Forward Focus

Small Learning Communities

Fayetteville High School brings together four Small Learning Communities (SLCs) in which students can more deeply explore areas of interest to them.

Fayetteville High School is organized as a set of Small Learning Communities (SLC). This is a form of school structure that is increasingly common in secondary schools to subdivide large school populations into smaller, autonomous groups of students and teachers. This structure will allow our students to receive a highly personalized education. It is our goal to provide exciting learning opportunities based on rigorous programs of study which will be of benefit to students regardless of their post-secondary decisions.

FHS currently has three SLC housed on the main campus:

• CREW: Community, Relationships, Environment, and Wellness
• FACE: Film, Arts, Creative Expression, and Engineering
• GEM: Global Infrastructure, Entrepreneurship, and Modern Communication

FHS has an alternative learning SLC housed at West Campus for students who meet the enrollment criteria:

• ALLPS: Agee-Lierly Life Preparation Services

Our teachers, counselors and principals are dedicated to assisting students and parents during the Career and Academic Planning (CAP) process. Our goal is to guide every student in their selection of an SLC that best suits their academic interests and future plans. Students will choose an SLC prior to their sophomore year. Students are to remain in their SLC unless their interest and academic plans change. SLC changes are only allowed when enrolling for the next academic school year.

Each SLC is unique and offers three Programs of Study. It is suggested that students and their parents take careful notice of the courses that have either been assigned or recommended for each of the Programs of Study. Certain courses afford students priority enrollment. Students do not have to stay within a specific program of study while in their SLC; they are merely suggestions.

The following terms will be used within the CAP book and must be clearly understood so that students are correctly placed in the SLC.

Core

These are courses consisting of required curriculum for graduation from English, Math, Science, and Social Studies.

Additional Graduation Requirements

These are courses needed to complete the requirements for graduation.

Advanced Placement (AP)

Core or elective courses that are taught with an accelerated curriculum. College level credit may be earned with acceptable AP Exam scores.

Selective Enrollment Electives

These courses are open to any student regardless of SLC, but have an application or require an audition prior to enrollment.

Priority Enrollment Electives

These are courses that belong to a specific SLC. Students from any SLC may enroll in courses; however, placement in classes will be given first to students within that SLC.

Recommended Advanced Placement

All AP courses are open to every student regardless of the SLC to which they belong. The AP courses that are listed within a specific SLC Program of Study are merely suggestions of courses that have curriculum based connections to the Priority Enrollment Electives.

Recommended Enrichment Electives

These courses are open to any student who wishes to take them regardless of their SLC. There is a natural connection between these courses and Priority Enrollment Electives. Selecting these additional electives may enhance your SLC experience.

For a visual of the SLC structures and for more information on courses, please visit the Programs of Study located under each SLC heading, and click here for the parent presentation video regarding our SLCs.