Bend-La Pine Schools Education Center
High Schools
High School: Preparing Students for College, Career, and Life
High school is a pivotal time when students deepen their academic skills, explore interests, and begin shaping their future. In Bend-La Pine Schools, high-quality teaching is the foundation of student learning, and our high schools are designed to challenge, support, and inspire every student as they prepare for life beyond graduation.
Students engage in rigorous, standards-aligned core coursework while choosing from a wide range of electives that allow them to personalize their learning experience. Many courses offer opportunities to earn dual college credit, giving students a head start on postsecondary education while building confidence in their academic abilities.
For students seeking advanced academic challenges, Bend-La Pine high schools offer Advanced Placement (AP), and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs. These pathways provide college-level coursework and opportunities to earn college credit while developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and academic perseverance that demonstrate readiness for rigorous postsecondary study.
Career & Technical Education (CTE): Learning by Doing
Career and Technical Education (CTE) is a vital part of the high school experience in Bend-La Pine Schools. With more than 30 programs of study, students can explore hands-on, career-connected learning across a wide range of fields—including automotive technology, business, health sciences, construction, culinary arts, criminal justice, and more. These programs connect classroom learning to real-world skills, industry standards, and potential career pathways, helping students graduate with both academic knowledge and practical experience.
Beyond the classroom, students can participate in a wide range of academic clubs, co-curricular activities, athletics, music, and drama, building leadership, teamwork, and a strong sense of belonging. Together, these opportunities ensure that every student can find their path, pursue their passions, and graduate prepared for college, career, and community.
Instruction
School-to-Career
The purpose of School-to-Career is to prepare our youth to be thriving citizens and meet the challenges for tomorrow’s careers through the integration of school and work-based learning. School-to-Career programs offer students opportunities to:
- Earn elective credit toward graduation
- Gain career-readiness skills through community partnerships
- Develop skills and experiences to build a resume
- Explore multiple interests in a real-world environment
Work-Based Credit
Work-Based Credit includes traditional employment and community service. High school students have the opportunity to earn elective credit while learning valuable skills.
Industry Experiences
Industry Experiences are 10-15 week rotational programs where students observe multiple community partners in their career interest area. Industry rotations vary by school and include cadet teaching, cadet care-giving, computer science, dental, engineering, health occupations, makers and entrepreneurs, and seed-to-plate.
Education Options
Advanced Placement (AP)
All of our high schools offer Advanced Placement (AP) programs, known for rigorous college-level curricula and advanced college credit.
AP courses help students acquire the skills and habits needed to be successful in college, improve writing skills, sharpen problem-solving and time management skills, and strengthen study habits. Mountain View and Summit offer the AP Scholars program. By earning college credit in high school and skipping introductory courses in college, you can save resources as they work toward a college degree.
International Baccalaureate (IB)
Bend Senior High School is an authorized IB World School that offers the rigorous IB Diploma Programme. The program aims to develop students who have excellent breadth and depth of knowledge – students who flourish physically, intellectually, emotionally and ethically.
Numerous colleges and universities recognize that IB Diploma and Certificate students are well-prepared for college coursework and, as a result, may award college credit and/or scholarships. The IB Diploma Programme is committed to access, equity and a sense of international all mindedness.
College Dual Credit
Many of our high schools partner with Central Oregon Community College (COCC) to offer students the opportunity to complete an Associates of Arts Oregon Transfer degree (AAOT), or two-year college degree, at the same time as students earn their diploma.
The majority of the 90 college credits required are taught at our high school campuses, with some courses at COCC.
The Oregon Transfer Module (OMT) is offered, composed of 45 college credits, similar to many institutions’ freshman year requirements.
AAOT and OTM are designed for students who plan to transfer to an Oregon community college or public university.
Dual Immersion
Our Spanish Dual Immersion Program is a research-based two-way immersion model. The program begins in kindergarten, and continues through high school graduation. Students learn to understand, speak, read and write fluently in both English and Spanish.
In a class balanced with both native English and Spanish speakers, children learn their regular school subjects through both languages, and often outperform their monolingual peers in both languages over time.
