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    Mar 28, 2024  
2009-2010 Academic Catalog 
    
2009-2010 Academic Catalog [Archived Catalog]

High School Program


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High School Admission

New cadets are admitted only at the beginning of the Fall and Spring semesters.

Accepted applicants are placed in classes at New Mexico Military Institute in accordance with the number of credits earned at the time of initial enrollment. Progress through the curricular requirements is performance rather than time based. Curricular requirements will not be waived.

Transfer of High School Credits

High school cadets may transfer credits at the time of admission from accredited programs provided that a passing grade was attained in each course transferred. Credits shall be transferable with no loss of value between schools. A grade of “TR” for satisfactorily completed classes will be recorded for credits awarded by non-accredited educational entities. All high school graduates must complete high school graduation requirements prescribed by NMMI.  Course descriptions may be required for transfer of courses to meet NMMI requirements for graduation.

Home-school cadets transferring to the Institute from a program accredited by a national/regional recognized accrediting agency will have credits accepted as transfer credit (letter grade) with no loss of credit/value. Lab science credits will be validated to ensure those  courses were taken in a true lab format. Cadets will take the admissions tests to assist in determining appropriate placement.

Cadets entering from non-accredited programs will have all coursework validated by the appropriate department for credit and courses not validated will not be given credit.

Effective Fall 2008, All non-English speaking schools or schools where the coursework is not in an English environment must pass one semester of a higher level of English at NMMI to receive the prior English credit.  This is also the case for non-accredited schools (home/foreign).  For example: student enters as a high school junior must complete one semester of junior English at NMMI to receive credit for freshman and sophomore English courses completed elsewhere with a passing grade.

High School Residence/Course Completion Requirements

A third class new cadet must earn a minimum of four units/credits at NMMI and spend two semesters in residence. (Note: Successful completion of NMMI English courses 4A & 4B and a minimum of one year of NMMI mathematics at the Algebra 2 level or above are required for high school graduation.)

A maximum of one unit (1.0 credits) earned after leaving the Institute in good standing may be submitted to fulfill graduation requirements. The appropriate academic division head and the Academic Dean must approve post-NMMI courses to meet graduation requirements.

High School Correspondence/Summer School/Distance Learning Standards

Correspondence/on-line courses must meet the following criteria:

  • Courses taken via correspondence/summer school/distance learning must be validated by the student and the advisor in the cadet’s graduation plan with the high school principal and have written permission prior to enrollment. This will allow a cadet to take advanced courses to graduate early or make up failures. A cadet may not take a course to avoid taking an NMMI course.
  • While enrolled at NMMI, a cadet must take the NMMI core course requirement to graduate from NMMI. If the cadet completes the NMMI course, the cadet may repeat the course (except for capstone courses - currently ENG 041/042) via distance learning/correspondence with permission to improve their grade. However, this may not take place during the academic year except for the last (senior) semester at NMMI.
  • Cadet must take the course at NMMI if offered.
  • If the cadet cannot schedule the required class in the last semester of the graduation year, the cadet can request a correspondence or on-line course.
  • On-line courses must have a mandatory valid login.
  • The number of transfer courses from summer school and correspondence cannot exceed two (2) units/4 courses earned while enrolled at NMMI.
  • Correspondence courses may not be taken during the academic semester that a cadet is enrolled in or has withdrawn from a parallel NMMI course.
  • Private tutoring or home schooling must be from a recognized accredited source..

Normal Class Load

The academic load for a high school cadet is five academic solids (English, math, social science, lab science or similar core courses) plus leadership training and physical education. The minimum high school academic load is four academic solids plus leadership training and physical education. Cadets requesting a minimum load must have approval of the Associate Dean and written permission from their parents. Cadets carrying less than a full class load are not eligible for Superintendent’s or Deans’ List.

The length of time it will take an entering cadet to satisfy the requirements of the high school diploma will depend on the number of acceptable units submitted on entrance. An entering Fifth Classman (sophomore) will have three years to accumulate the required units, whereas an entering Third Classman (senior) may find that completion will take longer than a year’s time. This fact must be recognized by all those admitted who expect to earn a high school diploma. However, a cadet in the Third Class may, with the Dean’s approval, take a maximum of eleven semester hours credit at the college level.

Overloads

Cadets with a 3.0 GPA or above from the previous grading period may take more than five solids upon the recommendation of their academic advisor. The Vice Dean/High School Principal must authorize more than five solids for high school cadets. Overloads are not recommended for a cadet with a GPA of less then 3.0 from the previous semester grading period. Upon the cadet’s request and with the recommendation of the academic advisor, an overload may be authorized if the cadet’s schedule (academic, athletic, extra-curricular) suggests that there is reasonable probability that the cadet can successfully handle the overload.

Scholastic Tests

All high school cadets are required to take the American College Testing examination (ACT) as a graduation requirement. A cadet who is not a citizen of the United States and whose primary language is not English may elect to substitute the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for the ACT with the approval of the Vice Dean. These tests are administered by the Student Assistance Center on national test dates. The ACT should be taken in the second semester of the junior year and/or the first semester of the senior year. Colleges require not only a transcript of one’s academic record, but also ACT or SAT scores. The Student Assistance Center also administers other academic and placement tests such as the PLAN Test required in the sophomore year; the PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test) required in the fall of the junior year; the SAT, and reading and math placement tests for new cadets.

