S.O.A.R is best described as a school within a school. It is a tough, demanding program designed to push the students at a faster pace than a regular high school honors program. The rigorous line of courses prepare the students for the level and amount of work expected of them in college. The program was established by a faculty committee searching to improve the ordinary high school curriculum. The program is the first of its kind for Waterbury.

 

Courses

 

History and English - The backbone of the S.O.A.R program are the accelerated, fast-moving courses. One of the strategies of the courses is paralleling history and literature of the ancient world in back-to-back classes. This shows students how subjects interconnect, therefore, getting the "big picture".

Physics for freshmen? - Interestingly, S.O.A.R freshmen take a Physics course. Usually, this class is given in the senior year.

AP European History - Sophomores are taking the Advanced Placement(AP) European History Class. The AP class is a college course. It is a tough course that involves much hard work. Depending on the students' score after taking the AP exam in May, they could get actual college credits. Normally, sophomores are not offered this course but, since S.O.A.R is aimed at preparation for college, it was offered to the S.O.A.R sophomores.

SAT Prep - The sophomores take an SAT Prep class. It's a half year course that prepares the students for the SAT exam. The course teaches strategies and methods for taking the test and also drills the students on major testing areas, such as analogies, sentence completion and reading comprehension. Some SOAR students will take the PSAT as practice.

Geometry and Algebra - Freshmen take either an accelerated Geometry class or Algebra I. If a SOAR student took Algebra I as a freshman, the next year he would take Geometry. If a student took Geometry as a freshman, he would then take Algebra II as a sophomore. (since taking Algebra I in 8th grade). More is expected in the math classes than in regular math classes. There is also a lot of homework given every night.