High School Curriculum Handbook 2023-24
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Georgia Graduation Requirements
Below are the current graduation requirements for Georgia public high school students who enter ninth grade for the first time in the 2008-2009 and subsequent school years. In order to meet graduation requirements, it is important to seek guidance from counselors, advisors and instructors regarding course selection and sequencing on an annual basis.
Areas of Study |
Credits |
I. English/Language Arts |
4 |
II. Math |
4 |
III. *Science |
4 |
IV. Social Studies |
3 |
V. **Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE), and/or Modern Language/Latin, and/or Fine Arts |
3 |
VI. Health & Physical Education |
1 |
Electives (4 units) |
4 |
TOTAL UNITS |
23 |
* The 4th science unit may be used to meet both the science and elective requirement. ** Students must complete three units in a pathway to complete a CTAE pathway and take an end of pathway assessment. Students interested in attending a University System of Georgia college/university must complete two years of the same foreign language to be admissible as a freshman. |
Course Placement Guidelines
The Cherokee County School District (CCSD) believes that every student should be informed prior to making course selection decisions. For this reason, a list of CCSD course offerings and standard sequencing is provided to assist students and parents/guardians in making the high school experience pleasant, informative and, most importantly, successful.
Initial placements for rising 9th grade students are determined using a data-based rubric tied to grades, Milestone assessment data and current middle school course placement. Schools are able to make adjustments to the data-based rubric results, but all placement decisions are at the final discretion of the school administration.
Teachers of pre-requisite core courses (English, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies) are responsible for making appropriate course recommendations for the next school year. Teachers in World Languages, CTAE, Fine Arts and Physical Education courses are also able to make recommendations for courses within those elective areas. In making recommendations, teachers are encouraged to consider student interests, overall course load and placement guidelines. Schools should review and share data with students and parents/guardians regarding student performance and student behaviors that indicate overall student success in advanced courses.
In determining placement for students who fall short of the criteria, overall aptitude demonstrated by the preponderance of evidence from past academic performance and teacher feedback should be considered, always bearing in mind what is in the best interest of the student.
CCSD Course Offerings
- English/Language Arts
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies
- World Language
- Health and Physical Education
- Fine Arts
- Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE)
English/Language Arts
Core Content Courses
Course Name |
Prerequisite Course |
Course Information |
· 9th Grade Literature/Composition · Honors 9th Grade Literature/Composition |
Completion of 8th grade ELA coursework |
|
· Multicultural Literature/Composition · Honors Multicultural Literature/Composition |
9th Grade Literature/Composition |
|
· American Literature/Composition* · Honors American Literature/Composition* |
Multicultural Literature/Composition or equivalent course |
|
· Advanced Composition · Honors Advanced Composition |
American Literature/Composition |
|
· AP English Language & Composition* |
Honors Multicultural Literature/Composition or equivalent course |
|
· AP English Literature & Composition |
Honors American Literature/Composition or equivalent course |
*End of Course (EOC) Assessment Required
Elective Options
· Basic Reading/Writing I-IV |
· Journalism I-IV |
· Reading Enrichment |
· Speech/Forensics I-III |
· Writer’s Workshop |
|
|
ESOL Elective Options
· Academic Language of Science and Math |
