Windsor Forest High Advanced Learning Programs

1. Windsor Forest HighAdvanced Learning Programs Advanced Placement Dual Enrollment Honors Courses International Baccalaureate

2. AP • Advanced Placement courses allow willing and academically prepared students to pursue college-level courses while still in high school. • AP courses provide a more rigorous learning experience than regular courses. • Success in AP courses increases your chances of being accepted into major colleges and universities.

3. How does the AP program work? • Each AP course is taught in one school year. • In May, all students enrolled in the AP course will complete a cumulative exam. • The scores on the exam range from 1 to 5 with 5 being the best. • A score of 3 or higher is considered “passing”. • Each college has its own policies regarding credits awarded for certain scores on exams.

4. Which AP courses does WFHS offer? • AP American Language • AP American Literature • AP Studio Art (2D, 3D, and Drawing) • AP World History • AP Statistics (2014-2015) • AP Calculus AB (2014-2015)

5. Dual Enrollment • Provides opportunities for Georgia high school students to take college-level courses and earn concurrent credit toward a high school diploma and a college degree • Types of DE programs: Accel, Dual Hope Grant, Move On When Ready (MOWR) • Local schools to consider – Armstrong, Savannah State, Savannah Tech

6. Honors Courses • Help you prepare for the rigor of AP and IB courses • Smaller class sizes • Majority of the students are highly motivated to do well academically

7. International Baccalaureate • The IB is a comprehensive program that pushes students to strive for excellence and helps them to prepare for a competitive global future. • IB courses are taught over 1 or 2 years depending on the HL or SL course distinction. • 3 ways to be a part of IB. • Certificates • IB Career Certificate (IBCC) • IB Diploma

8. IB Programs at Windsor

9. IB Course Offerings High Level Courses Standard Level Courses • History of the Americas and 20th Century Topics • Film • Language A • Band • Chorus • History of the Americas • French (2 years) • Spanish (2 years) • Math Studies • Environmental Systems and Societies

10. IB Certificates • Students who are academically strong in 1 or 2 areas that have met the pre-requisites for the various IB courses may take them and sit for the IB exam for that course. • Students must have room in their schedule for the 1 year SL course or the 2 year HL course. • College credit generally awarded for scores of 4 or higher on the 7 point scale. Awarded amounts depend on colleges.

11. IB Career Certificate • New for Class of 2016 • Allows for students to complete a pathway, while still challenging themselves academically. • IBCC Requirements • GA requirements for Graduation • 2 IB DP courses SL or HL • Approaches to Learning Class • Pathway Completion • Reflective Project • Language Portfolio • Community and Service Learning

12. IB Diploma Program • The most comprehensive and academically rigorous program offered. • Program Requirements • GA Requirements for Graduation • 3 HL Courses • 3 SL Courses • Theory of Knowledge Course • Extended Essay • Creativity, Action and Service (CAS)

13. College Credits • Dual Enrollment – if you pass the course, you earn the credit if the college accepts the credit. • AP – if you score a 3 or higher, it is likely that your college of choice will award credits. However, you need to research specific schools and specific AP courses. • IB Diploma – Up to 24 credits can be awarded to a student. The college generally does an audit of the courses that you have taken to award credit. • IB Courses alone – if you score a 4 or higher in HL and a 5 or higher in SL courses generally colleges will award credit or audit your transcript when you enter

14. What Colleges Are Looking For: RIGOR

15. How do Colleges determine RIGOR? • Transcript Evaluation based on courses your high school offers. • Colleges like to see that students exhaust their high school options before moving onto College Courses. • They know the Rigor of AP and IB exams and are not always familiar with local schools offering dual enrollment credit. Syllabi do not always align with their curriculum. • Colleges don’t want to see students taking an easy Senior year. Only taking one or two dual enrollment courses versus a full load at the high school.

16. Rigor and the hope scholarship • New academic requirements are included in the HOPE legislation. These changes will impact students graduating from high school on or after May 1, 2015. • In order to qualify for the HOPE Scholarship, students must meet the following academic requirements: • Juniors (class of 2015) – 2 rigor credits • Sophomores (class of 2016) – 3 rigor credits • Freshmen (class of 2017) – 4 rigor credits

17. Rigor courses at Windsor • AP Language, AP Literature, IB English • Math 3, Math 4, CCGPS Advanced Algebra, Accelerated Math 3, AP Calculus AB, AP Statistics • Chemistry, Physics, IB Environmental Systems • AP World History, IB History of the Americas, IB 20th Century History • Spanish 2, Spanish 3, Spanish 4, IB Spanish

18. How to make the best choice for YOU! • What are your goals after high school? • Which colleges and universities are you considering? • What do they award for AP/IB scores? • What do they accept as far as DE transfer credits? • Are you willing to put forth the effort required for specific courses/programs? • How will you balance the course/program workload/schedule with your life interests? • How can you be successful inside of the classroom and out?