• SUMMER INSTITUTE

    Credit Recovery courses are available for students who have failed a class during the regular school year.  Classes are tuition based and run two hours per day during a six-week session.  Two class sessions are offered each day in the following subject areas: English (9, 10, 11, & 12), Algebra 1, Geometry, Physical Science, Biology, United States History, Economics, Civics, and World Studies.  The Summer Institute begins in the last week of June and finishes in the first week of August. 

    The 8.5 Summer Academy is available for all incoming 9th grade students to improve and build upon academic and enrichment skills prior to entering Merrimack High School in the subject areas of English, Math, Science, and Social Studies.  This program is tuition free and awards elective credits to students who successfully complete the six-week program. Transportation is only provided for 8.5 Summer Academy students.

    To acquire more information, contact your school counselor or the Summer Institute director.

    EVENING ACADEMY

    The Evening Academy is an option for a student to earn make-up credit to help fulfill graduation requirements. Brochures are available at the beginning of each school year stating what courses are available each semester. Classes follow the school calendar. Students receive a .5 credit for each class that is successfully completed. All classes are weighted at the credit recovery level.  Students may not repeat classes that they have previously passed.

     

    INDEPENDENT STUDIES

    Students who have exhausted all course offerings in a department may investigate independent studies by contacting the department head. Independent Study forms are available in the Guidance Department. Your School Counselor determines if the student is eligible. The supervising teacher and the student complete the I.S. form. Signatures are needed by Department Head, parent and teacher. Final approval will be determined by the Assistant Principal of Curriculum. All courses must be approved prior to the beginning of the semester.

     

    ON-LINE AND VIRTUAL LEARNING

    Any student who would like to use credits obtained from on-line or virtual courses towards a Merrimack High School diploma must receive permission prior to registering for the course/credits. The student must meet with their School Counselor to notify them of their intention to enroll in an on-line learning experience and to discuss the use of these credits towards their graduation requirements. The requested courses/credits must be approved by the department head in the related discipline. It is the student’s responsibility to provide the official grade transcript to their school counselor which will allow for the recognition of successful completion of the course. The grade and resulting credit will be entered into the student's record at the end of the semester in which it was completed. 

    ACADEMY OF BUSINESS AND FINANCE

    The Academy of Business and Finance is a nationally acclaimed, industry-validated curriculum model sponsored by the National Academy Foundation. The program focuses on preparing students for careers in financial services, including course work in areas such as banking and credit, securities insurance and financial planning. AOBF helps develop young people for careers in the challenging financial services industry. The program requires students to complete rigorous course work and to participate in a summer internship after their junior year with a local employer. Students who successfully complete the program will be awarded a certificate and will be prepared for college or an entry level position in financial services. Students will also receive a ½ Internship credit.  Students are also eligible for local and national scholarships.  Required AOBF courses include Accounting 1, Accounting 2, Banking & Credit, International Finance, and Securities, Insurance and Financial Planning.

      

    NASHUA REGIONAL CAREER & TECHNICAL PROGRAM

    Merrimack High School students entering their junior year are eligible for the two-year career and technical education program at the Nashua Technology Center located at Nashua High Schools North and South. Students must complete the necessary application materials during the pre-enrollment period in their sophomore year. The courses prepare the student with entry level skills in a variety of fields. Transportation is provided by the Merrimack School District.  At least three class periods are needed to include travel time to and from Nashua. For further information, please contact the Director of School Counseling. Programs include:

    • Automotive Technology
    • Biotechnology
    • Careers in Education
    • CADD
    • Computer Networking
    • Construction Technology
    • Cosmetology
    • Culinary Arts
    • Electrical Trades
    • Financial Services
    • Health Sciences
    • Marketing
    • Precision Machining
    • Pre-Engineering
    • Video Production and Broadcasting

     ALVIRNE REGIONAL CAREER & TECHNICAL PROGRAM

    Merrimack High School students entering their junior year are eligible for the two-year Career and Technical program at Alvirne High School. Students must complete the necessary application materials during their pre-enrollment period in their sophomore year. The courses prepare the student with entry level skills in a variety of fields. Transportation is provided by the Merrimack School District. At least three class periods are needed to include travel time to and from Alvirne. For further information, please contact the Director of School Counseling. Programs include:

    • Academy of Finance
    • Accounting
    • Air Force JROTC
    • Building Trades
    • Careers in Education
    • Computer Science
    • Culinary Arts
    • Digital Media
    • Drafting and Design
    • Forest and Wildlife Management
    • Health Science and Technology
    • Heavy Duty Mechanics
    • Marketing
    • Pre-Engineering
    • Veterinary Science
    • Welding Technology

     

    NEW HAMPSHIRE COMMUNITY TECHNICAL COLLEGES

    Running Start

    In cooperation with the New Hampshire Community Technical Colleges, certain sections of Merrimack High School courses will award both high school and college credit. The Running Start program gives seniors a chance to earn college credit while still attending high school.