Spanish Dual Immersion students also develop strong intercultural competence skills as a result of this enriching educational model.
High School Graduation Requirements
Bend-La Pine Schools offers a variety of diploma types to graduating students upon completion of one of five prescribed credit programs. These include the Honors, Academic, Oregon Standard, Oregon Modified, and Oregon Extended Diplomas. All five diplomas represent satisfactory completion of a valid and accredited program. Four-year colleges and universities accept the Honors, Academic and Oregon Standard Diplomas. An appeal may be considered by some four-year colleges and universities for Oregon Modified Diplomas. Community colleges accept all diploma types, but entry into degree-seeking programs is based on a skills placement assessment. The armed forces accept the Honors, Academic and Oregon Standard Diplomas. They rarely accept an Oregon Modified Diploma, while Oregon Extended Diplomas are not accepted. Find more information about diploma types in Bend-La Pine Schools Policy IKF-AR and its associated reference table.
Below is an outline of the three diploma types that are awarded the most frequently in our district. Students are initially expected to earn the BLS Academic Diploma, which fulfills both the state and local requirements for graduation. If you are interested in pursuing either the Oregon Standard or Bend-La Pine Schools Honors Diploma, please meet with your counselor to start the process for a diploma type change.
| Subject Area | Academic Diploma | Honors Diploma | Oregon Standard Diploma |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of required credits | Number of required credits | Number of required credits | |
| Language Arts (LA) | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Math (MA)* |
3 |
4 |
3 |
| Science (SC) | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Social Studies (SS) |
3 |
3 Must include: 1.0 World History, 1.0 U.S. History, 0.5 Government/Civics and 0.5 SS Elective |
3 |
| Health (HE) | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Physical Education (PE) | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Arts, CTE, World Language (FA) | 3 |
1 Arts/CTE |
3 |
| Career Path Skills (CP)** | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Personal Finance (PF)** | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Electives (EL) | 7 | 6 | 5 |
| Capstone Courses | 0 |
5 classes |
0 |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 26 | 27 | 24 |
| Educational Plan & Profile | Required | Required | Required |
| Career-Related Learning Experiences | Required | Required | Required |
|
Essential Skills Proficiencies |
Reading, Writing, Math | Reading, Writing, Math | Reading, Writing, Math |
|
Diploma Change Request Process |
No | Yes | Yes |
*Up to 1.0 math and/or science credit can be met with a district-approved cross-credit course. No district-approved math and science cross-credit course meets college admissions and NCAA core subject area requirements. A district-approved cross-credit course can only be assigned to one diploma subject category.
Wayfinder Helps Build Life & Career Readiness
What is Wayfinder? Reimagine education that develops a student’s sense of meaning, purpose and belonging.
Wayfinder is helping the district provide a learning environment that nurtures students’ academic growth and fosters critical thinking, a sense of purpose, and future-ready skills to connect classroom learning to the real world. Wayfinder lessons also support students’ sense of belonging in their school communities, and reinforce a positive culture and climate in each school.
Bend-La Pine Schools and Wayfinder are helping students at all levels develop core skills in six areas: self-awareness, collaboration, empathy, adaptability, agency, and purpose.
- Elementary students learn to build community and foster relationships in the classroom and beyond.
- In middle school, students explore their strengths and begin to focus on career-ready skills through their Advisory period.
- High school students set goals for future-ready skills and approach post-secondary life with confidence.
Wayfinder is designed to complement the existing curriculum without replacing any essential academic content. It is being introduced through age-appropriate activities, discussions, and interactive experiences to foster a positive and engaging learning environment that promotes academic success.
To learn more: Durable Skills Building
Oregon Department of Education (ODE) Resources and Reports
- School Report Cards
- English Learners in Oregon Annual Report
- Compliance Reports
- State Reports
- 2025-26 30-day Notice and Opt-out Form (Fillable PDF)
- 2025-26 Annual Notice and Declining Participation Form for the SEED Survey
- 2025-26 Annual Notice for Statewide Tests