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Navigating 9th Grade Course Selection at Sterling Middle School

Guidance on course selection, high school expectations, program of studies, college admission planning, and academic success tips presented in a comprehensive agenda for middle school students transitioning to 9th grade.

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Navigating 9th Grade Course Selection at Sterling Middle School

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  1. Rising 9th Grade Course Selectionfor Sterling Middle School Presented by Mrs. Talboo, 9th grade counselor February 2013

  2. Today’s Agenda … • Middle School Course Selection • What to Expect in High School • What is in the Program of Studies • How to plan for successful College Admission in 2017 • Understanding credits, verified credits and more • Special Programs in High School • High School course progression

  3. Middle School Course Selection • Students choose electives • Teachers make recommendations for Honors or Academic courses • Counselors meet with students to discuss recommendations and electives • Parents give final approval at the end of the 3rd quarter • Changes can be made until the end of the school year, but changes are not guaranteed.

  4. What to Expect in High School • #1: YOUR Responsibility • #2: Self-Advocacy and Communication • #3: Organization • #4: Expectations • #5: Due Dates and Timelines • #6: Study Hall (PRIDE), Peer Tutoring, Homework Cafe

  5. What to Expect in High School • EVERYTHING counts!! • You can ONLY expunge a course/grade before 9th grade • Complete the form and return to your GuidanceCounselor by August 2013. • Transcript • All your courses + all your grades + your attendance • Your GPA, your credits, verified credits • A future KEY PIECE of your college application

  6. What to Expect in High School • Spend time each night studying, completing homework and reviewing your notes • Get involved! • Sports • Activities & Clubs • Athletic events … come cheer! • Balance your time … school, extracurriculars, fun, SLEEP • If you are struggling, SEEK HELP

  7. Program of Studies PVHS WebsiteSchoolCounselingAcademicsProgram of Studies link (left navigation) LCPS 2013-14 Program of Studies • LCPS General Information, p. 1 • Promotion and Credit Information, p. 2 • Graduation Requirements, p. 4-6 • Grade Point Average and Class Rank, p. 7 • Dual Enrollment info, p. 12 • Career Clusters, p. 13 • Course Descriptions, p. 16-60 • Index of Course Offerings, p. 61-66

  8. Promotion & Credit InformationPOS ~ page 2 • Grade 9: 0 – 4 credits • Grade 10: 5 – 10 credits • Grade 11: 11+ credits • Grade 12 – student must be scheduled to meet all graduation requirements by June of that school year.

  9. Standard Credit vs. Verified CreditPOS ~ page 2 • You earn a standard creditby passing a year-long course. (Semester course = .5 credit) • You earn a verified creditby passing a course and its related end-of-course Standards of Learning (SOL) test. *Students may retake SOL tests as often as necessary (up to 3 times a year) to earn the verified unit of credits needed for graduation.

  10. Standard Credit vs. Verified Credit What happens if I pass the course but fail the SOL? You will remediate and retake the SOL test. What happens if I fail the course but pass the SOL? You will retake the class but not the SOL. When you pass the course you will then receive both the credit and the verified credit.

  11. SOL Courses ~ POS page 3 Reading (Eng. 11) Earth Science Writing (Eng. 11) Biology Chemistry Algebra 1 World History 1 Geometry World History 2 Algebra 2 US History Algebra 2/Trig

  12. Graduation and Diploma RequirementsPOS ~ pages 4-6 LCPS Program of Studies 2013-14 • Standard Diploma • 22 credits + 6 verified credits • Advanced Studies Diploma • 26 credits + 9 verified credits

  13. Remember …EVERYTHING Counts! Low grades in 9th can have a HUGE impact on your final GPA and class rank standing! Check this out …

  14. Park View Student #1 Grade 9:Grade 10: English C 2 English B 3 History C 2 History A 4 Math D 1 Math C 2 Science D 1 Science B 3 HPE B 3 HPE A 4 Elective C 2 Elective A 4 Elective C 2 Elective A 4 Cumulative GPA = 1.86Cumulative GPA = 2.64 Grade 11:Grade 12: English B 3 English A 4 History B 3 History A 4 Math B 3 Math B 3 Science B 3 Science B 3 Adv. PE A 4 Adv. PE A 4 Elective A 4 Elective A 4 Elective A 4 Elective A 4 Cumulative GPA = 2.76Cumulative GPA = 2.89

  15. Park View Student #2 Grade 9:Grade 10: English B 3 English B 3 History B 3 History A 4 Math B 3 Math C 2 Science C 2 Science B 3 HPE A 4 HPE A 4 Elective A 4 Elective A 4 Elective A 4 Elective A 4 Cumulative GPA = 3.14Cumulative GPA = 2.64 Grade 11:Grade 12: English B 3 English A 4 History B 3 History A 4 Math B 3 Math B 3 Science B 3 Science B 3 Adv. PE A 4 Adv. PE A 4 Elective A 4 Elective A 4 Elective A 4 Elective A 4 Cumulative GPA = 2.76Cumulative GPA = 3.46

  16. If you coast in 9th, it can jeopardize your overall GPA! The difference between a 2.89 GPA and a 3.46 GPA can be the ninth grade year!!! This is especially important if you plan to apply to competitive colleges like UVA, VA Tech, GMU, etc.

