Madison County Advanced Scholars Academy Meeting Freshman Cohort Presented by: Drew Muntz, 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.

Qualifying for MCASA Why did my child receive an invitation? The following were considered: O EXPLORE Benchmarks O Middle School GPA O MAP Assessments

Admittance to MCASA How will my child be accepted? Your child needs to fill out and return the application: O Application O Application Form O 2 Teacher Recommendations O Essay

Who should apply? O MCASA is a program for kids who are… O College bound. O Academically or intellectually inclined. O “Bored” with school. O Need to be and want to be challenged. O Hard workers.

Kids who should not apply… O Let’s be frank. Do not apply if…: O You don’t like to work or homework. O Don’t want to be challenged. O Only want to take these classes to be with their friends. O Are afraid of not getting an “A”.

Common Questions from Parents O What benefit is this program to my child? O We will cover this in a minute. O Do colleges really look at courses they take? O Yes. O My child plays sports can they really be in this program at the same time? O Yes.

Common Questions from Parents O What benefit is this program to my child? O We will cover this in a minute. O Do colleges really look at courses they take? O Yes. O My child plays sports can they really be in this program at the same time? O Yes.

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 required classes.

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? Arts O AP Art History O AP Music Theory O AP Studio Art: 2-D Design O AP Studio Art: 3-D Design O AP Studio Art: Drawing English O AP English Language and Composition O AP English Literature and Composition History & Social Science O AP Comparative Government and Politics O AP European History O AP Human Geography O AP Macroeconomics O AP Microeconomics O AP Psychology O AP United States Government and Politics O AP United States History O AP World History O Math & Computer Science O AP Calculus AB O AP Calculus BC O AP Computer Science A O AP Statistics O Sciences O AP Biology O AP Chemistry O AP Environmental Science O AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism O AP Physics C: Mechanics O AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based O AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based O World Languages & Cultures O AP Chinese Language and Culture O AP French Language and Culture O AP German Language and Culture O AP Italian Language and Culture O AP Japanese Language and Culture O AP Latin O AP Spanish Language and Culture O AP Spanish Literature and Culture There are currently 35 AP offering those in red are offered by MCHS.

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 required classes.

Mandatory Academy Required Classes O Pre-AP English 1 O Pre-AP English 2 O AP English Language and Composition O AP World History or AP European History O AP Human Geography **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

MCASA Requirements for Graduation O Handout from Mrs. Tipton English (4 credits): 9 th grade – Pre-AP English 1 10 th grade – Pre-AP English 2 11 th grade – AP English 3 12 th grade – AP English 4 or Dual Credit ENG 101/102

MCASA Requirements for Graduation Math (4 credits): 9 th grade – Pre-AP Algebra 2 10 th grade- Pre-AP Geometry 11 th grade – AP Calculus AB (or dual credit) 12 th grade – AP Calculus BC/ AP Statistics (or dual credit) Alternate math for students needing Algebra 1: 9 th grade – Pre-AP Algebra 1 10 th grade – Pre-AP Algebra 2 11 th grade – Pre-AP Geometry 12 th grade – AP Calculus AB/AP Stats (or dual credit)

MCASA Requirements for Graduation Science (3 credits): 9th grade – Pre- AP Biology 10 th grade – Pre-AP Chemistry 11 th grade – AP Physics or Physics Alternate science for AP Biology and AP Chemistry: 9 th grade – Pre-AP Biology 10 th grade – AP Biology and Pre- AP Chemistry 11 th grade – AP Chemistry 12 th grade – AP Physics or Physics Alternate Science for AP Biology: 9 th grade – Pre-AP Biology 10 th grade – AP Biology 11 th grade – Pre-AP Chemistry 12 th grade – AP Physics or Physics

MCASA Requirements for Graduation Social Studies (3 credits): 9 th grade – AP Human Geography 10 th grade – AP European History or AP World History 11 th grade – AP US History or US History

MCASA Requirements for Graduation O Other required credits… Health and PE – 1 credit World Language – 2 credits (possibly 4 credits for AP class) Humanities – 1 credit* Electives – 4 credits (Possible additional AP credits) 22 credits total for graduation * There are many ways to earn the Humanities credit.

Projected Schedule - Freshman Year 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 Sophomore Year O Pre-AP English II O AP European History OR AP World History O Pre-AP Geometry*** O Pre-AP 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 Pre AP Chemistry ***Depends on placement Freshman Year

Projected Schedule Junior Year O AP English III – Language & Composition O AP US History O AP Calculus AB*** O AP Chemistry or AP Physics/Physics O Elective (possibly Foreign Language III if interested in going on to AP) O Elective ***Depends on placement Freshman Year

Projected Schedule Senior Year O AP English IV or Dual Credit ENG 101/102 O AP Calculus BC/AP Stats/Dual Credit MAT 107/109*** O AP Physics or Physics O Elective (possibly AP Foreign Language) O Elective ***Depends on placement Freshman Year

What are the benefits? What the school program offers. O Scheduling Advantage O Preference giving to Academy students O Freshman year cohort will be scheduled together in Pre-AP English, AP Human Geography, & Pre-AP Biology. O Diploma Recognition at Graduation O Rigorous curriculum designed to attract more academic scholarships. O Governor’s Scholars Program O ??? Health/PE Credit Option O Outside of the school day

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

Would you recommend the Academy program to other students? O Yes – Do it! 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 – Not for you if… 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?