College Courses Taken for High School Credit

High school cadets who successfully complete college courses for high school credit will receive college credit for these courses. This credit carries a grade, which affects the Grade Point Average on the college transcript. A high school cadet may take college courses for college credit only, college credit and high school credit, or co-enrolled credit. However, the college course will always create a separate college transcript at NMMI. An high school cadet should have at least a 3.00 GPA prior to enrolling.

Based on the counsel of the academic advisor and on demonstrated academic ability, a high school junior or senior may be permitted to take college courses concurrently with high school courses, either for high school and/or college credit (co-enrolled for high school and college credit) with permission of the Vice or Academic Dean.

A cadet may satisfy the requirement for the high school diploma while enrolled in college subjects through dual-enrollment.

Failure to earn a grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.00 for courses taken at NMMI may be considered by the Admissions Board as grounds for refusal to admit a cadet to the Second Class (college freshman).

Requirements

Graduation Requirements


The NMMI high school curriculum is college preparatory. Twenty-three units of credit are required for graduation (Twenty-four for entering high school freshmen starting Fall 2008). NMMI graduates must successfully pass NMMI English courses 4A and 4B and a minimum of one year of NMMI mathematics at the Algebra 2 level or above. Additionally, the American College Test (ACT) is a requirement for the high school diploma. A cadet whose clear intention is to attend a college or university, which requires the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) for admission may elect to substitute that test for the ACT with the approval of the Vice Dean. A cadet who is not a citizen of the United States and whose primary language is not English may elect to substtute the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for the ACT with the approval of the Vice Dean.

Communication Skills/Modern Language (Cr. 2 ½ Units)


Successfully completing a semester course generates ½ unit. Two and one-half units to include 2 units in one foreign language and ½ unit in communication skills. An entering 5th classman (HSSO or higher) with a language not offered by NMMI will only be required to take one additional unit of a language and ½ unit communications. Speech, Myths and Folktales, Current Events, Introduction to Drama, and similar courses as well as the third year of a language meet this ½ unit requirement but do not substitute for the English requirements.

English 1, 2, 3, and 4 (Cr. 4 Units)


Successfully completing a semester course generates ½ unit. Four units are required to include English 4A and 4B. Mass communication or similar English courses do not meet the English requirements.

Mathematics (Cr. 4 Units effective Fall 2008)


Successfully completing a semester course generates ½ unit. Four units are required; three of which must be  MTH 021-022 Algebra I; MTH 033-034 Algebra II; and either MTH 037-038 Geometry or MTH 043-044 Geometry/Trigonometry/Algebra III. The fourth unit may be MTH 015-016 Pre-Algebra, MTH 017 Algebra 1/2 (only if taken prior to Algebra I), MTH 047-048 Pre-calculus, MTH 061-062 Calculus, or any two semesters of the following: MTH 042 Trigonometry or any college level math course at or above MATH 1073 Contemporary Math. Prospective NMMI graduates must successfully pass one year of NMMI mathematics at the Algebra 2 level or above. The one year requirement may be satisfied through a challenge exam.

Science (Cr. 3 Units effective Fall 2007)


Successfully completing a semester course generates ½ unit.  Three full units of a laboratory science are required. Two of these units must be two-semester course sequences in biology, chemistry, physics, earth science or an approved two-semester lab science sequence course. The third unit may be one of the two-semester sequences or any of the one-semester courses.  A high school student may, with permission, take a college level lab science course for the third year of the lab science.  General science or physical science do not meet NMMI’s science requirement.

Social Science (Cr. 3 Units)


Successfully completing a semester course generates ½ unit. Three units are required. These include one unit of world history/geography; one unit of U.S. history; ½ unit of economics; and ½ unit of government. The semester course in government will meet the government requirement; this course is normally taken during the junior or senior year in high school.

Leadership Education (Cr. 1/2 Unit Per Semester)


Each LET course generates 1/2 unit. One unit is required to meet the overall 24-unit graduation requirement; however, enrollment in LET courses taught in the JROTC program is required in each semester of attendance at NMMI. (24 units effective Fall 2008 with high school freshman class)

Physical Education (Cr. ¼ Unit Per Semester)


Completing one semester PHE activity generates ¼ unit of credit. One-half unit is required for graduation; however, a cadet must enroll in a physical education activity each semester of attendance. One semester of Health Education is required.

Computer Literacy (Cr. ½ Unit)


One-half unit is required. The course, Computer Concepts II (Keyboarding does not meet this requirement), is recommended. Other computer science courses may be substituted for Computer Concepts with the approval of the Vice Dean.  If a cadet takes keyboarding in high school, they may not take keyboarding in the college program.

Electives (As needed)


In addition to the requirements listed above, elective courses may be taken to complete the 23-unit graduation requirement. Successful completion of one semester of band, PHE, LET, or chorus at New Mexico Military Institute generates ¼ unit.

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