The Ninth Grade Year Building a Foundation to be Successful in High School.

The Ninth Grade YearThe Ninth Grade Year

Building a Foundation to be Building a Foundation to be Successful in High SchoolSuccessful in High School

Curriculum: The Building BlocksCurriculum: The Building Blocks

Each day in each class Each day in each class is an essential building is an essential building block to a bright block to a bright future. Be There future. Be There Everyday!Everyday!

Each course in the set Each course in the set of Graduation of Graduation Requirements joins Requirements joins together to form a together to form a well-rounded well-rounded education which education which prepares you for your prepares you for your future goals.future goals.

Every class countsEvery class counts

High School 101 High School 101 What do you know?...What do you know?...

How many classes will you have each semester at How many classes will you have each semester at OCHS?OCHS?

How many credits should you have at the end of How many credits should you have at the end of each school year if you pass all your classes?each school year if you pass all your classes?

So how many credits should you have total at the So how many credits should you have total at the end of 4 years?end of 4 years?

Do you know how many credits you need to Do you know how many credits you need to graduate?graduate?

Graduation RequirementsGraduation Requirements

Subject AreaSubject Area # of Units# of Units

EnglishEnglish 4 Lit/Comp units4 Lit/Comp units

MathMath 4 units – not including Math 4 units – not including Math Support CoursesSupport Courses

ScienceScience 4 units – 44 units – 4thth science can be science can be AP or selected CTAE classesAP or selected CTAE classes

Social Social StudiesStudies

4 units4 units

Health/PEHealth/PE ½ unit of each½ unit of each

Graduation Requirement, cont.Graduation Requirement, cont.

CTAE, CTAE, Languages, Languages, and/or Fine and/or Fine ArtsArts

3 units in any combination3 units in any combination

Academic Academic ElectivesElectives

3 additional English, Math, 3 additional English, Math, Science, Social Studies or Science, Social Studies or Language units (includes Language units (includes Math Support and Reading Math Support and Reading and Writing)and Writing)

ElectivesElectives 5 – can be from any area5 – can be from any areaCredits to move to next grade 4, 12, 20

Standardized Tests: the Standardized Tests: the gauge used to measure gauge used to measure

progressprogress

PSAT- Given in October to all Sophomores and PSAT- Given in October to all Sophomores and Juniors . This year all freshman were offered the Juniors . This year all freshman were offered the opportunity to take the PSAT as well. opportunity to take the PSAT as well.

PLAN-PLAN- Given in October. Practice for the ACT Given in October. Practice for the ACT End of Course Exams-End of Course Exams- Different subjects have Different subjects have

standardized final exams which will count 20% standardized final exams which will count 20% of the final average. of the final average.

Georgia High School Graduation Test-Georgia High School Graduation Test- The The only GHSGT you must take and pass is the only GHSGT you must take and pass is the Writing Test. Writing Test.

EOCT (End of Course Tests)EOCT (End of Course Tests)

Given in Math I/Accelerated Math IGiven in Math I/Accelerated Math I, , Math Math II/Accelerated Math IIII/Accelerated Math II, , 9 Lit/Comp9 Lit/Comp, , American Lit Comp, American Lit Comp, BiologyBiology, US History, , US History, and Economicsand Economics

(3 EOCT’s your freshman year) (3 EOCT’s your freshman year)

Replaces the final in these classesReplaces the final in these classes

Counts as 20% of the final gradeCounts as 20% of the final grade

Exam ExemptionsExam Exemptions

EXAM EXEMPTIONS Exam exemptions are a privilege provided the student meets the following criteria: 1. Has a “90” average or above in the course. 2. Has no more than three (3) class absences in the course. Seniors and Juniors are allowed anadditional two (2) days each year for college visits. School-related field trips will not count toward the total absences.3. Has no more than three (3) tardies in the class. 4. Has no out-of-school suspensions or in-school suspension (ISS) for the semester. 5. All fine/debts have been cleared. 6. The teacher has the option not to allow the exam exemption within his/her respective course. A teacher may require additional criteria to be met for the student to qualify for an exam exemption in a particular course. The teacher’s requirements for the exam exemption must be included on the course syllabus.  

NUMBER OF EXAM EXEMPTIONS ALLOWED 1. Freshmen may exempt one exam per term. 2. Sophomores may exempt two exams per term. 3. Juniors may exempt three exams per term. 4. Seniors may exempt four exams per term. 

Stay Headed in the Right Stay Headed in the Right DirectionDirection

Good attendanceGood attendance Get involved!!Get involved!! Know the requirements and keep track of Know the requirements and keep track of

your statusyour status Challenge yourself by taking rigorous Challenge yourself by taking rigorous

classesclasses Start a resume of your accomplishments Start a resume of your accomplishments

and activitiesand activities Get to know your counselorGet to know your counselor

Tardies & Absences Tardies & Absences TardiesTardies::1-Warning1-Warning2- 4 silent lunch2- 4 silent lunch5- 3 days detention5- 3 days detention6-1 Day of Saturday School6-1 Day of Saturday School7-1 day of ISS and loss of driving privileges for 5 days7-1 day of ISS and loss of driving privileges for 5 days8-3 days of ISS and loss of driving privileges for 10 days8-3 days of ISS and loss of driving privileges for 10 days9+ Out of School Suspension9+ Out of School Suspension

Absences:Absences:*The only absences that are excused are with a doctor’s note, death of immediate *The only absences that are excused are with a doctor’s note, death of immediate

family, and college visits for Jr.s/Sr.s or school field trip.family, and college visits for Jr.s/Sr.s or school field trip.*A student can have no more than 3 absences in one class in order to exempt *A student can have no more than 3 absences in one class in order to exempt

examsexams*A student may have no more than 3 parent notes per semester*A student may have no more than 3 parent notes per semester*A parent note is only accepted if a student is absent for 3 or more periods*A parent note is only accepted if a student is absent for 3 or more periods* If a student has 10 or more unexcused absences in one semester they are * If a student has 10 or more unexcused absences in one semester they are

reported to the DMV and can lose their license.reported to the DMV and can lose their license.

Planning for CollegePlanning for College

What do I need to be doing if I plan on What do I need to be doing if I plan on attending college after high school?attending college after high school?

HOPE ScholarshipHOPE Scholarship

Requires a 3.0 GPA. Scholarship will pay 90%Requires a 3.0 GPA. Scholarship will pay 90% All academic courses are includedAll academic courses are included How do I check my student’s HOPE GPA – go to How do I check my student’s HOPE GPA – go to

www.gacollege411.org Zell Miller Scholar Program 3.7 and 1200 on Zell Miller Scholar Program 3.7 and 1200 on

combined math and verbal (one sitting) Will pay combined math and verbal (one sitting) Will pay 100%100%

You may lose and regain HOPE only ONCE…You may lose and regain HOPE only ONCE…

GA College 411GA College 411

www.gacollege411.org State’s one stop shop for all post-secondary State’s one stop shop for all post-secondary

educationeducation Has 5 different career inventoriesHas 5 different career inventories Allows student to build an online resumeAllows student to build an online resume Is tied to all Georgia colleges (traditional and Is tied to all Georgia colleges (traditional and

technical, public and private)technical, public and private) Calculates HOPE averageCalculates HOPE average TranscriptsTranscripts

QUESTIONSQUESTIONS