1. Success in the Middle Preparing Your Student for the Next Level

2. Some Definitions Approved Courses: Approved courses are courses based on the concepts and skills included in the state-adopted curriculum for grades 9-12 and approved by the Georgia Department of Education for equivalency credit and funding. Approved Courses: Approved courses are courses based on the concepts and skills included in the state-adopted curriculum for grades 9-12 and approved by the Georgia Department of Education for equivalency credit and funding. Course: A course is instruction for which credit is awarded. Course: A course is instruction for which credit is awarded. Credit: Carnegie units earned and applied to high school graduation and credit hours earned toward the completion of a postsecondary program of study. Credit: Carnegie units earned and applied to high school graduation and credit hours earned toward the completion of a postsecondary program of study. *****1 Class equals 1 Credit***** *****1 Class equals 1 Credit***** Equivalency: Equivalency refers to the number of postsecondary credit hours or courses needed to equal one Carnegie unit. Equivalency: Equivalency refers to the number of postsecondary credit hours or courses needed to equal one Carnegie unit.

3. The New Georgia Graduation Rule Begins with the 2008-2009 Freshman Class Begins with the 2008-2009 Freshman Class Changes to the graduation rule were made to adhere to the Georgia Performance Standards Changes to the graduation rule were made to adhere to the Georgia Performance Standards The Old System had 4 tiers The Old System had 4 tiers (College Prep, Cp w/ distinction, Technology & Career and TC w/ distinction) The New system has 1 set of requirements The New system has 1 set of requirements

4. Graduation Requirements 4 Units of English 4 Units of English 4 Units of Science 4 Units of Science 4 Units of Mathematics 4 Units of Mathematics 3 Units of Social Studies 3 Units of Social Studies At least 3 Units of Career/Technology and/or Foreign Language and/or Fine Arts At least 3 Units of Career/Technology and/or Foreign Language and/or Fine Arts At least 4 additional Electives At least 4 additional Electives *****Foreign Language is not required for Graduation BUT is required for acceptance into a 4 year College or University*****

5. Georgia High School Graduation Test English/Language Arts: Reading/Literature (47-49%) Reading/Literature (47-49%) Critical Thinking (37-39%) Critical Thinking (37-39%) Writing/Usage/Grammar (14-16%) Writing/Usage/Grammar (14-16%)Mathematics: Number & Computation (17-19%) Number & Computation (17-19%) Data Analysis (19-21%) Data Analysis (19-21%) Measurement & Geometry (32-34%) Measurement & Geometry (32-34%) Algebra (28-30%) Algebra (28-30%)Science: Process/Research Skills (30-32%) Process/Research Skills (30-32%) Physical Science (33-35%) Physical Science (33-35%) Biology (33-35%) Biology (33-35%) Social Studies: Social Studies: World Studies (18-20%) World Studies (18-20%) U.S. History to 1865 (18-20%) U.S. History to 1865 (18-20%) U.S. History Since 1865 (18-20%) U.S. History Since 1865 (18-20%) Civics/Citizenship (12-14%) Civics/Citizenship (12-14%) Map & Globe Skills (15%) Map & Globe Skills (15%) Information Processing Skills (15%) Information Processing Skills (15%)Writing: Students must write a persuasive essay on an assigned topic. The essay is judged on four qualities or domains of effective writing: content/organization, style, conventions of written language, and sentence formation. Students must write a persuasive essay on an assigned topic. The essay is judged on four qualities or domains of effective writing: content/organization, style, conventions of written language, and sentence formation.

6. End of Course Tests (EOCT) Mathematics Algebra 1 Algebra 1 Geometry Geometry Social Studies United States History United States History Economics/Business/Free Enterprise Economics/Business/Free EnterpriseScience Biology Biology Physical Science Physical Science English Language Arts Ninth Grade Literature and Composition Ninth Grade Literature and Composition American Literature and Composition American Literature and Composition

7. New HS Course Information Math Support Class Math Support Class In addition to the New Math Course (Math I, II, & III) there is a Support Class that runs parallel with Math I & II. In addition to the New Math Course (Math I, II, & III) there is a Support Class that runs parallel with Math I & II.

8. What can be expected in high school? (from National Middle School Association) What can be expected in high school? (from National Middle School Association) A larger, more impersonal, more competitive and grade-oriented environment A larger, more impersonal, more competitive and grade-oriented environment Students concerned about grades, getting lost, strict rules and harder work Students concerned about grades, getting lost, strict rules and harder work At the end of the 9 th grade year, freshman described high school as being very different from what they had expected At the end of the 9 th grade year, freshman described high school as being very different from what they had expected

9. So…How do we help with the Transition? …be VERY involved in the decisions being made about classes, etc …be VERY involved in the decisions being made about classes, etc Create long term goals and a steps to achieve them Create long term goals and a steps to achieve them Continue the involvement through out high school. This is not the time to pull back… Continue the involvement through out high school. This is not the time to pull back… Create good Study Habits and learn to juggle overlapping and multiple assignments Create good Study Habits and learn to juggle overlapping and multiple assignments Ask and what support services the high school offers Ask and what support services the high school offers

10. After High School There are more options than most parents and students know about There are more options than most parents and students know about Technical School Apprenticeships 2 Year College (then transfer to 4 Year) Year) 4 Year Colleges and Universities

11. SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) The new SAT, consist of the following: Writing (new section) Writing (new section) - Multiple-Choice questions (grammar and usage) - Multiple-Choice questions (grammar and usage) - Student written essay - Student written essay Critical Reading (currently called verbal) Critical Reading (currently called verbal) - Analogies eliminated - Analogies eliminated - Short reading passages added to existing long reading passages - Short reading passages added to existing long reading passages Math Math - Math content expanded to include topics from third-year college - Math content expanded to include topics from third-year college preparatory math. (Algebra II) preparatory math. (Algebra II) - Quantitative comparisons eliminated - Quantitative comparisons eliminated For more information on the SAT, go to www.collegeboard.org

12. ACT ( American College Test) The new SAT, consist of the following: Writing (new section) Writing (new section) - Multiple-Choice questions (grammar and usage) - Multiple-Choice questions (grammar and usage) - Student written essay - Student written essay Critical Reading (currently called verbal) Critical Reading (currently called verbal) - Analogies eliminated - Analogies eliminated - Short reading passages added to existing long reading passages - Short reading passages added to existing long reading passages Math Math - Math content expanded to include topics from third-year college - Math content expanded to include topics from third-year college preparatory math. (Algebra II) preparatory math. (Algebra II) - Quantitative comparisons eliminated - Quantitative comparisons eliminated For more information on the SAT, go to www.collegeboard.org

13. College Freshman Profile The profile of freshmen at any college USA: - at least a "B+" average in all academic subjects (additional weight is assigned to Honors, Dual Enrollment, AICE, AP, and IB coursework) and test scores of at least 24 (composite) on the ACT or 1100 (critical reading plus math) on the SAT. - at least a "B+" average in all academic subjects (additional weight is assigned to Honors, Dual Enrollment, AICE, AP, and IB coursework) and test scores of at least 24 (composite) on the ACT or 1100 (critical reading plus math) on the SAT.

14. Resources www.cobbk12.org www.cobbk12.org www.cobbk12.org www.GAcollege411.org www.GAcollege411.org www.GAcollege411.org Mapping-your-future.org Mapping-your-future.org