How Do I Know If I’m Choosing the Right Classes for 9th Grade?

That’s one of the most common questions I get—and it’s a great one! The answer really depends on your goals after high school and how much academic support you may need to succeed.

If you're aiming for a competitive 4-year university

(Examples: Georgia Tech, MIT, UGA, Clemson, Spelman, Morehouse, Harvard, Howard)
These schools want to see that you've challenged yourself throughout high school. That means taking the most advanced courses we offer each year.

For 9th grade, the most rigorous schedule includes:

• Pre-AP Literature & Composition I
  
  

• Honors Biology or AP Biology (our most advanced science course available to 9th graders)
  
  

• Honors World History
  
  

• Honors Geometry
  
  

These courses will help you stand out when you apply to colleges that are looking at students from all over the world. They’ll also look at how many advanced courses were available to you—and how many you chose to take.

If you're aiming for a traditional state university

(Examples: Georgia State, Georgia Southern, Albany State, Fort Valley State, Columbus State)
It’s perfectly fine to take regular-level classes. Most of these schools accept students who have completed the standard high school curriculum. Just make sure to check the GPA and course requirements for the specific college you’re interested in.

If you’re looking for a challenge in certain subjects

You can choose Honors or Accelerated level courses in the areas where you’re strong. These offer more depth and a faster pace. At our school, "Honors" and "Accelerated" mean the same thing—both are advanced versions of the regular course.

If you’ve struggled in Math or are unsure about a one-semester Geometry class

You can take full-year Geometry with extra support. This gives you more time and guidance to build confidence in math.

A few other notes:

• We don’t skip students ahead to the next grade level in 9th grade.
  
  

• We also don’t offer all-academic schedules as a way to graduate early.
  
  

• If you're interested in taking Honors Geometry, make sure to check the rubric below to see the requirements.

In order to qualify for Honors Geometry in the 9th grade, our Admin and Math Department have provided the following criteria rubric. Please see the rubric for more detailed information on placement. 

Choosing Your Electives: A Few Things to Keep in Mind

When it’s time to pick your elective classes, try to choose courses that really interest you! We’re lucky at HCHS to offer a wide variety of CTAE pathways (Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education), so there’s truly something for everyone.

All 9th grade students will begin in the Introductory level of their chosen pathway. This gives you a solid start no matter which direction you go.

A little advice: stay open-minded!

Every year, I meet students who feel unsure about the class they were placed in—especially if it wasn’t their first choice. Sometimes they come in hoping to switch, but due to full classes or scheduling deadlines, we aren’t always able to make changes.

But here’s the good news: more often than not, those same students end up really enjoying the class! It’s amazing how often they discover a new interest or talent they didn’t expect.

A few helpful tips:

• Pick courses that sound interesting to you.
  
  

• Turn in your requests early when the window opens—that helps us do our best to honor your top choices.
  
  

• If you’re placed in a class that wasn’t on your list, try to give it a fair shot. You just might end up loving it!
  
  

We’re excited for you to explore new things and grow through your electives. You never know what might spark your next big dream!

It will be important to keep up with your classes and grades each year in high school.  Please use this checklist as a way to monitor your progress each school year. Please know that classes, sequences, and names can change. However, this form was created to help you make sure you are taking and passing the graduation requirement courses.

You will need a total of 7 credits to be promoted to the 10th grade.

You will need a total of 28 credits to graduate.