Success in Success in the Middlethe Middle

Preparing Your StudentPreparing Your Student

for the Next Levelfor the Next Level

Some DefinitionsSome Definitions

Approved Courses: Approved courses are courses based on the Approved Courses: Approved courses are courses based on the concepts and skills included in the state-adopted curriculum for concepts and skills included in the state-adopted curriculum for grades 9-12 and approved by the Georgia Department of grades 9-12 and approved by the Georgia Department of Education for equivalency credit and funding.Education for equivalency credit and funding.

Course: A course is instruction for which credit is awarded. Course: A course is instruction for which credit is awarded. Credit: Carnegie units earned and applied to high school Credit: Carnegie units earned and applied to high school

graduation and credit hours earned toward the completion of a graduation and credit hours earned toward the completion of a postsecondary program of study.postsecondary program of study.

*****1 Class equals 1 Credit**********1 Class equals 1 Credit*****

Equivalency:  Equivalency refers to the number of postsecondary Equivalency:  Equivalency refers to the number of postsecondary credit hours or courses needed to equal one Carnegie unit.credit hours or courses needed to equal one Carnegie unit.

The New Georgia The New Georgia Graduation RuleGraduation Rule

Begins with the 2008-2009 Begins with the 2008-2009 Freshman ClassFreshman Class

Changes to the graduation rule Changes to the graduation rule were made to adhere to the were made to adhere to the Georgia Performance StandardsGeorgia Performance Standards

The Old System had 4 tiersThe Old System had 4 tiers(College Prep, Cp w/ distinction, Technology & Career and (College Prep, Cp w/ distinction, Technology & Career and

TC w/ distinction)TC w/ distinction)

The New system has 1 set of The New system has 1 set of requirements requirements

Graduation Requirements Graduation Requirements

4 Units of English4 Units of English 4 Units of Science4 Units of Science 4 Units of Mathematics4 Units of Mathematics 3 Units of Social Studies3 Units of Social Studies At least 3 Units of At least 3 Units of

Career/Technology and/or Foreign Career/Technology and/or Foreign Language and/or Fine ArtsLanguage and/or Fine Arts

At least 4 additional Electives At least 4 additional Electives *****Foreign Language is not required for Graduation *****Foreign Language is not required for Graduation

BUT is required for acceptance into a 4 year BUT is required for acceptance into a 4 year College or University*****College or University*****

Georgia High School Georgia High School Graduation TestGraduation Test

English/Language Arts:English/Language Arts: Reading/Literature (47-49%)Reading/Literature (47-49%) Critical Thinking (37-39%)Critical Thinking (37-39%) Writing/Usage/Grammar (14-16%)Writing/Usage/Grammar (14-16%)Mathematics:Mathematics: Number & Computation (17-19%)Number & Computation (17-19%) Data Analysis (19-21%)Data Analysis (19-21%) Measurement & Geometry (32-34%)Measurement & Geometry (32-34%) Algebra (28-30%)Algebra (28-30%)Science:Science: Process/Research Skills (30-32%)Process/Research Skills (30-32%) Physical Science (33-35%)Physical Science (33-35%) Biology (33-35%)Biology (33-35%) Social Studies:Social Studies: World Studies (18-20%)World Studies (18-20%) U.S. History to 1865 (18-20%)U.S. History to 1865 (18-20%) U.S. History Since 1865 (18-20%)U.S. History Since 1865 (18-20%) Civics/Citizenship (12-14%)Civics/Citizenship (12-14%) Map & Globe Skills (15%)Map & Globe Skills (15%) Information Processing Skills (15%)Information Processing Skills (15%)Writing:Writing: Students must write a persuasive essay on an assigned topic. Students must write a persuasive essay on an assigned topic.

The essay is judged on four qualities or domains of effective The essay is judged on four qualities or domains of effective writing: content/organization, style, conventions of written writing: content/organization, style, conventions of written language, and sentence formation.language, and sentence formation.

