GRADE PLACEMENT Student records are evaluated for grade level placement at the end of each school year. The following intervals of credits will be used for grade placement:
GRADE LEVEL UNITS
9th 0 - 4½ 10th 5 - 10½ 11th 11 - 16½ 12th 17 - 23
MINIMUM COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION
1. For incoming freshmen prior to 2008-2009, the minimum course requirements for graduation shall be the following:
|
English |
4 units |
|
Shall be English I, II, and III, in consecutive order; and English IV or Business English. |
|
|
Mathematics |
3 units |
|
(Effective for incoming freshmen 2005-2006 and beyond.) All students must complete one of the following: · Algebra I (1 unit) or · Algebra I-Pt. 1 and Algebra I-Pt. 2 (2 units) or · Integrated Mathematics I (1 unit) The remaining unit(s)
shall come from the following:
(Effective for incoming freshmen 1997-98
through 2004-2005) |
|
|
Science |
3 units |
|
Shall be the following: 1 unit of Biology 1 unit from the following physical science cluster: Physical Science, Integrated Science, Chemistry I, Physics I, Physics of Technology I 1 unit from the following courses: Aerospace Science, Biology II, Chemistry II, Earth Science, Environmental Science, Physics II, Physics of Technology II, Agriscience II, an additional course from the physical science cluster, or a locally initiated science elective.
·
Students may not take both
Integrated Science and
·
Agriscience I is a
prerequisite for Agriscience II and |
|
|
Social Studies |
3 units |
|
Shall be American History, 1/2 unit of Civics or AP American Government, 1/2 unit of Free Enterprise; and 1 of the following: World History, World Geography, Western Civilization, or AP European History. |
|
|
Health Education |
1/2 unit |
|
Physical Education |
1 1/2 units |
|
Shall be Physical Education I and Physical
Education II, or NOTE: The substitution of JROTC is permissible. |
|
|
Electives |
8 units |
|
TOTAL |
23 units |
2. For incoming freshmen in 2008-2009 and beyond who are completing the Louisiana Core Curriculum, the minimum course requirements for graduation shall be the following:
|
English |
4 units |
|
Shall be English I, II, and III, and English IV or Senior Applications in English |
|
|
Mathematics |
4 units |
|
Algebra I (1 unit) or Algebra I-Pt. 1 and Algebra I-Pt. 2 (2 units) Geometry
The remaining units shall come from the
following: |
|
|
Science |
3 units |
|
Shall be the following: 1 unit of Biology 1 unit from the following physical science cluster: Physical Science, Integrated Science, Chemistry I, Physics I, Physics of Technology I 1 unit from the following courses: 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.
·
Students may not take both
Integrated Science and
·
Agriscience I is a
prerequisite for Agriscience II and |
|
|
Social Studies |
3 units |
|
Shall be American History, 1/2 unit of Civics or AP American Government, 1/2 unit of Free Enterprise; and 1 of the following: World History, World Geography, Western Civilization, or AP European History. |
|
|
Health Education |
1/2 unit |
|
Physical Education |
1 1/2 units |
|
Shall be Physical Education I and Physical Education II, or Adapted Physical Education for eligible special education students. A maximum of 4 units of Physical Education may be used toward graduation. NOTE: The substitution of JROTC is permissible. |
|
|
Electives |
8 units |
|
TOTAL |
24 units |
3. For incoming freshmen in 2008-2009 and beyond who are completing the Louisiana Core 4 Curriculum, the minimum course requirements shall be the following:
|
English |
4 units |
|
Shall be English I, II, III, and English IV |
|
|
Mathematics |
4 units |
|
Algebra I (1 unit) or Algebra I-Pt. 2 Geometry Algebra II The remaining unit
shall come from the following: |
|
|
Science |
4 units |
|
Shall be the following: 1 unit of Biology 1 unit of Chemistry
2 units from the following courses:
·
Students may not take both
Integrated Science and
·
Agriscience I is a
prerequisite for Agriscience II and A student completing a Career and Technical Area of Concentration may substitute a BESE/Board of Regents approved IBC-related course from within the student's Area of Concentration for the 4th required science unit |
|
|
Social Studies |
4 units |
|
Shall be the following 1/2 unit of Civics or AP American Government 1/2 unit of Free Enterprise 1 unit of American History
1 unit from the following:
1 unit from the following: A student completing a Career and Technical Area of Concentration may substitute a BESE/Board of Regents approved IBC-related course from within the student’s Area of Concentration for the 4th required social studies unit. |
|
|
Health Education |
1/2 unit |
|
Physical Education |
1 1/2 units |
|
Shall be Physical Education I and Physical Education II, or Adapted Physical Education for eligible special education students. A maximum of four units of Physical Education may be used toward graduation. NOTE: The substitution of JROTC is permissible. |
|
|
Foreign Language |
2 units |
|
Shall be 2 units in the same foreign language or 2 Speech courses |
|
|
Arts |
1 unit |
|
1 unit Fine Arts
Survey or 1 unit of Art (§2333), Dance (§2337), A student completing a Career and Technical Area of Concentration may substitute a BESE/Board of Regents approved IBC-related course from within the student's area of concentration for the required applied arts unit. |
|
|
Electives |
3 units |
|
TOTAL |
24 units |
High School Area of Concentration
1. All high schools shall provide students the opportunity to complete an area of concentration with an academic focus and/or a career focus.
