Clayton County Public Schools Planning for Success

1. Clayton County Public Schools Planning for Success Getting Ready For High School Students entering 9th grade in 2008 – 2009 Wednesday, January 9, 2008 6:00 – 7:00 pm Performing Arts Center

2. Welcome! This presentation has been designed to inform rising 9th graders and their parents about what lies before them in high school.

3. Outline • Today we will review • promotion requirements • high school credits • selecting 9th grade courses • course requirements • standardized tests • the HOPE Scholarship and • extra-curricular and co-curricular activities

4. Promotion requirements To be promoted to 9th grade • You must pass 5 of 6 classes, and • Using the end of the year average • Pass English and math sections of the CRCT To be promoted to the 10th grade • You must pass 10 of 12 courses (total 5 units) You will take 6 courses each semester—12 courses for the year Each time you fail a course, you put yourself at risk of not graduating on time.

5. High schoolUnits

6. General Information • 1 Year = two 18 week semesters • Progress reports are sent home at 4.5 weeks, 9 weeks, and 12.5 weeks • Semester report cards are sent home at the end of 18 weeks. • The grades on the semester report cards determine how many “Units” the student will earn.

7. Number of courses taken • As a 9th grader you will take six courses each day • Each course is worth .5 unit • Therefore, you can earn 3 units each semester • At the end of the year, you can earn 6 units

8. What is a “Unit”? • 1 year of coursework in a subject area • Example: 1 year of Math • ½ Unit is earned for each passing grade on the semester report card • 1 unit is earned for passing grades for both semesters

9. Four Required Courses

10. English(One Required) • Ninth Grade Literature / Composition • Ninth Grade Literature / Composition-Honors

11. Mathematics(One required) • Math I • Accel Math

12. Science(one required) • Biology • Honors Biology

13. Social Studies • World History • Honors World History • Advanced Placement World History

14. Electives • In the 9th grade, you will enroll in two electives. • Remember that Health/Personal Fitness (electives) are required for graduation. • Just in case you are not able to enroll in your first two elective choices, you are asked to select four electives. • Number your elective choices, by listing, 1 for your first choice, 2 for your second choice, 3 for your third choice and 4 for your forth choice.

15. Parent involvement • Parents will need to sign the course advisement form, indicating their approval. • Students should return the signed course form. • Parents will be invited to an informational meeting at the Performing Arts Center (PAC), Wednesday, January 9th at 6pm.

16. STANDARDIZED TESTS CRCT, ITBS, and EOCT

17. Importance of tests • All tests that you take are important!!!! • Remember to do your very best. There are times when your score will be used to determine the course that you can enroll, to determine if you will be promoted to the next grade, and to assess how much you have learned.

18. CRCT • Test that covers reading, language arts, science, math, and social studies • It is given in April 2008 over several days • It measures what you have learned • You must pass Reading and Math to be promoted to the 9th grade.

19. ITBS • Test scores are used to help identify areas of academic strength and weakness • Used as a part of the instructional planning process. • The test was given in September 2007, over several days. 

20. End-of-course tests (EOCT) facts • Any student enrolled in an EOCT course will be required to take the EOCT upon completion of the course. • The EOCT typically is given in May • Your EOCT grade will count 15% of your course average • EOCT courses, for 9th graders, include Biology Math I 9th grade Literature

21. Getting Involved Clubs and Organizations Co-curricular Activities Sports

22. Clubs and Organizations • Clayton County High Schools offer a wide range of clubs and activities in which a student may participate. • Clubs range from elected organizations like Student Council, curriculum-based clubs like French or Spanish, to community- based clubs such as the Red Cross. • There will be times to join once you start high school.

23. Sports • Fall sports include: Football, Cross-country, Softball and Cheerleading. • Winter sports include: Basketball, Cheerleading, Wrestling and Swimming. • Spring sports include: Baseball, Golf, Soccer, Tennis and Track.

24. To Participate in Sports • Be on track for graduation • You must pass your courses and maintain a particular academic status to participate in sports.

25. Opportunities For Excellence

26. Advanced Placement: • Is a college-level course that you take in high school • Taking the course will give you a head start on college • Any student may take an AP course as long as you are up for extra reading, writing, and studying. • As a rising 9th grader, you may take AP World History and AP Human Geography

27. HOPE Scholarship: • The HOPE covers tuition and mandatory fees at Georgia colleges and technical schools. • Grades from all of the core curriculum subjects (English, Math, Social Studies, Science and Foreign Language) will be counted for determining HOPE scholarship eligibility. • Students earning a college prep seal must have a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 GPA scale. • Students earning a tech / career prep seal must have a 3.2 GPA on a 4.0 GPA scale. • YOUR 9th GRADE YEAR COUNTS

28. Great Sources of Information • Call the counseling office at your school. • Have parents or guardians attend the County-Wide Parent Night for 9th Grade Advisement. • Clayton County Public Schools webpage: www.clayton.k12.ga.us • Click on departments • Click on Guidance and Counseling

29. Our goal for you CONTINUEDSUCCESSRISING 9th GRADERS