This document provides information to help students plan their high school course schedule and path to graduation. It outlines graduation requirements including required credits in core subjects and electives. It describes different diploma options and their specific requirements. The document also gives details about course sequencing, honors/AP courses, career technical electives, athletic eligibility, and the course registration process.

1. Planning for High School
Walker High School

2. Terminology
q Credits –earned by course – every 18 week class receives 1 credit for
passing grades and acceptable attendance.
q Required – courses that the state/district mandate for graduation
credits
q Core Subjects – English, Math, Science, Social Studies (4 x 4)
q Elective Course – courses that are not specified as a required
course
q Pre-requisite – a course required before taking another course

3. A transcript…
• Is a reflection of your academic work in high school
• Only contains grades and testing information
• Only shows final grades in classes not report card
grades
• Is permanent-nothing can be taken off or replaced
• Is what colleges request (not your diploma)
• Shows how many credits you have earned
• Shows your weighted, unweighted & numeric GPA
• Shows your rank in class

4. Sample Transcript
Transcript Report
• School: Walker High School 2009-2010 Page: 1
• Address: 1601 Highland Ave Accr: Southern Assoc. of Coll./Sch. Ala. State Dept. of Educ
• Jasper AL 35501
• Phone: (205)221-9277 Fax: (205)387-5228
• Principal: Jeremy Crigger
• Student: Doe, Jane DOB: 01/01/1988 ID:55555555
• Address: 5555 Highland Ave. Guardian: John Doe
• Jasper AL 35501 Currently in grade 12
• Phone: (205)555-5555
•
• Period 2 2006/2007 Period 4 2006/2007 Period 1 2007/2008 Period 2 2007/2008
• Grade: 9-Walker High School 06-07 Grade: 9-Walker High School 06-07 Grade:10-Walker High School 07-08 Grade:10-Walker High School 07-08
• Course Grd Credit Course Grd Credit Course Grd Credit Course Grd Credit
• Honors Algebra I 82 1.000 Honors English 9 91 1.000 Drivers Education 89 0.500 English 10 97 1.000
• World History 90 1.000 Algebra Enrich Final 86 1.000 American Hy-10 93 1.000
• Physical Science 81 1.000 Business Tech Ess 93 1.000 Health 90 0.500
• Band Yr. 100 1.000 Band Yr. 100 1.000 Band/Percussion 96 1.000
•
– Term GPA: 3.50 Credits: 4.000 Term GPA: 3.75 Credits: 4.000 Term GPA: 3.00 Credits: 0.500 Term GPA: 4.00 Credits: 3.500
•
• Period 4 2007/2008 Period 2 2008-2009 Period 4 2008-2009 Period 1 2009-2010
• Grade:10-Walker High School 07-08 Grade:11-Walker High School 08-09 Grade:11-Walker High School 08-09 Grade:12-Walker High School 09-10
• Course Grd Credit Course Grd Credit Course Grd Credit Course Grd Credit
• Spanish I 94 1.000 English 11 96 1.000 Algebra II/Trig 92 1.000 U.S. Government 91 0.500
• Geometry 95 1.000 Spanish II 97 1.000 Math Lab Split Yr 93 1.000
• Biology 95 1.000 Band/Perc 18wk 100 1.000 American History 11 97 1.000
• Band/Perc 18wk 100 1.000 Anatomy 97 1.000
• Band/Perc 18wk 100 1.000
• Term GPA: 4.00 Credits: 4.000 Term GPA: 4.00 Credits: 3.000 Term GPA: 4.00 Credits: 5.000 Term GPA: 4.00 Credits: 0.500
•
• Period 2 2009/2010
• Grade:12-Walker High School 09-10
• Course Grd Credit
• English 12 98 1.000
• Spanish III 96 1.000
• Economics 92 0.500
• Foundation Of Hlth 96 1.000
• Term GPA: 4.00 Credits: 3.500
•
• Total Credits: GPA: Standard: Weighted: 3.9464 Unweighted: 3.8750 Rank: 18
• 28.000 Numeric: Weighted: 94.2143 Unweighted: 94.1429 of 156
•

