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Freshman Course Info & FAQ


Academic Overview for Class of 2028
 
A Molloy student is well-rounded, taking classes in the arts, computer science, math, science, and English. Freshman year prepares Stanners for the advanced and AP courses offered throughout the rest of their high school careers, making sure their foundation is solid and their minds are open.
 
 
RESOURCES as of Summer 2023 [This will be updated for the Class of 2028 in June, 2024, but for now, you may look at last year's to get an idea of what to expect]
 
 

 

Frequently Asked Questions for the Class of 2028 - Academics/Curriculum

Below are some frequently asked academics/curriculum questions we often hear from incoming freshman students and their families. If you have additional questions not provided below, please contact us.

If you have any specific questions about accelerated courses or scheduling, please contact Dr. Des Flynn, Assistant Principal for Academics and Scheduling, at [email protected].

Click on each question below to reveal the answer.

 

A standard freshman course load includes Religion 9; an English course (English 9 or English 9 Honors); a Social Studies course (Global History & Geography 1, Global History & Geography 1 Honors, or Pre-AP World History); a Math course (Algebra 1 or Algebra 1 Honors); a World Language course (Spanish 1, French 1, or Italian 1); a Science course (Biology or Biology Honors); Physical Education; a half-year of Introduction to Computer Science, and a half-year Music course (Music Appreciation, Chorus, or Music Theory).
 
 
Qualified incoming freshmen are offered a place in the honors program (advanced English, Social Studies, Science, and Mathematics courses) on the basis of their TACHS scores and junior high school marks. The invitation to honors courses appears in the letter of acceptance.
 
 
Not at this time, but places in honors classes often become available if accepted students decline to attend Molloy. In that case, seats in honors classes are filled by the next most highly qualified applicants (on the basis of their TACHS scores and junior high school marks). If you are interested in this, please indicate so on the course survey, which is given in March.
 
Yes. Any student may apply for any honors course in the spring of each academic year for the following September.
 
To ensure students have sufficiently mastered course content to be considered for acceleration, we have established the following minimum criteria for consideration:
 
 

*Course & Regents/Proficiency Exam Taken in Junior High School

Course to be Placed In for 9th Grade

*Minimum Criteria for Consideration

Algebra I

Advanced Algebra & Applications Honors

Course Grade: 90’s

Regents Exam Grade: 80’s

TACHS Math (Local %ile): 80's

Algebra I

Geometry or Geometry Honors

Course Grade: 90’s

Regents Exam Grade: High 80’s

TACHS Math (Local %ile): High 80's

Geometry & Algebra I

Algebra 2 Honors

Course Grade: High 90’s

Regents Exam Grade: High 80’s

TACHS Math (Local %ile): High 80's

[Students must meet this criteria for both Geometry & Algebra I]

Living Environment

Advanced Life Science Honors

Course Grade: 90’s

Regents Exam Grade: 80’s

Living Environment

Chemistry Honors

Course Grade: High 90’s

Regents Exam Grade: 90’s

[Students must also meet the criteria for Algebra I listed above]

Spanish 1

Spanish 2

Course Grade: 90’s

**Proficiency Exam Grade: 80’s

French 1

French 2

Course Grade: 90’s

**Proficiency Exam Grade: 80’s

Italian 1

Italian 2

Course Grade: 90’s

**Proficiency Exam Grade: 80’s

Earth Science

***N/A (this affects your junior year schedule)

Course Grade: 90’s

Regents Exam Grade: 80’s

US History

***N/A (this affects your junior year schedule)

Course Grade: 90’s

Regents Exam Grade: 80’s
 

*Notes:

* The stated minimum criteria are for consideration, and do not guarantee admission into these courses.

* To be considered for accelerated placement, all documentation of course and Regents/Proficiency Exam completion must be uploaded by a parent/guardian to our 8th Grade Acceleration Reporting Form for Regents and Proficiency Exams no later than Wednesday, June 26, 2024 (this is the same day as the last day of school for the NYC Public Schools, so all families should receive final course marks and Regents grades by that day). Families that do not send in the documentation by the deadline or families that register late will not be considered for acceleration.

