Pathways to Excellence

Christ the King believes in intentional course selection—choosing a schedule that appropriately challenges students while allowing them to thrive academically and personally.

When selecting courses, students should:

• Challenge Themselves Wisely – Take advanced coursework where appropriate, but avoid overloading to the point of stress or burnout.
• Pursue Passions – Electives and academic pathways allow students to explore subjects of interest and future career aspirations.
• Consider Long-Term Goals – Whether planning for college admissions, scholarships, or specialized career pathways, students should select courses that align with their post-graduation aspirations.
• Maintain a Well-Rounded Experience – A well-balanced schedule allows students to excel in academics while participating in athletics, clubs, service, and leadership roles.

 

CTK encourages quality over quantity—colleges value students who demonstrate excellence and commitment in their chosen activities rather than taking an excessive number of AP/Dual Enrollment courses at the expense of well-being.

Christ the King is committed to providing students with the support they need to achieve academic success. Our academic advising team works closely with students and parents to guide them through course selection, academic planning, and college preparation.

• School Counselors – Available for course selection guidance, college planning, and academic advising.
• Teachers & Department Heads – Provide recommendations for appropriate course placement.
• Peer & Teacher Tutoring – Support available for students who need additional help in specific subjects.
• Advisors - Assist students with answering questions and providing insight into CTK’s academic culture.
• Flex Period & Office Hours – Time built into the school day for students to meet with teachers for additional support.

Students are encouraged to meet regularly with their advisors, ask questions, and take ownership of their academic journey. At CTK, success is not just about academic achievement but also about growing in character, faith, and leadership.

Christ the King offers four types of courses:

College Preparatory

College Preparatory courses provide students with a strong academic foundation in core subjects. These courses are designed to challenge students while ensuring they develop essential skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication. The curriculum aligns with college admissions expectations and prepares students for success in higher education.

Honors (H) Courses

Honors courses offer an advanced level of study for students who demonstrate strong academic ability and motivation. These courses move at a faster pace, delve deeper into subject matter, and require greater independent work and critical thinking.

Advanced Placement (AP) Courses

Advanced Placement (AP) courses follow a nationally recognized curriculum set by the College Board and provide students with the opportunity to earn college credit. AP courses are rigorous, requiring students to engage in in-depth analysis, extensive reading, and advanced problem-solving. At the end of the course, students take an AP Exam, and a qualifying score may earn them college credit or advanced placement in college courses.

Dual Enrollment (DE) Courses

Dual Enrollment courses allow students to earn both high school and college credit simultaneously. These courses are taught in partnership with Belmont Abbey College, providing students with firsthand experience in college-level learning. Dual Enrollment courses help students transition smoothly to higher education while potentially reducing college tuition costs and time to degree completion.

 

At Christ the King, we limit the number of AP and Dual Enrollment (DE) courses a student may take to ensure a balanced academic experience:

• Sophomore year: 1 AP/DE course
• Junior year: Up to 2 AP/DE courses
• Senior year: Up to 3 AP/DE courses
• (Note: Spanish and Latin Dual Enrollment courses do not count toward this limit.)

This policy is designed to help students maintain a well-rounded lifestyle while excelling in their coursework. It is clearly explained in our college profile, which accompanies student transcripts sent to colleges. As a result, colleges expect Christ the King students to take a maximum of six AP/DE courses throughout high school, and students are not at a disadvantage in the admissions process for following this guideline.

Students enrolled in AP/DE U.S. History have the option to take the AP Exam in May. Those choosing to take the exam must cover any associated fees.

Christ the King’s rationale when placing a student in a course is typically based on a combination of factors aimed at ensuring the student’s academic success, personal growth, and adherence to educational standards. SOme considerations and factors used for course placement include:

• Academic Preparedness - This includes prior academic performance, grades, standardized test scores, and teacher recommendations. Students are generally placed in courses that match their current skill level and knowledge so they can succeed and make meaningful progress.

• Course Prerequisites - Many courses have specific prerequisites to ensure students have the foundational knowledge required for success.

• Class Size and Availability - Practical considerations such as class size and availability of teachers can also impact course placement.

• Teacher Insight - Teachers who have worked with students may provide valuable insight into their work abilities, habits, and potential for success. They are a valuable resource when considering course selection and readiness.

• Parent and Student Input - We consider input from parents and students when making placement decisions. While these inputs may not be the sole determinant, they can help align course selections with a student’s interests and goals.

• Counselor Guidance - Our counselors play a crucial role in helping students navigate course selection. They can provide advice on course choices based on student’s individual strengths, weaknesses, and aspirations.

• Christ the King Graduation Requirements - We must ensure that our students meet the graduation requirements, which may include specific course credits.