5. Grade Point Average (GPA)
2 types: standard (4 pt. scale) & numeric (100 point scale)
GPA and Rank are calculated on a 4-point scale
A’s= 4 points
B’s= 3 points
C’s= 2 points
D’s= 1 point
F’s= 0 points
Honors & Advanced Placement (AP) courses currently add 1
additional quality point
A new policy is currently being decided upon by the Alabama State
Dept. of Education which would add 1 point for each AP course and .5
point to each honors course.

6. Numeric GPA
•0-100
•Based on actual numeric grade in each course
•Average of all numeric grades in all courses
•Not affected by weighting courses (honors or AP)
•Occasionally requested by colleges
•Both are reported on bottom of transcript

7. First Choice
Recently adopted by the State Dept. of Alabama
2 Diploma Options
Alabama High School Diploma
Occupational Diploma (will be addressed in IEP’s)
3 Endorsements
Advanced Academic Endorsement (default plan)
Honors Endorsement
Credit Based Endorsement

8. Diploma Endorsement
An Alabama High School Diploma in the Jasper City Schools district may have no
endorsement or any one of the endorsements listed below:
ENDORSEMENT REQUIREMENTS
Honors Academic Must meet the same requirements as the Advanced Academic Endorsement with ten of
Endorsement the courses being Honors or AP.
Advanced Academic Requires passing all standard coursework including Algebra II with Trig., one math
Endorsement course beyond the Alg. II/Trig. level, two advanced level science courses from
anatomy, chemistry, physics or AP Biology, two foreign languages, an online
experience, and passing 5/5 sections of the AHSGE.
Credit-Based Requires passing all standard coursework and passing 3/5 sections of the AHSGE,
Endorsement including Reading, Mathematics, and one other section.
A diploma with or without an endorsement signifies completion of high school and all requirements
associated with the awarding of the diploma by the Alabama State Board of Education. Students who
pass all required and elective courses taken will exceed the required number of credits for graduation.
Students may not take courses out of sequence or at grade levels other than those specified. Students
should consult the appropriate counselor about the four-year plan of study and the correct sequencing of
courses.

9. ALABAMA HIGH SCHOOL
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
The Alabama High School Diploma
The Alabama High School Diploma requires the passing of 28 credits of
coursework—
Mathematics (4)
Science (4)
Social Studies (4)
English (4)
Computer Applications (1)
Physical Education (1)
Health Education (.5)
Arts Education (.5)
Electives (9)
And passing of all 5 parts of the Alabama High School graduation Exam
Math
Reading
Language
Science
Social Studies

10. Advanced Academic Endorsement
• 4 credits English
• 4 credits math (Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II or
Algebra II/Trigonometry, and one additional math course
beyond)
• 4 credits science (Physical Science, Biology, and
2 of the 5 following courses: Anatomy, Chemistry, Honors
Chemistry, Honors Physics & AP Biology)
• 4 credits social studies
• 1 credit physical education
• 1 credit computer applications
• ½ credit fine arts education
• ½ credit health
• 2 credits same foreign language
• 7 credits of electives or additional core
Total 28 Credits

11. Math Sequencing
Determined by diploma choice and performance
•Algebra 1 Part 1 & 2 (all year) or Algebra 1(1 semester)
•Geometry A & B (all year) or Geometry (1 semester)
•Algebraic Connections
•Algebra II or Algebra II/Trig.
•Pre Calculus or other upper level math
Diploma Advanced
•Algebra Part 1 Endorsement
•Algebra Part 2 •Algebra 1
•Geometry A •Algebra Seminar
(elective)
•Geometry B
•Geometry
•Algebraic Connections
•Algebra II/Trig.
•Algebra II
•Pre-Calculus