  17. What counts for College Admissions?(ranked in order of importance) • Your transcript ~ Challenging Classes + Good Grades • Your Class Rank & GPA • Standardized Admissions Tests • Teacher/Counselor recommendation letters • Student Essay • Student’s Demonstrated Interest • Extracurricular Activities (quality NOT quantity)

  18. An example of a final transcript …

  19. Another example of a final transcript …

  20. How to Get Into the College of your choice … Be an excellent high school student! Strong transcript + good extracurricular activities

  21. Advanced Placement Classes • Advanced Placement (AP) classes are challenging college-level courses available to 10th, 11th, and 12th grade . • AP students who take the AP exam receive a 1.0 weight to their GPA. • Anyone who meets the prerequisites and is willing to do the work can enroll in an AP course.

  22. The AP Advantage • College preparation ~ courses are taught just like a college class • Makes you and outstanding candidate for College Admissions • 1.0 Weighted grade • Develop your higher order thinking skills • A high score on an AP exam will earn your college credit

  23. AP Classes • World History • US History • US Government • Psychology • Economics • Human Geography • English Literature • English Language • Calculus AB • Calculus BC • Statistics • Computer Science • Biology • Chemistry (every other year) • Physics (every other year) • Studio Art • Music Theory • French • Spanish • German • Latin

  24. Monroe Technology CenterPOS ~ page 53-60 • Electives are 3 credit classes available for 10, 11, and 12th grade students • Students must APPLY and be accepted into a MTC program • Students are bussed daily between PVHS & Monroe for FREE • Provides students with highly marketable career skills • Some programs offer dual enrollment w/ NVCC credits • Some programs offer Certificate and State Board Licensure For more detailed info, visit their website: Monroe Technology Center

  25. What is CAMPUS? College Achievement Minority Program for Unique Students is an academic and college preparation designed to meet the specific needs of minority and first generation college students in Loudoun County. CAMPUS supports students through: • Academic enrichment and support • Development of self advocacy skills • Mentorship opportunities • College and Scholarship preparation • Careful course selection Applications can be picked up from your school counselor.

  26. AVID:Advancement Via Individualized Determination • A credit bearing elective offered at PVHS 9th-12th Grades • What is AVID? • AVID is an in-school credit-bearing academic support program that prepares students for college eligibility and success. • AVID places academically average students in advanced classes. • AVID benefits all students, but especially aims to identify and assist students without a college-going tradition in their families. • This program requires an application process … see your counselor for more details. • If you are accepted into AVID, you will need to drop another elective in order to take AVID. AVID does not replace study hall!

  27. NJROTC ~ POS page 39Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps • This is an elective class which is a federal program sponsored by the United States Armed Forces. • Students must transfer to Loudoun County HS. • Students must have their own daily transportation. • All grade levels can apply. • Does not require you to join the military. • Talk to your counselor ASAP if you are interested.

  28. Planning to Play Sports? You MUST be passing 5 classes to be eligible! For more eligibility requirement details visit: www.vhsl.org

  29. English ProgressionPOS~ page 19: • Grade 9: English 9 (Honors or Academic) • Grade 10: English 10 (Honors or Academic) • Grade 11: English 11 (Honors or Academic) • Grade 12: English 12 Academic, AP English Literature, or AP English Language

  30. English SOL Tests • English Reading • English Writing Both are administered in English 11

  31. Math Progression, POS~page 33

  32. Math SOL Tests: • Algebra I • Geometry • Algebra II • Algebra II/Trig

  33. Science ProgressionPOS~ page 40 • Grade 9: Earth Science (Honors or Academic) • Grade 10: Biology (Honors or Academic) • Grade 11 and 12: • Environmental Explorations • Chemistry • Conceptual Physics • Physics • AP Biology • AP Chemistry • AP Physics

  34. Science SOL Tests • Earth Science • Biology • Chemistry

  35. Social Science ProgressionPOS~page 43 • Grade 9: • World History/Geography 1 (Ancient to 1500) • Pre-AP World History/Geography (8000 BCE to 1450 CE) • Grade 10: • World History/Geography 2 (1500 to Present) • AP World History • Grade 11: • US History (AP or Academic) • Grade 12: • US Government Academic • AP Comparative Government

  36. Social Science SOL Tests • World History/Geography 1 • World History/Geography 2 • U.S. History

  37. Health and PE POS~page 27 • Grade 9: Health/PE 9 • Classroom portion focuses on health, CPR, and first aid • Grade 10: Health/PE 10 (Driver’s Education) • Classroom portion focuses on Driver’s Education and health • Grade 11 & 12: Advanced PE

  38. World LanguagesPOS~page 28 • American Sign Language (ASL)** • French • German • Latin • Mandarin Chinese • Spanish • Spanish for Fluent Speakers **does not count as a foreign language with some colleges and universities

  39. Questions?

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