1. Incoming Freshmen Welcome to the big leagues!
Lockland High School
Incoming Freshmen
Welcome to the big leagues!

2. Introduction to High School
Grades 9-12
9th grade = freshmen
10th grade = sophomore
11th grade = junior
12th grade = senior
10 point grading scale
= A
80-89 = B
70-79 = C
60-69 = D
59 or lower = F

3. Grading Timeline
Grades are reported at the end of 1st quarter, 2nd quarter, 3rd quarter & 4th quarter.
1st & 2nd quarter = semester 1 (August – December)
3rd & 4th quarter = semester 2 (January – May)
You will earn a semester grade (0.5) at the end of each semester.
1st Quarter
2nd Quarter
3rd Quarter
4th Quarter
50%

4. True or False? Grades don’t matter 9th grade year of high school.
FALSE!!! Grades matter 9th, 10th, 11th, & 12th grade!!!
Need at least 20 high school credits to graduate!
Must meet Ohio’s graduation requirements:
1. Credit Requirement
2. State Testing Requirement

5. Credits What is a credit, and how do I earn one?
Credit is proof that you completed a course with a passing grade of a D (60%) or above.
You need at least 20 credits to graduate from high school.
For each semester course you take and pass, you receive 0.5 credit
What if I fail a course/class?
You receive no credit
MUST re-take class!
MUST pass!

6. Credit Requirements
Students must earn a total of at least 20 credits to graduate!
Credits must be composed of:
4 English Language Arts Credits
1/2 credit of Health
1/2 credit of Physical Education
PE I or PE Waiver (must complete PE Waiver Form)
4 Mathematics credits
Must include 1 credit of Algebra II
3 Science credits
Must include 1 credit of Physical Science
Must include 1 credit of Life Science (e.g. Biology)
Must include 1 credit of Advanced Study (e.g. Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy)
3 Social Studies credits
Must include 1/2 credit American History
Must include 1/2 credit of World History
Must include 1/2 credit of American Government
5 Elective Credits
Must include 1 credit Fine Arts
All students must receive instruction in financial literacy & economics (e.g. Personal Finance)
Additional elective credits can include Foreign Language, Business, Fine Art, Career Tech Education, other classes that exceed the credit requirements for a certain subject area.

7. Honors Diploma
Student must meet all requirements for a state of Ohio diploma and
Student must meet 7 out of the following 8 criteria:
4 Mathematics units (including Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, or equivalent & another higher level course)
4 Science units (2 units of advanced science)
4 units of Social Studies
3 units of Foreign Language (could be 3 credits of one foreign language or 2 credits each of 2 foreign languages)
1 unit of Fine Arts
GPA of a 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 grading scale
ACT score of 27 or higher, or SAT score of 1280 or higher (excluding scores from the writing section)

8. State Testing Requirements
Ohio’s State Tests Earn at least 18 points on seven end-of-course state tests. End of- course tests are:
English I, English II, Algebra I, Geometry, Biology, American Government, American History
Each test score earns you up to five graduation points. You must have a minimum of four points in math, four points in English and six points across science and social studies. Your school and district receive grades on the Ohio School Report Cards for all students’ scores and participation on state tests.
Industry credential and workforce readiness
Earn a minimum of 12 points by receiving a State Board of Education-approved, industry-recognized credential or group of credentials in a single career field and earn the required score on WorkKeys, a work-readiness test. The state of Ohio will pay one time for you to take the WorkKeys test.
College and career readiness tests
Earn remediation-free scores in mathematics and English language arts on either the ACT or SAT. The Ohio Department of Higher Education works with Ohio’s universities to set the remediation- free scores for the ACT and SAT tests. Periodically, for a variety of reasons, these scores may be adjusted. For all high school juniors, the remediation-free scores set by Feb. 1 of their junior year will be used to meet their graduation requirement. The most up-to-date information regarding remediation-free scores can be found on the Department’s graduation requirements webpage.

