A typical course load includes five major courses each semester, health in one semester, and possibly an additional minor course depending on the semester. Any student who wishes to take more than five major courses, health, and one minor course in a given semester must have the approval of the division head and will be required to submit a petition for an extra course (see appendix).

Major Courses

Major courses typically require nightly homework, and students taking these courses typically receive letter grades, unless a Pass/Fail grade plan is approved for the student based on a grade plan request (see Appendix for pass/fail grading option). 

1-credit major courses are yearlong courses that receive one academic credit. Students will receive semester 1 and semester 2 grades, as well as a year grade (the average of the two semester grades), all of which will be communicated to students and parents/guardians on the report card. A student’s transcript will include only the year grade. Students may not receive credit for half of a yearlong course unless they are returning from a semester away program.

0.5-credit major courses are semester-long courses that receive .5 academic credits and either a semester 1 or semester 2 grade. The semester grade is printed on the student’s final transcript. These are typically English, history, math, science, and language semester electives. 

A few courses in visual arts and STEM are major courses. History of Art, Art and the Law, Information Science, Engineering Design (all semester-long, 0.5 credits), and AP Studio Art (yearlong, 1 credit) are major courses.

Minor Courses

Minor courses are meant to be taken in addition to a typical course load of five major courses. Minor courses are listed on a student’s transcript, and students taking minor courses receive letter grades unless the course is noted specifically as Pass/Fail in the curriculum guide or a Pass/Fail grade plan is approved for the student based on a grade plan request (see Appendix for pass/fail grading option).

0.25-credit semester minor courses are semester-long courses that meet less frequently than major courses and have a reduced workload outside of class time. 0.25-credit minor courses meet three times per seven-day cycle. See Family Handbook on WILD for the homework policy. Introduction to Computer Programming as well as Independent Research in Science are 0.25-credit minor courses. Some performing and visual arts electives, including Digital Photography, Further Explorations in Digital Photography, and Master Class for Advanced Classical Musicians, are 0.25-credit minor courses.

0.5-credit semester minor courses are semester-long intensive minor courses that meet slightly less frequently than major courses and have a reduced workload outside of class time. 0.5-credit minor courses meet four times per seven-day cycle. See the Family Handbook on WILD for the homework policy. Most performing and visual arts electives, as well as some computer programming electives are 0.5-credit minor courses.

0.5-credit yearlong minor courses are yearlong minor courses that meet less frequently than major courses and have a reduced workload outside of class time. 0.25-credit minor courses meet three times per seven-day cycle. See Family Handbook on WILD for the homework policy. Winsor Action Research Cohort is a 0.5-credit yearlong minor course.

Courses That Do Not Receive Credit

Health courses, the physical education (PE) requirement, and the Independent Learning Experience (ILE) Seminar are required for graduation, but these courses do not count toward a student’s total number of credits. Additionally, Coding for Interaction is offered as an uncredited elective.

Academic Calendar

Winsor’s yearly calendar has two semesters, semester 1 (called fall semester) and semester 2 (called spring semester).