High School Course Selection

High School Couse Selection - Information from the John Glenn Guidance website.

Graduation planning worksheet, diploma requirements etc. 

Eighth grade is an exciting time filled with many fun activities and a chance for students to further their academic skills while beginning to prepare for their futures. With high school on the horizon, eighth grade becomes a pivotal time in a student's academic journey. As such, it is important for students and their parents to understand the significance of this year and what impact it has on high school and beyond. Specifically, this letter is intended to make you aware of how students are recommended for various courses in the high school and what middle school courses are recorded on a high school transcript.

The High School Transcript

A high school transcript is an official document of an individual student’s academic record.  This document is supplied to colleges and universities at the request of the student.  The transcript contains the following information:

·  Student’s name, address and phone number

·  The name, address, and phone number of the school

·  The counselor’s name

·  Graduation date

·  Listing of subjects studied

·  Final grades received and credits by course

·  Total credits earned during high school

·  Regents Exam scores

·  Grade point average

The information contained on a transcript is very important because it is one of the primary sources of information about a prospective candidate that is used by college admission officers to decide whether or not a student meets their admission criteria.

Many eighth grade students take between one and three high school level courses (mathematics, science, foreign language).  The final grade for any of these courses and the grade received on any associated Regents examination will appear on a student’s official transcript.  A final grade for any of these courses is determined by averaging the final exam score with the four quarter averages for the respective course.  Students enrolled in the accelerated mathematics and/or science program will take the Regents exam in Common Core Integrated Algebra and/or Earth Science.

High School Course Recommendations and Placement

After the second quarter, initial recommendations are made by teachers for student placement in high school honors and Regents level classes in English, math, science, social studies, and foreign language. The process begins with a review of course grades, followed by a meeting with the eighth grade teachers and former teachers in the respective departments to discuss students' current and past performance. These meetings result in a consensus on individual course placement.  In early February students will be given a course selection sheet to bring home indicating their recommended placements. At this time, you should carefully review the recommendations with your child.

Please note: students not meeting accelerated class standards may be recommended for regular Regents/non honors course levels. For example, a student who does not maintain an 85 average or higher in Earth Science may be recommended for placement in Living Environment Regents as opposed to Living Environment Honors.

Open Enrollment and

The Advanced Placement Initiative 

Open enrollment and The Advanced Placement Initiative is designed to provide students with every opportunity to reach their highest potential and encourage greater enrollment in our college level, Advanced Placement courses. 

Any student can, in theory, select an honors level course.  However, please keep in mind that honors level courses require more in depth work and greater effort, organization and planning on the part of your child.  When it comes time to review your child’s course selection sheet and teacher recommendations, please have a discussion with them as to the increased expectations of honors level courses and the increased expectations of them if they choose that course path. 

Questions

My hope is that you find the transition process as seamless as possible. We want to place our children in the best position to succeed, and your involvement is an important part of the process. If you have any questions along the way, please do not hesitate to call. I look forward to an enjoyable and successful school year for your child.

Sincerely,

Todd Z. Schwartz Ed.M.