9 th GRADE PATRIOT SUCCESS NIGHT

1. 9th GRADE PATRIOT SUCCESS NIGHT HOW HIGH SCHOOL WORKS

2. Understanding Academics • Credits-what are your classes worth? • How many credits will you earn each year? • Progressing from one grade to the next • What happens if you don’t earn enough credit? • Which courses are required for graduation? • How do tests affect graduation?

3. Fayette County Schools are under the semester system. • Each semester has 18 weeks. • Students are scheduled for 6 classes per semester. • You can accumulate 3 credits or units per semester, for a total of 6 credits per school year. • Each semester stands alone. Semesters are not averaged together.

4. Awarding Credit • At the end of each semester, student are given a final exam • Grades are calculated (85% of the grade comes from the semester, 15% comes from the final exam) • Credit is awarded and placed on the permanent record (transcript)

5. For each class that you take and PASS, you are awarded ½ or .50Carnegie Units. Most students will have earned24 unitsby the time they graduate

6. 9TH Grade Schedule 1st Semester2nd Semester 9th English A .50 9th English B .50 Math A .50 Math B .50 Science A .50 Science B .50 Health .50 Person Fit .50 Band (elective) .50 Band (elective) .50 German (elective) .50 German (elective) .50 Total 3 units Total 3 units Total for the year = 6 units For Promotion to the 10th Grade = 5.5 credits

8. GRADE PROMOTIONS 9TH to 10th Grade = 5.5 units 10th to 11th Grade = 11.5 units 11th to 12th Grade = 17 units Total Units to Graduate = minimum 23 units

9. In the state of Georgia • 23 credits are required for graduation In the state of Georgia • At least a 70 is required to pass a class. • All classes receive same amount of credit.

10. New Graduation Rule • Effective with incoming freshmen in 2008 • Eliminate tiered diploma options • Common set of diploma requirements • All graduates prepared for college-entry courses without remediation and the workplace

11. New Graduation Rule • Areas of Study: • Units Required • English/Language Arts * 4 • Mathematics* 4 • Science* 4 • Social Studies* 3 • CTAE and/or Fine Arts and/or Foreign Lang. 3 • Health and Physical Education* 1 • Electives 4 • Total Units (Minimum) 23 • * Required Courses and/or Core Courses

12. English/Language Arts Requirements 4 units of English/Language Arts required, including: • 1 unit of 9th Grade Literature and Composition • 1 unit of American Literature and Composition • 2 additional units

13. Math Requirements • 4 units of Mathematics required, including: • 1 unit of Mathematics I or Accelerated Mathematics I • 1 unit of Mathematics II or Accelerated Mathematics II • 1 unit of Mathematics III or Accelerated Mathematics III or any higher level mathematics course, including AP/IB • 1 additional math unit • New courses for 4th year will be added • Support classes, interventions for struggling students

14. Science Requirements • 4 units of Science required, including: • 1 unit of Biology (can be AP/IB) • 1 unit of Physics (AP/IB) • 1 unit of Chemistry, Earth Systems, Environmental Science, or an AP/IB course • 1 unit of a 4th science, including any AP/IB, academic science, or career tech science (ex: Agricultural Science) • 4th science unit may be used to meet both the science and elective requirements

15. Social Studies Requirements • 3 units of Social Studies required, including: • 1 unit of World History • 1 unit of United States History • ½ unit of American Government/Civics • ½ unit of Economics

16. Electives • 7 units required, including: • A total of 3 units required from: CTAE and/or Foreign Language and/or Fine Arts for all students (students planning to enter or transfer into a University System of Georgia institution must take two units of the same foreign language) • 4 additional elective units for all students

17. Foreign Language • The majority of colleges require at least two years of the same foreign language even though it is no longer required for a high school diploma in Georgia.

18. Additional Requirements Requirements for Health/PE • All students must complete 1 unit • 3 units of JROTC may substitute for the Health/PE requirement

19. End of Course Tests • Students are required to take these tests. • These tests are developed by the GA Dept. of Education • They account for 15% of the final grade in the following areas: • 9th English, American Lit., Math I, Math II, Physical Science, Biology, US History and Economics

20. More tests… • Students are required to take and pass GA High School Graduation Tests as part of their graduation requirements in the following areas: • Writing • Language Arts • Math • Science • Social Studies. These tests are given in the 11th grade.

21. More Tests…. • 10th and 11th Grade-PSAT- offered once a year • Spring of 11th grade, Fall of 12th Grade- SAT and/or ACT • 11th or 12th Grade-ASVAB-provided by the Armed Forces to assist in career preference and search • Most Technical Colleges give the ASSET and/or COMPASS for admission

22. About your course selection… • Every year in the spring your counselor will meet with you to assist you in making your course selection for your next academic year. • This is the time you get to select electives. • Take the time to rethink what are your possible career choices and/or post secondary options. • Adjust selection and level of courses as needed to help you with your future educational and career plans.

23. Extracurricular Activities • Start thinking about what school club or sport team you need to join. • Colleges like for you to be able to document your participation in school activities. • Learning to manage your time between school work and extracurricular activities helps you develop a very important life skill, that will serve you well as an adult.

24. End of Presentation • I hope you now have a better understanding of how High School works • Please write down any questions you may have on the provided evaluation sheet. • All questions will be answered in the auditorium at the end of all 4 sessions. Thank you