* Acceptable documentation is a PDF attachment of a report card or transcript with the school’s name on it that clearly shows that the minimum criteria have been satisfied, OR a PDF attachment of a letter on school stationery that clearly shows the minimum criteria has been satisfied and is signed by a school official. Screenshots from websites (e.g., FACTS, Jupiter Grades, NYCSA Parent Portal, etc.) embedded within an email will NOT be accepted.

* On the documentation you provide, the course must clearly be labeled as a Regents-level course and not a standard 8th Grade course (e.g., Algebra 1 instead of Math 8, Living Environment instead of Science 8).

* A teacher’s letter of recommendation may be uploaded for consideration if a student falls just short of the stated criteria. However, it will only be considered as a tie-breaker, as the ranking based upon TACHS scores and junior high school marks is our primary determining factor.

** For world languages, a Proficiency Test aligned to the Checkpoint A NYS LOTE Standards will be considered. If your junior high school does not offer this exam, then you may take Molloy’s World Language Placement Exam (offered in May 2024 - Date TBD). Only students who are accepted, register, and pay all fees by the stated admissions deadlines may sit for the Placement Exam.

*** All 9th Grade students will take some form of Biology (or Chemistry Honors as a rare exception). If your Earth Science coursework & Regents exam in 8th Grade are accepted for credit, you must take some form of Physics in 11th Grade.

*** All 9th Grade students will take some form of Global History & Geography 1. If your US History coursework & Regents exam in 8th Grade are accepted for credit, you may take AP US History in 11th Grade providing you are accepted into the course during the Spring of 10th Grade. Otherwise, you will take a semester of a Government-type course and a semester of an Economics-type course in 11th Grade, which are normally taken in 12th Grade.

 

 

We offer a Language Placement Test during spring (typically in May). An exact date is communicated prior to the exam. This placement test is intended for private school students that do not offer the NYS LOTE Checkpoint A Proficiency Exam. Most public schools offer the Checkpoint A exam, and results from that exam will be considered as long as the results are uploaded to the form mentioned above no later than Thursday, June 26, 2024.
 
 

Students who register to attend Molloy, as well as pay all registration and technology fees, will be given a survey to complete in early March. This survey will ask about various freshmen course requests.

Students who end up registering late/paying fees beyond the standard deadlines may not be considered for honors courses or accelerated coursework, as we can only schedule students who are registered and up-to-date with their fee payments. Once the courses are filled and the scheduling is complete, we will not be able to add additional students to honors/accelerated courses even if they meet the criteria.

 

 

World Language selection is made at the time of registration in March via a special survey. Students are asked to indicate a first and second choice, though their first choice is almost always accommodated. We strongly recommend that native speakers begin a new language. Our language courses are intended for students who are unfamiliar with the language. Every student at Molloy must take at least three years of this language.
 
 
Students indicate their preference for a Music course on a survey given in March. Most students take Music Appreciation. Students with some experience or interest in singing or performance should request Chorus. Students who play an instrument, can read music, have studied music or plan to be in band should select Music Theory.
AP stands for Advanced Placement. It’s a national program administered by the College Board that gives students the opportunity to earn college credits while they’re in high school.
No. Students may begin to request AP classes as sophomores, but certain students may qualify for Pre-AP World History their freshman year.
 
 
Both are advanced freshman Social Studies courses, but the Pre-AP course is more writing intensive. Its intention is to prepare students for the AP World History course in sophomore year. Students who are accepted with honors in Social Studies may indicate their interest to take Pre-AP World History on the course survey given in March, and those with the highest TACHS scores in Reading and Writing who are interested in this course will be assigned the available spaces in Pre-AP World History.
 
 
No. Anyone can apply to AP World History at the end of freshman year. Acceptance is based on freshman Social Studies grades.
 
 
Yes. Students can earn credits from St. John’s University, Seton Hall University, or Long Island University/CW Post while taking select courses at Molloy in sophomore, junior, and senior year.
 
 
Freshmen are scheduled to report to school typically the Wednesday after Labor Day, though it is subject to change and will be confirmed in a mailing you will receive the June prior to that September.
 
 
Students receive a list of all the classes they are scheduled for when they come in to pick up their iPad at the end of August.
 
 
Students should be in the building by 7:50 AM. In the current school year, classes begin at 8:00 AM and end at 2:10 PM.