2017 2018 Anne Arundel County Public Schools Overall Contents Introduction This High School Program of Study booklet is intended to High School Graduation Requirements ....................................................2 provide valuable information to allow students and par- Assessments Required for Graduation • 2 ents to make selections that will best prepare for future World and Classical Language Requirement • 2 success. It has been designed to explain the rich variety of Advanced Technology Requirement • 2 challenging and rigorous choices available. Service Learning Requirement • 3 High School Credit Earned in Middle School • 3 The additional demands of high school course work for State & National Assessments .................................................................3 students throughout the state make the expectations for Partnership for Assessment of Readiness graduation far more difficult for students than in past for College & Careers (PARCC) • 3 years. In anticipation of meeting these demands, Anne High School Assessments (HSA) • 4 Arundel County Public Schools offers complexity in course The Bridge Plan for Academic Validation • 4 work as well as electives to help to diversify each high Alternate Assessments • 4 school experience. ACCESS for English Learners • 4 Students are encouraged to work with their teachers and College Admissions and Preparation Tests ................................................4 counselors to make decisions appropriate for achieving ACT Exam • 4 individual goals. AACPS continues to explore ways to Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) introduce more rigor, relevancy, diversity, and specializa- National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) tion to all high school course offerings and counselors will Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) • 4 be able to fully explain courses that are implemented after ACCUPLACER • 5 Advanced Placement (AP) Exams • 5 the printing of this booklet. Programs of Choice .................................................................................5 How students spend their time in school will only make Signature Programs • 5 their future better and their goals more attainable. All Magnet Programs • 5 members of AACPS urge each student to take full advan- Charter Programs • 6 tage of the courses that are provided in this booklet as well as in the classroom. Student success is the district’s Taking Advanced Courses .........................................................................6 greatest achievement, and Anne Arundel County Public Weighted Grading • 6 Schools is committed to students’ continued development. Honors Courses • 6 Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) • 6 Completer Program Pathways ..................................................................7 Benefits beyond the Diploma • 8 Superintendent of Schools Graduation Certificates ..........................................................................10 George Arlotto, Ed.D. Maryland High School Certificate • 10 Anne Arundel County Public Schools Citation • 10 AACPS Board of Education Scheduling .............................................................................................10 Stacey Korbelak, President Courses Outside the Home School • 10 Julie Hummer Vice President Course Fees ...........................................................................................10 Teresa Milio Birge Tom Frank Academic Eligibility ...............................................................................10 Terry Gilleland NCAA Eligibility ......................................................................................11 Eric Grannon Additional Ways to Earn or Patricia R. Nalley Recover Credit .......................................................................................12 Maria Delores Sasso Carolyn Williams, Student Member Early College Access Program (ECAP) .....................................................12 Alternatives to 4-Year Enrollment ..........................................................13 Please Note: Advanced/Co-Curricular Programs .........................................................14 Although deemed accurate when printed, information in this Adjunct Programs • 14 booklet may change during the year as BOE policies and regula- Activities and Competitions • 14 tions are updated. For the most current version of this booklet, Career and Technology Programs • 16 visit the AACPS website: Courses ..................................................................................................19 www.aacps.org/html/studt Completer Programs ..............................................................................86 To see Board Policies and Regulations, visit: www.aacps.org/html/BoardOfEducation Scheduling Worksheets ..........................................................................99 4 Steps to Graduation A student shall satisfactorily complete four years of approved study beyond the eighth grade, unless an alternative plan is approved by the Superintendent of Schools. 1Credits Assessments2 Service3 Learning Earn a minimum of... Pass state-mandated Complete... assessments in... 26 Algebra 75 Credits Biology Hours English Government ...of Service Learning in grades 5 –11 (See page 2) (See page 3) (See page 3) Choose a completer... Completer4 Program Pathways College Completer Career Completer Dual Completer Algebra 2 Algebra 2 and A CTE Completer and Program 2 credits of 2 credits of 2 credits of 2 credits of the same or Advanced the same or Advanced Language Technology Language Technology and A CTE Completer Program Post secondary education Employment and/or post secondary Employment and/or post secondary after High School education after High School education after High School Minimum High School Diploma 2 credits of 2 credits of the same or Advanced Language Technology (See page 7) | 2 2 | Introduction High School Graduation Requirements Minimum Credits Required for Graduation—26 Procedures for Promotion English 4 1 credit in English 9 Promotion from one grade level to the next is based on 1 credit in English 10 the number and types of credits earned as follows. 1 credit in English 11 To be promoted Completed credits Credits needed in 1 credit in English 12 to grade: needed academic subjects Social 3 1 credit in History of the United States 10 6 3 Studies 1 credit in World History 1 credit in United States Government 11 13 7 Mathematics 4* 1 credit in Algebra 1 12 18 10 1 credit in Geometry To be considered a senior, a student must: 2 mathematics elective credits (*Algebra 2 for college completers) • have completed at least three years in high school, • have successfully earned 18 appropriate credits, and Science 3+ 1 credit in Biology 2 credits, including laboratory experience, • be enrolled in a program that allows them to meet in any or all of the following areas: all graduation requirements by June of the same • Earth Science academic year. • Life Science • Physical Science Assessments Required for Graduation Physical 1 0.5 credit of Fitness for Life Education 0.5 credit Physical Education Elective Students are required to pass four content specific assess- ments for graduation. They include Algebra 1, English 10, Sci- Health 0.5 0.5 credit in Health Education ence, and U.S. Government. All four assessments are given at the completion of the corresponding course. Please check Basic 1 Foundations of Technology A (0.5 credit) with your school counselor to discuss possible options to and Foundations of Technology B (0.5 credit) Technology meet these assessment requirements. or one of the following one credit courses available at Project Lead the Way schools only: World and Classical Language Requirement Honors Principles of Engineering or Honors Students may elect to take two credits of a world and classi- Engineering Design and Development 1 cal language rather than two credits of an advanced technol- Fine Arts Music, Art, Dance, and Theatre Arts courses ogy or a career completer program. A student with the re- 1 quired math courses and two credits of a World and Classical Electives 8.5 Any electives that result in the successful Language meets one of the criteria for qualifying the student completion of a Completer Program Pathway for the University System of Maryland. It is recommended that students who elect the World and Classical Language op- Students who entered high school in 2014–15 or later are tion continue in the program beyond the second level. Some required to take a rigorous math course each of the four specialized programs, as well as many colleges and universi- years the student is enrolled. ties, require additional credits in world and classical language. Students must attend high school for four years unless a Check with your school counselor for details. pre-approved AACPS alternative is satisfied. Advanced Technology Requirement Students must choose and follow course selection for a Students may elect to take two credits of advanced technol- Completer Program Pathway (College Completer, Career ogy rather than two credits of World and Classical Language Completer, or Dual Completer). or a career completer program. A student with the required math courses and two credits of advanced technology will * Students seeking admission to a University System of Maryland institution should qualify as a University System of Maryland Completer. The review details of math elective requirements with a school counselor student, however, must verify the admissions requirements + Magnet, and