Academics

In 2007, lawmakers updated the high school graduation requirements for all students in Indiana to Core40. At the same time, they drafted legislation that made Core40 a standard admission requirement for colleges and universities across the state. This legislation included an opt-out provision for parents who felt their students would receive greater benefit from a general education diploma. Today, under current requirements, students may earn one of four diploma types:

Weighted Grades
Some of our upper-level courses carry more “weight” than others. Students who successfully complete these advanced classes are given one additional point value when figuring their GPA.

For example, a student finishing AP Chemistry with a B- average (regular GPA of 2.667,) will earn a weighted GPA of 3.667.

Advanced Placement (AP) courses are college-level classes that offer challenging coursework to help high schoolers improve their writing and problem-solving skills, develop time management skills, and improve their study habits so they can be successful in college. Most colleges offer credit to students who complete AP courses in high school and pass their final exams. South Decatur currently offers:

• AP Calculus AB
• AP Biology
• AP Physics
• AP Chemistry
• AP Microeconomics
• AP Government and Politics
• AP US History

Dual credit classes give high school students the opportunity to earn both high school and college credits at the same time. Our dual credit classes are taught by SDHS staff who have been trained and credentialed by the Ivy Tech dual credit program to award college credit to students who successfully complete.

As we work to grow our dual credit program, courses could be added from one school year to the next. You will be notified if a course you are in becomes dual credit. Dual credit also is determined by the credentials of the teacher who is teaching the course. If a teacher change occurs, this could affect dual credit availability as well.

Project Lead the Way is a nationally recognized program that empowers students to step into the role of an engineer or scientist, adopt a problem-solving mindset, and meet real-world challenges that help them become better collaborators and thinkers. 

We offer PLTW courses at both the junior high and high school levels. Our PLTW engineering courses earn dual credit through Ivy Tech and include:

Thanks to our partnership with C4 Columbus Career Connection, juniors and seniors at South Decatur may take Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses (and possibly earn certifications) in: