Madison County Advanced Scholars Academy Meeting Freshman Cohort Presented by: Elmer Thomas, Laura Dedic & Nicki Tipton

What is the Advance Scholars Academy? O It is an advanced academic course selection providing students with the opportunity to be engaged in a challenging and rigorous curriculum designed to ensure college readiness and the potential to earn 45 or more college credit hours through the successful completion of AP Exams and Dual Credit Courses.

What is AP? O The Advanced Placement (AP) is a program in the United States created by the College Board offering college-level curriculum and examinations to high school students. O Colleges often grant placement and course credit to students who obtain high scores above a certain number on the examinations. O For a high school course to have the AP designation, the course must be audited by the College Board to ascertain it satisfies the AP curriculum. O AP Teachers are trained by the College Board.

What is an AP Test? O The culminating event of the AP class is the AP Exam. O The exam consists of O Multiple Choice O Free Response or Essays O AP tests are scored on a 1 to 5 scale as follows: O 5 – Extremely well qualified O 4 – Well qualified O 3 – Qualified O 2 – Possibly qualified O 1 – No recommendation

How does AP credit work? O College Credit O A qualifying AP score is a 3, 4, or 5 O Depending on the college and score O students may be awarded college credit O Or allowed to bypass certain intro college classes O School Credit/Transcript O AP classes are weighted credits O An A = 5 points rather than 4 on a un- weighted scale O B = 4 O C = 3 O Pre-AP classes are NOT weighted

Current AP offerings? O Art History O Biology O Calculus AB O Calculus BC O Chemistry O Chinese Language and Culture O Computer Science A O English Language and Composition O English Literature and Composition O Environmental Science O European History O French Language O German Language O Government and Politics: Comparative O Government and Politics: United States O Human Geography O Italian Language and Culture O Japanese Language and Culture O Latin: Vergil O Macroeconomics O Microeconomics O Music Theory O Physics B O Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism O Physics C: Mechanics O Psychology O Spanish Language O Spanish Literature O Statistics O Studio Art: 2-D Design O Studio Art: 3-D Design O Studio Art: Drawing O United States History O World History Along with 2 future courses to be offered in 2014 O AP Physics 1 O AP Physics 2 There are currently 34 AP offering those in red are offered by MCHS.

Current AP offerings? O Art History O Biology O Calculus AB O Calculus BC O Chemistry O Chinese Language and Culture O Computer Science A O English Language and Composition O English Literature and Composition O Environmental Science O European History O French Language O German Language O Government and Politics: Comparative O Government and Politics: United States O Human Geography O Italian Language and Culture O Japanese Language and Culture O Latin: Vergil O Macroeconomics O Microeconomics O Music Theory O Physics B O Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism O Physics C: Mechanics O Psychology O Spanish Language O Spanish Literature O Statistics O Studio Art: 2-D Design O Studio Art: 3-D Design O Studio Art: Drawing O United States History O World History Along with 2 future courses to be offered in 2014 O AP Physics 1 O AP Physics 2 There are currently 34 AP offering those in green will be offered by in the next few years by MCHS.

Admittance to the Advanced Scholars Academy The following were and will be considered: O EXPLORE Benchmarks O Middle School GPA O MAP Assessments O Application O Application Form O 2 Teacher Recommendations O Essay

General Requirements for the Advanced Scholars Academy Diploma O Have a minimum cumulative high school/college grade-point average of 3.0. O Have a minimum ACT composite score of 22. O Take and pass a minimum of 8 AP courses, or a combination of college and AP courses that are equivalent to 8 AP courses. O Take the AP exam for each AP course taken. O Fulfill the requirements of one of the 3 career major AP tracks (Science/Mathematics, Social Science, or Arts/Humanities) or the General Studies track.

Mandatory Academy Requirements for all students O Pre-AP English 1 (On- ramp students, English 1 will suffice.) O Pre-AP English 2 O AP English Language O AP World History or AP European History O AP Human Geography O One AP elective or the equivalent through college courses. **All students must also fulfill all other MCHS graduation requirements

Minimum State Requirements for Graduation O English – 4 credits O I, II, III, IV O Math – 4 credits O Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, 4 th year Math O Science – 3 credits O Physical, Chemical, Biology O Social Studies – 3 Credits O Geography, World Civilization, US History O Health/PE -.5 Credits each O Humanities – 1 credit O Foreign Language – 2 credits for College Bound O Electives – 4 Credits O 22 – Total Credits

Major Career Tracks O Students will be asked to declare a career track by the end of their sophomore year. O Science/Mathematics O Social Sciences O Arts & Humanities O General Studies

Science/Mathematics O Mandatory Requirements plus 4 courses from the following selection: 1. AP Biology 2. AP Chemistry 3. AP Physics B 4. AP Physics C 5. AP Calculus AB 6. AP Calculus BC 7. AP Statistics 8. AP Psychology 9. AP Environmental Science 10. AP Computer Science - Or the equivalent of 4 AP courses through college credit in either science or mathematics (must be approved – Dual Credit courses through EKU for example).

Social Sciences O Mandatory cohort requirements plus 4 courses from the following: 1. AP U.S. History 2. AP Government Comparative 3. AP Government U.S. 4. AP Micro Economics 5. AP Macro Economics 6. AP European History or AP World History 7. AP Psychology 8. AP English Literature - Or the equivalent of 4 AP courses through college credit in either science or mathematics (must be approved – Dual Credit courses through EKU for example).

Arts/Humanities O Mandatory cohort requirements plus 4 courses from the following: 1. AP Art History 2. AP Music Theory 3. AP Foreign Language 4. AP Studio Art 3-D 5. AP Studio Art 2-D 6. AP Art Drawing 7. AP English Literature -Or the equivalent of 4 AP courses through college credit in either science or mathematics (must be approved – Dual Credit courses through EKU for example).

General Studies O Mandatory cohort requirements plus: 1. Science/Math AP class 2. Arts/Humanities AP class 2 additional AP/College classes – please see other career tracks for options

Projected Schedule O Pre-AP English I O AP Human Geography O Pre-AP Algebra II *** O Pre-AP Biology O Pre-AP Foreign Language I (or another elective) O Elective ***May be Pre-AP Algebra I Depends on math placement 8 th grade year.

Projected Schedule O Pre-AP English II O AP European History OR AP World History O Honors Geometry*** O Honors Chemistry or AP Biology O Honors Foreign Language II (or I if not enrolled) O Elective O Some may wish to double up in science with Honors Chemistry ***Depends on placement Freshman Year

So why apply for the ASA? What the students have to say. O Challenging O Earn college credit O Advanced courses not offered to other freshmen O Awesome teachers O First time I have had to learn how to study O Realizing we have to work for our grade O I feel like I have learned more this year than all my years of middle school combined. O AP classes & exams O Preparation for college O Relationships/Family O Spending time with others of my intellect O Classes that are on my level O Not much drama O High level thinking O Good grades mean more O Being with people who actually care about their education

What are the advantages? What the students have to say. O Extra help from teachers & students O Guaranteed spots in advanced classes O Scholarships O Advancing science classes because of interest in the medical field O College credit O No class disruptions O Intellectual conversations O Don’t have to wait on students who don’t get it O Building friendships with intellectual peers O Teachers expect more from students O Learning time management skills O Being prepared for college and life. O Not being bored in class O More freedom & responsibility O All students pay attention & participate

What are the benefits? What the school program offers. O Health/PE Credit Option O Outside of the school day O Scheduling Advantage O Preference giving to Academy students O Diploma Recognition at Graduation O Interaction with the ASA group from MSHS O Including field trips geared to career tracks O Rigorous curriculum designed to attract more academic scholarships.

Would you recommend the Academy program to other students? O Yes O For students who need the challenge and are ready to work O Cohort takes a lot of work, time, & effort O Made me work on my procrastination O No O If you are not ready to work don’t apply O It’s not for people who are not willing to work for the grade

Questions?