PONCHATOULA HIGH SCHOOL

LEAP

Graduation Requirements

Assessments

IGP’s

AOC’s

TOPS

Scheduling

Introduction

• The information you are receiving is important for you and your child. You, the school, and the student must work together to ensure that your student achieves his/her educational goals.

• Each student will receive an informational newspaper needed for scheduling. It will provide you with graduation requirements, scheduling requirements, course summaries and other important information. Read this guide carefully and discuss the scheduling options with your child.

• Students are NOT allowed to change teachers or courses once the schedules are issued. So please give serious consideration to your selections.

Louisiana Educational Assessment Program (LEAP)

Students must score Basic or above in either English or math and Approaching Basic or above in the other subject on the LEAP to advance to the next grade.

LOUISIANA GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

College And Career Diploma

Louisiana Core 4 Curriculum

Louisiana Basic Core Curriculum

Career Diploma

What can I do with each diploma?

Core 4 Basic Career

4 year college √

2 year college √ √ √

Technical college √ √ √

Military √ √ √

Work √ √ √

State Policy

All students entering 9th grade are automatically placed on the LA Core 4 pathway.

At the end of the 10th grade year, a student with parent or guardian permission may opt into the Basic Core or Career Diploma curriculum.

Louisiana Graduation RequirementsCollege and Career Diploma

Entering 9th Graders 2008-2009 and Beyond

Louisiana Core 4 Curriculum Louisiana Basic Core CurriculumEnglish - 4 units

English I, II, III, and IV

Math – 4 unitsAlgebra I or Algebra I-Pt. 2 or Applied Algebra IGeometryAlgebra IIRemaining unit shall come from the

following: Financial Math, Math Essentials, Advanced Math–Pre-Calculus, Advanced Math–Functions and Statistics, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Probability and Statistics, Discrete Math, or a locally-initiated elective approved by BESE as a math substitute.

Science – 4 unitsBiologyChemistry

2 units from the following: Physical Science, Integrated Science, Physics I, Physics of Technology I, Aerospace Science, Biology II, Chemistry II, Earth Science, Environmental Science, Physics II, Physics of Technology II, Agriscience II, Anatomy and Physiology, or a locally initiated elective approved by BESE as a science substitute.*

Social Studies – 4 units½ unit of Civics or AP American Government½ unit of Free Enterprise.American History

1 unit from the following: World History, World Geography, Western Civilization, or AP European History

1 unit from World History, World Geography, Western Civilization, AP European History, Civics (second semester – ½ credit), Law Studies, Psychology, Sociology, or African American Studies*

Health – ½ Unit

Physical Education – 1½ units

Foreign Language – 2 units2 units from the same foreign language or 2

units of speech

Arts – 1 unitFine Arts Survey or one unit of Art, Dance,

Music, or Theatre*

Electives – 3 units

*Approved IBC-related course may be substituted.

English – 4 unitsEnglish I, II, III and IV or Senior Applications

in English

Math – 4 unitsAlgebra I or Algebra I-Pt1 and Algebra I-Pt 2

or Applied Algebra IGeometry

Remaining units shall come from the following:

Algebra II, Financial Math, Math Essentials,

Advanced Math–Pre-Calculus, Advanced Math–Functions and Statistics, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Probability and Statistics, Discrete Math, or a locally-initiated elective approved by BESE as a math substitute

Science – 3 unitsBiology

1 unit from physical science cluster: Physical Science, Integrated Science, Chemistry I, Physics I, or Physics of Technology I

1 unit from Aerospace Science, Biology II, Chemistry II, Earth Science, Environmental Science, Physics II, Physics of Technology II, Agriscience II, Anatomy and Physiology, an additional course from the physical Science cluster, or a locally initiated elective approved by BESE as a science substitute.

Social Studies – 3 unitsAmerican History½ unit of Civics or AP American Government½ unit of Free Enterprise.

