Title: Floyd County Schools Honors Program
1Floyd County SchoolsHonors Program
2Honors Program
- Educational choice
- Prepares students for rigor of college and career
- Enhanced learning experiences
- Critical thinking skills
- Research Work
- Hands-on and authentic learning
- Performance and Project Assessment
3Overview of HP
- High standards for teaching and learning
- Designed for above-average and motivated students
- Students may enroll in full HP program or part HP
Program - (Students can take all classes or just one HP
class)
4History of Honors Program
- The program was developed to provide students in
the Floyd County School System with courses
designed to prepare them for the rigors of the
most demanding colleges or universities
available. - The reason for having an Honors program is to
allow students to challenge themselves
academically, as well as give parents the
satisfaction of knowing their students are
prepared for college classes. - FCS feels that it is extremely important for
students to take courses that are challenging
because when a student takes the next step and
begins to take college courses on their way to
earning a degree, the classes gradually become
more difficult for the student. Preparing for
those difficult classes early can help the
student to be more successful in the future. - The program began in the fall of 2002.
- The first class to graduate with the HP seal was
May of 2006.
5Honors Program Standards
- Students are held to high expectations.
- Instruction features rigor and extended content.
- Technology is a major tool of instruction.
- Students must produce projects displaying an
increased depth of learning. - Student learning is assessed by tests, written
reports, oral presentations, projects, and
portfolios.
6Key Program Components
- Opportunities to take courses
- 1. Distance Learning
- 2. Directed Studies
- 3. Executive Internships
- 4. On-line learning experiences
- Grading policies that reward students for taking
advanced-level courses
7Definition of Honors Program
- HP stands for Honors Program, which is a schedule
of classes designed to challenge students and
prepare them for college-level classes. - The HP classes are different because they provide
an enhanced learning experience focused on
critical thinking skills, research work, hands-on
learning, and service learning.
8Training for Teachers
- Teachers receive training for HP through meetings
that are scheduled throughout the year to help
them learn to facilitate the student in rigors of
college prep classes. - Vertical Team Meetings
- HP and AP Teachers Meetings
- AP Training
- Gifted Endorsement
9HP Curriculum
- Well-rounded knowledge of each of the studied
areas English, Mathematics, Science, Social
Studies, Fine Arts, CCA, and Foreign Language. - Higher level than the normal courses of a
particular subject. - Workload for many classes may be increased, and
with that increase the amount of reading may
become larger. - Problem solving, critical thinking, high
standards, and high expectations - Research work
10Honors Curriculum
- Curriculum is based on the GPS and Common Core
Curriculum. - Projects and portfolio assessments
- Foreign Languages- All of the third and fourth
year foreign languages classes offered by the
school are considered to be apart of the HP
program. FL year one and two are considered to be
part of the general education level. - There are a number of classes in the HP program
taught through Distance Learning/Video-conferencin
g and GAVS - Executive Internship is offered to HP 12th
students for a career exploration course. - Directed Studies is also an avenue for students
if needed as well as Joint Enrollment, ACCEL,
Move on When Ready, and College Credit Now
11HP Courses Offered
English 4 units 9th Grade HP 9th Grade Literature/ Composition 10th Grade HP American Literature/ Composition 11th Grade AP Language/ Composition 12th Grade AP Literature/ Composition
Mathematics 4 Units HP CCGPS Coordinate Algebra (Must have 8th grade math teachers recommendation to take this class) HP CCGPS Analytic Geometry HP CCGPS Analytic Geometry HP CCGPS Advanced Algebra HP CCGPS Advanced Algebra HP CCGPS Precalculus HC CCGPS Pre-calculus AP Calculus AB Or AP Calculus BC Or AP Statistics
Science 4 Units HP Physics HP Biology HP Chemistry I AP Science
12HP Courses Offered
Social Studies 4 units 9th Grade AP Human Geography 10th Grade HP World History 11th Grade AP US History 12th Grade HP Economics (.5) HP Govt (.5)
Social Studies 4 units AP European History Electives AP Psychology AP World History AP US Govt.
