Academic Programs

Class Selection Under the 4/4 Block Schedule

All students must select eight classes and three alternatives. If one of the eight classes cannot be scheduled for the student during that school year, an alternative listed will be substituted for one of the eight classes. Parents must sign the completed registration form. Student schedules will not be processed without a parents signature.

Schedule Changes

Schedule changes may be made up to two weeks after schedules are mailed in July. After that, no schedule changes will be permitted unless the school has made an error. Requests for schedule changes must be made in writing and include a parent's signature.

Do's & Don'ts When Choosing Classes

1. Don't pick a class just because a friend is taking it. Your friend may like the class. You may not.

2. Do think about what is involved in the class. If the course description is not clear or complete enough for you, ask. Your guidance counselor can always help you.

3. Do get input from other students who have taken a class before (maybe even an older brother or sister) to help you determine if the class is what you want.

4. Do pick a class that will fit in with your career direction or benefit you in some other way. Make use of the career information you have gotten from Virginia View, career assessments, and your career units in various classes.

5. Do look ahead. Think about the classes you plan to take in your four years of high school. Which have prerequisites? What classes do you need to take each year to get you where you want to be in your senior year?

6. Do think about what you like and dislike.

7. Don't choose a class just because you need to fill a space in your schedule. For another, you may be taking the seat of another student who really wants to take the class but cannot because  it is dull already.

8. Do choose classes that are challenging. Whatever your career, you want to be as well prepared as possible. A good student should not take "easy" courses just to fill a requirement.

9. Don't be afraid to ask for help!

Senior Course Selections 

Junior Course Selections 

Sophomore Course Selections 

Freshman Course Selections 

Advanced Placement classes are offered in English 11, Calculus AB & BC, Statistics, Psychology, Government, Biology, Environmental Science and Physics. Students enrolling in these classes are required to take the Advanced Placement examination, which affords them the opportunity to earn college credit or advanced placement in college classes dependent upon their score.

The following guidelines apply for AP classes under the 4/4 schedule.

• They will be yearlong classes. (Except AP Environmental Science, AP Physics, AP Government, and AP Psychology)

• They will be double credit classes (if yearlong) with one of the credits counting for a core subject and one as an elective.

• Both credits will be awarded the AP quality points and given the same grade.

• Consistent criteria will be used to identify qualified applicants.

• Minimum enrollments must be met to offer the class.

• AP exam fees are $104.00 per course. Full reimbursement of the AP exam fee is made to students who score 3 or above on their exams.
                                    

2025 AP EXAM DATES         

The Choices Education Program at Franklin County High School offers an alternative educational plan that specifically addresses the needs of students who are at risk of dropping out of school.

• The program provides individual plans to meet the individual needs of high risk students.

• The program is instruction based on mastery learning with the student demonstrating competency and then progressing to additional needed credits (the program is based around credit recovery).

• School counselors, school social workers, and other school staff identify these at risk students who have fallen behind in their graduation requirements as possible candidates for this program.

Students can, if approved, be placed into the Choices program by FCHS Administration if they feel an alternative placement is in the best interest of the student and of the school. If you have questions about this program, please contact your student's school counselor.

FCHS is proud of its large variety of Career and Technical course offerings. Ranging from Business to Childcare, to Masonry and beyond, our Career and Technical Education Program has something for everyone. Please see the program of studies above for the full list of our CTE courses and their descriptions.

In addition to serving as electives for our students, CTE courses also offer our students the opportunity to earn certifications in the following areas:

• A+

• A+ Part 1

• ASE-A1 EngineRir

• ASE-A2Automatic Transmission

• ASE-A3 Manual Drive Train & Axles

• ASE-A4 Suspension & Sterring

• ASE-A5 Brakes

• ASE-A6 Electrical/Electronics

• ASE-A8 Engine Performance

• ASE-MLR Maint & Light Rir

• ASE-Non-Struc(Refinish)

• ASE-Paint

• BQA-Beef Quality Assurance

• Cornell Small Animal Care

• EMT

• EPA-General Knowledge (Part 1)

