Our simple but powerful goal, the firstCoalition principle, is to produce students who know how to use theirminds well.

Riverdale High School has acollege-preparatory focus. The yearly schedule includes three terms;the daily schedule includes five 70-minute periods. Each term provides.5 credit for each class, with core courses taken for two terms eachyear.

Courses are personally and academically challenging, so we do notseparate honors sections from regular courses. However, honorsdistinction is available for those students who undertake more anddeeper work. (see Honors Curriculum)

For students who have already mastered certain subjectareas, individual curriculum options may be arranged. We emphasizedepth over breadth within the curriculum. All students exceed theOregon state graduation requirements by 4 credits, in completing the following28 credit graduation requirements:

• English 4 credits
• Social Science 4 credits
• Science 4 credits
• Mathematics 4 credits
• Art 4 credits
• Foreign Language 2 credits
• Electives 2 credits
• PE/Health/Seminar 1/1/2 credits

Curriculum - Core Classes

ENGLISH: required 4 years
Literacy is developed through an emphasis on reading, writing, andliterature analysis.

MATHEMATICS: required 4 years
Students complete a math sequence that integrates algebra, geometry,trigonometry, probability, statistics, discrete math and calculus.Emphasis is placed on mathematical thinking within the context ofproblem solving.

SCIENCE: required 4 years
Students complete a science sequence that includes physics, chemistry,ecology and biology, with a Geology course in the senior year.

SOCIAL SCIENCES: required 4 years
Students complete an integrated social science curriculum thatemphasizes 20th century history. U.S. History is included.

ART: required 4 years
Students are provided with a foundation in the critical, intellectual,and aesthetic skills necessary for the creative process. In addition,students come to understand the historical and cultural contexts inwhich art is created. Art includes visual art, music, dance, technologyand cinema.

SEMINAR: required 4 years
Students explore health, career education, study skills, and communityservice. One year of PE is included in this rotation, and the classprovides .25 credit of health for each of four years. In the senioryear, students draft college essays and then develop their SeniorExhibition, integrating all disciplines in a major presentationdemonstrating mastery of their chosen subject to a panel of experts,faculty and students.

FOREIGN LANGUAGES: required 2 years
French and Spanish are offered in classes for years 1, 2, 3 and 4 -with advanced standing possible. Japanese is currently offered forcredit before school, with all levels blended.

ELECTIVES
Elective courses are one, two or three terms, and available to allstudents. This year's electives include Band, Choir, Computer Art,Drama, Advanced Experimental Science, Leadership, Movement, Mock Trial,Newspaper, and Yearbook.

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
A wide range of activities is offered as part of a well-rounded highschool experience. Riverdaleathletics currently fields teams in soccer, volleyball, basketball, tennis, track and field, cross-country and golf.  Swimming, snowboarding, skiing and lacrosse are offered as Club Sports.  Over 50% of the student bodyparticipates in inter-scholastic sports. Over 35% participate in drama,band and choir. The students also put on a musical production every year. Teams representing Riverdale have won the Oregon StateChampionshipsin Mock Trial and also in Bridge Building (six years in a row), as well as the International Bridge Building Contest in 2009, and have performed well at theregional Science Bowl and Academic Decathlon. A key advantage of Riverdale High is that thosewho want to participate have the opportunity to do so.

Current standardized test results are here.