· Communication Skills |
· Communication Skills in Math |
· Oral Communications in the Content Areas |
· Reading and Listening in the Content Areas |
|
Mathematics
Core Content Courses
Course Name |
Prerequisite Course |
Course Information |
· GSE Foundations of Algebra |
Completion of 8th grade Math coursework |
|
· Algebra* · Honors Algebra* |
Completion of 8th grade Math coursework |
Adopted Resource changing for 2023-24 |
· Geometry · Honors Geometry |
Algebra |
Adopted Resource changing for 2023-24 |
· Advanced Algebra · Honors Advanced Algebra |
Geometry |
Adopted Resource changing for 2023-24 |
· Precalculus^ · Honors Precalculus |
Advanced Algebra |
|
· Enhanced Advanced Algebra & AP Precalculus |
Honors Geometry |
|
· Advanced Financial Algebra^ |
Advanced Algebra |
Adopted Resource TBD |
· Statistical Reasoning^ |
Advanced Algebra |
|
· College Readiness Mathematics^ |
Advanced Algebra |
· Calculus |
Pre-Calculus |
|
· AP Precalculus |
Advanced Algebra |
Adopted Resource |
· AP Calculus AB |
Honors/Enhanced Precalculus |
|
· AP Calculus BC |
Honors/Enhanced Precalculus |
|
· AP Statistics |
Advanced Algebra |
|
· Honors Multivariable Calculus |
Post AP Option |
*EOC Assessment Required
^Standard 4th Year Option
Science
Core Content Courses
Course Name |
Prerequisite Course |
Course Information |
· Environmental Science |
Completion of 8th grade Science coursework |
|
· Biology* · Honors Biology* |
Completion of 8th grade Science coursework |
|
· Chemistry · Honors Chemistry |
Biology (recommended) |
|
· Physical Science** |
N/A |
|
· Physics · Honors Physics |
Chemistry (recommended) |
|
· Earth Systems^ |
Completion of 8th grade Science coursework |
|
· Human Anatomy/Physiology^ · Honors Human Anatomy/Physiology^ |
Physics (recommended) |
|
· Astronomy^ |
Completion of 8th grade Science coursework |
|
· Zoology^ |
Biology (recommended) |
|
· Forensic Science^ |
Completion of 8th grade Science coursework |
|
· AP Biology |
Physical Science or Chemistry (recommended) |
|
· AP Chemistry |
Honors Biology (recommended) |
|
· AP Physics I: Algebra-Based |
Honors Chemistry (recommended) |
|
· AP Physics II: Algebra Based |
Honors Chemistry (recommended) |
|
· AP Physics C: Mechanics |
Honors Chemistry (recommended) |
|
· AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism |
Honors Chemistry (recommended) |
|
· AP Environmental Science |
Biology (recommended) |
|
· AP Computer Science Principals |
CTAE Computer Science Pathway (recommended) |
|
· AP Computer Science A |
CTAE Computer Science Pathway (recommended) |
|
*EOC Assessment Required
**EOG Assessment Required for MS Students Only
^Standard 4th Year Option
Elective Options
· Scientific Research I-II |
· Scientific Research III-IV^ |
· Advanced Scientific Internship^ |
· Advanced Genetics/DNA Research^ |
· AP Seminar – Life or Physical Science |
· AP Research – Life or Physical Science |
· Organic Chemistry^ |
|
|
^4th Year Option
Social Studies
Core Content Courses
Course Name |
Prerequisite Course |
Course Information |
· World History · Honors World History |
Completion of 8th grade Social Studies coursework |
Adopted Resource changing for 2023-24 |
· U.S. History* · Honors U.S. History* |
World History |
Adopted Resource changing for 2023-24 |
· American Government · Honors American Government |
U.S. History |
Adopted Resource changing for 2023-24 |
· Personal Finance and Economics · Honors Personal Finance and Economics |
U.S. History |
Adopted Resource changing for 2023-24 |
· AP World History |
Completion of 8th grade Social Studies coursework |
|
· AP U.S. History |
World History |
|
· AP Government/Politics: U.S. |
U.S. History |
|
· AP Government/Politics: Comparative |
U.S. History |
|
· AP Macroeconomics |
U.S. History |
Adopted Resource changing for 2023-24 |
· AP Microeconomics |
U.S. History |
Adopted Resource changing for 2023-24 |
*EOC Assessment Required
Elective Options
· Middle Eastern Studies |
||
· Modern U.S. Military History |
· Peer Leadership I |
|
· Recent U.S. Presidents |
