Program of Studies – 9th Grade Course
Selection2012-2013
Loudoun County High School
Picking next years courses…
• Take your course selection seriously. • Our goal is to get an accurate count
of the classes you want to take so we make sure we offer those classes next year.
• The Program of Studies can be found on-line at the LCHS Guidance website.
General InformationPage 1 of Program of Studies
• Course Selection Changes: Students are expected to select their courses and to adhere to their selections.
• Subject Load: Student are expected to be enrolled in seven credit subjects.
• Dropping Subjects: Student should pay close attention to timelines for dropping a course.
Activity & Athletic ParticipationPage 1 of Program of Studies
In order to be eligible to participate in any Virginia High School League competition, a student must be currently enrolled in five subjects for credit or the equivalent, and have passed five subjects for credit or the equivalent the pervious semester. If a passed course is being repeated, that course may not be counted as one of the five subjects for credit.
Students who are planning to participate in Division I and II interscholastic sports in college should see their school counselor and/or athletic directors to learn about NCAA regluations.
Grade PromotionPage 2 of Program of Studies
A student must have earned the minimum number of credits listed below to be promoted to the next grade.
A student’s grade level is not subject to change during the school year.
Grade 10 5 creditsGrade 11 11 creditsGrade 12 Student must be
scheduled to meet all graduation
requirements by June
Credits EarnedPage 3 of Program of Studies
• A standard unit of credit is earned by passing a course with a minimum of 140 clock hours of instruction.
• A verified unit of credit is earned by passing a course and its related end-of-course Standards of Learning test where an end-of-course test is required.
Know your diploma options
In Virginia, diploma options available to all students:• Advanced Studies Diploma• Advanced Technical Diploma
• Standard Diploma• Standard Technical Diploma
Standard DiplomaAcademic Areas Credits SOL Verified
Credits
English 4 2
Social Studies 3 1
Mathematics 3 1
Laboratory Science 3 1
Health and Physical Education 2
Foreign Language, Fine Arts or Career and Technical Education
2
Economics and Personal Finance
1
Electives (Must include 2 sequential electives.)
4
Student Selected Verified Credit
0 1
Total 22 6
Fine Art or Career and Technical
EducationThe course you take to meet this graduation
requirement must come from one of the following areas:
Art, Drama, Newspaper Journalism, Music,
Agriculture, Business, Family & Consumer
Science, Health Occupations, Marketing,
Trade & Industrial Education, and Technology Education.
Standard DiplomaAcademic Areas Credits SOL Verified
Credits
English 4 2
Social Studies 3 1
Mathematics 3 1
Laboratory Science 3 1
Health and Physical Education 2
Foreign Language, Fine Arts or Career and Technical Education
2
Economics and Personal Finance
1
Electives (Must include 2 sequential electives.)
4
Student Selected Verified Credit
0 1
Total 22 6
Sequential Electives • Students must complete two (2) sequential
electives for a Standard Diploma.
• Examples of courses that satisfy this requirement: Foreign Language (2 years of same language)Art I & Art IITechnology Education I & Technology Education 2Drama I & Drama IIBand (for two years)Keyboarding/Advanced Keyboarding & Computer Info. SystemsCourses at Monroe Technology Center
• Many other possibilities --- see a counselor for details!
Standard DiplomaAcademic Areas Credits SOL Verified
Credits
English 4 2
Social Studies 3 1
Mathematics 3 1
Laboratory Science 3 1
Health and Physical Education 2
Foreign Language, Fine Arts or Career and Technical Education
2
Economics and Personal Finance
1
Electives (Must include 2 sequential electives.)