9. Transcripts What is a transcript? What will my transcript include?
A running record of EVERY course you have taken during high school
Updated throughout the year and at the end of each year
What will my transcript include?
Credits earned
Grades earned
Grade Point Average (GPA)
Class rank
Test scores (OST, ACT/SAT)
Attendance/Tardies

10. How is my GPA calculated?
Unweighted
Regular, non-honor classes
Calculated on a 4.0 scale
A = 4; B = 3; C = 2; D = 1
Weighted & Advanced Placement (AP)
Honors classes
Honors English, Honors Math (Pre-Calculus, Functions, Statistics, & Trig.), Advanced Science (Chemistry, Conceptual Physics, Physics), Honors History (Honors American History, Honors American Government)
Calculated on a 5.0 scale
A = 5; B = 3.75; C = 2.5; D = 1.25

11. How do you calculate GPA?
To Calculate…
1. Figure out if your class is regular, honors, or AP
2. Take the letter grade for each class
3. Convert it to the appropriate number
4. Add them together
5. Divide by the total number of classes you added
Example: You receive 3 A’s, 2 Bs, and 2 C’s all in regular classes (unweighted courses).
= 22
22/7 = 3.14 GPA

12. What do colleges/careers look for?
What separates you from the rest?
Course selection
Club activities
Grades
Volunteering
Must earn a high school diploma
Foreign language
Most colleges/universities like to see 2 years of a foreign language

13. Athletic Eligibility Grades Matter!!!
To be eligible, students must meet both of the following requirements:
1. Receive a passing grade in a minimum of 5 one credit courses or the equivalent in the grading period immediately proceeding the sports season.
For example, the eligibility for fall sports season will be determined by 4th quarter grades.
This also applies to grades earned during the 4th quarter of 8th grade.
2. Board policy dictates that an athlete must maintain a GPA of 1.50 or higher in the preceding grading period of the sports season to be played.
Athletes who are ineligible for a particular sports season will not be able to regain eligibility until the following sports season. He/she will not be able to participate in any practices or activities during this time. For example, if an athlete becomes ineligible for the winter sports season, he/she will not be able to splay in a sport until the spring season.
Athletes should refer to the Lockland Athletic Handbook for further information on guidelines and rules.

14. Stay organized, study, manage your time!
Helpful tips
Turn-in your homework/assignments ON TIME!!!
Study for quizzes/tests
Ask for help
Arrive to class ON TIME!
Don’t be absent from school!
Be involved in extra-curricular activities and clubs!

15. Other options available
Great Oaks Institute of Technology
Apply in 10th grade in order to attend 11th & 12th grade year
Cosmetology, Digital Arts and Design, Surgical Technology, Sports Rehabilitation and Therapy, etc.
Talk to school counselor for more information
College Credit Plus (CCP)
7th-12th; can take college courses while still in high school
Must sign “letter of intent” by April 1st if interested
Must take college placement test and get accepted into college
Paid by district unless you fail course(s), then you pay
Chatfield College, UC Blue Ash, Miami Hamilton, Cincinnati State, etc.
Talk to counselor for more information
Credit Flexibility
Alternate way to earn graduation credits outside of regularly scheduled classes
Taking class online or testing out of a course by showing mastery content
You MUST talk to the school counselor between Feb.-March for more information and to let her know that you are interested. Applications due to school counselor by April 1st!

16. 9th Grade Courses Must take: Electives you can take:
English 9 – 1 credit (full year)
Algebra I – 1 credit (full year)
Physical Science – 1 credit (full year)
World History – 1 credit (full year)
Foreign Language (Spanish I) – 1 credit (full year)
PE I – 1/4 credit (one semester)
Electives you can take:
Art I – one semester credit
Drawing – one semester credit
Painting – one semester credit
Music Foundations – 1 credit (full year) or one semester (1/2 credit)
Percussion – 1 credit (full year) or one semester (1/2 credit)
Choir – 1 credit (full year)
Band – 1 credit (full year)