9th Grade

The ninth grade at Foothills is truly unique. It's amazing to watch a small cohort of students bond and band together to create such strong connections. I get to see them grow into curious and capable young adults through experiences like Student Council, school leadership, their international spring trip, and the mentorship program. The younger students look up to them, and the Nines respond with confidence and kindness. In this setting, students develop more independence and take charge of their own learning. ~Tara Kennedy, 9th grade advisor

The 9th grade program is the capstone year of the Foothills School experience! Foothills 9th graders are a part of the Jr. High (7th-9th grade), and they also have some classes on their own since 9th grade is the first official year of high school. The 9th graders take on leadership roles at the school in addition to managing more involved classwork.

Highlights of the 9th Grade Experience

Here are some things our Ninth Grade students shared about their experience:

“I love the communication between students and teachers. They’re really good at making sure you know what you’re doing.”

“I really enjoy the community and the opportunities to interact with younger and older grades. It’s a tight-knit group, you can be yourself, and you can get to know everybody.”

“I love Foothills because it creates a strong learning environment between all of your different classes. The school is small so it’s easier to have deeper connections.”

“The teachers are really understanding and care about helping you learn. There's more hands-on learning and teachers help guide you through projects.”

“I like doing things out in the community related to specific classes and working with different organizations.” 

“I love having an open campus for lunch!”

"Foothills encourages confidence and active engagement, helping students become more self-assured and motivated learners. The skills they develop here will carry them throughout their lives." ~9th grade parent

Grades and Credits for 9th Graders

During 9th grade, Foothills students take Accelerated Biology, Accelerated English 9, Drama/Performing Arts, Music, Integrated Math, Mentorship, PE, Spanish, Visual Art, Speech/Debate, and US History 9. They can also earn a supplemental PE credit if they participate in an organized athletic activity. Because of the extra credits students receive, graduates leave Foothills with 19-26 of the 49 credits required to graduate from high school. This allows Foothills graduates to take extra electives in 10th-12th grade. 

Sports and Activities Foothills 9th Graders Enjoy

The majority of our 9th graders participate in lots of sports, activities, and hobbies outside the school day. Students can join their neighborhood public school for sports as well. This year's 9th grade class participates in: 

• The Boise High Cross Country Team
• Traveling Club Soccer Team 
• Timberline Softball Team 
• The Boise High Mountain Bike Team 
• Swim Team 
• Tae Kwon Do
• Ultimate Frisbee 
• Skiing
• Skateboarding 

Preparation for High School

On school tours, many families ask how prepared our students are after leaving Foothills, where they go for high school, and how they do:

The majority of Foothills graduates have gone to Boise High School, although many have gone to other schools, and have been happy and successful there. 

We hear from Boise High teachers that Foothills students stand out in a positive way: they introduce themselves right away, are engaged in classes, want to learn for learning's sake, and aren't afraid to ask for help when they need it.

They are adaptable, excited to learn, and willing to try new things. Our graduates stay close with friends from Foothills and branch out to meet new people. 

Academically, Foothills graduates do very well. They're motivated to take challenging classes, take pride in getting good grades, and are also prepared for more traditional learning as strong writers and readers, mathematicians, artists and scientists, presenters, and creative thinkers. 

It's not unusual for 9th graders to feel nervous about moving from a small school to a large school (and parents are probably more nervous than students). However, Foothills graduates navigate the changes of being in a larger learning environment, manage their workload and after-school activities, and handle increased independence with confidence and belief in themselves. 

We are exceedingly proud of our 9th graders and believe our joyful, courageous graduates head out into the world with the skills and passion to make it a better place.