||
· U.S. History in Film |
||
World Language
· French I-IV · Honors French II-IV |
· German I-IV · Honors German II-IV |
· Latin I-IV · Honors Latin II-IV |
· Spanish I-IV · Honors Spanish II-IV |
· American Sign Language I-IV |
· Spanish for Native Speakers I-II |
· Workplace Spanish · Advanced Workplace Spanish |
|
· AP Latin |
|
Health and Physical Education
· Health |
|
· Adaptive Physical Education I-IV |
|
· Exercise and Weight Control · Advanced Exercise and Weight Control |
· Physical Conditioning · Advanced Physical Conditioning |
· Introductory Lifetime Sports |
· Introductory Recreational Games |
· Principles of Athletic Training/Sports Medicine |
Fine Arts
Visual Arts
|
|
· AP Art and Design: Drawing Portfolio |
|
|
Drama
|
Chorus
|
Band
Orchestra
Additional Music Courses
|
Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE)
Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Career Cluster
Pathway |
Course 1 |
Course 2 |
Course 3 |
· Companion Animal Systems Pathway |
|||
· Equine Science Pathway |
|||
· Veterinary Science Pathway |
|||
· Agricultural Mechanics Systems Pathway |
|||
· Plant and Floral Design Systems Pathway |
|||
· Plant and Floriculture Systems Pathway |
Architecture and Construction Career Cluster
Pathway |
Course 1 |
Course 2 |
Course 3 |
· Architectural Drawing and Design Pathway |
|||
· Carpentry Pathway |
|||
· Electrical Pathway |
|||
· Welding Pathway |
Arts, Audio/Video Technology and Communications Career Cluster
Pathway |
Course 1 |
Course 2 |
Course 3 |
· Audio/Video Technology and Film I Pathway |
|||
· Audio/Video Technology and Film II Pathway |
|||
· Graphic Design Pathway |
|||
· Graphic Communication Pathway |
Education and Training Career Cluster
Course 1 |
Course 2 |
Course 3 |
|
· Early Childhood Care and Education I Pathway |
|||
· Early Childhood Care and Education II Pathway |
|||
· Teaching as a Profession Pathway |
Energy
Pathway |
Course 1 |
Course 2 |
Course 3 |
· Energy and Power Pathway |
Government and Public Administration Career Cluster
Pathway |
Course 1 |
Course 2 |
Course 3 |
Course 4 |
· JROTC Army |
||||
· JROTC Air Force |
· Aerospace Science: Aviation History/Leadership
|
|||
· JROTC Navy |
Health Science Career Cluster
Pathway |
Course 1 |
Course 2 |
Course 3 |
· Therapeutic Services/Patient Care Pathway |
|||
· Therapeutic Services/Sports Medicine Pathway |
|||
· Therapeutic Services/Allied Health and Medicine Pathway |
|||
· Therapeutic Services/Exercise Physiology Pathway |
|||
· Diagnostics/Clinical Lab Pathway |
Human Services Career Cluster
Pathway |
Course 1 |
Course 2 |
Course 3 |
· Nutrition and Food Science Pathway |
Information Technology Career Cluster
Pathway |
Course 1 |
Course 2 |
Course 3 |
· Computer Science Pathway |
or |
||
· Cloud Computing Pathway |
|||
· Web Development Pathway |
|||
· Cybersecurity Pathway** |
*Instructor approval required
**Only offered at C3 Academy
Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security Career Cluster
Pathway |
Course 1 |
Course 2 |
Course 3 |
· Fire and Emergency Services/Firefighting Pathway |
Introduction to Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security |
||
· Law Enforcement Services/Criminal Investigations Pathway |
|||
· Law Enforcement Services/Forensic Science Pathway |
|||
· Security and Protective Services Pathway |
Marketing Career Cluster
Pathway |
Course 1 |
Course 2 |
Course 3 |
· Marketing and Management Pathway |
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Career Cluster
Pathway |
Course 1 |
Course 2 |
Course 3 |
· Engineering and Technology Pathway |
|||
· Engineering Drafting and Design Pathway |
Transportation, Distribution and Logistics Career Cluster
Pathway |
Course 1 |
Course 2 |
Course 3 |
· General Automotive Technology Pathway |
|||
· Collision Repair - Painting and Refinishing Pathway |
|||
· Flight Operations Pathway** |
|||
· Unmanned Aircraft Systems Pathway** |
**Only offered at C3 Academy
Workforce Ready Pathway Courses
Pathway |
Course 1 |
Course 2 |
Course 3 |
· Workforce Ready Pathway |