HIGH SCHOOL PLANNINGand ORIENTATION

Douglas County High School8705 Campbellton St.

Douglasville, GA 30134

Tim Scott, Principal

www.dctigers.com

Topics Covered

• Block Schedule• Freshman Classes• HonorsClasses• Extra Support• 9th Grade Counts• Graduation

• EOCT• Parent involvement• Extracurricular Activities• Eligibility• Questions

Douglas County High Schools

Each unique…..but all have the same graduation requirements

Areas of Study:Units Required

English/Language Arts * 4Mathematics* 4Science* 4Social Studies* 4 (3)CTAE and/or Fine Arts and/or Foreign Lang. 3Health and Physical Education* 1Electives 4

Total Units (Minimum) 24 (23)

* Specific Sequence of Course Requirements

Graduation RuleGraduation Rule

BLOCK SCHEDULE• Students take 8 classes per

year. • Students take four classes

one day and four classes the next day.– Blue=1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Period– Gold=5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th Period

• Each class is 90 minutes.• Each class counts as 1

unit/credit. Health & Personal Fitness are .5 units/credits.

• Students may earn up to 8 units/credits per year.– Must pass 6 units to be a

Sophomore – at least 1 English & 1 Math.

• Most students will have two core/academic classes per semester and 2 electives per semester.

FRESHMEN CLASSES

Academically, high school can be a difficult

adjustment. Some classes can cause a struggle because EVERYTHING

COUNTS!

Even in the first year….

FRESHMAN COURSE REQUIREMENTS

ALL 9th graders take:• *9th Lit/Comp • American Government• *Math I • Math I Lab• Biology I• Health/PEI (IB Only)• 4 electives

FOREIGN LANGUAGE• Students planning to attend a two or four year post-

secondary school must take 2 foreign language classes in the same language.

• All DCSS high schools offer Spanish and French.• 9th graders are typically unable to take foreign

language classes due to upper class scheduling.• If a student completed two years of a foreign

language in middle school he/she is automatically placed in the second year of that language during 9th grade.

• A student who has not taken a foreign language may take the 1st Year of a course, or double up and take the 1st and 2nd Year of a course this year!

CTAE PATHWAYS• Cosmetology• Education as a Profession• Business Education / Computer

Science– Financial Management Accounting

& Service– Marketing & Management – Computer Media– Small Business Management

• Nutrition & Food Science• Human Growth & Development• Military ( Army JROTC)• Health Care Science (Therapeutic

Services Medical)• Law & Justice• Plant/Animal Horticulture

Why Honors Classes ?

• 45% of students who have taken one AP course and 61% of students who have taken two or more AP courses are completing their bachelor’s degrees in four years or less.

• Only 29% of students who enroll in colleges without taking AP are completing their bachelor’s degrees on schedule.

• 60% of all recent high school graduates entering a community college last year needed to take at least one remedial course.

Honors Pointers1. Challenge yourself, but

don’t drown!

2. It is O.K. to take Honors in some academic areas and not in others.

3. If you do well your first year, you may be eligible to take AP classes as a sophomore.

EXTRA SUPPORT IS HERE FOR YOU

WHEN YOU NEED HELP, ASK!!• Classroom Teachers• Math I Support Lab• 9th Literature & Reading Lab• Bridges and CHAMPS

Tutoring• Special Education• SST

BRIDGESBuilding Rigor in Douglas to Graduate Every Student

Smaller Learning Communities Grant

• Freshman Summer Camp• Freshman Fiesta• Freshman Academy• Mentors & Buddies• Freshman Parent Night• Freshman Enrichment Trip• Advisement• After School & Saturday Tutoring• Freshman Newsletter• Freshman of the Month• College Field Trips• Job Shadow Day (Upperclassmen

Only)

9th GRADE IS IMPORTANT!

• HOPE scholarship• Freshman Index (College

Admissions)• Superintendent Scholar Award

(3.5 GPA first semester, no grade below “B”)

• For promotion to 10th grade (have to earn 6 units) – no more “placement” in the next grade. You MUST earn units to go to next grade level.

• While possible, it is difficult to recover from failing grades!

Bring your “A GAME” everyday! Your future depends on it!

End of Course Tests:• Your students will be taking several state mandated End of

Course Tests (EOCT) throughout their high school experience.• The EOCT counts for 20% of the final semester grade.• Students must pass the EOCT course to fulfill Georgia High

School Graduation Requirements.• The following courses have an EOCT.

*9th Grade Literature American Literature

*Biology Physical Science

*Math I Math II

Economics US History

Student Involvement:ActivitiesStep Step TeamTeam

Drama

Club

Art

Club

Beta Club Newspaper Model

UN

FTA Thespian

Society

FBLA FCCLA First

Priority

French Club

HOSA Chess

Club

Art Honor

Society

NHS Photo Club

Spanish Club

One-Act Play

Band Debate Math Team

Mock Trial Team

Dance

Team

Student

Council

GCSA KEY

Club

Knitting Reading

Bowl

Literary Meet

ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY:For Competitive Activities

• ALL 1st time 9th graders are eligible• After 1st semester:

– Meet GHSA criteria– Pass 3 out of 4 classes– Be on “track”

• Obtain 4 units by 10th grade• Obtain 10 units by 11th grade• Obtain 16 units by 12th grade

Sports:FALLFALL WINTERWINTER SPRINGSPRING

Football Wrestling Baseball

Softball Basketball Track

Cross Country Swimming Tennis

Cheerleading Golf

Volleyball Soccer

Keep in Mind• High School still has a

dress code.• Poor attendance will

negatively affect your student’s academic progress.

• Discipline issues can make your child miss classes and fall behind in work

FRESHMAN REGISTRATION/EXPO

Come see: The school The academic

programs The

extracurricular activities – clubs, sports, etc.

Registration

MARCH 27

6:00 – 8:00 (DCHS)

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?For additional information, please contact:

Erika Cooper

Assistant Principal of Curriculum & Instruction

Erika.Cooper@douglas.k12.ga.us

770.651.6573

Michal Sims

Assistant Principal of 9th Grade Academy

770.651.6519

www.dctigers.com