Part One: The Basics of High School

1. Part One: The Basics of High School • Transcript & GPA Facts • Graduation Requirements

2. HIGH SCHOOL: The Basics What is a Transcript? • A transcript is a cumulative permanent record. It lists all courses taken in high school and the grades received. • Colleges will use transcripts to help determine what kind of college student your child will be. • A transcript includes GPA and class rank. • Freshman year grades are part of the GPA. • Class rank is determined by GPA. • By the end of the school year, a student can earn a total of 8 credits.

3. If students fail an academic course, they will have to repeat that course before they will receive credit. IF IT IS 9TH LIT, MATH I, OR BIOLOGY THEY WILL BE CONSIDERED A 9TH GRADER AND IN A 9TH GRADE HOMEROOM AGAIN. A failing grade will appear on a student’s transcript forever. It will not be removed even if the course is repeated and the student receives a passing grade. A 90-100 B 80-89 C 74-79 D 70-73 F 69 & below GRADING SYSTEM

4. GRADE POINT AVERAGE • GPA is the numeric average of all grades calculated on a 4.0 scale • GPA scale: A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0 • The higher the grades, the higher the GPA • Failing a course or getting a low grade will lower a student’s GPA… study hard!

5. HOW TO EARN CREDIT IN HIGH SCHOOL • AHS is on an alternating block schedule. • By the end of this school year at AHS, a student can earn a total of 8 credits.

6. How many credits do students need to earn to stay on track for graduation? • By the end of the 1st year in high school, students need to earn at least 5 credits which MUST include the REQUIRED 1 English, 1 Math, & 1 Science classes. • By the end of the 2nd year in high school, students need to earn at least 10 credits which MUST include the REQUIRED 2 English, 2 Math, & 2 Science classes. • By the end of the 3rd year in high school, students need to earn at least 16 credits. • In order to graduate, students need to have earned a total of 23 credits. • Students have the opportunity to earn up to 32 credits by the end of 12th grade.

7. GRADUATION REQUIREMENTSEnglish: 4 Credits Math: 4 Credits Science : 4 Credits Social Studies: 3 Credits Health/Personal Fitness (BPE) ½ Health/ ½ BPE Career Tech and/or Fine Arts; and/or *Foreign Language: 3 Credits *2 Credits of the sameFL is REQUIRED for college entrance Electives : 4 Credits

8. Foreign Language Foreign Language I Foreign Language II Foreign Language III At least 2 courses in the same foreign language are required for college admissions. Some colleges recommend 3 courses in foreign language.

9. Nutrition & Food Science Interior Design Culinary Arts Education and Teaching Health Care Science Construction Broadcast Video Computer Science Interactive Media Engineering Drafting Work-Based Learning (Internship) JROTC Sports Medicine Career/Technology Areas of Concentration Offered at AHS

10. Georgia High School Graduation Tests • Students must pass ALL 5 sections of the GHSGT in order to receive a diploma and participate in graduation ceremonies. • The 5 sections include Writing, Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. • These tests are taken in 11th grade. • Students will have 5 opportunities to pass each test prior to graduation.

11. Part Two: Success in High School • Honors & AP Courses • HOPE Scholarship & Grant • Get help when you need it

12. Honors & AP Courses • Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) courses are offered in each academic subject area and fine arts. • We recommend that students challenge themselves by taking Honors and AP level courses in as many subject areas as possible. • Research shows that students who are successful in college have typically taken rigorous and challenging coursework in high school (like the coursework offered in Honors and AP classes). • If students plan to take an AP course, they should be prepared for rigorous college-level coursework.

13. Honors & AP Courses • It is highlyrecommended that students who wish to obtain admission to a selective 4-year college take Honors and AP level courses in high school. • An AP course is the highest level course that a student can take while in high school. AP courses are taught at the college level. • Students in AP courses have the opportunity to take an AP exam at the end of the course, which may allow them to earn college credit.

14. What is the HOPE Scholarship? Earn $$ for college for getting good grades! • Students who receive the HOPE Scholarship can get their college tuition completely paid for! • Students must graduate with a 3.0 GPA in ALL core curriculum subjects to receive this scholarship. • Core curriculum subjects include ALL English, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Foreign Language. • All coursework in these subjects is used in computing the HOPE GPA.

15. HOPE Grant • The HOPE Grant is available to students who wish to attend a Georgia college or technical college and pursue a technical diploma or certificate regardless of GPA. To quality students must be a Georgia resident for more than 12 months.

16. Teachers can help with academic issues and class problems. Tutoring is available. Counselors can help with planning courses, personal issues, academic issues, and college & career planning. Administrators can help handle conflicts with students or teachers. The social worker is here to help utilize school and community resources when faced with personal and economic challenges. The graduation coach helps students stay in school and graduate if they are at-risk of dropping out. Many people at AHS can help you be successful…

17. Come visit the Career Center! (AM, PM, Lunch pass) Students can research : 4-year colleges & 2-year colleges Technical schools Financial Aid & Scholarships Summer programs Careers Get online with GA College 411 and Career Cruising to match colleges & careers with your interests and needs Visit the AHS CAREER CENTER

18. A-G Ms. Neely H-R Ms. Turner S-Z Ms. Sansing Career Center Ms. Page Counseling Clerk Ms. LeCroy Pinnacle Access Ms. Abbott Graduation Coach Mr. Morrissey

19. ???? • Ask Questions • Get Answers