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

MathematicsMathematics Algebra 1Algebra 1

GeometryGeometrySocial StudiesSocial Studies United States HistoryUnited States History Economics/Business/Free EnterpriseEconomics/Business/Free EnterpriseScienceScience BiologyBiology Physical SciencePhysical ScienceEnglish Language ArtsEnglish Language Arts Ninth Grade Literature and CompositionNinth Grade Literature and Composition American Literature and CompositionAmerican Literature and Composition

New HS Course InformationNew HS Course Information

Math Support ClassMath Support Class

In addition to the New Math In addition to the New Math Course (Math I, II, & III) there is Course (Math I, II, & III) there is a Support Class that runs a Support Class that runs parallel with Math I & II.parallel with Math I & II.

What can be expected in high What can be expected in high school? school? (from National Middle School Association) (from National Middle School Association)

A larger, more impersonal, more A larger, more impersonal, more competitive and grade-oriented competitive and grade-oriented environment environment

Students concerned about Students concerned about grades, getting lost, strict rules grades, getting lost, strict rules and harder workand harder work

At the end of the 9At the end of the 9thth grade year, grade year, freshman described high school freshman described high school as being very different from as being very different from what they had expectedwhat they had expected

So…How do we help with the So…How do we help with the Transition?Transition? ……be VERY involved in the decisions being be VERY involved in the decisions being

made about classes, etcmade about classes, etc Create long term goals and a steps to Create long term goals and a steps to

achieve themachieve them Continue the involvement through out high Continue the involvement through out high

school. This is not the time to pull back…school. This is not the time to pull back… Create good Study Habits and learn to Create good Study Habits and learn to

juggle overlapping and multiple juggle overlapping and multiple assignments assignments

Ask and what support services the high Ask and what support services the high school offersschool offers

After High SchoolAfter High School

There are more options than most There are more options than most parents and students know aboutparents and students know about

Technical SchoolTechnical School

Apprenticeships Apprenticeships

2 Year College (then transfer to 42 Year College (then transfer to 4

Year)Year)

4 Year Colleges and Universities4 Year Colleges and Universities

SAT SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test)(Scholastic Aptitude Test)The new SAT, consist of the following:The new SAT, consist of the following: Writing (new section)Writing (new section) - Multiple-Choice questions (grammar and - Multiple-Choice questions (grammar and

usage)usage) - Student written essay- Student written essay Critical Reading (currently called verbal)Critical Reading (currently called verbal) - Analogies eliminated- Analogies eliminated - Short reading passages added to existing long - Short reading passages added to existing long

reading passagesreading passages MathMath - - Math content expanded to include topics from Math content expanded to include topics from

third-year college third-year college preparatory math. (Algebra II)preparatory math. (Algebra II) - Quantitative comparisons eliminated- Quantitative comparisons eliminatedFor more information on the SAT , go to For more information on the SAT , go to

www.collegeboard.orgwww.collegeboard.org

ACTACT((American College Test) American College Test) The new SAT, consist of the following:The new SAT, consist of the following: Writing (new section)Writing (new section) - Multiple-Choice questions (grammar and - Multiple-Choice questions (grammar and

usage)usage) - Student written essay- Student written essay Critical Reading (currently called verbal)Critical Reading (currently called verbal) - Analogies eliminated- Analogies eliminated - Short reading passages added to existing long - Short reading passages added to existing long

reading passagesreading passages MathMath - - Math content expanded to include topics from Math content expanded to include topics from

third-year college third-year college preparatory math. (Algebra II)preparatory math. (Algebra II) - Quantitative comparisons eliminated- Quantitative comparisons eliminatedFor more information on the SAT , go to For more information on the SAT , go to

www.collegeboard.orgwww.collegeboard.org

College Freshman ProfileCollege Freshman Profile

The profile of freshmen at any college USA: The profile of freshmen at any college USA:

- at least a "B+" average in all academic - at least a "B+" average in all academic subjects (additional weight is assigned to subjects (additional weight is assigned to Honors, Dual Enrollment, AICE, AP, and IB Honors, Dual Enrollment, AICE, AP, and IB coursework) and test scores of at least 24 coursework) and test scores of at least 24 (composite) on the ACT or 1100 (critical reading (composite) on the ACT or 1100 (critical reading plus math) on the SAT.plus math) on the SAT.

ResourcesResources

www.cobbk12.orgwww.cobbk12.org www.GAcollege411.orgwww.GAcollege411.org Mapping-your-future.orgMapping-your-future.org