Dorchester District Two Rising 9th Grade

Scheduling Information

High School Course Information You Need For Your Child’s IGP

Tonight You Will Learn About• South Carolina High School Diploma Requirements

• Core Courses and Recommendations– English– Math– Science– Social Studies

• Electives Choices – Career & Technology Education– Foreign Language – Fine Arts– Academic Electives

Abbreviations used:EOCEP or EOC = End-of-Course Examination ProgramHSAP = High School Assessment ProgramCATE = Career & Technology EducationCP = College Preparatory H = Honors AP= Advanced Placement IB = International Baccalaureate

SC High School Diploma Requirements

Subject # of Credits Benchmark EOCEP Course RequiredEnglish 4 credits (English 1)

Math 4 credits (Algebra 1/Elem Algebra for Tech 2)

Science 3 credits (Biology)

US History 1 credit (US History)

American Government ½ creditEconomics ½ credit‘Other’ Social Studies 1 creditComputer Science 1 creditPE or JROTC 1 creditCATE or Foreign Lang 1 creditElectives 7 credits

Total 24 credits

EOC Exams are state mandated and generated final exams which count 20% of the final average for the course

In addition to 24 prescribed credits, students must also pass the HSAP Exit Exam

9th Grade Core Course Options

• English– English 1 CP or English 1 H – English 2 CP or English 2 H

• Math– Elementary Algebra for the Technologies 1– Algebra 1 CP or Algebra 1 H– Geometry CP or Geometry H– Algebra 2 CP or Algebra 2H

9th Grade Core Course Options (cont)

• Science– Physical Science CP or Physical Science H

• Social Studies*– Global Studies 1 CP (all schools)

• GS 1 is World Geography & Ancient History through the Renaissance

– Global Studies 1 H or AP Human Geography (SHS)• Advanced Placement Human Geography is an introductory-level college course

– Global Studies 2 H or AP Human Geography (ARHS, FDHS)• GS2 is World History from the Renaissance to Modern Day

*Global Studies 1 & 2 do not have to be taken sequentially, but are designated by the time period covered in the curriculum

English Recommendations • English 1 CP

– Pass 8th grade English; Freshmen Seminar is attached as an elective credit

• English 1 Honors– Pass 8th grade English with a grade of 93A or higher and/or show superior

writing and language skills

• English 2 CP– English 1 H credit with a grade less than 85B

• English 2 Honors– English 1 H with a grade of 85B or higher

REMINDER: EOC required for English 1 CP and H

Freshman Seminar

• Taken concurrently with English 1 CP only

• Focus on writing within and across the curriculum

• Develop and reinforce study skills

• Preparation for English 1 EOC

• Counts as an elective credit for graduation

Mathematics Recommendations

• Elementary Algebra for the Technologies 1– Pass 8th grade math with a 76D or lower– Standard Not Met on PASS may require placement in Math

Essentials course for elective credit

• Algebra 1 CP– Pass 8th grade math with a grade of 77C to 92B

• Algebra 1 Honors– Pass 8th grade math with a grade of 93A or higher and/or

demonstrate superior math skills through various assessmentsREMINDER: EOC required for Algebra 1 CP and H

Mathematics Recommendations (cont)

• Geometry CP– Earned credit for Algebra 1 H with final grade of 84C or lower

• Geometry Honors– Earned credit for Algebra 1 H with final grade of 85B or higher

• Algebra 2 CP– Earned credit for Geometry CP or H with a final grade of 84C or lower

• Algebra 2 Honors– Earned credit for Algebra 1 H and Geometry H with a final grade of 85B or

higher

Science Recommendations

• Physical Science CP– Passed 8th grade science and will be taking Elementary Algebra for the

Technologies 1 or Algebra 1 CP in 9th grade

• Physical Science Honors– Demonstrated strong interest and superior skills in 8th grade science

with a final grade of 93A or higher

• Physical Science Honors and Biology Honors (with EOC)

– May be taken simultaneously with teacher recommendation– Should demonstrate strong interest in science and have a desire to

complete coursework at the AP/IB level

Social Studies Recommendations

• Global Studies 1 CP*– Passed 8th grade Social Studies

• Global Studies 1 Honors (SHS only)

– Strong desire to complete AP coursework in Social Studies – Should demonstrate superior writing skills

*Global Studies 1 curriculum covers World Geography and Ancient History through the Renaissance

Social Studies Recommendations (cont)

• Global Studies 2 Honors (FDHS and ARHS)**

– Strong desire to complete AP/IB coursework in Social Studies – Should demonstrate superior writing skills

**Global Studies 2 curriculum covers World History from the Renaissance to Modern Day. Courses do not have to be taken sequentially, and are designated only by the time period.

