What Classes Should I Take Next Year? Classes of 2016, 2017, 2018

What Classes Should I Take Next Year?

Classes of 2016, 2017, 2018

Standard Diploma = 22 credits

•4 English•3 Math*•3 Science•3 Social Studies•2 PE•2 Fine Arts, Career & Technical, OR Language•1 Economics & Personal Finance•4 Electives (2 electives must be from the same area)

6 SOL’s = (2 English, 1 math, 1 science, 1 social studies, 1 student choice)

*We are strongly encouraging all students to Algebra II in order to be well-prepared for post-secondary education (BRCC, Technical Schools)

Don’t Forget SOL’s!

Standard Diploma = 6 SOL’s

2 English-Reading & Writing

1 Math

1 Science

1 Social Studies

1 Student Choice

Student Choice = any extra SOL!

Advanced Diploma = 26 credits

•4 English•4 Math•4 Science•4 Social Studies•2 PE•3 Languages (or 2 years of 2 different languages)

•1 Fine Arts or Career & Technical Elective•1 Economics & Personal Finance•3 Electives (sequence not required)

9 SOL’s = (2 English, 2 math, 2 science, 2 social studies, 1 student choice)

Don’t Forget SOL’s!

Advanced Diploma = 9 SOL’s

2 English-Reading & Writing

2 Math

2 Science

2 Social Studies

1 Student Choice

Student Choice = any extra SOL!

Teacher Recommendations!

• We want to make sure you’re in the right class—not too hard, not too easy, but just right!

• Teachers have made recommendations in Powerschool for you if you are interested in, or capable of, an advanced level class!

• If you’d like to take a class that hasn’t been recommended by your current teacher, see your counselor for an override form.

Levels of Classes

Regular (no weight, A = 4)

Advanced (no weight, A = 4)

Honors (weighted .5 of a quality point, so A = 4.5)

Advanced Placement (AP)

Weighted 1 quality point, (A = 5)

3 college credits depending on score on AP Exam

Dual Enrollment (DE)

Weighted 1 quality point (A = 5)

6 college credits as long as final grade is C or higher (3 credits per semester)

Register online now! Here’s how:

• From our RCPS Homepage, under Popular Links click on the PowerSchool (Parent/Student Access) link.

Enter your Student Web ID and Password(we have them for you if you don’t know yours)

Click on the CLASS REGISTRATION link on the left-hand side of the page:

Click on the PENCIL for each area and choose your courses. Courses are arranged into groups to guide the process. A RED exclamation mark indicates you have not yet selected a required course. When the correct number of requests are made the red exclamation mark will turn into a green check mark. If there is already a green check mark, you may have already met this course’s requirements but may want to select another elective or alternate from this course group. It is suggested that you open each course group and review the group.

Recommended courses should appear at the top of the list.

If not, click on the alerts column header to sort.

Repeat the process for all the course groups.

When done, it is important to click SUBMIT to confirm and save your selections.

Once you click submit, you will be able to view your selections.

Ready to begin?• We will go through each subject area

TOGETHER! • PLEASE DO NOT WORK AHEAD! STAY

FOCUSED ON THE AREA WE ARE DISCUSSING!

Remember our schedule changes to 8 periods next year, so you will be selecting

a total of 8 classes!

English(For Standard & Advanced Diplomas)

• English 9

• English 10/English 10 Advanced

• English 11/English 11 Honors/AP English 11

• English 12/English 12 Honors/AP English 12/

DE English 12

Math for Standard Diploma(Option 1)

Algebra I or Algebra I Part II

(Alg I Pt I counts as an elective credit)

Geometry SB, DB, or Advanced

Algebra II, SB, DB, or Advanced

Math for Standard Diploma(Option 2)

Algebra I or Algebra I Part II

AFDA

Geometry or Computer Math

Math for Advanced Diploma

• Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II

• Plus a 4th Math: AFDA Analysis, regular or Honors or

DEStatistics/Discrete Math AP StatisticsCalculus, DE or AP

Science for Standard Diploma(must have at least 3 credits

covering 2 disciplines)

• 9th grade = Earth Science or ES Adv• 10th grade = Biology or Biology Adv• 11th and/or 12th

Chemistry I or Chemistry I Honors Biology II SurveyGeologyAstronomy Biology II Anatomy, HonorsPhysics I or Physics I Honors

Science for Advanced Diploma **Must have at least 4 credits covering 3 different disciplines from Earth Science,

Biology, Chemistry, and Physics**

• 9th grade = Earth Science or ES Adv• 10th grade = Biology or Biology Adv• 11th and/or 12 grades (choose at least 2)

Astronomy GeologyChemistry I or Chemistry I HonorsPhysics, Physics Honors or AP PhysicsBiology II HonorsChemistry II or Chemistry II HonorsAP BiologyAP ChemistryAP Environmental Science

Social Studies for Standard Diploma (need 3 credits)

• World Geography, World History II,

WH II Advanced, OR World History I

• US History/Honors/AP

• US Government/Honors/AP

Social Studies for Advanced Diploma (need at least 4 credits)

Choose 2:

World Geography/WH I/WHII/AP Human Geography

Plus:

• US History, US History Honors, or AP History

• US Government, US Government Honors, or AP Government

Health & PE(Standard and Advanced Diplomas)

• PE 9

• PE 10 with Driver’s Ed

Economics & Personal Finance

This class is a requirement, but you will take it during 10th, 11th or 12th grade,

NOT 9TH GRADE!

Languages(Required for Advanced Diploma)

• French I, II, III, IV Honors, V Honors, AP• Latin I, II, III, IV Honors, AP • Spanish I, II, III, III Native Speaker, IV Honors, V Honors,

AP Spanish

• Remember: 3 years of one language or 2 years of 2 different languages!

Electives

Be sure to list 2 alternative electives! If there is a scheduling conflict, your alternatives will be used to replace the class that has the conflict.

If you’re not sure what elective to take, see your counselor or Mrs. Brown, our career coach, for help!

MTC• SHS students can take 1 OR 2 programs at MTC.• You must complete an application and turn it in to

the counseling office!• Must have 5 credits, including Algebra I or Pt I• Many MTC programs now have Dual Enrollment

opportunities!• Second year MTC programs will now be 4 class

periods (5th, 6th, 7th, 8th)• AP Computer Science

Mentorship

• Teaching Mentorship – thinking of a career as a teacher?

• Business Mentorship – job shadow experience outside of education

• Mentorship with Special Ed Students with Multiple Disabilities

FOR JUNIORS & SENIORS ONLY

**These are for credit, but are pass/fail!**

Study Hall & Teacher Assistants

FOR JUNIORS & SENIORS ONLY

**These are non-credit courses!**

VHSL ELIGIBILITY

• If you participate in any VHSL activity (sports, scholastic bowl, drama, etc.)

you must take 5 courses!

QUESTIONS?

• Please give your parents the instruction sheet you received today.

• Each student will have an individual meeting with their counselor to go over their course selections and to ensure that students are taking courses that are required.

• A list of the courses you sign up for will be sent home with 3rd nine weeks report cards.

• No schedule change requests will be taken after June 19, 2015.