Foreign Language 2 credits of the same language College and Career Academy HP Spanish III HP Spanish IV AP
Foreign Language 2 credits of the same language College and Career Academy Engineering Applications General Medicine Graphic Output Processes Advanced Graphic Design AP Computer Science Engineering Applications General Medicine Graphic Output Processes Advanced Graphic Design AP Computer Science
Fine Arts AP Music Theory AP Music Theory
13HP Project RequirementSenior Project
(culminating in any content area to get HP seal)
- PORTFOLIO
- Title page
- Table of Contents
- Letter to the Judges
- Signed Parent Consent Form
- Signed Consequences of Failure to Meet Deadlines
Form - Approved Letter of Intent
- Clean copy of Research Paper
- Signed and completed Communication Logs
- Mentor Information Form
- Photograph of you with your mentor
- Résumé
- Thank-you note to mentor
- Self Evaluation of Product
- Supplemental items including pictures, letters,
plans, receipts, mentor evaluation form -
- PRESENTATION
- Up to 10 minutes in length
- Judged on content and delivery
- PAPER
- A copy of the final paper
- Five sources minimum. A personal interview
counts as a source. - MLA Documentation
- Five to seven typed, double-spaced pages in 12
point type - One inch margins
- Works Cited page
- Mixture of writer's words, quotes, paraphrases
- Free from plagiarism (Plagiarism is cheating and
results in an automatic zero on the paper. It
also prohibits your continuing with the other
components of the project.) - Turned in on or before due date
- PRODUCT
- Mentor time log required, with mentor's signature
for each contact (minimum of 5) - Product may be tangible, service oriented, or
skill-based - Product must present a learning stretch, taking
you beyond what you have ever done before - Product related to research
- Product completed by studentNOT by mentor or
parent
14HCP Graduation Requirements
- The student must complete the following in order
to acquire the HP seal for graduation - 12 units must be completed in a combination of
HP/AP courses in grades nine through twelve with
a minimum of one unit each year. - Executive Internship may count as additional HP
credit. - HP Senior Project- Students will complete a final
senior project that will be based on Service
Learning and Academics. It will be a year-long
project with a culminating presentation. Students
will have an orientation for this project and
training their Junior year.
15HP and Gifted
- A student does not have to be identified gifted
to participate in HP. - All students are not identified as gifted in a
particular subject area however, some students
may be gifted in a content area. - In most cases where applicable, gifted students
are matched with gifted certified teachers for HP
and AP classes.
16HP and AP
- The HP program prepares students to become
college and career ready. HP classes are
prerequisite courses for Advanced Placement
courses (AP) - The AP program gives the student a chance to take
a rigorous level course and then take a placement
test to determine whether or not he/she will
receive college credit for that course without
actually taking the class once the student is
enrolled in college.
17Advanced Placement
AP Classes being offered in Floyd County Schools
AP English Literature/Composition
AP English Language/Composition
AP Calculus AB and BC
AP Statistics
AP Computer Science
AP Physics AP Human Geography
AP U.S. History
AP European History
AP Government US
AP Psychology
AP Music Theory
AP Biology
18HP and Parents
- The Floyd County Association for Academic
Excellence is a parent support group for HP, AP,
and gifted students. The group meets three times
a year- fall, winter, and spring. - A parent can do many things to assist a student
in the HP program - Parents can help the student with completing
projects, presentations, and homework. - The parent should also be actively involved with
teachers so that any help needed by the student
may be given.
19HP and Grades
- County-wide grading policy has been developed to
provide incentives for students. - FCS has developed a new grading procedure that
correlates more closely with the HOPE scholarship
calculation. - All HP classes (MS/HS) will be graded on a 7
point curve on major grades that are 80 and
above. - All AP courses will be graded on a 10 point curve
on major grades that are 80 and above. - Final exam will count for 20 of the students
final grade with no extra points added.
20Criteria for Eligibility for Students Applying to
HP
- Students will apply their 8th grade year for the
HP program in high schools. - Students that do not apply in 8th grade or those
that transfer to FCS after their 8th grade year
must proceed with the application process.
Students may enter only if the high school has
room in their HP program. - Students must start the program in 9th grade in
order to receive the guarantee and seal. - Special Education, ELL or CIS students may
participate in HP if they meet the criteria
necessary.
21HP Checklist of Items for Applications
- Checklist of Items Needed
- The Honors Program application form must be fully
completed by the student and signed by the
parent/guardian. - At least three (3) teachers must sign a
confidential Teacher Recommendation Form. Please
do not wait until the last minute to give these
to teachers. Teachers need time to fill these
out. These must be 8th grade teachers in core
areas- math and language arts are mandatory if
planning to take these classes. - The attendance clerk will confirm the attendance
by filling in this information on the form. - The grading information must be included on the
form. This will be completed by the office. - The administrators must also include a copy of
any disciplinary record with the application. - When possible, the office will include a copy of
cumulative information from grades six through
eight. - The HP Program Parent Consent for Screening form
must be signed by the student and
parent/guardian. - The interview will be conducted only if the
student scores a minimum of 20 or higher on the
application rubric. (The maximum score is 28 on
the rubric.) - Application Worksheet- Completed by
administrators.
22HP Timeline
- The deadline for submission of completed
application packets is Friday, December 6, 2013.
Applications should be completed and turned in to
the middle school on time. - Applications will be scored and students will be
chosen from the application process to interview
if they have a score of 20 or higher on their
application rubric. Students will be notified in
writing if they will proceed or not to the
interview process before interviews begin at the
school. - Interviews will be held during January 2014 and
February 2014. All applicants will receive a
letter of response in March 2014 to notify them
of their status in the Honors Program.
23For more info..
- Contact
- McCall C. Govignon
- 706-234-1031 ext. 7155
- mgovignon_at_floydboe.net
- Apryl Hawkins
- aphawkins_at_floydboe.net