The document summarizes key information from a sophomore parent meeting at Etowah High School. It provides details about administration and counseling staff, attendance and graduation requirements, testing requirements, course offerings including honors, AP, and dual enrollment options, and college placement data for the class of 2013. Recovery options for failed courses and using AP exam scores for college credit are also reviewed.

1. Sophomore Parent
Meeting
Class of 2017
August 25, 2014
Etowah High School

2. WELCOME
Mr. Dan Snipes, Assistant Principal

3. Etowah Administration
Principal:
Mr. Keith L. Ball
Assistant Principals:
Mr. Robert Van Alstyne(A-C)
Dr. Amanda Ruiz (D-H)
Mrs. Penny Valle (I-M)
Mr. Dan Snipes (N-S)
Mrs. Jessica Whitley (T-Z)

4. Etowah Counseling Staff
Ms. Whitney Minton (A-C) 10th grade lead
Mrs. Amanda Findlay (D-H) 12th grade lead
Mrs. Lisa Shull (I-M) 9th grade lead
Mrs. Michele Dowd (N-S) 11th grade lead
Ms. Kelly Brangan (T-Z) Lead Counselor &
Testing Coordinator
Counseling Front Office:
Mrs. June Pollack
Mrs. Silvia Holmes

5. Etowah Website

6. Etowah High School PTSA
Shannon Bates
President

7. Attendance Policy
• Excuse notes (parent/guardian, doctor, etc.) will not be accepted unless
received in the attendance office within FIVE school days after returning
to school
• At 7 or more absences and a passing grade, an appeal is generated,
reviewed by the Attendance Committee and approved by the principal
before credit is awarded
• Appeals are automatically generated by the attendance office
• Excused, unexcused and out-of-school suspension absences are
considered
PLEASE NOTE: The State of Georgia will revoke the
driver’s license of any student under the age of 18 with
10 or more unexcused absences

8. Get Involved
• Extra-Curricular activities can help your student
feel connected to the school, and are a factor in
the college admissions process.
Clubs (we currently have 43 clubs)
Sports
Community Service Opportunities

9. GHP Opportunity
• http://gosa.georgia.gov/governors-honors-program
• GHP is a four-week, summer residential program designed to provide
intellectually gifted and artistically talented high school students
challenging and enriching educational opportunities.
• Only 1% of sophomores and juniors in the state of Georgia are nominated
to the state level for the Program.
• The Georgia Governor's Honors Program is fully funded by the Georgia
General Assembly and operates at no cost to participants.
• Students are nominated by teachers and information has not been posted
yet for this year’s organizational timeline.
• Nominations by teachers are typically due in October.

10. From the Counseling Office:
Ms. Whitney Minton, 10th Grade Lead Counselor
(Students A-C)

11. Class of 2017
• Classes are divided into two semesters
 1st Semester (August – December)
 2nd Semester (January – May)
• A student will take 6 classes each semester
• Each semester course is worth .5 units of credit per class
• Credit is issued at the end of each semester (December & May)
• Students must earn 23 units to graduate

12. Requirements for 2017 Graduates
Core Course Requirements
• 4 Units of English
– Must include 9th Lit, Amer. Lit
• 4 Units of Math
• 4 Units of Science
– Must include Biology and
Physical Science OR Physics
• 3 Units of Social Studies
– World History, U.S. History,
Gov’t/Econ
Elective Requirements
• 1 Unit of Health (.5) and
Personal Fitness (.5)
• 3 Units of required electives
– (World Language, Fine Arts
and/or Career/Technical)
• 4 Units of miscellaneous
electives
• TAA provides potential .5
credit Pass or Fail grade
23 total units are
required for graduation

13. Zero Credit
Credit will NOT be issued if:
• A student has 7 or more absences per semester
Absences are counted in each class separately
• A student does not pass the class with a grade of 70
or higher
• A student does not take the required GA Milestones

14. Promotion to 11th Grade
• To be placed in a Junior homeroom next fall, students must
have earned 11 total units of credit that must include:
2 units of English
2 units of Math
1 units of Science
*students must be on track in a Junior homeroom to be eligible
for a parking pass

15. Georgia Milestones-EOC
State Required Assessment
English
9th Grade Literature
American Literature
Math
Algebra
Geometry
Science
Physical Science
Biology
Social Studies
Economics
US History
An EOC counts for 20% of the FINAL COURSE GRADE in all eight
courses.

16. Graduation Requirements: Testing
GA High School Graduation Writing Test (GHSWT)
The writing test will be taken during the Junior Year,
Fall of 2015
Students must pass writing test to walk at graduation.

17. Recovery Options for Failed
Courses
Credit Connect
• APEX Computer Based Program
• Able to recover .5 credit per
session
• AM 7:00 until 8:00 Monday –
Friday at Etowah
• PM 3:30 until 5:30 Monday -
Thursday at Etowah
• $200.00 per half credit
• New session begins every 9
weeks
Polaris Evening School
• Recover .5 credit per quarter
• Available each quarter (every 9
weeks)
• 2 hour courses, Monday-
Thursday on Woodstock High
School’s campus
– 4:00, 6:00, or 8:00
• $200.00 per half credit
• Courses can be taken while
enrolled at Etowah High
School

18. Recovery Options for Failed
Courses
Summer School
• Recover 1 Credit
(Maximum)
• Three to Four weeks in June
• 8:00 – 4:00 Monday – Friday
• $200.00 per half credit
Online Options (BYU, GAVS, etc.)
• See counselor for options
• Student MUST have
administrative approval before
beginning any program
• Cost varies
Retake class during school
• No cost involved
• May delay graduation
Please speak with your counselor
or Mrs. Whitley regarding any
recovery options!

19. Family Portal
• Provides Real-Time Access to:
 Grades
 Attendance
 Student Schedule
• For information/troubleshooting E-mail:
 parent.support@cherokee.k12.ga.us
 Automatically created from your school contact records
 Subject line type: Request login information for family portal
 Your email must include: your name, student’s name and the school
currently attending
 We must have an accurate and updated email address

20. Review Student Information
• Review your student’s transcript to be sure it is up to date
• Unofficial transcripts were given during the student’s first
TAA meeting.
• Verify that your student’s social security number is correct
• Verify contact information
 Mailing address
 Phone numbers
 E-mail address

21. Beyond 2017
• 4 year colleges currently require a minimum of
two years of the same world language
• Technical Colleges currently do not require a
world language
• World Languages Offered at Etowah
Spanish French
German Chinese

22. Honors Courses Offered
English, Social Studies &
World Languages
• 9 Lit
• 10 Lit
• 11 Lit
• 12 Lit
• Government
• Economics
• U.S. & World History
• Current Issues
• Spanish 2,3,4
• French 2,3,4
Math & Science
• Coordinate Algebra
• Algebra/Geometry
• Geometry/Adv. Algebra
• Pre-Calculus
• Engineering Calculus
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Human Anatomy

23. AP Courses Offered
English & Social Studies
• AP English Lang &
Comp/American Lit
• AP English Lit/Comp
• AP Psychology
• AP Government
• AP Economics
• AP U.S. History
• AP World History
• AP Human Geography
Math & Science
• AP Statistics
• AP Calculus AB
• AP Calculus BC
• AP Biology
• AP Chemistry
• AP Environmental Science
• AP Physics 1
• AP Physics C: Mechanics
• AP Physics C: Electricity &
Magnetism

24. AP World Language/Fine Arts/Career
• AP Spanish Language
• AP Studio Art
• AP Music Theory
• AP Computer Science
21 Total AP Courses

25. Class of 2013
College Choices
Valedictorian University of Georgia
Salutatorian Wayne State University
Star Student Vanderbilt University
Top Georgia Colleges
1. Kennesaw State University (84)
2. Chattahoochee Technical College (56)
3. University of Georgia (27)
4. Georgia Southern University (20)
5. University of North Georgia (19)
6. Georgia College & State University (14)
7. Valdosta State University (12)
8. Georgia Highlands (9)
9. Georgia Institute of Technology (9)
10. Georgia State University (9)
11. Reinhardt College (8)
12. Southern Polytechnic State University (6)
Top Out-of-State Colleges
1. University of Alabama, AL (10)
2. Auburn University, AL (5)
3. University of Mississippi, MS (3)
4. University of South Carolina, SC (3)
5. South Texas College, TX (2)
6. University of Tennessee, TN (2)
Ivy League
1 – Yale
Total scholarship amount not including HOPE: $3.4
million

26. Minimum AP Score Required
AP TEST GA TECH KSU GSU UWG GA State UGA UNG
LANG/LIT 4 3 3 3 3 3 3
SPAN 4 3 3 2 3 3 3
ART N/A 4 4 4 3 3 3
PSY 4 3 3 3 3 3 3
GOVT 4 4 3 3 3 3 3
ECON 4 3 3 3 3 3 3
U.S HIST 4 4 3 4 3 3 3
W. HIST 4 4 3 4 3 3 3
H. GEOG 4 3 3 3 3 3 3
STATS N/A 3 3 3 3 3 3
CALC AB 4 3 4 3 3 4 3
CALC BC 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
BIO 5 3 3 4 3 3 3
CHEM 4 3 3 2 3 3 3

27. Minimum AP Score Required
AP TEST GA TECH KSU GSU UWG GA State UGA UNG
ENV. SCI 4 3 4 3 4 3 3
PHYSICS N/A 3 3 3 3 3 3
PHYSICS C 4 4 3 3 3 3 3
COMP SCI 4 3 3 4 3 3 3
MUSIC 3 3 3 N/A 3 5 3

28. Minimum AP Score Required
AP TEST GCSU Valdosta Reinhardt Chat Tech U of AL Auburn Stanford
LANG/LIT 3 3 3 3 3 4 N/A
SPAN 3 3 3 3 3 3 5
ART 3 3 3 3 4 4 N/A
PSY 3 3 3 3 3 4 N/A
GOVT 3 3 3 3 3 4 N/A
ECON 3 3 3 3 4 4 N/A
U.S HIST 3 3 3 3 3 4 N/A
W. HIST 3 3 3 3 3 4 N/A
H. GEOG 3 3 3 3 3 4 N/A
STATS 3 3 3 3 3 3 N/A
CALC AB 4 3 3 3 3 3 4
CALC BC 4 3 3 3 3 3 3
BIO 3 3 3 3 3 3 N/A
CHEM 3 3 3 3 3 4 5

29. Minimum AP Score Required
AP TEST GCSU Valdosta Reinhardt Chat Tech U of AL Auburn Stanford
ENV. SCI 3 3 3 3 N/A 4 N/A
PHYSICS B 4 3 3 3 3 4 4
PHYSICS C 4 4 3 3 3 4 3
COMP SCI 3 3 3 3 3 4 4
MUSIC 4 3 3 3 N/A N/A N/A

30. Biology 3 BIOL 2107 4
Biology 4-5 BIOL 2107 & 2108 8
Calculus AB 3 MATH 1113 3
Calculus AB 4-5 MATH 1113 & 1190 7
Calculus BC 3 MATH 1113 & 1190 7
Calculus BC 4-5 MATH 1113, 1190 & 2202 11
Chemistry 3-4 CHEM 1211 & 1211L 4
Chemistry 5 CHEM 1211/1211L & 1212/1212L 8
English Language
OR
3-4 ENGL 1101 3
English Literature 5 ENGL 1101 & 1102 6
Physics B 3-4 PHYS 1111 4
Physics B 5 PHYS 1111 & 1112 8
Physics C
(Mechanics)
4-5 PHYS 2211 4
Scores Needed for KSU College Credit
AP Subject AP Score KSU Exemption Credit

31. Environmental
Science
3-5 BIOL 1T00 3
Human Geography 3-5 GEOG 1101 3
Music Theory 3-4-5 MUSI 1T00 3
Psychology 3-5 PSYC 1101 3
Spanish Language 3 SPAN 1002 & 2001 6
Statistics 3-5 MATH 1107 3
U.S. Government &
Politics
3-5
POLS 1101
(Tests admistered after August 2011,
will require a score of 4)
3
U.S. History 4-5 HIST 2112 3
World History 4-5 HIST 1110 3
Art: Drawing 4-5 ART 1150 (After Portfolio Review) 3
Macroeconomics 3-5 ECON 2200 3
Microeconomics 3-5 ECON 2100 3
Computer Science A 3-5 CS 2301 3
Scores Needed for KSU College Credit
AP Subject AP Score KSU Exemption Credit

32. 3-5 CSCI 1301 (4 credit hours)
Scores Needed for UGA College Credit
AP Score Art: Studio Art- Drawing
3-5 ARST 1TXX* (3 credit hours) *May be used to satisfy electives
AP Score Biology
3 BIOL 1103 + BIOL 1103L (4 credit hours)
4 BIOL 1107 + BIOL 1107L (4 credit hours)
5 BIOL 1107 + BIOL 1107L (4 credit hours), BIOL 1108 + BIOL 1108L (4
credit hours)
AP Score Chemistry
3 CHEM 1110 + CHEM 1110L (4 credit hours)
4 CHEM 1211 + CHEM 1211L (4 credit hours)
5 CHEM 1211 + CHEM 1211L (4 credit hours), CHEM 1212 + CHEM
1212L (4 credit hours)
AP Score Computer Science: Computer Science A and Computer Science AB

33. Scores Needed for UGA College Credit
AP Score Economics- Macroeconomics
3-5 ECON 2105 (3 credit hours)
AP Score Economics- Microeconomics
3-5 ECON 2106 (3 credit hours)
AP Score English Language & Composition
English Literature & Composition
3-4 ENGL 1101 (3 credit hours)
5 ENGL 1101 (3 credit hours), ENGL 1102 (3 credit hours)
AP Score Environmental Science
3-5 ECOL 1000 + ECOL1000L (4 credit hours)
AP Score Government & Politics: United States
3-5 POLS 1101 (3 credit hours)

34. Scores Needed for UGA College Credit
AP Score Geography: Human Geography
3-4 GEOG 1101 (3 credit hours)
5 GEOG 1101 (3 credit hours), GEOG 3620 (3 credit hours)
AP Score History: American History
3-4 HIST 2111 (3 credit hours) or HIST 2112 (3 credit hours)
5 HIST 2111 (3 credit hours), HIST 2112 (3 credit hours)
AP Score History: World History
3 HIST 2701 (3 credit hours)
4 HIST 2702 (3 credit hours)
5 HIST 2701 (3 credit hours), HIST 2702 (3 credit hours)

35. Scores Needed for UGA College Credit
AP Score Mathematics: Calculus AB and Calculus AB subscore
3 MATH 1101 (0 credit hours), MATH 1113 (0 credit hours)
4-5 MATH 1101 (0 credit hours), MATH 1113 (0 credit hours), MATH 2250
(4 credit hours)
AP Score Mathematics: Calculus BC*
3-4 MATH 1101 (0 credit hours), MATH 1113 (0 credit hours), MATH 2250
(4 credit hours)
5 MATH 1101 (0 credit hours), MATH 1113 (0 credit hours), MATH 2250
(4 credit hours), MATH 2260* (0 credit hours)
*Students who score a 5 on the BC exam will receive 4 credit hours
for MATH 2260 after successfully completing a subsequent
mathematics course (MATH 2270, 2500, 2700, 3000, or 3500)

36. 3 PHYS1111 + Lab (4 credit hours)
4-5 PHYS1211 + Lab (4 credit hours)
Scores Needed for UGA College Credit
AP Score Music Theory*
3-4 MUSI 3550 (0 credit hours)
5 MUSI 3550 (3 credit hours)
All Music majors must take a Music Theory placement examination.
Please contact the Music Department: http://www.music.uga.edu/
706-542-2755
AP Score Physics B
3-4 PHYS 1111 + Lab (4 credit hours)
5 PHYS 1111 + Lab (4 credit hours), PHYS 1112 + Lab (4 credit hours)
AP Score Physics C- Mechanics

37. Scores Needed for UGA College Credit
AP Score Spanish: Spanish Language & Culture
3 SPAN 1002 (4 credit hours)
4 SPAN 1002 (4 credit hours), SPAN 2001 (3 credit hours)
5 SPAN 1002 (4 credit hours), SPAN 2001 (3 credit hours), SPAN
2002 (3 credit hours)
AP Score Psychology
3-5 PSYC 1101 (3 credit hours)
AP Score Statistics
3-5 STAT 2000 (4 credit hours)

38. American Government & Politics AP Score: 4 or 5 = POL 1101 3
Biology AP Score: 5 = BIOL 1510 4
Chemistry - Effective Summer 2010 AP Score: 4 = CHEM 1211K 4
Chemistry AP Score: 5 = CHEM 1310 4
Computer Science (A) AP Score: 4 or 5 = CS 1301 3
Economics (Macroeconomics)* AP Score: 4 or 5 = ECON 2105 3
Economics (Microeconomics)* AP Score: 4 or 5 = ECON 2106 3
English (Composition & Literature) AP Score: 4 or 5 = ENGL 1101 3
English (Language & Composition) AP Score: 4 or 5 = ENGL 1101 3
Environmental Science AP Score: 4 or 5 = EAS 1600 4
History (American) AP Score: 4 or 5 = HIST 2111 3
History (World) AP Score: 4 or 5 = HTS 1XXX** 3
Human Geography AP Score: 4 or 5 = SS 1XXX 3
Scores Needed for GA Tech Credit
AP Subject AP Score Credit

39. Mathematics (AB and BC)
AP Score: AB4 or 5 BC3, 4, or 5 =
MATH 1501
4
Music (Theory)
AP Score: 3 = MUSI 2600
2
Music (Theory)
AP Score: 4 or 5 = MUSI 2600 &
3600
4
Physics B AP Score: 4 or 5 = PHYS 2XXX 3
Physics C: Part I (Mechanics,
Calculus Based)
AP Score: 4 or 5 = PHYS 2211 4
Physics C: Part II (Electricity &
Magnetism)
AP Score: 4 or 5 = PHYS 2212 4
Psychology (General) AP Score: 4 or 5 = PSYC 1101 3
Spanish (Language or Literature)
AP Score: 4 or 5 = SPAN 2001 &
2002
6
Statistics No Credit Awarded 0
Studio Art: Drawing No Credit Awarded 0
Scores Needed for GA Tech Credit
AP Subject AP Score Credit

40. Advanced Placement Exams
• May 4-15, 2015 by registration
Official AP website:
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/Controller.jpf
To request past AP scores for college and program
admissions, call 1-888-308-0013.

41. Dual Enrollment
• Students that wish to take
college level coursework for
credit towards both high
school and college
graduation requirements.
• Students must begin
process with college first
GA College 411 - Accel Program Page
Eligibility Requirements
• Be a rising junior or senior
• Have a minimum 3.0 in college-
prep academic core classes
• Score at least 1100 on critical
reading and math portions of the
SAT combined (24 on the ACT)
with a minimum score of 530 in
critical reading (23 ACT) and 530
in math (22 ACT)
• The essay portion of the SAT is
not considered
* May vary by college

42. Dual Enrollment
Pros
• The potential for earning
college credit is available
especially for students that
are planning to attend a
school within the University
system of Georgia
• May reduce cost of college
• Doesn’t tap into HOPE
Cons
• Miss out on Etowah High
School atmosphere and
experiences
• Not all college credit via
dual enrollment is accepted
at all colleges
• AP courses and tests may be
used for college credit

43. PSAT
October 15th
• All 10th and 11th grade students
• No charge to take the PSAT
• Critical Reading, Math, and Writing Skills
• Prepares students to take the SAT
• In 11th grade, PSAT scores are used to qualify students for the
National Merit Scholarship

44. ACT/SAT
 Etowah Dates:
• SAT: 10/11, 12/6, 1/24, 3/14, 6/6; www.collegeboard.org
• ACT: 10/25, 12/13, 2/7, 4/18, 6/13; www.act.org
• ACT Princeton Review: 18 hours of instruction/3 assessments/session
during S2
 SAT/ACT can be taken multiple times
 Usually required to apply to colleges and universities (not required for
technical colleges)
• SAT vs. ACT: both are recognized at MOST colleges and universities
• SAT is Verbal, Math and Writing (SAT changes effective Spring 2016)
• ACT is Verbal, Math, Writing, and Science

45. SAT vs. ACT
*SAT
• 140 questions and required essay
• Guessing hurts the overall score
• 3 hours and 45 minutes
• Total score out of 2400
• Math accounts for ¼ of overall
score
• 10 Sections: 3 critical reading, 3
math, 3 writing, 1 experimental
*In effect fall 2014, spring 2015, fall
2015
ACT
• 215 questions and optional essay
(most colleges require it)
• No guessing penalty
• 3 hours and 25 minutes
• total composite score of 1-36
• Math accounts for 1/3 of overall
score
• 4 Sections: English, Math,
Reading, Science

46. SAT Changes Spring 2016
• The essay will become optional and have a separate
score
• The guessing penalty will be eliminated
• The overall scoring will return to the original 1,600
point scale
• Vocabulary definitions will be those most commonly
used in college courses instead of obscure terms
• Will become more like the ACT

47. HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship
 HOPE Scholarship:
• 3.0 academic GPA, covers approximately 90% of the previous years
tuition
 Zell Miller scholarship:
• 3.7 academic GPA—covers 100% of tuition
• SAT 1200 combined CR and Math SAT, or 26 ACT composite
 HOPE GPA is calculated using academic courses only.
• GPA’s are NOT rounded for HOPE eligibility!
 Official HOPE GPA: GAcollege411.org
• Georgia Student Finance Commission’s official calculations
The most current information about changes to HOPE
can be found at:
http://www.gacollege411.org/Financial_Aid_Planning/
HOPE_Program/_default.aspx

48. 1)Advanced math, such as Advanced Algebra and Trigonometry, Math III, or an equivalent
or higher course taken at an eligible high school or taken for degree level credit at an
eligible postsecondary institution;
2) Advanced science, such as Chemistry, Physics, Biology II, or an equivalent or higher
course taken at an eligible high school or taken for degree level credit at an eligible
postsecondary institution;
3) Advanced placement courses in core subjects;
4) International baccalaureate courses in core subjects;
5) Courses taken at a unit of the University System of Georgia in core subjects where such
courses are not remedial and developmental courses; or
6) Advanced foreign language courses taken at an eligible high school or taken for degree
level credit at an eligible postsecondary institution.
HOPE Scholarship Rigor
Requirements
Minimum number of courses prior to
graduation 4

49. www.gacollege411.org
Georgia College 411
http://gacollege411.org/

50. 2017 Updates
REMIND 101

51. Questions???
For detailed information regarding a child-
specific case, please see the counselors or
administrators after the meeting 

52. Class of 2017
Etowah High School’s
40th Graduating Class
Mr. Keith L. Ball
Principal
Graduation Ceremony
Thursday, May 25th at 8pm