a. Incoming freshmen prior to 2008-2009 can complete an Academic Area of Concentration by completing the current course requirements for the Tuition Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) Opportunity Award.
b. Incoming freshmen in 2008-2009 and beyond can complete an Academic Area of Concentration by completing the course requirements for the LA Core 4 curriculum.
c. To complete a career Area of Concentration, students shall
meet the minimum requirements for graduation including four elective primary
credits in the Area of Concentration and two related elective credits, including
one computer/technology course. Areas of Concentration are identified in the
Career Options Reporting System with each LEA designating the Career and
Technical Education Areas of Concentration offered in their school system each
year. The following computer/technology courses can be used to meet this
requirement.
|
Course |
Credit |
|
Computer/Technology Literacy |
1 |
|
Computer Applications or Business Computer Applications |
1 |
|
Computer Architecture |
1 |
|
Computer Science I, II |
1 each |
|
Computer Systems and Networking I, II |
1 each |
|
Desktop Publishing |
1 |
|
Digital Graphics & Animation |
1/2 |
|
Multimedia Presentations |
1/2 or 1 |
|
Web Mastering or Web Design |
1/2 |
|
Independent Study in Technology Applications |
1 |
|
Word Processing |
1 |
|
Telecommunications |
1/2 |
|
Introduction to Business Computer Applications |
1 |
|
Technology Education Computer Applications |
1 |
|
Advanced Technical Drafting |
1 |
|
Computer Electronics I, II |
1 each |
|
Database Programming with PL/SQL |
1 |
|
Java Programming |
1 |
|
Database Design and Programming |
1/2 |
|
Digital Media I, II |
1 each |
G. Academic Endorsement
1. Graduating seniors who meet the requirements for a standard diploma and satisfy the following performance indicators shall be eligible for an academic endorsement to the standard diploma.
a. Students graduating prior to 2010-2011 shall complete an Academic Area of Concentration. Students graduating in 2010-2011 and beyond shall complete the following curriculum requirements:
|
English |
4 units |
|
English I, II, III, and IV |
|
|
Mathematics |
4 units |
|
Algebra I (1 unit) or Algebra I-Pt. 2 Geometry Algebra II The remaining unit
shall come from the following |
|
|
Science |
4 units |
|
1 unit of Biology 1 unit of Chemistry 1 unit of advanced
science from the following courses: 1 additional science unit |
|
|
Social Studies |
4 units |
|
1/2 unit of Civics or AP American Government and Politics 1/2 unit of Free Enterprise 1 unit of American History 1 unit from the
following: 1 unit from the
following: |
|
|
Health Education |
1/2 unit |
|
Physical Education |
1 1/2 units |
|
NOTE: The substitution of JROTC is permissible. |
|
|
Foreign Language |
2 units |
|
Shall be 2 units in the same foreign language |
|
|
Arts |
1 unit |
|
1 unit Fine Arts Survey or 1 unit of Art (§2333), Dance (§2337), Music (§2355), Theatre Arts (§2333), or Applied Arts. |
|
|
Electives |
3 units |
|
TOTAL |
24 units |
b. Students shall pass all four components of GEE with a score of Basic or above, or one of the following combinations of scores with the English language arts score at Basic or above:
i. one Approaching Basic, one Mastery or Advanced, Basic or above in the remaining two; or
ii. two Approaching Basic, two Mastery or above.
c. Students shall complete one of the following requirements:
i. Senior Project;
ii. one Carnegie unit in an AP course with a score of three or higher on the AP exam;
iii. one Carnegie unit in an IB course with a score of four or higher on the IB exam; or
iv. three college hours of non-remedial, articulated credit in mathematics, social studies, science, foreign language, or English language arts.
d. Students shall meet the current minimum grade-point average requirement for the TOPS Opportunity Award.
e. Students shall achieve an ACT Composite Score of at least 23 or the SAT equivalent.
