Prince William County Public Schools 9 12 11 10 2017-18 High School Course Catalog Prince William County 9 Public Schools 99 Virtual High School virtualhigh.schools.pwcs.edu 5 3 11 1 6 7 2 12 8 4 1 – Brentsville 5 – Stonewall Jackson 9 – Battlefield 12109 Aden Road 8820 Rixlew Lane 15000 Graduation Drive Nokesville, VA 20181 Manassas, VA 20109 Haymarket, VA 20169 2 – Gar-Field 6 – Woodbridge 10 – Freedom 99 – Virtual High School 14000 Smoketown Road 3001 Old Bridge Road 15201 Neabsco Mills Road virtualhigh.schools.pwcs.edu Woodbridge, VA 22192 Woodbridge, VA 22192 Woodbridge, VA 22191 3 – Osbourn Park 7 – Hylton 11 – Patriot 8909 Euclid Avenue 14051 Spriggs Road 10504 Kettle Run Road Manassas, VA 20111 Dale City, VA 22193 Nokesville, VA 20181 4 – Potomac 8 – Forest Park 12 – Colgan 3401 Panther Pride Drive 15721 Forest Park Drive 13833 Dumfries Road Dumfries, VA 22026 Woodbridge, VA 22193 Manassas, VA 20112 Dear High School Student: Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) are committed to your high school success and transition to a meaningful post-secondary choice for future study and employment. With a clear focus on your learning, we provide you with rich and engaging experiences help you to make these decisions. Many new courses have been developed to provide you with opportunities to explore a variety of career areas. Options are also available to earn college credits through increased advanced placement, International Baccalaureate, Cambridge, and dual enrollment offerings. We have created an environment where you will learn about your strengths, how these personal strengths connect with career opportunities, and what preparation is needed to successfully transition to the world beyond high school. The “2017-18 High School Course Catalog” provides you with information about available courses and support services, and serves as a resource to you throughout the school year. A quick reference guide that lists courses by grade level and indicates the page numbers to go to in the “Catalog” for details is included. If you prefer, the “Catalog” can also be accessed on the Division’s website at pwcs.edu. Please take the time to carefully review the “Catalog” with your family. This will begin the process of selecting courses for the next school year that are meaningful to you and will help you meet your personal goals. Our PWCS counselors, teachers, and administrators will work with you to ensure your continued success in meeting graduation requirements and to be certain that your 2017-18 academic program meets your interests and needs. Sincerely, Steven L. Walts Superintendent of Schools 3 Acknowledgements Department of Student Learning and Accountability Rita E. Goss – Associate Superintendent Steven L. Walts, Ed.D. Student Learning Superintendent of Schools Kenneth Bassett, Director Ed Stephenson, Ph.D., Supervisor – Art, Music, Theatre, and Dance Douglas Wright, Supervisor – Career and Technical Education Rae E. Darlington Kelly Gardner, Supervisor – Health, Physical, and Driver Education, and Deputy Superintendent Student Activities Jeff Girvan, Supervisor – History and Social Science Roberta Apostolakis, Ed.D., Supervisor – Language Arts Rita E. Goss Schenell Agee, Supervisor – Library Media Programs and Research Associate Superintendent Amy Hickey, Supervisor – Mathematics for Student Learning and Julia Renberg, Supervisor – Science Accountability Carol Bass, Supervisor – World (Foreign) Languages Jim Mudd, Ph.D, Supervisor – Gifted Education and Special Programs William G. Bixby Student Services Associate Superintendent Carolyn Custard, Director for Middle Schools Rebekah Schlatter, Supervisor – Secondary Counseling and Student Support Services Student Management and Alternative Programs Michael A. Mulgrew Renee Lacey, Ed.D., Director Associate Superintendent Gina Jones, Coordinator – Virtual High School for High Schools Special Education Jane Lawson, Ed.D., Director ESOL Janine Sadki, Director The full content of this guide is available online at pwcs.edu by selecting Students – High School Course Catalog. 4 Table of Contents Introduction Information Technology Program Grade Placement . 7 (Battlefield High School and Ways to Earn Credit ...............................8 Forest Park High School). 