Sophomore Success!

1. Sophomore Success!

2. Promotion…. • To be promoted to the next grade level…. • To be a Junior=13 credits • To be a Senior=19 credits • Athletic Eligibility/Driver’s License….. • You must pass 3 out of 4 classes during the previous semester to play a sport and keep your driver’s license/permit

3. Final Grade Calculation…. 3(1st Q) + 3(2nd Q) + 2(FE) 8 1st quarter grade x 3= 2nd quarter grade x3= Final exam x 2= Add them together Divide by 8 =Final grade

4. Honors and AP Courses…. • Honors= 1 additional quality point • Regular Civics – if you made an 88, you would get a 3.0 • Honors Civics – if you made an 88, you would get a 4.0 • AP= 2 additional quality points • AP US History – if you made an 88, you would get a 5.0

5. Transcripts • A transcript is a four-year report card that includes EVERY final course grade for EVERY class you take in high school • It also contains…. transcript • Student Information • Credit History • Grade History • GPA (it is cumulative and is the average of quality points earned) • Class Rank (a number that tells you where you stand in relation to your peers in your grade level) • EOC scores • Attendance

6. Career Clusters… • It is required that every student have a career cluster by the time they graduate • A career cluster has 4 classes in a specific area of interest • 17 different career clusters: • Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources • Hospitality and Tourism • Arts, Audio/Video Tech and Communication • Business Management and Administration • Science, Tech, Engineering, and Mathematics • Health Sciences • Finance • Human Services • Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics • Architecture and Construction • Marketing • Fine Arts-Chorus, Drama, Visual Arts, Broadcasting, Band • World Languages

7. CFNC • CFNC is a great resource to use throughout high school and you all should have an account created. • This is the same account that you created in middle school. Just make sure you are now linked to Hickory Ridge High School. • You can use www.cfnc.org to help you organize your activities as well as find a college/career that best matches your interests.

8. SAT and ACT • Fall of sophomore year: • PSAT (October 15th)-practice test for SAT for invited students (based on GPA) *Must bring back signed permission form • PLAN (mid-October)-practice test for ACT for ALL sophomores • Colleges in this area accept both the SAT and the ACT • You must register online to take either test on a Saturday during your junior year (ACT will be given at school to all juniors-no registration necessary) • Go to the test website (or CFNC) for practice tests • You can take the test more than once

9. Three Main Factors Colleges Use in Determining Acceptance…. • GPA and class rank (2.5 minimum to go to a public 4-year university NC) • SAT/ACT Scores • Application/extracurricular activities

10. A glimpse of some colleges • UNC Chapel Hill • 16 of our seniors went to Carolina last year

11. Colleges (Continued) • UNC Charlotte • 48 of our seniors went to UNCC

12. Colleges (Continued) • Western Carolina • 8 of our seniors went to Western

13. Community College • Community colleges require an application and transcript to apply. You can choose a degree-seeking pathway or a college transfer pathway. • Some community colleges in our area include: • Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (RCCC) • Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) • Stanly Community College

14. What you can work on this year… • Refine study habits (study for at least a ½ an hour for each class every day, type or rewrite notes, flashcards, etc) • Improve time management (use agenda, break down assignments, etc) • Continue extracurricular activities (both in school and the community) • Find a summer job or participate in a summer program (will help you for college) • Academic achievement (sign up for appropriate courses for you and your goals) • Remember your teachers are here to help so make sure you ask!