Falcon High School Academic Departments

  • Falcon High School's academic departments are staffed by highly trained and qualified educators committed to the success of each student throughout the high school innovation plan and the innovation plan established for the Falcon Zone. Whether a required course or an elective, our departments understand the important role they play in developing a successful 21st century student.
     

    Falcon High School's ultimate goal is to ensure all students graduate at or above grade level in all academic subject areas. We work to prepare everyone for post-continued education and career opportunities.

     
    By doing so, our goal is to increase student achievement across all academic areas, improving our overall academic rating as measured by the Colorado State Accountability Report. All students will participate in learning opportunities that are designed to build upon and enhance their individual strengths and talents. Academic instruction will incorporate mastery learning strategies into daily lesson plan development and delivery. Teachers will investigate and utilize grading practices that ensure student proficiency of content area curriculum. All Falcon High School teaching staff will also use professional learning community time to collaborate with colleagues to develop sound assessments that will enable them to increase the use of that data to drive instruction that promotes increased student achievement.
     
    Falcon High School is an exemplary school that fosters a safe, respectful, and purposeful educational environment through:
    • Productive and positive interactions between staff and students.
    • Ongoing technology updates.
    • Academic rigor and relevance.
    • Consistent policies and practices of attendance and discipline that reinforce good citizenship.
    • An aesthetically pleasing and functional building structure and classroom setting.
    • A caring environment that values the diverse backgrounds of all students.
    In the area of academic achievement, we help Falcon High School students:
    • Meet high academic standards through a coordinated curriculum.
    • Contribute to and maintain a safe and positive learning environment.
    • Ensure and respect the rights of others.
    • Focus on an educational or career path for life beyond high school and the skills necessary for success.
    • Uphold and honor the habits of good citizenship.
    Moreover, Falcon High School faculty:
    • Provide a safe and positive learning atmosphere and climate.
    • Interact positively and communicate appropriately with all students, parents, and patrons.
    • Collaborate with one another to improve student achievement within and across academic departments.
    • Provide a comprehensive, coordinated curriculum.
    • Provide prompt feedback to students and parents.
    • Make full and efficient use of instructional time.
    • Focus on student learning and commit to the success of all students.
    • Policy IKF specifies that graduation from District 49 must be based on demonstrated mastery of Colorado Academic Standards. One method of demonstrating mastery is successful completion of a sequence of courses. In the traditional model of earning credits toward graduation, each course is associated with an academic content area as well as a number of credits earned. The following table establishes the baseline expectations for credit-based demonstration of mastery toward high school graduation. In this model, one credit denotes the successful mastery of content that has traditionally been incorporated in a full year of study. Credit is awarded on a semester basis only and requires a passing grade of "C" or higher.

      A class of 2024 diploma shall be awarded to Falcon Zone students who earn the following credits by the end of the 2023-2024 school year:
       
      Content Area Credits
      English 4.0
      Social Studies 3.0
      Science 3.0
      Mathematics (at high school) 3.0
      Practical Arts or Foreign Language 2.0
      Fine Arts 1.0
      Physical Education 1.0
      Health 0.5 
      Elective Credits 7.5
      Total:  25.0
       
      As stated in BOE policy IKF-R, "Graduation Requirements, Courses and Credits," Falcon Zone graduates who meet the following requirements will earn a college endorsement:
       
      Content Area Credits
      English
      *American Literature and English Literature required 
      		 4.0
      Social Studies 4.0
      Science
      *Chemistry required
      		 4.0
      Mathematics
      *Geometry and Algebra II required
      		 4.0
      Foreign Language
      *Two years of the same language required
      		 2.0
      Fine Arts 1.0
      Physical Education 1.0
      Health 0.5 
      Elective Credits 6.0
      Total:
      		 26.5
       

Section I: Instruction

  • ICA School Year/School Calendar/Instruction Time

    ICA School Year/School Calendar/Instruction Time

    Prior to the end of the school year, preferably by the February regular meeting, the Board of Education shall adopt a calendar for the following school year. The calendar shall specify the days during which district schools shall be in session, the days on which the district will close in observation of federal holidays, and the dates of major breaks.

    Comments (-1)
  • ICA-R School Year/School Calendar/Instruction Time

    ICA-R School Year/School Calendar/Instruction Time

    The following criteria apply to the District 49 School Family Calendar and should be used when calculating instructional time:

    Comments (-1)
  • IE Organization of Instruction

    IE Organization of Instruction

    The Board of Education shall provide elementary and secondary education extending from kindergarten through grade 12.

    Comments (-1)
  • IG Curriculum Development

    IG Curriculum Development

    The Board of Education is required by state law to determine the educational programs delivered in the schools of the district. Curriculum shall be aligned with the Colorado Academic Standards to ensure that each student is provided the educational experiences needed to achieve or exceed grade-level standards or complete the requirements and goals as listed on a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP).

    Comments (-1)
  • IHACA Law-Related Education

    IHACA Law-Related Education

    The Board of Education recognizes the importance of a law-related education program to enhance student awareness about the law, the legal system, and the fundamental principles and values upon which our constitutional democracy is based.

    Comments (-1)
  • IHAK Character Education

    IHAK Character Education

    The Board of Education believes that while parents are the primary and most important moral educators of their children, the school and community should reinforce parental efforts.

