At Bayhill High School students are divided into classes of about 10 students in size. Bayhill classes include intensive academic support with an emphasis on skills development, self-reliance and independence. Overall, the program, regardless of strand, is designed to permit students to meet California Content Standards and Frameworks to lead to a high school diploma. Furthermore, students have the opportunity to take courses that satisfy the “a-g requirements” (necessary for admittance into the University of California and State University systems).Bayhill students will be able to choose and benefit from two fully developed options:

1.  The Basic Academic Strand: a rigorous curriculum that will prepare students who aspire to attend a two- or four-year college or university to be ready for higher education. Students receive personalized college counseling to reach their goals in higher education. 

2.  The Skills Support Strand: a more supportive academic program that ensures that more delayed students achieve their academic and vocational goals. Students receive additional instruction in social skills, organization and study skills, reading comprehension and math as needed. 

Throughout the day, students may study the following courses:

English:
- Four years (literature and composition in each course) 

Social Studies:
- World History, Culture, and Geography 
- U.S. History and Geography
- Economics and American Government

Mathematics:
- Algebra 1 
- Algebra 1a/ 1b 
- Geometry
- Algebra II 
- Trigonometry and Pre-Calculus 
- Practical Math 

Laboratory Science:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics

Visual and Performing Arts:
- Art Fundamentals
- Advanced Arts such as Drawing & Painting 
- Drama

Physical Education:

Beyond these courses, Bayhill offers specialized classes designed to provide additional opportunities for students to become prepared for successful completion of their high school program, higher education, or the world of work. 

Strategies to improve students’ study and organizational skills are infused into all content area courses. However, Bayhill students are required to focus on study skills in a yearlong course offered in the 9th grade. Topics include: 

- Reading comprehension – building schema for a text, connectives and signals in text, text structures, comprehension monitoring (predicting, question asking, summarizing, clarifying), reading for various purposes 

- How to succeed in a course – using a textbook, taking notes in class, taking tests, maintaining an organized class notebook, planning projects, writing reports 

- Writing a research paper – using primary and secondary sources, taking notes from written materials, writing an outline, time management, using the library and the internet 

- Strategies for critical thinking

- Social skills and communication 

- Independent study skills

Skills Support Strand

Basic Academic Strand

Bayhill High School’s graduation requirements are:

Social Studies 

World History, Culture, and Geography – one year 

U.S. and Geography – one year 

Economics – one semester 

American Government – one semester 

Mathematics – three years (must include Algebra I or the equivalent of the first year of algebra) 

Laboratory Science – two years (two of the following three – Biology I, Chemistry, Physics)

English – four years (literature and composition in each course)

Visual and Performing Arts – one year

Physical Education – two years

Vocational Education and Community Service – one semester

Elective Class – one year (college preparatory elective or any class chosen by the student)

“A-G Requirements”

These are necessary for admittance into the University of California and State University systems:

A - History/Social Science (two years required - one year of World History, Culture, and Geography and one year of U.S. History or one-half year of U.S. History and one-half year of American Government) 

B - English (four years required – includes regular writing and reading of classic and modern literature) 

C - Mathematics (three years required – one year of Algebra I {beginning algebra content may be covered in two years but only counts as one year}, one year of Geometry, one year of Algebra II) 

D - Laboratory Science (two years required in at least two of the following areas - Biology, Chemistry, and Physics; Algebra I is a prerequisite or co-requisite) 

E - Language Other Than English (two years of the same language) 
 
F - Visual and Performing Arts (one year including dance, drama/theater, music, or visual art) 

G - College Preparatory Elective (one year required - advanced Visual and Performing Arts or additional classes in academic disciplines)