FCS has as many, if not more, Honors/AP offerings as the private schools and public school systems surrounding Floyd County. The AP scores (3 or higher) are increasing. It is true that FCS scores are currently not at the level of some of the more established AP programs in other schools. However, according to the College Board, our scores are good for a young program. We have also had many of our best and brightest students in the PSO program in years past. The 2005-2006 school year marks the first time that we had a full AP program in all four high schools. Therefore, we should be able to begin a true picture of the AP scores.

Absolutely!!! It is all about time management. We have plenty of Honors students that play sports, cheer, march in the band, act and perform in dance and drama.

No, students may choose to complete a partial Honors Program program. It is good to start as a full Honors Program student and then cut back if need be.

Accelerated classes (joint enrollment) do not satisfy the requirements for the HP seal, nor do they satisfy some of the Val/Sal requirements per FCS Board Policy. The Joint Enrollment classes can play a vital role in students’ academic career. They can supplement the honors program offered by FCS and serve to enhance an already rigorous curriculum by providing opportunities to take courses not offered within the HP framework..

The Honors program is more rich and rigorous curriculum. It requires more work at a challenging level, but not busy work. There is more inquiry, more inductive learning, and more independent work expected in HP classes.

Every effort is made to schedule students into the classes that they request.

As an 8^th grader a student can get only one Carnegie unit of credit in a foreign language in middle school. A student must complete two more units of foreign language during grades 9-12. One of those may be the second course in the language completed in middle school OR a student may begin with a new language. The ideal scenario is for a student to take Foreign Language 1 in 8^th grade, FL 2 in 9^th grade, and FL 3 in 10^th grade. However, is a student decides to complete his/her FL 1 and 2 in 8^th and 9^th, he/she may pick up a minimum of one course in another FL in 10^th, 11^th, or 12^th grade.

Yes.. See Answer to #7(above).

That depends on the student. An academically strong student can take as many HP classes as he/she wishes. The recommendation for a strong student is HP English, Math, Science, Social Studies and Foreign Language as a 9^th grader.

Yes

I If a student earns an HP seal and is required to take a remedial class in college, the school system will pay the tuition for the class. A remedial class is required when a student either does not have the appropriate classes required for college entrance or they do not have grades that are acceptable to the college or they do not make a high enough score on the placement exams.

There are many opportunities for students to make decisions on their HP classes- registration, HP orientation, HP Parent Night, advisement are just a few of the examples provided for students. Students are given the opportunity to adjust their program of study.

Yes

It is not encouraged for students to do this, because HP courses are pre-requisites for AP. However, in isolate incidents students may go through an application process to take AP courses without being in HP.

To help prepare for the SAT, to help prepare students for college, to help with college acceptance and scholarships, to “indulge” in subjects that students like. Competitive colleges prefer students who are in Honors Programs in high school over those who are not.

Yes - students should see their high school counselor or Instructional Assistant Principal about this.

Eighth graders who think they might like to take any honors classes at the high school - not 6^th or 7^th graders.

No, only foreign language and Accelerated Math I carry high school Carnegie credit but will only count as elective classes, not as one of the four math classes to graduate or to satisfy the two year FL requirement.

HP/AP classes are graded on a different grading scale that gives an incentive to students. FCS has developed a new grading procedure that correlates more closely with the HOPE scholarship calculation. All HP classes will grade on a 7 point curve on HP assignments that comprise the major portion of the student’s grades including tests and projects. There will be no automatic curve on the final exam. All AP classes will have a 10 point curve on all assignments that comprise the major portion of the student’s grades including tests and projects. No automatic curve will be added to the final exam.

Yes, but there has to be room in the high school’s program. The student must follow the same protocol for the application process as the other students did in middle schools. HS/AP’s will provide these students with applications to complete.

The HP seal is what students earn in completion of the Honors Program. The student must complete the following in order to acquire the HCP seal for graduation:

• 12 units must be completed in a combination of HP / AP courses in grades 9-12.
• Middle school honors classes (Accelerated Math I and Foreign Language) will not count towards the 12 required units for the HP Seal.
• Students will complete a final senior project that will be based on Service Learning and Academics.

The student must earn 12 Carnegie Credits to get the HP seal.  One Carnegie Unit equals one class (if the class is offered everyday) or a ½ unit if it is an A/B class.