COURSE OF STUDY

Each student's program of study has a strong academic core including mathematics, science, language arts and history. All students have the following course requirements:

4 units English

4 units History

4 units Mathematics

4 units Science

5 units Foreign Language (including at least 1 unit of Spanish and 1 unit of Latin)

1 unit Integrated Technology

150 hours of community service (40-40-40-30)

Students at the high school have three levels of classes available to them: College Prep, Honors and High Honors (IB for grades 11 and 12). Placement into each level will be decided primarily by the prior year's grades.

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE DIPLOMA PROGRAMME

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme is a challenging two-year curriculum, primarily aimed at students aged 16 to 19. It leads to a qualification that is widely recognized by the world's leading universities. The Diploma Programme prepares students for university and encourages them to: ask challenging questions; learn how to learn; develop a strong sense of their own identity and culture and to develop the ability to communicate with and understand people from other countries and cultures. The curriculum contains six subject groups (language, second language, individuals and societies, experimental sciences, mathematics and computer sciences and the arts) together with a core made up of three separate parts. All three parts of the core (extended essay, theory of knowledge and creativity, action service) are compulsory and are central to the philosophy of the Diploma Programme. The extended essay is a 4,000 word paper that offers the opportunity to investigate a topic of individual interest and acquaints students with the independent research and writing skills expected at the university level. The interdisciplinary Theory of Knowledge course is designed to provide coherence by exploring the nature of knowledge across disciplines, encouraging an appreciation of other cultural perspectives. Participation in the school's CAS program encourages students to be involved in artistic pursuits, sports and community service work, thus fostering students' awareness and appreciation of life outside the academic arena. 

The graduating classes of Mystic Valley continue to receive a significant benefit from their successful completion of coursework in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB). Since the inception of the Diploma Programme, Mystic Valley graduates have received multiple hours of college credits at their respective universities, with some of our students graduating from university up to a year early thanks to the successful acceptance of their IB credit for college level coursework.  There are also several instances where our IB graduates were able to receive advanced standing due to their performance on the IB examinations while at Mystic Valley. With the cost of a college education what it is today it bears recognizing that these students and their parents have saved themselves thousands of dollars in tuition, and a great deal of time, as a result of their successful performance in the IB program. It is also important to note that IB Diploma Programme graduates have a proven track record of success at university studies. This naturally emerges from the habits instilled into students during the program that foster academic responsibility and a positive approach to diligence in their studies. Mystic Valley continues to place its graduates in nationally competitive university programs.

SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY

Community Service is a vital part of the educational experience at Mystic Valley.  One of the ultimate goals of the school is to graduate well-educated, civic-minded adults. The dedication to achieving this goal begins with Character Education programs in Kindergarten and progresses all the way through high school.  All Mystic Valley students are required to perform 40 hours of community service in grades 9, 10 and 11 as well as 30 hours in their senior year. 

Mystic Valley's Student Action Service Club, now four years old, provided after school opportunities for over 900 of our younger students in the 2008-2009 school year.  This club, comprised of older students, conducted after school programs and clinics in lacrosse, basketball, floor hockey, art, and swimming for our elementary students. Students involved in the Action Service Club also provided tutoring sessions for many of our younger students.  Additionally, along with members of the school's Key Club, these hardworking students reached out to senior citizens in the Malden area.  Through efforts such as these, Mystic Valley has continued to distinguish itself from other schools and has demonstrated that it is in complete synergy with its character education based mission.

For more information regarding Mystic Valley's Services programs contact Nicole Rubin at 781 388-0222x3608 or nrubin@mvrcs.org 

Art Club paintings on display at the Malden Public Library