12. Additional Courses Required for
Graduation
Health Credit: ½ Physical Education Credit: 1
Health P.E.
Foundations of Health Athletics
JROTC
Marching band (fall only)
Fine Arts Credit: ½ Cheerleading
Arts Survey Colorguard (fall only)
Visual Art
Band/Jazz Band
Colorguard Foreign Language: 2 credits
Spanish
Encore
Girls Chorus French
Other Access Course (online
Centerstage
or virtual classroom)

13. What is Honors? What is AP?
• Honors courses are designed to challenge you
in that particular area of study. They are above
the level of advanced diploma and usually
require a summer assignment. The curriculum is
locally determined by that department/teacher.
• Advanced Placement (AP) courses are on a
similar level to honors courses and may be
slightly more challenging in some cases. There
may be a summer assignment as well. The
curriculum is nationally standardized and is
determined by the College Board. An AP exam
is given at the conclusion of the course which
may result is the student earning college credit.

14. Possible Honors Courses
10 required to receive Honors Endorsement
•Honors Algebra I
•Honors Math Team
•Honors Algebra Seminar
•Honors Geometry
•Honors Algebra II/Trigonometry
•Honors Pre-Calculus
•Honors Calculus
•Pre AP American History
•Honors World History
•AP American History I
•AP American History II
•Honors Biology 9
•Honors Chemistry
•Honors Physics
•AP Biology
•Honors English 9, 10
•AP English Grammar & Composition (11)
•AP English Literature (12)
•Other AP courses may be taken through Access Distance Learning

15. Questions for 8th Grade Algebra Students
What do we take next year if we want to follow an honors math track ?
You have a choice.
Choice One Choice Two
9th Honors Honors 9th Honors Honors
Geometry Math Algebra 1 Algebra
Team Seminar
10th Honors Alg.II/Trig. 10th Honors Honors
(either semester) Geometry Alg.II/Trig
11th Honors Pre-Cal. 11th Honors Pre-Cal.
(either semester) (either semester)
12th Honors Calculus 12th Honors Calculus
(either semester) (either semester)

16. Career Technical Courses
Electives Business
Math •Adv. Business Technology
• Math lab /team •Multi Media Design
•Marketing Essentials
Fine Arts •Workforce Essentials
• Visual Art I, II, III, IV •Work Based Cooperative Education
• Encore •Law and Society (9wks.)
• Girls Chorus •Business Finance (9wks.)
• Centerstage Family & Consumer Science
• Band •Family & Consumer Science
• Colorguard •Food & Nutrition (9wks.)
•Fashion (9wks.)
English •Housing (9wks.)
• Journalism/Media •Creative Arts (9wks.)
• Yearbook Healthcare
•Foundations of Health
Physical Education •Therapeutic Services
• Weightlifting per sport •Intro. To Sports Medicine
• Athletic Trainer
• PE Walker County Center of Technology Courses
•Automotive Service Technology
History •Carpentry
• Current Events (9wks.) •Collision Repair
• Psychology (9wks.) •Cosmetology
• Sociology (9wks.) •Diesel Technology
• World Geography (9wks.) •Drafting
• Pre AP US History •Electronics/Computer Service
•Graphic Arts
•Information Technology
•Welding

17. Sample 9th Grade Schedule
Fall Semester Spring Semester
1. Math 1. Math
2. English 9 2. Business Computer
3. Biology 9 Applications
4. Art Survey/Visual Art 3. PE
4. History

18. Athletic Eligibility Requirements
(for incoming 9th graders)
• Pass 5 courses
• 4 of the 5 courses must be a core course
• Overall numeric average of all 5 courses
must be a 70
• See list of sports and coaches on table in
hallway or contact the main office

19. WHS counselors will be going over
Four Year Plan information
with 8th graders on
March 7th
at Maddox Middle School.
Maddox counselors will meet with students
to create four year plans.

20. • Course Request Verifications will go
home in May.
• Registration forms will be mailed home in
the first two weeks of June.
• You must bring your registration materials
completely filled out to registration in July
in order to participate in registration.