1 unit from World History, Western Civilization, World Geography, or AP European History

Health – ½ Unit

Physical Education – 1½ units

Electives – 8 unitsEducation for Careers or Journey to Careers*Shall include the minimum courses required to

complete a Career/Technical Area of Concentration*

 *Effective with entering 9th graders 2010-2011 and beyond      

Total – 24 units Total – 24 units

Louisiana Graduation RequirementsCareer Diploma

English - 4 units English I, II The remaining unit shall come from the following: Technical Reading and Writing Business English Business Communications Using Research in Careers (1/2 credit) American Literature (1/2 credit) Film in America (1/2 credit) English III English IV Senior Applications in English A course developed by the LEA and approved by BESE

 Math – 4 units One of the following: Algebra I (1 unit) or Algebra I-Pt. 1 and Algebra I-Pt. 2 (2 units) or Applied Algebra I (1 unit) The remaining units shall come from the following:

Geometry or Applied Geometry, Technical Math, Medical Math, Applications in Statistics and Probability, Financial Math, Math Essentials, Algebra II, Advanced Math—Pre-Calculus, Discrete Mathematics, or course(s) developed by the LEA and approved by BESE

 Science – 3 units Biology 1 unit from the following physical science cluster:

Physical Science, Integrated Science, Chemistry I, ChemCom, Physics I, or Physics of Technology I

The remaining unit shall come from the following:Food Science, Forensic Science, Allied Health Science, Basic Body Structure and Function, Basic Physics with Applications, Aerospace Science, Earth Science, Agriscience II, Physics of Technology II, Environmental Science, Anatomy and Physiology, Animal Science, Biotechnology in AgricultureEnvironmental Studies in Agriculture, Health Science II, EMT – Basic, an additional course from the physical science cluster, or course(s) developed by the LEA and approved by BESE

 Social Studies – 3 units

½ unit of Civics ½ unit of Free Enterprise.American History1 unit from the following: Child Psychology and Parenthood Education, Law Studies, Psychology,

Sociology, World History, World Geography, Western Civilization, Economics, American Government, African American Studies, Course developed by the LEA and approved by BESE

Health – ½ Unit

Physical Education – 1½ units

Career and Technical Education – 7 units

Education for Careers or Journey to Careers 6 credits required for a career Area of Concentration Total – 23 units

Diploma Curriculum Comparison

PHS Courses

This comparison only includes the courses currently available at PHS. A complete list of the diploma requirements can be found in

the scheduling newspaper.

English

Core 4(4 units)

Basic(4 units)

Career(4 units)

English I

English II

English III

English IV English IV orSenior Applications

English IV or Senior Applications

Math

Core 4(4 units)

Basic(4 units)

Career(4 units)

Algebra I orAlg I Pt I & Alg 1 Pt 2

Geometry Geometry Geometry, Financial Math, Math Essentials, Algebra II, Adv. Math, Calculus

Algebra II Financial Math, Math Essentials, Algebra II, Adv. Math, Calculus

Financial Math, Math Essentials, Adv. Math,Calculus

Note: Algebra I Pt. 1 & Algebra I Pt. 2 counts for 2 units in the Basic and Career Diploma.

In Core 4, Financial Math & Math Essentials do not meet TOPS requirements.

Science

Core 4(4 units)

Basic(3 units)

Career(3 units)

Physical Science or Integrated Science

Biology

Chemistry I Anatomy & Physiology, Biology II, Chemistry I, Chemistry II, Physics, Environmental Science, Agriscience II

Anatomy & Physiology, Biology II, Chemistry II, Physics, Environmental Science, Agriscience II

In Basic and Career curriculum, Chemistry I required for TOPS Tech.

Social Studies

Core 4(4 units)

Basic(3 units)

Career(3 units)

World Geography

Civics

American History

World History

Additional Requirements

Core 4Total – 24 units

BasicTotal – 24 units

CareerTotal – 23 units

1 ½ PE & Health or ROTC I & II

2 units of a foreign language1 unit of an art3 electives

Journey to Careers or Educ. For Careers

7 electives 6 electives

Must complete an AOC

State Assessments End of Course Test

Students must pass three End of Course tests to graduate.

English II or English III

Algebra I or Geometry

Biology I or American History

* EOC Test will count as 15% of the final grade.

Individual Graduation PlansAccording to the Career Options Law, every student must have an Individual Graduation Plan (IGP) on file at the school.

