1. Scheduling Meeting For Incoming Freshmen
The Choice Academy
Scheduling Meeting
For
Incoming Freshmen

2. Schedule
Request
Form

3. 9th Grade Selection Form for Elective Courses

4. 9th Grade
Electives

5. Graduation Requirements

6. Vocabulary Terms
Credit – a credit is earned by passing a class, based upon the semester grade
Eligibility – students must pass 6 classes per grading period to be eligible for extra- and co-curricular participation
GPA – grade point average, based upon 4 point scale
Honors classes – more rigorous version of a course; some schools call them “Pre-AP”; accelerated and/or deeper study of the subject; not necessarily required for “honors” diploma.
AP classes – college-level classes offered through College Board; students may earn college credit by scoring at specified level on exam.
Dual credit classes – college-level classes offered at DCHS by various universities; some taught by their faculty, others by ours; earn both HS and college credit.
Honors diploma – diploma type; different diplomas have different requirements.

8. Diploma Options
The Indiana State Board of Education adopts course and credit requirements for earning a high school diploma. The newest set of requirements went into effect for students who entered high school in the fall of 2012 (Class of 2016 and below). Under current requirements, students have the option of earning four diploma types:
General
Core 40
Core 40 with Academic Honors (AHD)
Core 40 with Technical Honors (THD)

9. Diploma Options Core 40 English 8 Math 6 Science Social Studies Health
with Academic Honors
English 8
Math 6
Science
Social Studies
Health 1
P.E. 2
Foreign Lang
Elective
6 or 8
Fine Arts
Directed Electives 5
Electives 10 3
Total Credits 44 47

10. English Specific Curriculum Areas 8 credits
Underlined courses are taken during your freshman year
Core 40
Academic and/or Technical Honors
English
8 credits
English 9A-B
(or Honors English 9A-B)
English 10A-B (Blocked
with Env. Science and Speech)
(or Honors English 10A-B)
English 11A-B (Blocked
with Community Service class)
or AP Lang & Comp (11)
English 12A-B
or AP Lit & Comp
ENGL 111 & 112 (Dual Credit)
COMM 101 (Dual Credit)

12. Math 6 credits Algebra I A-B 8 credits
Core 40
Academic and/or Technical Honors
Math
All students are required to pass Algebra I A-B to earn a diploma
*may be taken if credit in
Algebra I A-B is earned in 8th grade
6 credits
Must take:
Algebra I A-B or
Algebra Enrichment & Algebra IB
*Geometry 1-2
Algebra II A-B
Pre-Calculus 1-2
AP Calculus 1-2
MATH 135 (Dual Credit)
8 credits

13. Science Academic and/or Technical Honors Core 40 Must take Bio I A-B
All students are required to pass Biology I A-B
to earn a diploma.
6 credits
Must take Bio I A-B
(or Honors Bio I A-B) and either
ICP A-B or
Physics I A-B or
Chemistry I A-B
then choose (1) from:
Anatomy & Physiology A-B
Zoology A-B
BIOL 105 & Lab (Dual Credit)
Environmental Science A-B
Forensic Science A-B
Physics I A-B
AP Physics
CHEM 105 & Lab (Dual Credit)
PLTW Biomed Sci Courses
(or Honors Bio I A-B) and either
AP Physics II A-B

15. Academic and/or Technical Honors Social Studies
Core 40
Academic and/or Technical Honors
Social Studies
Several courses are required for all diplomas
6 credits
Must take:
World History 1-2
(or Honors World History 1-2)
U.S. History 1-2
(or AP U.S. History 1-2)
U.S. Government/Econ
(PEP = U.S. Gov’t./State & Local Gov’t. and Econ/Topics in Soc Sci)
(or AP U.S. Gov’t/AP Econ)
Electives:
Current Events
Sociology
Psychology
Law Ed/Pol. Science
Topics in History
AP European History
AP Psychology
AP European Hist

17. Health P.E. World Language Core 40 Academic and/or Technical Honors
Health & Wellness or
3 classes in FACS:
Interpersonal Relations
Human Development
Child Development
P.E.
P.E. 1 & 2
It is recommended that P.E. 1 & 2 be taken during the freshman year
or that students complete a
marching band/sport substitution.
World Language
Choose from Chinese, Latin, and/or Spanish;
Must receive a grade of A or B in 8th grade ELA to be eligible for world language as a 9th grader
Elective Option
4 credits (2 years) are recommended by many or required by some colleges/universities
AHD requires 6 or 8 credits
(6 credits (3 years) in one language or 4 credits (2 years) in each of two different languages)
World Language is an Elective Option for THD
credits (2 years) are recommended by many or required by some colleges/universities

18. Academic and/or Technical Honors ------------------------
Fine Arts
(available to frosh)
Core 40
Academic and/or Technical Honors
Intro to 2-D Art
Painting 1
Beginning Chorus
Beginning Concert Band
or Instrumental
(Percussion) Ensemble
Dance Performance
(Color Guard/Winter Guard)
Theatre Arts 1
Technical Theatre
Music History & Apprec.
Elective Option
AHD requires credits
courses are
Elective Options
for THD

19. Core 40 Academic and/or Technical Honors Directed Electives
5 Credits
Additional classes in
World Language
Fine Arts
FACS
Engineering & Technology
Career-Technical
10 Credits
2 Credits for AHD
Credits for THD

20. Beyond the Credits

21. Core 40 with Academic and/or Technical Honors
In order to earn a Core 40 with Academic and/or Technical
Honors Diploma, students must
Earn a grade of a “C” or better in all courses that count toward the Academic Honors Diploma, and
Earn a grade point average of a “B” or better, and
Complete ONE of the following:
Earn 4 credits in 2 or more AP courses and sit for the corresponding AP exams, or

22. Core 40 with Academic and/or Technical Honors (cont’d.)
Complete ONE of the following (cont’d.):
Earn 6 verifiable transcripted college credits in dual
credit courses from the approved dual credit list, or
Earn 2 credits in AP courses and sit for the corresponding AP exam(s) and earn 3 verifiable transcripted college credits in dual credit courses from the approved dual credit list, or
Earn combined score of 1750 or higher on SAT critical reading, math, and writing sections, with a minimum
score of 530 on each

23. Core 40 with Technical Honors
Earn an ACT composite score of 26 or higher and
complete the written section.
In addition to SAT and/or ACT test scores, THD
students may also use qualifying scores on Work Keys,
Accuplacer, and/or Compass tests.
THD requires 6 credits in college and career preparation
courses in a State-approved College & Career Pathway
and either a State-approved, industry recognized
certification or credential or Pathway dual credits from
the approved dual credit list resulting in 6 transcripted
college credits.

24. 9th Grade Selection Form for Elective Courses

25. Elective Options for Freshmen
Engineering and Technology Education
Intro to Communications
Intro to Computer Science
Intro to Design Processes
Intro to Engineering Design 1-2 (PLTW)
English
Mass Media
Creative Writing
Family & Consumer Sciences (FACS)
Interpersonal Relations
Child Development
Human Development and Wellness
Fine Arts – Visual Arts
Intro to 2-Dimensional Art
Painting 1

26. Elective Options for Freshmen
Fine Arts - Vocal
Beginning Chorus
Music History & Appreciation
>Advanced Chorus (Goldenaires)
>Advanced Chorus (Expressions)
Fine Arts - Instrumental
Beginning Concert Band
Instrumental Ensemble (Percussion)
Dance Performance (Color/Winter Guard)
Fine Arts – Theatre Arts
Theatre Arts
Technical Theater
Science
Principles of Biomed Sciences 1-2 (PLTW)
(must also be enrolled in Honors Bio)

27. Health & Physical Education
Elective Options for Freshmen ** Student must earn grades of either A and/or B in 8th grade ELA
World Language
**Chinese I A-B
**Latin I A-B
**Spanish I A-B
Health & Physical Education
Health and Wellness
Physical Education I
Physical Education II

28. Academic and/or Technical Honors
Type and No. of Credits
Core 40
Academic and/or Technical Honors
CCR (2)
English (2)
English 9 A-B (or Honors)
Math (2)
Algebra IA-B or
Algebra IA Yr or
Algebra IB Yr or
Geometry 1-2
Algebra IA-B or
Honors Geometry 1-2
Science (2)
Biology I A-B (or Honors)
Social Studies (2)
World History 1-2 (or Honors)
World History 1-2 (or Honors)
Health & P.E.
(2 or 3)
Health & Wellness
P.E. 1-2
World Lang
Elective Option
Chinese, Latin, or Spanish for
AHD, but may be delayed to
soph year.
Elective Option for THD
Fine Arts
2 credits required for AHD, but
may be delayed to later year.
Electives
Enough electives to bring
total cr. to 8 per semester
Enough electives to bring total
credits to 8 per semester

29. JANE JACK, DIRECTOR jjack@msddecatur. k12. in. us 317-856-5288, ext
KARLI URBAN, COUNSELOR
, ext