• Advanced Placement Human Geography– Most advanced students– Should demonstrate superior writing skills, advanced knowledge

of history, sociology, and geography, and have the desire to complete coursework at the AP/IB level

– Required to take the AP exam at the end of the year

ELECTIVE COURSE OPTIONS

Students may be able to choose up to three elective credits depending on their teacher recommended core courses. Alternates will be selected during your IGP in case you are not able to get your top choices.

CATE or Foreign Language Recommendations

• Must earn a Career & Technology Education (CATE) credit OR a foreign language credit; not both

• Students attending a technical college are NOT required to take a foreign language

• CATE courses are offered at each high school as well as the Dorchester County Career & Technology Center

CATE or Foreign Language Recommendations (cont)

• Students planning to attend a 4-year college after high school are required to have two years of the same foreign language (some colleges require three)

• Students planning to attend a technical college, even if planning to transfer to a 4-year college, do NOT have to take a foreign language

• It is strongly recommended a student not attempt a foreign language until English 1 credit has been earned

• Students who earned a credit in level 1 of a foreign language may accept the challenges of a level 2 course and are encouraged to continue without a lapse between levels 1 and 2

Physical Education or JROTC

• Must complete a unit of PE or JROTC; not both• May take any year of high school but most take in 9th grade• PE 1 or JROTC 1 must be taken before a Weight Training

course may be taken• Weight Training does NOT satisfy the PE graduation

requirement• Each high school has a strong, successful JROTC program

ARHS & FDHSSHS

Fine Arts Elective

• Not a high school graduation requirement• South Carolina 4-year colleges require at least

one Fine Arts elective for admission

• Drawing and Painting• Sculpture and Ceramics• Media Arts • Photography

Performing Arts Visual Arts•Chorus •Piano•Theater•Dance•Band•Strings

Retaking a High School Credit Course from Middle School

– Applies to ALL high school credit courses taken ANY year, not just 8th grade

– May retake same exact course and level without penalty (ex., took English 1 H, must retake English 1 H)

– Middle school grade and credit will be removed from the transcript and only the high school grade will remain, whether higher or lower

Retaking a High School Credit Course from Middle School (cont)

• Consider this option if not proficient in the high school credit course by the end of the school year

• Highly recommended students retake high school credit courses when final average is below 85B

• May retake course(s) taken in middle school during 9th grade ONLY

The International Baccalaureate Programme

• Dorchester District Two program housed at Fort Dorchester High School

• For highly motivated students who have plans to attend a 4-year university immediately after high school

• Offers coursework at the college level

• Suggested course of study on page 31 of the 2012-2013 District Course Guide

The International Baccalaureate Programme (cont)

• Must provide own transportation if not already zoned to attend FDHS

• Must appeal to the DD2 Board of Trustees if not already zoned to attend FDHS

• For more information, contact: (after January 3rd)– Danielle Watson, School Counselor at FDHS

dwatson@dorchester2.k12.sc.us

Freshman Academy Teams

• Students are assigned a team– Teachers have common planning with team teachers– Provides additional support across the curriculum– Encourages collaboration with assignments and tests

• Student need determines team placement– Course requests– Teacher recommendations – Middle school grades– Middle school test scores (ex. Explore, PASS, SRI) – Special Services team decisions– Parent overrides

Freshman Academy Scheduling– High school teachers assess students in the first weeks of school and make

recommendations for students who need to move up or down a level.

• Once the school year begins, level change requests (ex. Honors to CP) are not permitted – Creates changes to entire schedule and/or team, not just one class

• Scheduling priority– Seniors– Juniors– Sophomores– Freshmen

Questions?

Thank you for attending. We look forward to seeing the Class

of 2016 in August!