Ultimately, the goal of course placement is to create a customized educational experience that supports each student’s growth and success, while also ensuring that they meet the necessary academic standards and requirements for graduation. This process should be a collaborative effort involving educators, students, parents, and counselors to make informed decisions that align with the student’s academic journey and future goals.

Honors Diploma Requirements

A student shall earn the distinction of ‘Crusader Honor Graduate’ if he or she achieves all four of the following:

1.    A weighted GPA of a minimum of 3.8

2.    Extraordinary Independent Initiative in two courses at the Honors or AP-level

3.    Completion of four Advanced Placement courses

4.    Successful completion of the CTK Horizon Research Project

Extraordinary Independent Initiative

Extraordinary Independent Initiative in courses can be demonstrated in a variety of ways; however, the initiative should include, at minimum, ten hours of academic research and/or field experience, and some form of presentation of the research. The hours for these really should be easy. For example, if a student wants to shadow an engineer, a day’s worth of shadowing would basically take care of the hours and then the student would simply need to prepare a presentation about his/her shadowing experience. The purpose of these initiatives is to encourage the student to learn about professions or do service in an area that interests them, or be bold and embark on a day in which they learn about something new. These initiatives are meant to be as much fun and eye-opening as educational.

Independent Initiative Proposals must be approved by course instructors (refer to current year calendar for exact dates).

Some examples of Independent-Initiative projects include the following:

• Research + Research Paper + Presentation
• Research + Interviews/Consultations with experts in area of research + Presentation
• Research + Special labs/Experiments + Presentation
• Internship/Service + Presentation

Horizon Project

The goal of the Horizon Project is for the participating student to better understand his or her faith, deepen the exploration of a particular academic interest, and engage in service to others. In other words, an extension of CTK's mission to challenge students to "believe sincerely, think critically, and serve others in the name of Christ the King."

The Horizon Project involves the exploration of a topic chosen by the student. In keeping with CTK's twin pillars of faith and reason, the question should be one with gravitas (seriousness). As Pope John Paul II instructed in Fides et Ratio, knowledge and discernment about knowledge lead us toward truth. The closer we come to truth, the more we know about ourselves and our world, and the greater our chance of becoming fully human. 

The Horizon Project is required for Honors Diploma candidates and optional for the rest of the student body. Work on the project begins during Junior year and includes at least 100 hours dedicated to the selected area of interest, divided among research, service, apprenticeship, written reflection, website creation, and presentation preparation. Students work with a faculty mentor and present their project to a committee that includes CTK faculty members and external community members. A major component of the project is a website created by the student with their findings. 

 

There are three pathways:

• Biomedical

• Broadcast & Communications

• Engineering

Each pathway consists of a sequence of elective courses aligned with its respective field. While students may choose to complete an entire pathway, all pathway courses are available as individual electives to any student, provided they meet the grade level and prerequisite requirements outlined in the course catalog.

All students must complete the minimum requirements for an Honors Diploma as listed on the previous page.

We have partnered with Belmont Abbey College to build a dual enrollment program on CTK's campus. Belmont Abbey College is a fully-accredited member of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Credits earned through the dual enrollment program transfer to most colleges and universities. CTK course instructors are Belmont Abbey Adjunct Professors. These courses are designed to provide the highest level of academic rigor at CTK. All grades earned in dual enrollment courses will be weighted per the AP scale (one extra quality point). 

The fee for each dual enrollment course is $500. A student may choose to take the course for high school credit without paying the fee; however, the student will not receive college credit.

Course offerings through the Belmont Abbey dual enrollment program for the 2024-2025 school year are as follows: (click on the course title for details)

These courses present college-level material according to the course requirements of the College Board AP Program. All grades are weighted with one (1) additional quality point for GPA calculations. All students are required to take the AP examination. Students who perform successfully on the AP examination may receive college credit depending on the college or universities requirements. 

At Christ the King, we limit students’ AP/Dual Enrollment course selections to 1 sophomore year, 2 junior year, and 3 senior year. (Note: Spanish Dual Enrollment courses do not count towards this limitation).  We set this policy because we believe that limiting AP/Dual Enrollment courses allows students to live more well-balanced lifestyles and focus on their grades in other courses. We explain this specifically in our college profile which is sent with Christ the King transcripts to colleges. Therefore, colleges only expect that students will take a maximum of 6 AP/Dual Enrollment courses over the course of their high school careers and students are not “penalized” in the admissions process for taking this amount.  Any student who enrolls in AP/Dual Enrollment US History and Biology courses at Christ the King may choose to take the AP Exam, typically in May, as long as you pay any associated fees.