HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM OF STUDIES 2017-2018

1 STAFFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS high SCHOOL PROGRAM OF STUDIES 2017 -2018 S t a f f o r d C o u n t y P u b l i c S c h o o l s i s p r e s e n t l y u n d e r g o i n g a n e f f i c i e n c y s t u d y t o d e t e r m i n e t h e f e a s i b i l i t y o f i t s c u r r e n t l e v e l o f p r o g r a m m i n g . T h e o u t c o m e o f t h i s s t u d y c o u l d r e s u l t i n t h e p o t e n t i a l a l t e r a t i o n o r di s c o n t i n u a t i o n o f s o m e p r o g r a m s i n t h e f u t u r e . ii NOTICE The Stafford County SCHOOL Board does not unlawfully discriminate against any person on the basis of race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, political affiliation, or disability.

2 This policy covers all programs , services, policies, and procedures of Stafford County Public Schools, including all educational programs , admission to such programs , activities, and employment. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination should be directed to the Title IX Coordinator/Executive Director of Human Resources, Stafford County Public Schools, 31 Stafford Avenue, Stafford, VA 22554. Phone: (540) 658-6560 Fax: (540) 658-5970. Reasonable accommodation upon request. iii . ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS W. Bruce Benson, Superintendent DEPARTMENT OF INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES Pamela M. Kahle Associate Superintendent of Instructional Services Thomas M. Nichols Chief Secondary Officer Carrie B. Neeley Chief Elementary Officer Jan S. Streich, Executive Director of Learning & Organizational Development Susan Z. Clark, Executive Director of Student Services Elaina N. Parrish, Supervisor of Assessment, Accountability and PROGRAM Evaluation high SCHOOL CONTACT INFORMATION LEARNING AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT CONTACT INFORMATION Supervisor of Literacy and Humanities Janice Brunson 540-658-6693 Coordinator of Literacy K-12 Sarah Crain 540-658-6690 Coordinator of Social STUDIES K-12 Adam Wallach 540-658-6674 high SCHOOL PRINCIPAL COUNSELING CONTACT TELEPHONE Brooke Point high SCHOOL Tammy Houk Marialena Bridges, 540-658-6080 Colonial Forge high SCHOOL Gregory Daniel Rebecca Shay 540-658-6115 Mountain View high SCHOOL James Stemple, Jr.

3 Sarah Hodges 540-658-6840 North Stafford high SCHOOL Scott McClellan Carol Mayer 540-658-6150 Stafford high SCHOOL Joseph Lewis Susan Biggs 540-371-7200 Turning Point Rita Cavataio Frank Stello 540-899-6000 iv Coordinator of World Language and ESOL Vacant 540-658-6686 Supervisor of Mathematics and Science Kenya Wallach 540-658-6679 Coordinator of Mathematics Grades K-12 Mary Anne Johnson 540-658-6685 Coordinator of Science K-12 Michael Pratte 540-658-6692 Supervisor of Elective programs Karen Duffy, 540-658-6696 Coordinator of Fine and Performing Arts Annamarie Bollino 540-658-6684 Coordinator of Health, and Driver Education Michael Justice 540-658-6694 Supervisor of Gifted and Accelerated programs Melanie Daniel 540-658-6689 Supervisor of Career and Technical Education Dinah Robinson 540-658-6697 Coordinator of Career and Technical Education Lisa White-Murrill 540-658-6672 Specialist of Career Development Ann Emerson 540-658-6753 Specialist of Community Involvement Cynthia Lucero-Chavez 540-658-6695 Specialist of Assessment and Accountability Marcus Zinger 540-658-6662 Specialist of Accountability Rebecca Towery, 540-658-6723 Federal Grant and Accountability Specialist Roxana McCarthy 540-658-6660 Supervisor of Student Services Wendy Martin-Johnson 540-658-6507 Supervisor of Student Services Robert Colucci 540-658-6530 Supervisor of Student Services George Hummer 540-658-6510 v STAFFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS 2017 -2018 high SCHOOL PROGRAM OF STUDIES TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction.

4 1 Registration Information .. 1 General Information: Graduation Requirements .. 2 Sequential Electives Requirement .. 2 Standards of Learning (SOL) Testing .. 3 Graduation Requirement Tables (Diplomas) .. 4-6 Awards, Credits Earned Prior to 9th Grade, Deleting Courses .. 7-8 Virginia high SCHOOL League (VHSL) .. 9 NCAA College Freshman Athletic Eligibility Standards .. 10 Grading Scale and Grade Point Average, Transcribing Grades for Transfer Student .. 11 Auditing Courses, Credit Recovery PROGRAM , Weighted Grades .. 12 Advanced Placement, Virtual Virginia Advanced Placement, Dual Enrollment .. 13 International Baccalaureate, Signature programs , Early College Scholars, Online and Blended Learning .. 14 Course Changes .. 15 Cancelled Courses .. 15 Terminology .. 16 16 Career Clusters/SCPS Course Offerings .. 17-21 Preparing Your high SCHOOL Plan .. 22-23 Course Offerings: English.