     

    SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE UNIVERSITY IN THE HIGH SCHOOL

    Dual Enrollment Program

    SNHU in the High School’s dual enrollment program allows high school students the opportunity to earn early college credits while in high school.  Designated courses have been aligned to meet the same content, rigor and learning outcomes as that of the University.  The high school teachers instructing these courses met the University’s adjunct faculty requirement and have been approved by the University.  Students will have the opportunity to take advantage of the dual credit opportunities at the beginning of the courses by completing an application and submitting the course registration fee for each class.  Once the registration period closes, students will not be allowed to register for college credit.   Since these courses are college courses, grades earned while enrolled in the course are recorded on a SNHU transcript.  Portability and transferability of credits rests solely with individual colleges and universities as they have varying policies on accepting transfer credits; thus, it is the students’ responsibility to consult with higher educational institutions to determine whether the SNHU course(s) can be transferred.  Currently, the courses offered for dual credit include: Introduction to Sports and Events Management and Accounting 3.

     

     

     ENGLISH FOR SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES (ESOL)

    ESOL is an elective course only available to students who meet legally predetermined criterion to quality for ESOL direct services.  The course has two components: first, to provide English Learner’s (EL’s) the opportunity to learn basic and academic English and the American socio-cultural skills necessary to succeed in mainstream classes at Merrimack High School; and second, to provide an opportunity for extra help with coursework in those mainstream classes.  When students leave this course, they will have met state English proficiency standards, have a good understanding of American general culture and customs, and be able to function independently in MHS courses at a standard level or above (except in cases where an EL student has an IEP).  Up to one full credit is available to each student per year, dependent on the number of hours of ESOL direct service time for which the EL student is eligible and receives.  The course is graded on a Pass/Fail basis, as is determined by whether the student meets his or her individual term goals. ELs will continue to enroll in and receive credit for this course yearly until they meet the legally predetermined criterion to no longer be eligible for ESOL direct services (a proficient score on the WIDA ACCESS for ELLs test). 

     

    DIGITAL PORTFOLIO

    Digital portfolios submitted for the 1/2 credit technology requirement must contain a minimum of fifteen (15) artifacts, three in each of the technology categories: word processing, desktop publishing, data collection and analysis, multi-media, and communication. Artifact bibliographies as appropriate to the artifact (e.g. research papers, PowerPoint presentations, audio and/or video productions, etc.) should contain evidence of research components such as the use of a variety of resources, research tools and strategies, resource evaluation techniques, and proper citations. Artifacts in each technology category must represent content from at least two different academic areas (e.g. English, World Language, Math, Social Studies, Science, etc.). Each artifact must be judged according to the category rubrics as proficient or above.

     

    Prerequisite:  The prerequisite for all elective technology courses or the digital portfolio option is the successful completion of the 8th grade portfolio or the Computer Technology course.

     

    NEW HAMPSHIRE SCHOLARS PROGRAM

    The New Hampshire Scholars Initiative is an effort by area business and school volunteers to encourage and motivate all high school students to complete a defined, rigorous course of study that prepares students for successful transition to college or university coursework or vocational and technical training. Components include English, Math, Science, Social Studies/Social Sciences, and a foreign language. Students may also choose to complete one or more academic or career pathways through additional courses or other work. Details for each pathway are available at https://nhscholars.org/.

    Students who undertake this rigorous core course of study will challenge themselves to do their best work during their high school career and will have a wider range of postsecondary options upon graduation.  Students who successfully complete the program will be recognized as NH Scholars at graduation and will have the designation as a State Scholar on their high school diploma. New Hampshire Scholars are also eligible for college scholarships and other aid created specifically for them. Scholarships ranging from $500 to $32,000 are offered by more than a dozen New Hampshire colleges and universities. These include all colleges in the Community College System of New Hampshire. Merit aid for New Hampshire Scholars also includes fee waivers, making it free to apply to many schools.

    This program is available to any Merrimack High School Student.  Please see your Guidance Counselor for details. Additional information is available at http://www.nhscholars.org.