In planning your academic courses in high school
it is important to look at your career goals. All students are encouraged
to continue their education beyond high school. College is an option
for many students; however, not all students will choose college.
There are many options for further education other than the traditional
four-year college. Some students may consider a two-year college
or a two-year Associate Degree program at a four-year college. Others
may choose to attend a vocational technical college where they can receive
an Associate Degree or a specialized diploma.
There are also private trade schools that teach
specific skills such as cosmetology, court reporting, welding, instrumentation,
etc. There are apprenticeship programs, such as the Electrical Apprenticeship,
offered through unions where students learn skills through classroom work
and on-the-job training. The military is another option for students
to receive specialized training in a particular career field.
Whatever a student's plans are for his/her next
level of education, he/she should try to take as many high school courses
as possible that will help prepare him/her for the next level of education.
The Career Clusters will help students identify the high school courses
that will be most helpful in planning for the future. Our goal is
for all students to be well prepared for their next level of education
and/or a career. We assume all students are "work-bound" and therefore,
encourage them to gain as many skills as possible to be successful in the
technological world in which we live.
The School To Work Program is a technical preparation program which
begins in high school and continues through two years of college or technical
school. It is another option for students who may be unsure about
going to a four-year college. School To Work prepares the student
for a highly skilled technical occupation that allows either direct entry
into the work place or continuation of education by integrating academic,
technical, and other skills into an educational plan. School To Work
emphasizes the critical need for a technologically literate workforce that
can keep America competitive nt he global economy.
| Louisiana's Tuition Opportunity Program
for Students (TOPS) is a comprehensive program of state scholarships.
TOPS has four award components: the Opportunity Award; the Performance
Award; the Honors Award; and the Teacher Award. Each component has
specific eligibility criteria, award amounts and continuation criteria.
Parents and students must make sure that the correct classes are taken
so that qualifications are met. See your counselor for additional
information. To the right you will find a checklist of the courses
that are required for the TOPS
program. Effective for graduates of 2003, GPA is computed on core courses only. Other requirements are as follows: Opportunity Award
Performance Award
Honors Award
Teacher Award
|
To be eligible to receive any of the tuition awards, students
must take 18 specific courses. Below is a Below is a checklist that can
be used to determine which courses are still needed to help your child
qualify.
_____1. English I _____2. English II _____3. English III _____4. English IV _____5. Algebra I (one unit) or Applied Algebra 1A and `1B (two units) _____6. Algebra II _____7. Geometry, trigonometry, calculus, or advanced math _____8. Biology I _____9. Chemistry I _____10. Earth Science, Environmental Science, Physical Science, Biology II, Chemistry II, Physics _____11. American History _____12. World History, Western Civilization, or World Geography _____13. Foreign Language I _____14. Foreign Language II (must be the same language) _____15. Civics (1/2 unit) _____16. Free Enterprise (1/2 unit) _____17. Fine Arts Survey ( or sub. 2 units of performance courses in music, dance, and/or theater; or 2 units of visual are; or substitute 2 units of studio art; or substitute 1 unit of an elective from among the other subjects listed in this core curriculum) _____18. Computer Science, Computer Literacy, or Business Computer Applications How and When to Apply for TOPS
|
English (4 units) - English I, II, III, in consecutive order, and either English IV or Technical Communications.
Mathematics (3 units) - Algebra I and any two other mathematics courses offered by Southwood.
Science (3 units) - 1 unit of Biology, 1 unit of Physical Science, Chemistry, or Physics, 1 unit of a science elective: choose from above or Earth Science, Environmental Science, Chemistry II, or Biology II.
Social Studies (3 units) - American History, 1/2 unit of Civics, 1/2 unit of Free Enterprise, and one of the following: World History, World Geography, or Western Civilization.
Physical Education (1 1/2 units) - Physical Education I and Physical Education II. Note: The substitution of JROTC is permissible. A maximum of 4 units may be used toward graduation. (1/2 unit of P.E. cannot be combined with 1/2 unit of JROTC for one unit of P.E.)
Health (1/2 unit)
Electives (8 units)
Students must earn one full unit in one-unit courses
required for graduation. For example, 1/2 unit of World History and
1/2 unit of World Geography cannot be used for one unit of Social Studies.
NOr can 1/2 unit of Earth Science and 1/2 unit of Chemistry be used for
one unit in Science. Seniors must complete correspondence courses
prior to April 15, 2002 to participate in the graduation ceremony.
To earn a diploma, all students are required to pass the Louisiana Graduation
Exit Examination.
Only seniors who have a minimum of 23 units with
the appropriate required courses and who have passed three sections of
the Louisiana Graduation Exit Examination or students in the Alternate
Diploma Program who have completed the requirements for the Certificate
of Achievement shall participate in Commencement Exercises or be considered
for "early outs" for college.
Most universities have specific requirements for
admission. In addition to minimum ACT or SAT scores, universities
often require students to pass certain courses in high school. Provisional
admission is allowed in some universities, but students are required to
take remedial courses for no credit.
In Louisiana, most public universities require
students to submit ACT scores and applications for admissions if they graduate
from a state-approved high school. There are some exceptions.
The counselors can be contacted for the specific requirements of the college
of choice.
Private universities have specific subject requirements,
minimum ACT/SAT scores, and minimum GPA requirements. The counselors
have information on specific universities.
| English - |
4 Units
|
| English I, II, III, IV (no substitutions) | |
| Mathematics - |
4 Units
|
| Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, and one additional unit to be selected from Calculus or Advanced Mathematics | |
| Natural Science - |
3 Units
|
| Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Science or Physics | |
| Social Studies - |
3 Units
|
| American History, World History, and World Geography or Western Civilization | |
| Free Enterprise |
1/2 Unit
|
| Civics |
1/2 Unit
|
| Fine Arts Survey |
1 Unit
|
| Any of two units of credit in band, orchestra, choir, dance, art, or drama may be substituted for one unit of Fine Arts Survey | |
| Foreign Language (in same language) |
2 Units
|
| Physical Education |
2 Units
|
| Electives |
4 Units
|
| Total |
24 Units
|
The Louisiana Board of Regents awards a Regents'
Scholar Certificate of Recognition. The curriculum is the same as
that of the Tuition Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS). To be
eligible for the Regents' Scholar Certificate of Recognition, a student
must have a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale after
seven semesters. Although this is a prestigious award, the is NO
monetary value attached to the Regents' Scholar designation.
Southwood High School in conjunction with Bossier
Parish Community College is offering dual credit courses. Students
who enroll in specific classes can receive high school carnegie units as
well as college credit. Juniors and seniors may take the courses
if they have a 3.0 GPA and a score of 19 or better on the ACT. The
counselors have information on the dual credit courses offered at Southwood.
For athletes who have the potential of earning
a college scholarship, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
has established the following requirements for student athletes entering
college:
1. The athlete must have completed a core curriculum of at
least 13 academic core courses.
2. The athlete must have attained a 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or
better average in these core courses.
3. The athlete must make a minimum score on the ACT or the
SAT. The score varies and is based on the core GPA. It is recommended
that student athletes take the ACT/SAT in their junior year.
Note: These requirements change on a yearly basis regarding
the core courses. Check with your counselor to determine the up-to-date
standards.