The plan is initiated in 8th grade and will be updated each year.

The IGP shall be signed by the student and parent or legal guardian each year.

The IGP reflects the curriculum pathway and the recommended sequence of elective courses. The IGP is flexible, yet sufficiently structured, to ensure that a student will meet the high school requirements for admission to a postsecondary education institution or enter the workforce.

Areas of Concentration

Each student MUST choose an Area of Concentration on the Individual Graduation Plan (IGP).

An Area of Concentration is a sequence of courses based on a student’s interests.

Area of Concentrations• Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources

• Agriculture Production/Management/Entrepreneurship

• Animal Science• Architecture and Construction

• Carpentry and Construction• Drafting

• Arts, A/V Technology, and Communication• Graphic Arts• Journalism• Liberal Arts• Mass Communication• Performing Arts

• Business, Management and Administration• Administrative Support• Business, Administration

• Education and Training• Advanced Studies/Core 4 only• General Studies

• Finance• Banking and Finance (NAF Academy)

• Government and Public Administration• JROTC

• Health Science• Nutrition and Food• Emergency Health Care• Health Professionals• Pharmacy

• Hospitality and Tourism• Culinary Arts

• Human Services• Child Development Services• Management of Family Resources

• Manufacturing• Welding

• Marketing, Sales and Services• Entrepreneurship• Marketing and Sales Management

• Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Engineering

How do I choose an area of concentration?

Louisiana’s Taylor Opportunity Program for Students

TOPS

• A series of merit-based scholarships that award amounts equal to tuition, some including a stipend, at a state public college, university, community college or technical school, (or the weighted average of public school tuition at certain in-state private colleges).

TOPS Opportunity, Performance, and Honors Awards8 semesters of college tuition   

TOPS Tech Award2 years of technical college tuition

Overview of TOPS Requirements

TOPS TOPS Tech

Option 1

TOPSTech

Option 2

4 year college √

2 year college √ √ √

Technical college √ √ √

TOPS Core Curriculum 19 units 17 units 19 units

TOPS GPA 2.5 2.5 2.5

ACT 20 17 17

Scheduling Information

Classification by Grade Levels

9th Grade 0 – 5.5 Credits

10th Grade 6 – 10.5 Credits

11th Grade 11 –16.5 Credits

12th Grade 17 - Credits

Scheduling Forms

FormsSchedule Request 2012 – 2013Individual Graduation PlanCareer Clusters & Area of Concentration FormStudent Application and/or Teacher Input Form for

honors classes

The Principal or School Counselor will inform your child regarding the procedures for returning the scheduling forms to his/her school.

If the forms are not returned a schedule will be made for the student by the counselor.

Honors Courses Criteria

A student must meet three of the five criteria yearly for the subject area requested.

1. Minimum overall GPA of 2.8 2. Minimum subject area average of 3.0

3. Teacher Recommendation based on asubject-area checklist

4. Student Application and Self-evaluation Form with Parent Signature

5. Score Mastery or Advanced on LEAP orEOC test in subject area

What will my schedule look like?

9th grade schedule

English I or English II

Algebra I, Algebra I Pt. , or Geometry

Physical Science, Integrated Science, or Biology

World Geography

PE I or ROTC I

Intro to BCA

Elective – preferably from your AOC

9th Grade Electives

Agriscience I

Principles of Business

French I (requires a 3.5 GPA)

Spanish I (requires an A or B in 8th grade Spanish)

Theater I

Family and Consumer Sciences I

Basic Wood Tech

Beginning Chorus

Band

Course SelectionPlease be sure to read the description of the elective before choosing.

Please choose wisely, because we do not change electives once the master schedule is made.

If you ask for a class and receive it, you are expected to stay there for the entire length of the course.

Some courses require that you get special approval. Special approval means that you must get the teacher granting permission to sign your schedule request form. For example, band requires that the PJHS band director signs.

Principal

Danny Strickland

Ninth Grade Academy

Melanie Monistere

Counselors

• A-D

Denise Latour

• E-K

Orlisa DePhillips

• L-Q

Katharine Meadors

• R-Z

Tommie Robertson