• EPA-High pressure systems (Part 3)

• EPA-Low pressure systems (Part 4)

• EPA-Small Appliances (Part 2)

• Greenhouse

• MOS Access

• MOS Excel

• MOS PowerPoint

• MOS Word

• MTA

• National Health Science Assessment

• NNAAP: National Nurse Aide Assessment Program

• NOCTI-Child Care

• NOCTI-Construction

• NOCTI-Construction Masonry:  Brick

• NOCTI-Electricity

• NOCTI-Electronics

• NOCTI-HVAC

• NOCTI-NaturalResourcesSystems

• NOCTI-TV

• PQA-Pork Quality Assurance

• ServeSafe

• VA PesticideApplicator

• W!SE

• WRS

FCHS offers dual enrollment arrangements between the high school and local colleges. This program is designed to give students in specific classes the opportunity to receive high school and college credit simultaneously. Students should contact their counselors for further information.  The current cost for dual enrollment courses is $43.00/credit hour for classes taught at FCHS.

Dual Enrollment Courses offered at FCHS:

• • • College Biology 101, 102

    • Human Anatomy & Physiology 1, 2

    • History 121, 122

    • College English 111, 112

    • History 101, 102

    • College Spanish 201, 202

    • Computer Science (Ferrum)

    • Teachers for Tomorrow 2 (Ferrum)

    • Environmental Science 102 (Ferrum)

    • Statistics 155   

    • Pre-Calculus 167

    • Mechatronics (taken on campus at VWCC)

    • Engineering Career Studies (taken on campus at VWCC)

    • AP Calculus AB 263

    • AP Calculus BC 263, 264

All Dual Enrollment students taking a course through Virginia Western Community College must apply to be eligible for Dual Enrollment credit. For courses offered through Ferrum College, your teacher will provide application information.

• Virginia Western Application

Important Note:

• A GPA of 3.0 is required for Dual Enrollment Must have a "C" or better in Algebra 2 for classes with a Math requirement

What is it?

Project Based Learning (PBL) is a hands-on teaching method in which students enjoy their learning experience by actively engaging in real-world and personally meaningful projects. It's a student-centered approach that offers students the opportunity to grow in their learning and practice 21st century skills.

**Students do not have to apply or commit to all courses offered.**

Traditional Learning vs. Project-Based Learning

Teacher centered Student centered

Introduces learning content Connects content to real world situations

Teacher controls the learning experiences Teacher works alongside students

Students are passive Students are active

Structured environment Flexible environment 

Individual work Cooperative work

Traditional assessments (tests, etc.) Assessment is a shared responsibility and is offered in many different ways

If you are interested in the Eagle Tech program, please reach out to your counselor.

The Roanoke Valley Governor's School for Science & Technology is a regional center which offers area students advanced level courses in math, science, computer applications and technology. Students are given the opportunity to take advanced and highly integrated courses in such subjects as biology, physics, chemistry, algebra and calculus.

Students wishing to be considered for attendance at Roanoke Valley Governor's School must complete the application process. Completion of Algebra I, Geometry, and keyboarding proficiency are prerequisites. The program at Roanoke Valley Governor's School is rigorous and prospective students should be highly motivated, creative and have a strong interest in academics.

Information on the Governor's School application process is available in the guidance office located in the Phelps Student Services building.

The Virginia Department of Education is pleased to announce that the 2021 Governor’s Summer Residential Program will include seven Summer Residential Governor’s Schools and six Governor’s Foreign Language Academies. These programs offer public, private, and home-schooled gifted students opportunities for intensive study.

Summer Residential Governor’s School Programs are offered in:

• Visual and Performing Arts

• Foreign Language (French, German, Spanish, Latin)

• Agriculture

• Academic Programs (Humanities, Medical & Health Sciences, Mathematics, Science and Technology,  Engineering, and Marine Science)

Rising eleventh and twelfth grade students are eligible to apply. The application process is rigorous. Information can be found on the Virginia Department of Education website at

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/governors_school_programs/summer_residential/

Interested students should contact Ms. Thornton in the Guidance Office by November 14th to express your intent.