9th Grade Curriculum Opportunities By Diana Lowe

Gifted & Talented Students Advanced Placement Course Options Advanced Placement Course Benefits  AP Art History (Fine Arts Credit)  AP Human Geography with WE.org Service  AP Psychology  *If Alg.1 in 8 th grade: AP Computer Science A  AP Computer Science Principles (new)  *If Art Experience: AP Studio Art Drawing (Fine Arts Credit- new)  Weighted GPA credit  2-4 AP Courses required for graduating with Honors  May earn college credit with qualifying score  Earn $100 per 3,4, or 5 score

Gifted & Talented Education 9 (GATE 9) O Also known as GT Seminar O Interdisciplinary O Critical & Creative Thinking O Independent & Group Investigation O Personal Growth O Quiz Bowl; Destination Imagination; Math Competitions; Rigorous studies in student interests O Can be taken for one semester or one year O Prepares for new AP Capstone Diploma

AP Capstone Diploma

The Pinnacle of Distinction – AP Capstone Diploma™ This challenging program helps students deepen their passion for learning, gives them greater confidence in your academic skills, and a broader perspective on their world. Students who earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research and on four additional AP Exams will receive the AP Capstone Diploma. Students who earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research will receive the AP Seminar and Research Certificate™

 Investigate real-world topics from multiple perspectives  Carefully analyze information, write evidence-based arguments and effectively communicate them  Work independently and with a team to research a topic, develop a written report and deliver a presentation AP Seminar (10 th grade) Typically taken in grade 10 or 11. Students learn how to: Teachers & Students select and study 2-4 topics. Example Topics Democracy Education Environment Revolution Technology Sustainability Example Topics Democracy Education Environment Revolution Technology Sustainability Exam score based on: Team Project & Presentation 25% Individual Research-Based Essay & Presentation 35% End-of-Course Exam 40%

 Design, plan, and conduct a year- long mentored, research-based investigation  Apply research methods and practices to address a real-world topic selected by the student  Write a college-level research paper  Present and orally defend research findings and methodology AP Research (11 th grade) Students learn how to: 1.Academic Paper (4, ,000 words) 75% 2.Presentation and Oral Defense 25% Exam score based on: AP Seminar is a prerequisite to AP Research.

230+ colleges that have endorsed and/or developed credit policies for the AP Capstone Diploma. Visit for the latest list of colleges with credit policies for AP Seminar and/or AP Research.

9 th Grade Math Options O Algebra A O Algebra 1 O PAP Geometry (for students who enrolled in Algebra 1 in the 8 th grade)

Algebra A vs. Algebra 1 Algebra A student (2 years) Algebra 1 student (1 year) O Not proficient in math from the ACT Aspire Spring 2016 O D average in math on report cards O Struggled with math homework in 8 th grade O Proficient in math from the ACT Aspire Spring 2016 O C average or above in math on report cards O Displays grit/perseverance O Mature student O Does homework

4 Year Pathway (Smart Core) Algebra A Algebra 1 O Year 1: Algebra A O Year 2: Algebra B O Year 3: Geometry or PAP Geometry O Year 4: Algebra 2 or PAP Algebra 2 AND Computer Science & Mathematics Course O Year 1: Algebra 1 O Year 2: Geometry or PAP Geometry O Year 3: Algebra 2 or PAP Algebra 2 O Year 4: College Alg. or Precalculus or **AP Statistics or Algebra 3

4 Year Pathway #2 (Smart Core) Algebra A O Year 1: Algebra A O Year 2: Algebra B O Year 3: Geometry or PAP Geometry & Algebra 2 or PAP Algebra 2 O Year 4: Algebra 3 or Precalculus or College Algebra

Career Tech Electives O Intro to Engineering & Tech (1 st sem) O Fund of Engineering & Tech (2 nd sem) O JROTC 1 (Health & PE credit) O Survey of Agricultural Systems O Family & Consumer Science O Computerized Business Applications O Intro to Medical Professions O Medical Terminology

Why should you care about high school grades? O C average required for driver’s license O B average or higher required for the majority scholarships & grants O Colleges CHOOSE their students based on your grades & ACT test scores O College athletes must have high gpa OR high ACT test score O Same high standards for postsecondary career opportunities O Take advantage of AP courses to earn weighted & college credit O ACT or SAT score needed for most college admissions O All colleges & scholarship committees see your high school transcript grades O Take advantage of Career Tech opportunities to obtain licensed or certified skills

By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. Ben Franklin

You are not a product of your circumstances. You are a product of your decisions. Stephen Covey Diana Lowe