    Comments (-1)
  • IHAL Religion in the Curriculum

    IHAL Religion in the Curriculum

    Informed by the Establishment Clause of the 1st Amendment of the United States Constitution, which specifies that congress will make no law respecting the establishment of religion, public entities should neither promote nor disparage any religion.

    Comments (-1)
  • IHAM Health and Family Life/Sex Education

    IHAM Health and Family Life/Sex Education

    The Board believes a comprehensive health education program is an integral part of each student's education. The health education program should emphasize the functioning and proper care of the human body and encourage the development of lifelong, positive health habits. In addition, it should inform students about potential physical and mental health hazards they are likely to encounter in various life situations and help them make sound, intelligent decisions when they are confronted with choices that could affect their health or that of others.

    Comments (-1)
  • IHAM-R Health and Family Life/Sex Education (Exemption Procedure)

    IHAM-R Health and Family Life/Sex Education (Exemption Procedure)

    Exemption will be granted from a specific portion of the health education curriculum on the grounds that the material taught is contrary to the religious beliefs and teachings or closely held personal beliefs of the student or of the student’s parent/guardian. If the request for the exemption is from a specific portion of the health education curriculum that concerns human sexuality, no reason must be given by the parent/guardian when requesting the exemption.

    Comments (-1)
  • IHAMA Teaching about Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco

    IHAMA Teaching about Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco

    In accordance with state and federal law, the district shall provide age-appropriate, developmentally appropriate drug and alcohol education and prevention programs from early childhood (preschool) through grade twelve (12).

    Comments (-1)
  • IHBA Special Education Programs for Students with Disabilities

    IHBA Special Education Programs for Students with Disabilities

    Comments (-1)
  • IHBB Gifted Education

    IHBB Gifted Education

    The Board of Education is dedicated to providing comprehensive programming for the identification and education of gifted students. Gifted students are those students between the ages of four (4) and twenty-one (21) whose abilities, talents and potential for accomplishment are so exceptional or developmentally advanced that they require special provisions to meet their educational programming needs. The Board believes that a quality instructional program that differentiates curriculum and instruction is essential so all students can learn and grow to their level of potential.

    Comments (-1)
  • IHBD Equivalence of Services (Title I)

    IHBD Equivalence of Services (Title I)

    Pursuant to federal law, school districts receiving Title I funds to provide educational services to students must do so in accordance with Title I of the Every Student Succeeds Act.

    Comments (-1)
  • IHBEA English Language Learner

    IHBEA English Language Learner

    In keeping with the intention of the state of Colorado to offer educational opportunities to those children whose dominant language is other than English, the district shall provide suitable research-based language instructional programs for all identified English language learners in grades kindergarten through 12 in accordance with the requirements of state and federal statutes, Colorado State Board of Education rules and the Colorado Department of Education guidance.

    Comments (-1)
  • IHBF Homebound Instruction

    IHBF Homebound Instruction

    The purpose of homebound instruction is to maintain continuity in the educational process for those students who, because of a temporary extended illness or condition, cannot attend school.

    Comments (-1)
  • IHBG Home Schooling

    IHBG Home Schooling

    Comments (-1)
  • IHBIB Primary/Preprimary Education

    IHBIB Primary/Preprimary Education

    The District shall establish and maintain a kindergarten program or programs.

    Comments (-1)
  • IHBIB-R Primary/Preprimary Education

    IHBIB-R Primary/Preprimary Education

    The following criteria have been established for the admission of students to the District's preschools:

    Comments (-1)
  • IHBK Preparation for Postsecondary and Workforce Success

    IHBK Preparation for Postsecondary and Workforce Success

    The Board believes that to decrease student dropout rates, increase graduation rates and encourage all students to reach their learning potential, it is important to support students in planning for postsecondary and workforce opportunities throughout their education. To promote students’ postsecondary and workforce success and in accordance with state law, the district shall provide the following opportunities and information.

    Comments (-1)
  • IHBK-R Preparation for Postsecondary and Workforce Success

    IHBK-R Preparation for Postsecondary and Workforce Success

    Implementation Plan for Student Individual Career and Academic Plans

    Comments (-1)
  • IHCDA Concurrent Enrollment

    IHCDA Concurrent Enrollment

    The Board believes that students who wish to pursue postsecondary level work while in high school should be permitted to do so in accordance with this policy and accompanying graduation requirements for successful completion of approved postsecondary courses offered by institutions of higher education.

    Comments (-1)
  • IHCDA-R-1 Concurrent Enrollment

    IHCDA-R-1 Concurrent Enrollment

    Comments (-1)
  • IHCDA-R-2 ASCENT (Accelerating Students Through Concurrent Enrollment)

    IHCDA-R-2 ASCENT (Accelerating Students Through Concurrent Enrollment)

    ASCENT is Concurrent Enrollment that extends the opportunity for postsecondary enrollment one year beyond the 12th grade year for qualified applicants.

    Comments (-1)
  • IIB Class Size

    IIB Class Size

    The Board is aware that class size has bearing upon effective teaching. It therefore directs the Chief Education Officer to work with principals in establishing a reasonable and equitable class enrollment for each teacher.

    Comments (-1)
  • IJ Instructional Resources and Materials

    IJ Instructional Resources and Materials

    As the governing body of the school district, the Board is legally responsible for the selection of instructional materials. Since the Board is a policymaking body, it delegates to the District’s professional personnel the authority for the selection of instructional and library materials in accordance with this policy.

    Comments (-1)