HIGH SCHOOL PLANNING FOR STUDENTS

Are you ready?

Topics Covered

• Block Schedule• Freshman Classes• Honors Classes• Extra Support• 9th Grade Academy

• 9th grade counts• Graduation• GHSGT• Extracurricular• Eligibility• Questions

Douglas County High Schools

ALL UNIQ UE, BUT...........

SAM E REQ UIREM ENTSFO R G RADUATIO N

Chapel H i l l H igh S c hool A lex ander H igh S c hool D ouglas Count y H igh S c hool L it h ia S pr ings H igh S c hool

Areas of Study:Units Required

English/Language Arts * 4Mathematics* 4Science* 4Social Studies* 4 (3)CTAE and/or Fine Arts and/or Foreign Lang. 3Health and Physical Education* 1Electives 4

Total Units (Minimum) 24 (23)

* Required Courses and/or Core Courses

Graduation Rule

CTAE PATHWAYS

• Cosmetology• Early Childhood Education• Nutrition & Food Science• Business Education• Information Technology• JROTC• Health Care Science• Law & Justice

BLOCK SCHEDULE

• STUDENTS TAKE 4 CLASSES PER SEMESTER.

• EACH CLASS IS 90 MINUTES.• EACH CLASS COUNTS AS 1 UNIT.

BLOCK SCHEDULE con’t.• STUDENTS TAKE 8 DIFFERENT

CLASSES EACH YEAR.• STUDENTS CAN EARN UP TO 8

UNITS EACH YEAR.– Have to pass 4 units to be a

Sophomore• IN SCHEDULING, WE TRY TO

BALANCE TWO ACADEMICS AND TWO ELECTIVES EACH SEMESTER

Freshmen Classes

• All students will be enrolled in 8 classes.• At least 4 classes are already designated for

freshmen.• Students will choose 4 electives.

FRESHMEN CLASSES

Most all 9th graders take:• 9th Lit/Comp• American Government• Math I• Biology I

FRESHMEN CLASSES

• Students planning to attend a four year post-secondary school must take 2 foreign language classes in the same language

• Many 9th graders go ahead and sign up for foreign language.

• All DCSS high schools offer Spanish and French.

FRESHMEN CLASSES

Academically, high school can be a difficult

adjustment. Some classes can cause a struggle.

FRESHMEN ELECTIVESvary from school to school

French I-III Computer ApplicationsSpanish I-III Law & JusticeVisual Arts I JROTCTheatre Arts Intro to HealthcareChorus Computing in the Modern WorldBand Business EssentialsTeam Sports Lifetime SportsCosmetology Foundation of Interior DesignWeight Training AerobicsEarly Childhood EducationNutrition & Food Science

Why Honors Classes ?

• 45% of students who have taken one AP course and 61% of students who have taken two or more AP courses are completing their bachelor’s degrees in four years or less.

• Only 29% of students who enroll in colleges without having taken AP are completing their bachelor’s degrees on schedule.

• 60% of all recent high school graduates entering a community college last year needed to take at least one remedial course.

Honors/AP Classes

• A 1999 U.S. Department of Education study showed that a high school curriculum of “academic intensity and quality” such as is found in AP courses is a strong predictor towards the completion of a bachelor’s degree, particularly among African American and Hispanic/Latino students.

- Clifford Adelman, Answers in the Tool Box: Academic Intensity, Attendance Patterns and Bachelor’s Degree Attainment (1999), U.S. Department of Education

Honors Classes

• Challenge Yourself• But don’t drown

It is O.K. to take Honors in some academic areas

and not in others

EXTRA SUPPORT PLEASE!!

• Math I Support Lab• Bridges Tutoring• CCAE support• Special education• SST• After School Program

9th GRADE COUNTS

Important to try from the beginning of high school

• HOPE scholarship• Freshman Index (college admissions)• Superintendent Scholar Award

(3.5 GPA first semester, no grade below “B”)• For promotion to 10th grade (have to earn 4 units) – no more “placement” have to earn

units to go to next grade level.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY….• GRADUATION

GRADUATION

• Pass 24 units• EOCT• Meet state and local

requirements• Pass GHSGT for a

diploma (during junior year)

End of Course Tests:

• You will be taking end of course tests in some classes.• The EOCT counts 15% of your total semester grade• The following courses have an EOCT.

9th Grade Literature American LiteratureBiology Physical ScienceMath I Math IIUS History Economics

GHSGT – have to pass for a DIPLOMA

• Writing

• Language Arts

• Math

• Science

• Social Studies

Students take the tests their Junior Year.

Student Involvement:ActivitiesClubs

DRAMACLUB

Art club

Beta Club SADD DECA

Model UN Scholar Bowl

FBLA FCCLA FirstPriority

French Club

HOSA Future Educators

Art HonorSociety

NHS Photo. Club

Spanish Club

One-Act Plays

Band Debate Math Team

Mock Trial Team

DanceTeam

StudentCouncil

Tiger Tracks

KEY Knitting Club

National Thespians

Literary Meet

Sports:FALL WINTER SPRING

Football Wrestling Baseball

Softball Basketball Track

Cross Country Swimming Tennis

Cheerleading Golf

Volleyball Soccer

ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY:for competitive activities

• ALL 1st time 9th graders are eligible• After 1st semester:

– Meet GHSA criteria– Pass 3 out of 4 classes– Be on “track”

• Obtain 4 units by 10th grade• Obtain 10 units by 11th grade• Obtain 16 units by 12th grade

Keep in Mind

• High School still has a dress code

• Poor attendance will negatively affect your academic progress

• Discipline issues make you miss class

CONCLUSION

• The key word to high school success is “effort.”

• 50% of IQ is motivation.• Never be hesitant to work

hard.• There is a lot of work, but

also a lot of people who want to help.

DCHS FRESHMEN EXPO

Come see: The school The academic

programs The

extracurricular activities – clubs, sports, etc.

MARCH 11

6:00 – 8:00

Important Parent Meeting at 6:00 & 7:00 in the Theater

QUESTIONS???