H. Career/Technical Endorsement
1. Students who meet the requirements for a standard diploma and satisfy the following performance indicators shall be eligible for a career/technical endorsement to the standard diploma.
a. Students graduating prior to 2010-2011 shall meet the current course requirements for the TOPS Opportunity Award or the TOPS Tech Award. Students graduating in 2010-2011 and beyond shall meet the course requirements for the Louisiana Core 4 Curriculum.
b. Students shall complete the career area of concentration.
c. Students graduating prior to 2009-2010 shall pass the English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies components of the GEE 21 at the Approaching Basic level or above. Students graduating in 2009-2010 and beyond shall pass all four components of the GEE with a score of basic or above OR one of the following combinations with the English language arts score at basic or above:
i. one approaching basic, one mastery or advanced, and basic or above in the remaining two;
ii. two approaching basic, two mastery or above.
d. Students shall complete a minimum of 90 work hours of work-based learning experience related to the student's area of concentration (as defined in the LDE Diploma Endorsement Guidebook) OR senior project related to student's area of concentration with 20 hours of related work-based learning and mentoring and complete one of the following requirements:
i. industry-based certification in student's area of concentration from the list of industry-based certifications approved by BESE; or
ii. three college hours in a career/technical area that articulate to a postsecondary institution, either by actually obtaining the credits and/or being waived from having to take such hours in student’s area of concentration.
e. Students shall achieve a minimum GPA of 2.5.
f. Students graduating prior to 2008-2009 shall achieve the current minimum ACT Composite Score (or SAT Equivalent) for the TOPS Opportunity Award or the TOPS Tech Award. Students graduating in 2008-2009 and beyond shall achieve a minimum ACT Composite Score (or SAT Equivalent) of 20 or the State ACT average (whichever is higher) or the Silver Level on the WorkKeys Assessment.
I. A Louisiana state high school diploma cannot be denied to a student who meets the state minimum high school graduation requirements; however, in those instances in which BESE authorizes an LEA to impose more stringent academic requirements, a school system diploma may be denied.
Advanced Placement Required Courses Electives
GRADUATION OR EXIT EXAMINATIONS Since the fall of l987 high school students have been required to pass all five tests in the Louisiana Educational Assessment Program (LEAP) in order to complete requirements for a high school diploma. Tenth grade students will take the Writing, Language Arts, and Mathematics components in April of the sophomore year. Science and Social Studies segments will be taken in April of the junior year. Students will be given more than one opportunity to pass each test; they will not retest on sections that are passed. Retesting will take place in October and April of each year. Graduating seniors also have a February retest opportunity.
HONOR CORDS FOR GRADUATION By Caddo Parish School Board policy the following are criteria used to designate those who may wear honor cords in the graduation exercises.
GRADUATION SUPPLIES Orders for caps and gowns, invitations and other graduation supplies are taken in February. Seniors are required to purchase a cap and gown in order to participate in the ceremony, but other supplies are optional. All payments are considered non-refundable.
DEBT POLICY If a student has outstanding debts, his/her report cards, diplomas, and other like documents, as well as the opportunity to participate in the graduation ceremony, will be withheld.
REGENTS SCHOLAR COLLEGE PREPARATORY CURRICULUM Students are required to have a 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale in order to receive this award. Regents' Scholar Certificate of Recognition curriculum now mirrors that of the Tuition Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS). See TOPS for curriculum qualifications.
HONOR'S CURRICULUM 24 credits, 4 college prep maths, biology, chemistry, and earth science or physics, world history and either world geography or western civilization, 2 years same foreign language, 1 year fine arts or 2 credits in art, dance, music, drama.
TOPS Louisiana's Tuition Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) is a comprehensive program of state scholarships. You must apply for all TOPS awards by submitting the version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) which corresponds to the year you plan to enroll in a postsecondary school. The state deadline is published on the FAFSA. The state website for TOPS contains the Award Components of TOPS.
TOPS CORE CURRICULA
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PRESIDENT'S EDUCATION AWARD PROGRAM (PEAP) The qualifications are:
ADMISSION TO LSU IN BATON ROUGE The requirements are the following:
