1. East Limestone High School 9th Grade Orientation Class of 2018
Parent/Student Meeting
May 6, 2014

2. High School Facts / Issues
GPA- stands for Grade Point Average. This number determines class rank and is an issue in college admissions and scholarships. GPA is a 4 point scale and is based on a students grade in a class. Advanced courses carry a higher weight because they are more difficult. (Example:
A in standard course, 4 points; A in advanced course, 4.5 points.)

3. Class Ranking
The Grade Point Average (GPA) will be used when determining student class rankings. If there is a tie using the GPA, then and only then will the numerical average (carried out to the appropriate number of decimal places) be used in order to break the tie.

4. High School Facts / Issues
Transcript – this is a record of a student’s high school academic career. It includes each course taken and the grade earned in that course. This starts in the 9th grade and continues through graduation. This is the document sent to colleges, scholarship organizations, employers, etc., to verify a student’s high school record.

5. Graduation Requirements for the Alabama High School Diploma
1) A student must earn 24 Carnegie units (credits).
2) Successful completion of an online experience, through an ACCESS course or by participating in an online experience embedded into courses that fulfill this requirement. (English 10 – 12 and Career Preparedness)

6. Credits
Students must earn 24 credits before graduation. Each full year course counts for one credit. Each semester course counts for ½ credit. Students must pass the course in order to receive the credit. Students who are on the East campus all day may earn 7 credits per year. Students who attend the Career/Technical Center may earn 6 credits per year.

7. Credits Continued ELHS all day – 4 years 7 x 4 = 28 credits
Tech Option
* ELHS 9th – 7 credits
* Tech 3 x 6 = 18 credits
* = 25 credits

8. The Career Technical Center is available ½ day for student in grades Students must pre-register in order to attend the CTC. Only 6 credits can be earned at the CTC which includes any credits earned in History. All students attending the CTC will take the appropriate grade level history course there.

9. Secondary Promotion Requirements
As a 9th grader, a student must have passed all 8th grade requirements.
In an effort to encourage student to graduate on time, within a four year period, high school students in grades 9-12 will be placed in a 9th grade homeroom their first year, 10th grade the second year, 11th grade the third year, and 12th grade their fourth year.
Students are expected to make reasonable progress by passing courses in logical and sequential order.
For a student to be considered a candidate for graduation during the 12th year, they must be able to complete the state required 24 Carnegie Units and all other state and local requirements. Students not meeting all requirements for graduation at the end of the fourth year will be retained in the 12th grade.

10. Cohort Status
We begin a cohort by selecting all first time ninth grade students and then tracking those students as they move through the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grades and adding any students who transfer into the cohort and removing any students who transfer out. The fact that a student is retained at any point does not change their cohort.

11. In January 2013 the Alabama State Department of Education approved the one diploma option, the ALABAMA HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA for all students beginning with the ninth-grade class of 2013 – There are no state endorsements to this diploma. For these students this diploma option replaces all variations of the prior diploma. The purpose for this change is to allow more flexibility for students to address their individual interest and plans for college and career.

12. ALABAMA HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA
AREAS OF STUDY
REQUIREMENTS
CREDITS
English Language Arts
English 9, 10, 11, and 12 or any AP/IB/postsecondary equivalent option of these courses 4
Mathematics
Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II w/ Trig or Algebra II, or their equivalent.
Additional course(s) to complete the four credits in mathematics must be chosen from the Alabama Course of Study: Mathematics or CTE/AP/IB/postsecondary equivalent courses.
Science
Biology and a physical science
The third and fourth science credits may be used to meet both the science and CTE course requirement and must be chosen from the Alabama Course of Study: Science or CTE/AP/IB/postsecondary equivalent courses
Social Studies
World History, U.S. History x 2, and Government/Economics or AP/IB/postsecondary equivalent courses.
Physical Education
LIFE (Personal Fitness)
One JROTC credit may be used to meet this requirement 1
Health Education
Alabama Course of Study: Health Education
0.5
Career Preparedness
Career Preparedness Course (Career and Academic Planning, Computer Applications, Financial Literacy)
CTE and/or Foreign Language and/or Arts Education
Students choosing CTE, Arts Education, and/or Foreign Language are encouraged to complete two courses in sequence. 3
Electives
2.5
Total Credits Required for Graduation 24
(Refer to graphic on slid
This one approach to the Alabama High School Diploma removes the need for endorsements or the Alabama Occupational Diploma. The focus will be on the coursework taken that necessitates a clearly articulated and individualized four-year high school plan built for each student based on the results from the EXPLORE academic and career interest assessment and middle school coursework.

13. Limestone County Honors Seal Beginning with the Ninth Grade Class (Class of 2017 and Beyond)
The Limestone County Schools Honor Seal was created to recognize those students willing to challenge themselves by enrolling in more rigorous coursework. To earn this seal affixed to the Alabama High School Diploma, a student must successfully complete all state requirements and the following additional requirements:
Complete a minimum of 12 Advanced/AP/Dual Enrollment Courses
Graduate with a minimum weighted grade average of 3.5

14. Required
Courses

15. 9th Grade Courses - English
Advanced English
*Any student may take either course; advanced course requires teacher approval
*GPA on Advanced English will be weighted.

16. 9th Grade Courses - Math Algebra IA
Algebra IB (for students who took IA in 8th grade)
Algebra I
Advanced Geometry –(must have passed Algebra I in 8th grade)
* GPA is weighted for Algebra I and Adv. Geometry

17. COURSE PROGRESSION IN GRADES 9-12
Algebra I
(Algebra IA and Algebra IB)
Geometry
(Advanced or Standard)
Algebraic Connections
Algebra II*
(terminal course)
Algebra II With Trigonometry
Precalculus
Analytical Mathematics
AP Calculus
*Algebra II, Algebra II with Trigonometry, or an ALSDE-approved substitute is required for all students pursuing the Alabama High School Diploma.
2013 Alabama Course of Study: Mathematics

18. 9th Grade Courses – Science
Biology
Advanced Biology (teacher approval)
Students may take either course (Teacher approval)
GPA for Advanced Biology will be weighted

19. 9th Grade Courses – Social Studies
9th Grade World History
Adv. 9th World History – (teacher approval)
Any student on either diploma may take either course (Teacher approval)
GPA for Advanced 9th Grade World History will be weighted.

20. 9th Grade – Electives **Health –½ credit
**Career Preparedness – 1 credit
**Life PE –1 credit
We like to schedule these electives for students in the 9th grade so that in grades 10-12, they will be ready to attend the Career Technical Center to earn CTE credits.

21. Other Elective Options Choose One
Arts Survey – ½ credit
Theatre I – ½ credit ($15 fee)
Humanities – ½ credit
Mass media – ½ credit
Driver Education –½ credit ($50 fee)
Agriscience – ½ credit ($20 fee)
Fish and Wildlife – ½ credit ($20 fee)
Parenting – ½ credit ($25 fee)
Contemporary Issues – 1/2 credit
Spanish I* - 1 credit
Spanish II* - 1 credit
*Band 9th and Auxiliary Band* – Dance Team, Flag team – 1 credit
Students taking a foreign language or Band will take their Health class in 10th grade.

22. Four Year Plan
Each 8th grader must complete a 4-year plan. This document will project possible courses for the student to take during his or her high school career. This plan should reflect courses designed to prepare a student for his or her college/career goal. These plans will be reviewed yearly and adjusted as students’ narrow their education/career goals.

23. When tests are given: 9th Grade – Transition Year
10th Grade – ACT Aspire
11th Grade – ACT with Writing
12th Grade – WorkKeys
End of Course Assessments – ACT Quality Core Assessments
The required Quality Core End of Course Assessments for 2014 – 2015 are English 10 and Algebra I

24. Important things to do in 9th grade
Develop good study skills.
Take the right classes for YOU!
Make the best grades you can.
Find an extra-curricular activity to participate in.
Volunteer at church or in your community.
Keep a record of your activities, service, honors and awards, and work history.

25. Final Thoughts
Signed Pre-registration forms are past due. If your child still has theirs, please make sure they get it turned in. Your signature on that form, lets us know you have seen and agree with their class choices.