5 24-27 History and Social Sciences .. 28-32 Mathematics .. 33-38 Science .. 39-43 World Language .. 44-48 Fine and Performing Arts .. 49-56 Health, and Driver Ed .. 57-58 Additional Credit Opportunities .. 59-61 Advanced Placement Capstone PROGRAM .. 62 Advanced Placement PROGRAM of 63-67 Commonwealth Governor s SCHOOL .. 68-71 International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme .. 72-74 Stafford Academy for Technology (STAT) .. 75-77 JROTC .. 78-82 Career and Technical Education .. 83-105 Index of Courses .. 106-118 Department of Learning and Organizational Development Stafford County Public Schools 31 Stafford Avenue Stafford, VA 22554 1 STAFFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS 2017 -2018 high SCHOOL PROGRAM OF STUDIES TO THE STUDENT Many of your choices in the future depend upon your choices of high SCHOOL courses today. This booklet has been assembled so that you will know which courses you are required to take in order to graduate from high SCHOOL as well as which elective courses you may choose.

6 Take the booklet home or access it online, and discuss the courses with your parents or guardians. Give very serious consideration to your choices. Consider your own abilities, interests, and goals. Then, choose a PROGRAM of STUDIES that will help you reach those goals. Please note that you will be required to take Standards of Learning tests in English, mathematics, science and history. Additionally, you will be required to earn a board-approved career and technical education industry credential to graduate with a Standard Diploma, and successfully completed one virtual course or blended learning experience, which may be non-credit bearing. It is also required that you complete emergency first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the use of automated external defibrillator training. TO THE PARENT/GUARDIAN The Virginia State Board of Education implemented rigorous instructional standards by refining and strengthening core skills and concepts and knowledge in English, mathematics, science, and history.

7 All students will be tested in high SCHOOL on their mastery of the Virginia Standards of Learning. All courses reflect these standards. All students must meet the graduation requirements included in this catalog. Please note that all students in grades 9-12 must take Standards of Learning tests in English, mathematics, science and history. Additionally, students will be required to earn a board-approved career and technical education industry credential to graduate with a Standard Diploma, and successfully completed one virtual course, or blended learning experience, which may be non-credit bearing. Students are also required to complete emergency first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the use of automated external defibrillator training. REGISTRATION During the winter and spring, counselors in each middle and high SCHOOL will be meeting with students and/or parents/guardians to aid students in the selection of appropriate courses for future years.

8 Certain courses are required, but many courses may be selected according to a student s interests. Alternates for elective courses should be chosen in case a scheduled conflict or low enrollment forces cancellation of a course. Generally, elective courses must have an enrollment of 15 in order to be offered. 2 GENERAL INFORMATION GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS The Regulations for Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia specifies the standards that all students must meet in order to earn a diploma. These standards can change from one year to another, and each student must meet the requirements that are in place the year he or she first entered ninth grade. Students entering the ninth grade for the first time in the fall of 2011 and beyond will be required to satisfy graduation requirements for one of three diplomas: (1) a 22-credit Standard Diploma; (2) a 26-credit Advanced STUDIES Diploma; and (3) an Applied STUDIES Diploma.

9 The Applied STUDIES Diploma is established for certain students who have a disability and who are not able to meet the credit requirements for a standard diploma. Student eligibility for this diploma is determined by the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) team, the student, and the parent/guardian. The Applied STUDIES Diploma is for students whose disabilities require a unique PROGRAM of study. What are a standard unit of credit and a verified unit of credit ? A standard unit of credit is awarded for a course in which the student successfully completes 140 clock hours of instruction and the objectives of the course. A verified unit of credit is awarded for a course in which the student earns a standard unit of credit and achieves a passing score on a corresponding end-of-course SOL test or a substitute assessment approved by the Board of Education.

10 SEQUENTIAL ELECTIVES REQUIREMENT Students earning the Standard Diploma must successfully complete two sequential electives to satisfy graduation requirements. Courses used to satisfy this requirement may be in any discipline as long as the courses are not specifically required for graduation. Courses used to satisfy the one-credit requirement in the fine arts or career and technical education may also be used to partially satisfy this requirement. For example, if a student selects Art Foundation to satisfy the fine arts or career and technical education requirement, then Art Foundation and a second course in the art sequence may also be used to satisfy the sequential electives requirement. The second course could then also count toward the six other required elective credits. Courses to satisfy the sequential elective requirement do not have to be completed in consecutive years, and they may be semester or year-long courses.