incomplete (make-up necessary)
M Medical Excuse
WF Withdrawn Failing
Those students selecting Honors Courses, in accordance with standards established by each department, will have those courses noted on their Transcript Forms.
Manchester Township High School operates on a Single Curriculum Plan. The only required courses are those mandated by the State of New Jersey and the Manchester Township Board of Education. Thus, each student will have an opportunity to plan his/her own program in accordance with his/her educational and vocational goals.
Class Rank
- Rank in class refers to the student's relative position in his/her class based on a numerical average.
- Rank in class is mainly used by colleges as one of the criteria in selecting students.
- In order to accurately and fairly determine a student's class rank, it is necessary to weight some courses. Weighting is based upon academic difficulty.
- Each course has been marked with asterisks denoting its relative weight.
*** 16 additional points added to final average
** 8 additional points added to final average
* No additional points added to final average
The weighting factor is only used in the determination of rank in class. Any course taken during the summer is not included in rank. This includes remedial and enrichment classes.
Class rank is not calculated until the completion of the student's junior year.
OCC Jump Start Program
A partnership with Ocean County College enables MTHS students to take courses for college credit while still in high school.
Seniors who qualify for the Early Acceptance Program may spend their senior year full time at Ocean County College, fulfilling remaining high school requirements while simultaneously taking courses for college credit. To qualify, students must have a minimum SAT score of 1,000 and be recommended by the Principal.
O.C.C. will also offer college courses at MTHS during the summer, fall, and spring in the Jump Start program. Juniors and seniors with a “B” average and the Principal’s recommendation are eligible. O.C.C. instructors will teach the courses and college credit is awarded upon successful completion. O.C.C. is offering a Trustee Scholarship for these programs that brings the cost down to $28 per credit (regular tuition is $73 per credit). The only other expense would be for textbooks.
Information and applications are available in the guidance office.
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