1. 9th grade Parent Academy

2. What’s a GPA and who cares?
Grade Point Average (GPA):
A =
B =
C =
D =
F = and ↓
Cumulative, Core, College
Determines class rank
Talking points: Cumulative – includes all classes taken in high school and quality points for honors and AP/IB; Core – includes classes taken in English, math, science, social studies, and foreign language and quality points for honors and AP/IB; HOPE – includes classes taken in English, math, science, social studies, and foreign language and quality points (.5) for AP/IB if you made below an A; College – varies from school to school (students should check with individual schools)
Refer to brochure on HOPE GPA. Make copies of the included PDF brochure or order brochures for free from Georgia Student Finance Commission at:

3. AP Courses and some honors classes earn quality points
How do I calculate GPA?
Step 1: Assign each grade a numeric value. A=4 B=3 C=2 D=1 F=0 Step 2: Multiply the numeric point value by the units of credit attempted. Step 3: Total the values from step 2 & divide by the total number of credits attempted.
AP Courses and some honors classes earn quality points
Explain how to calculate the GPA
Use this opportunity to discuss quality points and how they are added.
Refer to Board rule for which courses receive quality points.

4. Calculating GPA Semester 1 Course Grade GPA Points
(H) Eng (A) 4 .5
(H)World Hist 82 (B) 3.5
Algebra I 73 (C) 2
Biology 85 (B) 3
Career Prep. 90 (A) 4
Phys Ed Life 59 (F) 0
Spanish I 78 (C) 2 19
19 ÷ 7 (no. of classes) = 2.71 GPA
1st Semester GPA = 2.71

5. Calculating GPA (cont.)
Semester 2
Course Grade GPA Points
(H) Eng (A) 4 .5
(H)World Hist 89 (B) 3.5
Algebra I 74 (C) 2
Biology 83 (B) 3
Career Prep. 95 (A) 4
Phys Ed Life 60 (D) 1
Spanish I 80 (B) 3 21
21 ÷ 7 (no. of classes) = 3.0 GPA
2nd Semester GPA = 3.0
Cumulative GPA = ( ) ÷ 14 = 2.86

6. GPA Impact…Student A 9th 10th 11th C B B B B B A B B Overall GPA

7. GPA Impact…. Student B 9th 10th 11th B B B A B B Overall GPA

8. Colleges Look at 9th – 11th for Admission purposes…
Colleges Look at 9th – 11th for Admission purposes….. 9th grade is important!

9. Approximate GPAs for Current Admissions
Birmingham Southern: 3.54 (academic)
Auburn University: 3.8 (average)
University of Alabama: 3.0 (overall)
UAB: 2.25 (overall)
Samford University: 3.7 (average)
Montevallo: 2.5 (overall)
Mississippi State: 2.5 (academic with 16 ACT)

10. Alabama High School Diploma Requirements
4 English
4 History
4 Math
4 Science
1 Physical Education (1-ROTC, 2-band)
½ Health
1 Career Preparedness
3 CTA Electives (Career Technology, Fine Arts, or Foreign Language)
2 ½ Additional Credits
TOTAL: 24 credits (minimum)

11. ADVANCED ACADEMIC ENDORSEMENT
This endorsement would follow all of the requirements for the Alabama High School Diploma and would also require:
Minimum of Algebra II/Trig
Chemistry
Foreign Language - two year of the same foreign language
One half credit of Fine Art
Minimum of 2 AP courses with one in a core content or the equivalent (dual enrollment,
dual credit, or IB)

12. Graduation Requirements
Promotion requirements
9th to 10th: 6 credits
10th to 11th: 12 credits
11th to 12th: 18 credits
24 required credits to graduate!
Must pass all required courses and participate in the state assessment to graduate!
Refer to handout of graduation requirements
Refer to Administrative Rule IKE for detailed promotion requirements

13. Valedictorian - The student at each Shelby County high school who satisfies the requirements for the Advanced Academic Diploma and who attains the highest grade point average in his/her graduating class.
Salutatorian - The student with the next highest grade point average who satisfies the requirements for the Advanced Academic Diploma.
Honor Graduates - Students who satisfy the requirements for an Alabama High School Diploma or Advanced Academic Diploma and who also attain a grade point average of 4.0, or are in the top 5% of the graduating class.

14. Categorical Grading Gold Grades –60% (Test/Papers/Projects/Etc.)
Silver Grades –30% (Quiz/Labs/Assignments that build toward Gold grades/Etc.)
Bronze Grades –10% (Daily/Homework/Etc.)

15. GOLD (60%)
SILVER (30%)
BRONZE (10%)
75/100  = 75%
40/50 = 80%
7/10 = 70%
60/100 = 60%
30/50 = 60%
6/10 = 60%
50/100 = 50%
45/50 = 90%
9/10 = 90%
85/100 = 85%
35/50 = 70%
8/10 = 80%
80/100 = 80%
10/10 = 100%
Category Avg. = 70%
Category Avg. = 72%
Category Avg. = 80%
70 x 60% = 42
72 X 30% = 21.6
80 X 10% = 8
= 71.6
Overall Avg. = 71.6

16. Absences can really hurt!
Please provide a note with in 3 days even for check outs and check ins. (Teachers cannot put in grades if the absence is unexcused)
There is a natural correlation between absences and achievement.
Encourage your child to come to school and be on time!

17. Make them be responsible for their stuff!!
We all forgot sometimes and need some grace, but don’t enable them.
Sometimes they have to face the consequences of leaving their lunch or their homework!
Make them show you their teachers blogs, Edmodo, or google classroom. (they know how to get to it)
Hold them accountable…. Take away keys (soon will be a great tool) and phones when they are not doing what they need to do!

18. Find out about their classes
What are you studying in History? Ask specific questions How is Biology? What are you learning? What are reading in English? What is it about? Let me see your math homework….they had math homework!

19. Top 10 things for Parents of Teens
1. Kids need a “little” independence.
2. Choose your battles
3. Get to know their friends. Have them over.
4. Decide rules in advance and follow through with discipline.
5. Have your child check-in with you. (Know where they are) Make them look you in eye when they get home at your established curfew.
6. Talk to your kids about risky behaviors. (Drugs, driving, sex, alcohol)

20. Cont….
7. Give your teens a plan to get out of a situation. Work together on this!
8. Keep the door open. They don’t talk a lot but when they are ready…. Be ready to listen.
9. Let them feel guilty about their actions.
10. Be a role model. (they know if you are a hypocrite)

21. Check it regularly, but not obsessively!
INOW
Check it regularly, but not obsessively!