4
Student Selected Verified Credit
0 1
Total 22 6
Standard Technical Diploma
Academic Areas Credits SOL Verified Credits
English 4 2
Social Studies 3 1
Mathematics 3 1
Laboratory Science 3 1
Fine Arts or Foreign Language 1
Health and Physical Education 2
Economics and Personal Finance
1
Career and Technical Education 4
Elective 1
Student Selected Verified Credit 0 1
Total 22 6
Advanced Studies Diploma
Academic Areas Credits SOL Verified Credits
English 4 2
Social Studies 4 2
Mathematics 4 2
Science 4 2
Foreign Language 3 or 4
Health and Physical Education 2
Fine or Career and Technical Education
1
Economics and Personal Finance
1
Electives 3
Student Selected Verified Credit
0 1
Total 26 9
Advanced Technical DiplomaAcademic Areas Credits SOL Verified
Credits
English 4 2
Social Studies 4 2
Mathematics 4 2
Lab Science 4 2
Foreign Language 3 or 4
Health and Physical Education 2
Economics and Personal Finance
1
Fine/Practical Art or Career and Technical Education
1
Career and Technical Education 3
Student Selected Verified Credit
0 1
Total 26 9
Which diploma is right for me?
• Choose the most challenging courses in which you can get mostly A’s and B’s.(This gives you a strong high school transcript and a solid grade point average)
• Aim for the highest diploma you think you can achieve.(You can always “back off” later, but it’s difficult to catch up once you are behind in course work)
• Take “core classes” every year.(English, social studies, math, science; and for competitive college admissions, foreign language)
What Colleges Expect• Strong academic record
– Students who have completed the most challenging course of study appropriate for their abilities, including a rigorous senior year schedule
– Improvement over the high school years– Solid standardized test performance (SAT & ACT)
• Extracurricular, Athletic, and Community Involvement– Colleges are seeking well-rounded students who
demonstrate a variety of interests and a connection to the world around them
– “Quality vs. Quantity”• Well-prepared application package – required
demographic forms, essays/personal statements, and teacher/counselor recommendations– Stress the importance of your son or daughter
getting to know his/her teachers/counselors in high school
Levels of Classes
Advanced Placement (AP) courses are college-level courses that students complete while in high school. These courses allow students to develop the reading, writing, critical thinking, organizational, and analytical skills needed for college. They also require a substantial investment of student effort and time.
• In May of each year, students take AP exams for these courses. Colleges may award college credit for completion of these AP courses if students earn a qualifying score on the exam.
Levels of ClassesPage 11 of Program of Studies
• Honors – Course content is rapidly paced with additional depth. Lessons are often designed to be complex, abstract, and open ended.
• Academic – Course content and expected student performance require additional reading and writing at a rigorous level.
Teacher Recommendations
• By now your teachers should have talked to you about their recommendations on what course you should take next year.
• Please consider their recommendation when selecting your courses.
English 9
Honors or Academic
Advanced Functions and
Modeling
Mathematical Analysis
Advanced Functions and
Modeling
Electives: Computer Math or AP Statistics
Advanced Algebra/ Pre-
Calculus
Functions, Algebra, and Data Analysis
Algebra I
Algebra II/Trig
Algebra II
Geometry
Functions, Algebra, and Data Analysis
Algebra II
Geometry
Mathematics Progression
Algebra 1 Part 1
Earth Science
Honors or Academic
World History/Geography I
Pre AP or Academic
Health/Physical Education
• Students must complete two years of Health and Physical Education. These courses are normally completed in grades 9 and 10.
• The Driver’s Education curriculum is taught as a part of Health/PE 10.
• Advanced PE is offered as an elective in grades 11 & 12
Electives
• Students can register for 7 classes only, this will leave you 2 elective choices.
• If you choose a foreign language you will have only 1 other elective choice.
Foreign Language
• Spanish, French, German, and Latin are offered through the Advanced Placement (AP) level in Loudoun County.
• American Sign Language – 3 years• Most four-year colleges require that
you have a minimum of two (2) years of high school study of a foreign language.
Choose your electives now!
Log on to Family Connections
• At this time please log on to your computers and go to http://connection.naviance.com/jlsimpson
• You will be prompted to enter a username and password. Use the same username that you use to login to Simpson computers. Use your student id number for your password. You should have a welcome statement on the screen when you have successfully completed the process.
• Click on About Me• Then click on Class of 2016 LCHS - Course
Request Survey(In the left hand column under Surveys to Take)