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

Dorchester District Two Rising 9th Grade

Scheduling Information

South Carolina High School Diploma Requirements

Core Courses and RecommendationsEnglishMathScienceSocial Studies

Electives Choices Career & Technology EducationForeign Language Fine ArtsAcademic Electives

Tonight You Will Learn About

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

Subject # of Credits Benchmark EOCEP Course Required

English 4 credits (English 1)

Math 4 credits (Algebra 1/Algebra 1-B)

Science 3 credits (Biology)

US History 1 credit (US History)

American Government ½ credit

Economics ½ credit

‘Other’ Social Studies 1 credit

Computer Science 1 credit

PE or JROTC 1 credit

CATE or Foreign Lang 1 credit

Electives 7 credits

Total24 credits

SC High School Diploma Requirements

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

The State of SC no longer has an exit exam

To go from 9th grade to 10th grade, students need:a. 1 English creditb. 1 math creditc. 1 science creditd. 3 additional credits

Promotion and Retention Policy

To go from 10th grade to 11th grade, students need:a. 2 English creditsb. 2 math creditsc. 2 science creditd. 1 social studies credite. 5 additional credits

Promotion and Retention Policy

To go from 11th grade to 12th grade, students need:a. 3 English creditsb. 3 math creditsc. 2 science creditd. 2 social studies credite. 7 additional credits**Students can also advance to senior status with a

total of 17 credits and the ability to complete all courses needed for graduation at the end of the regular school year.

Promotion and Retention Policy

EnglishEnglish 1 CP and Freshman Seminar or English

1 H English 2 CP or English 2 H

MathFoundations and Structure in Algebra Algebra 1 CP or Algebra 1 HGeometry CP or Geometry HAlgebra 2 CP or Algebra 2H

9th Grade Core Course Options

ScienceEnvironmental Studies, Physical Science CP,

Physical Science HonorsPhysical Science Honors and Biology Honors

(concurrent enrollment)

Social StudiesWorld Geography CP or HonorsHuman Geography AP—concurrently enrolled

in English 2 Honors

9th Grade Core Course Options (cont)

English 1 CP Pass 8th grade English; Freshman 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

English Recommendations

REMINDER: EOC required for English 1 CP and H

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

Freshman Seminar

Foundations and Structure in AlgebraPass 8th grade math with a 76D or lowerStandard Not Met on PASS may require placement

in Math Essentials course for elective credit

Algebra 1 CPPass 8th grade math with a grade of 77C to 92B

Algebra 1 HonorsPass 8th grade math with a grade of 93A or higher

and/or demonstrate superior math skills through various assessments

Mathematics Recommendations

REMINDER: EOC required for Algebra 1 CP and H

Geometry CP Earned credit for Algebra 1 H with final grade of 92B or lower

Geometry Honors Earned credit for Algebra 1 H with final grade of 93A or higher

Algebra 2 CP Earned credit for Geometry 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

Mathematics Recommendations (cont)

Environmental Studies Passed 8th grade science and will be taking Foundations and

Structure in Algebra in 9th grade

Physical Science CP Passed 8th grade science and will be taking 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. Completion of Algebra 1 H or concurrently enrolled in Algebra 1 Honors

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

Science Recommendations

World Geography CPPassed 8th grade social studies

World Geography Honors Recommendation from 8th grade social studies teacher Should demonstrate superior writing skills Concurrent enrollment in English I Honors or completion of English 1

Honors

Advanced Placement Human Geography Concurrently enrolled in English 2 Honors 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

Social Studies Recommendations

Parents who do not agree with a teacher’s recommendation have the option of completing an “override form” to place their student in a higher level of a course. Parents who elect to do this must sign a waiver stating that they understand that their student cannot be removed from the higher level course regardless of whether or not he/she is successful.

Override forms can be found on the high school websites.Please note that completing an override does not

guarantee that a student will be moved to another class. We are unable to honor requests that involve violating pre-requisites.

The Override Process

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 IGP meetings in case students are not able to get their top choices. Selecting a course does not guarantee that students will get into classes. Sometimes classes do not make, and sometimes classes are too full. Freshmen elective choices are honored last.

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. Check college websites to find out if a college your students is considering requires three units of foreign language.)

Students planning to attend a technical college can take a CATE course in place of a foreign language. This is true even if the students wishes to transfer to a 4-year college later.

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.

CATE or Foreign Language Recommendations

All of the high schools offer “completer” course sequences that promote careers with great opportunities for students.

Examples include Pre-Engineering, Horticulture, Business Information Management, Finance, Information Technology, Health Science, Sports Medicine, Biomedical Science, Barbering, Cosmetology, and Early Childhood Education.

We encourage all students to choose an area to pursue so they can graduate with a firm foundation and certificates in a field that they can study on the collegiate level or work in upon graduation. (Freshmen can take keyboarding and Computer Applications over the summer after their 8th grade year to open a spot to begin a career path immediately.)

CATE or Foreign Language Recommendations

Must complete a unit of PE or JROTC; not both. PE is offered virtually. Please see your counselor. 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. Athletes needing weight training are encouraged to take PE through SC’s Virtual School in the summer before their freshman year.

Each high school has a strong, successful JROTC program.

Physical Education or JROTC

ARHS &

FDHS

SHS

Fine Arts ElectiveNot a high school graduation requirementSC 4-yr colleges requirementStudents who have taken an fine art on the middle school levelHonors rule for high school

• Art (Drawing and Painting)• 3-D Design (Sculpture and Ceramics) •Media Arts • Photography

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

Applies to ALL high school credit courses taken in 7th and/or 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

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

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

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 in the District Course Guide

The International Baccalaureate Programme

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: Stephanie Alford, Assistant Principal at FDHS

stalford@dorchester2.k12.sc.us

The International Baccalaureate Programme (cont)

Students are assigned a teamTeachers have common planning with team teachersProvides additional support across the curriculumEncourages collaboration with assignments and tests

Student need determines team placementCourse requestsTeacher recommendations Middle school gradesMiddle school test scores (ex. Explore, PASS,

SRI/SMI) Special Services team decisionsParent overrides

Freshman Academy Teams

High school teachers assess students in the first 10 days 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 prioritySeniors JuniorsSophomoresFreshmen

Freshman Academy Scheduling

Thank you for attending.

We look forward to seeing the Class of 2019 in August!

Questions?