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
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?