Rising Freshmen Information

Semester Scheduling

• 9th Grade English
• Algebra I or Geometry
• American Government and World Geography
• Physical Science, Biology or Environmental Science
• Physical Education and Health (or ROTC)
• Elective- World Language, CTAE, Fine Arts
• Elective- World Language, CTAE, Fine Arts

• Freshmen (9th Grade)- Successful completion of 8th grade
• Sophomore (10th Grade)-Earned a minimum of 5 units
• Junior (11th Grade)- Earned a minimum of 11 units
• Senior (12th Grade)- Earned a minimum of 17 units

• Continuous average for 18 weeks
  ○ Progress Report 1- 4.5 weeks
  ○ Progress Report 2- 9 weeks
  ○ Progress Report 3- 13.5 weeks
  ○ Semester Average- 18 weeks
• Semester average- 80%
• Final exam or EOC- 20%

• Determination of academic honors and honor graduates are based on a cumulative average of all course grades
  received in high school.
• Students must have a 90.0 or higher cumulative average to receive academic recognition.
• High school credits earned in middle school are included in the cumulative average.

• All freshmen are initially eligible first semester of their freshman year to participate in sports
• To maintain eligibility, students must be enrolled in AND pass 5 or more classes (2.5 credits) after first semester.
• Student-athletes must be on track for graduation, carrying credit toward grade promotion the semester before participation.

• Merit-based scholarship that provides assistance with tuition at eligible public/private Georgia post-secondary institutions.
• Requires a minimum 3.0 HOPE GPA (as calculated by GSFC) and meet specific rigor course requirements.
• GPA based solely on core courses taken in high school-English, math, social studies, science, and foreign language only.
• High school credits accepted in middle school are not included in the HOPE GPA.
• GPA is calculated based on a 4.0 scale.
      A equals 4.0
      B equals 3.0
      C equals 2.0
      D equals 1.0
      F equals 0
• The AP/IB weighting applied by the district is stripped prior to HOPE GPA calculation.
• HOPE adds back a half a point (0.5) to Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and Dual Enrollment (DE) degree-level core course grades.
• For additional questions regarding HOPE, please talk to your high school counselor and go to www.gafutures.org.

• All high school credits earned in middle school will be placed on the high school transcript. If a student retakes the course in 9th grade, the high school course taken in middle school will be deleted and the high school course grade and credit will replace the middle school grade/credit
• For example, if a student makes an 72 in Algebra I in middle school, the grade/credit will automatically go on the high school transcript. The student has the option to retake Algebra I in high school. The student makes a 92 in Algebra I in high school. The 72 middle school credit will be removed from the high school transcript and a 92 will replace the Algebra I grade and credit.
• Credit accepted in middle school will not be used to calculate the grade point average (GPA) for HOPE scholarship.
• Credit accepted in middle school will be used in the grade point average (GPA) calculation for high school.

• Record of all student academic accomplishments in high school.
• Lists every course a student takes, when the course is taken, and the grade received.
• Transcripts are used for scholarship selections and part of the application process to post-secondary schools.

• Based on input from middle school teachers and student data, the four core courses have been pre-selected for students.
• Students have the option to select three additional electives for a total of 7 courses.
• Most freshmen take the required elective: 

• • Health (0.5) credit
  • Personal Fitness (0.5) credit
• Students can select two additional electives- consider pathways.

• • Select three alternates in case a course is not available.
  • Elective options for Freshmen (HS will provide a copy)

• Provides students the rigor of college-level courses in a high school setting.
• AP exams are administered in May.
• Based on the score earned, students can earn college credit.
• Why Take AP?

• • AP exam takers:
    ○ Have a higher probability of graduating college in 4 years.
    ○ Earn the same or higher grades in subsequent college courses in the same content area.

• Academically challenging curriculum, address the intellectual, social, emotional and physical well-being of students.
• IB students experience IB in cohorts.
• High college acceptance rate.
• IB core classes, conducting college-level research, community service and investigating assumptions about what we know.
• District program housed at Lakeside High School; students transfer.
• Application process: Rising freshmen interested, please contact your middle school counselor.

• Funding is provided for students enrolled in both high school and an eligible postsecondary institution.
• Postsecondary coursework for credit counts toward both high school graduation and a postsecondary degree/certificate.
• 9th grade - Not eligible
• 10th grade - Eligible for CTAE courses or must have an SAT score of 1200 or ACT score of 26 to take other courses
• 11th and 12th grade - Eligible to take any approved Dual Enrollment course

• CVA is an online school for students in grades 6-12 who are residents of Columbia Columbia School District.
• Students take online courses full-time or part-time that are taught by Columbia County School District teachers
• Students continue to participate in extracurricular activities/sports at zone school.
• CVA representatives are available to answer questions at the table in the commons/main hallway area.
• Registration Deadline: January 19th.

• Core courses are pre-selected based on 8th-grade teacher recommendations and student data.
• Students will receive a registration form to select electives. The registration form can be turned in at Freshmen Orientation or to the middle school counselor the following week.
• January 19th- Deadline to submit registration