Curriculum

All schools strive to offer a solid education to its students, but the delivery of those educational standards makes a huge difference. Turners Falls High School follows the Massachusetts State Standards and teaches them through innovative, technology-based courses.

We offer advanced placement, honors, and traditional academic classes as well as internships, school-to-work, life skills and other options based upon student need. In accordance with the Massachusetts Education Reform Act of 1993, Turners Falls High School administers state-mandated MCAS tests, and students must pass all three tests to earn a diploma.

Curriculum Maps

As part of our ongoing work to partner with families, we are pleased to provide you with access to what we teach and what students learn across the district in grades 9-12. The tool educators use to plan, guide, and refine what they teach is called a curriculum map. Curriculum maps identify the units of instruction for each course, the approximate amount of time that will be spent on each unit, and the sequence in which the units are taught. Within each unit you will find its overarching goals, key concepts, core content, essential skills, and driving assessments.

Innovation Career Pathways

Students at TFHS have the opportunity to apply for the Innovation Career Pathways program in Health Care and Social Assistance, Advanced Manufacturing, and Environmental and Life Sciences. Innovation Career Pathways are designed to give students coursework and experience in a specific high-demand industry, such as information technology, engineering, healthcare, life sciences and advanced manufacturing. These pathways are also designed to create strong partnerships with employers in order to expose students to career options and help them develop knowledge and skills related to their chosen field of study before they graduate high school. Check out our Innovation Career Pathways website here.

Early Entrant Program

Students in 11th and 12th grade may enroll in college courses full- or part-time, earning both high school and college credits. This program allows students to get a head start on their college careers while still enjoying the comforts of home.

Graduation Requirements

To earn a high school diploma in Massachusetts, students must demonstrate proficiency on the English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Biology MCAS tests in 10th grade. Students who do not score a minimum of 220 on any of these tests may retake the tests, when offered, until they pass.

Students may take a college-bound graduation pathway or a core graduation pathway to fulfill graduation requirements. All students meet with a guidance counselor extensively to review the requirements and to set a four-year plan to achieve these requirements.