47 The Cambridge Programme General Information (Brentsville District High School and Grade-Point Values ................................10 Potomac Senior High School) ..................50 Omitting a Grade for a High School Credit Course International Baccalaureate Program Taken in Middle School ...........................10 (Gar-Field High School and Schedule Changes .................................10 Stonewall Jackson High School) ................53 Graduation Requirements and Diploma Options .......10 Graduation Requirements ...........................11 The Virtual High School@PWCS ...........57 Transfer Students ..................................14 Diploma Warranty ..................................15 Courses and Descriptions Diploma Seals .....................................15 Career and Technical Education Program ............59 Post-Secondary “Ready to Go” Checklist ..............16 JROTC ..........................................72 General College Admission Information. .17 English ..........................................86 Post-Secondary Planning Timeline. 19 English Learner (EL) Programs ......................94 Terminology ......................................22 Fine and Performing Arts Program ..................96 Course Selection .................................24 Dance, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts Dual Enrollment ..................................25 Foreign (World) Language. 105 Eligibility Requirements ............................26 General Cross-Curricular. 114 Gifted Education ..................................115 Specialty Programs Health and Physical Education. 116 Pre-Governor's School @ Osbourn Park High School ..28 Mathematics .....................................118 The Governor's School @ Innovation Park. .30 Science ........................................ 132 Advanced Placement Scholars The Governor's School @ Innovation Park. 140 (Patriot High School and Social Studies ....................................143 Woodbridge High School) .....................33 Special Education ................................ 150 The Biotechnology Center Student Assistants ................................151 (Osbourn Park High School) ....................36 The Center for Environmental and Natural Sciences Appendix (Freedom High School) ........................39 Weighted Courses ............................... 153 The Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Sample Course Schedules ........................ 156 (Colgan High School) ..........................42 Sequential Electives .............................. 159 Center for International Studies and Languages List of Courses Offered ........................... 160 (Hylton High School) ...........................44 5 Make the Most of a World-Class School Division’s High School Program Making the transition to high school is an exciting and challenging time for students and their families. There are many options to choose from and a number of requirements to meet. In Prince William County Public Schools, we believe that all students should have a rigorous educational experience based on our World-Class curriculum that builds on what students have learned at home, in our community, and at school. The high school experience is designed to prepare students for future employment, further study at the college and university level, and to be effective citizens in our local, national, and global community. It consists of high quality diploma options, a wide choice of specialty programs, core required coursework, an array of elective offerings, and non-traditional options for earning credits. While academic programs form the core of our high school program, it is also important to take advantage of the many opportunities to participate in the rich extra-curricular programs at all of our high schools. Where Do I Start? Academic Year Select the diploma type you wish to earn. Students The state requires that the regular academic year is at entering the ninth grade are strongly encouraged to least 180 days, divided into two semesters. Courses are consider the advanced diploma option to maintain the generally one year in length, and students receive a final greatest number of options as they progress through grade and one standard unit of credit at the end of the their high school career. School counseling services school year for each course successfully completed. provide regular opportunities for families to evaluate Some courses, however, are individually designed for one student progress toward diploma requirements and to semester only. A one-semester course receives one-half make adjustments to the type of diploma selected. All credit, upon successful completion. Prince William County high schools provide diplomas and certificates to meet the needs of students with different Registration interests and needs. Courses listed will be included in the curriculum for the 2017-18 school year if there is sufficient enrollment and The purpose of this course description catalog is to available staff. Grade levels listed for courses indicate the describe in general terms the courses taught in Prince grade(s) in which the course is normally taken. All students William County Public Schools’ high schools, grades 9-12. will be expected to maintain a full-day schedule of classes