General Info:
We believe that Rochester School exists to create a caring community of learners where courtesy, respect for self and others, as well as cultural differences, and acceptance of differences among people are fostered in an inviting and safe environment.We encourage students to be responsible for their own behavior and learning. The school has a responsibility to teach children to solve problems, to become critical thinkers, to develop basic skills, and to acquire knowledge. Our objective is to promote high academic and ethical standards because we believe that high expectations challenge all people to higher levels of performance. High expectations apply also to our faculty and staff, who should receive the support and training to improve their skills.A collaboration among students, teachers, administrators, parents, and community members is essential in order for students to become independent, self-disciplined, life-long learners who are prepared for the changing demands of society and citizenship.With this Mission as a guide, Rochester School will set high but realistic goals and will regularly assess our progress in achieving those goals.Rochester School is accredited by the Vermont State Department of Education and a member school of the National Honor Society.High SchoolThe secondary school building houses a nationally recognized interdisciplinary and multi-age middle school for grades 6-8 and a high school for grades 9-12. There are 110 students in the high school which operates on a year-long semester schedule with two marking periods per semester. Students carry a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 8 credits per semester. We offer two AP classes. Rochester School holds as its main goal the education of the wholeperson. It is our belief that each student is uniquely gifted, thus we cooperate in the development of each student's intellectual, emotional, social, and physical potential in preparation for life after high school. Rochester School faculty provides students with an average of 15: 1 faculty-student ratio. Better than 50% of our faculty members hold advanced degrees in their disciplines.Rochester, population 1000, is located on Route 100, a scenic Vermont highway. Nestled in a valley of the White River, the area is a popular tourist attraction. Thirty miles from Rutland, Rochester is equidistant from two major world class ski resorts, Sugarbush and Killington, which provide seasonal employment to area residents. Local businesses include a hardware store, independent grocery store, small retail shops, a restaurant, a marble quarry, a plywood manufacturing plant, a wooden bowl and clapboard manufacturer, computer related businesses, and small home businesses. For more on our larger community click here.Rochester School offers many opportunities for students to succeed and to prepare them for higher education. Our goal is to help each student develop the skills needed to meet their potential and to further encourage a love of learning. Our program requires a minimum of 24 credits of academic work for graduation, five more than the minimum state requirement. These credits must be distributed as follows:English ( 4 credits ), Social Studies ( 4 credits ) Science ( 3 credits ), Math ( 3 credits ), Arts ( 1 credit ), Senior Project ( 1 credit ), On Your Own ( 0.5 credits ), Physical Education ( 1.5 credits ), Technology ( 1 ), Health ( 0.5 credits ), Electives ( 4.5 credits )Rochester High School uses a numeric equivalent to the 4.0 grading system as delineated below: