High school gives you a chance, perhaps for the first time in your life, to choose many of the subjects you study. Which subjects should you take?
Answering this important question is hard. But the Illinois Board of Higher Education would like to help you by offering the following advice.
The subjects you take in high school either will increase your chances for education and jobs after high school-or they will reduce those chances. That is why your choices now are very important.
At this time in your life, you can't be sure what your future career will be. The American economy is changing. New kinds of jobs are created every day. That is why our choices now are very important.
What is the best way to prepare for this changing future? Take subjects which will give you as many future choices as possible. Don't cut yourself short. Take subjects which will keep increasing your communication and computational skills. Take subjects which will broaden your technical skills.
Do you think you might like to go to college? Here's more advice-especially if you think you'd like to get a Bachelor's Degree.
There are over 180 colleges and universities in Illinois alone. Each decides for itself how it will select high school graduates for admission. Admission requirements vary from one college to another. You must contact each one to find out what its specific requirements are. Admission requirements also are changing.
What is the best way to prepare for these different and changing requirements? Again, don't cut yourself short. Take at least two years of a foreign language and take four years in each of the following subjects:
English-emphasize written and oral communication and literature
Social Studies-emphasize history and government
Mathematics-include introductory through advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry,
and
Fundamentals of computer programming
Science-include biology, chemistry, and physics
Finally, ask for help and advice from your teachers, your counselor, your principal, and your parents. These are the people who know the most about you and can help you with individual advice based upon your abilities and interests.
The following information applies to the 2007/08 school year:
To graduate from Hillsboro High School, a student is required to earn 22 academic credits.
These credits must
include a minimum of:
Schedules should consist of five subjects, physical education, and one study hall as a normal schedule. A student may be permitted to carry additional extra classes if he/she is enrolled in band or chorus or if it is recommended and approved through administrative or counselor advisement.
Hillsboro High School uses the Carnegie credit unit. .5 academic credit awarded for successfully passing 18 weeks course work.
It is recommended that throughout their high school program, students should give serious thought to their career plans. Students and parents are urged to consult the high school counseling staff whenever they have questions concerning career planning or post-high school education opportunities. Appointments can be made with the counselor(s) by calling the counselors' office 532-2841.
At the end of each semester grading period, the honor roll of students with high scholastic achievement is compiled. To be eligible for the honor roll, a student must carry at least four regular classes; however, if he/she is in five regular classes, all five grades will be used to determine the average. All grades will be used to determine the average, except Driver's Ed.
In order to be listed on the honor roll, a student must have a "B" average or better. He or she should have no "D's" or "F's" on the record.
To receive highest honors, a student must have a 4-point average or straight "A's".
Rank in class, grade point average (A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0) and semester honor roll are calculated from all courses. Class rank is computed at the conclusion of each semester.
All students will be classified according to credits earned. The scale is as
follows:
Freshman: 0-4.5 credits
Sophomores: 5-9.5 credits
Juniors: 10-13.5 credits
Seniors: 14 credits
Driver Education will not be required for graduation.
Letter grades are given at the end of each nine weeks period and at the close of each semester. The student receives a report of his/her grades. Only semester grades are recorded on the permanent record card. The following is the grading scale:
A-Superior
B-Good
C-Average
D-Poor
F-Failure
I-Incomplete
An "I" on the grade slip indicate an incomplete grade. The student
has the responsibility of making up his work. If the work has not been completed
within two weeks, the incomplete will automatically be changed to an "F".
A longer period of time may be granted in cases of prolonged illness or other
injury or emergency.
The student will receive a grade report each nine weeks. If the student is in
danger of receiving a failing grade for the nine weeks grading period, a mid-term
report of progress will be mailed to the parents. The most improtant mark is
the semester grade. It is possible for a student to have a passing grade at
the nine weeks but fail at the end of the semester.
Advanced
American History
Advanced
Chemistry
Calculus
Advanced
English
Spanish IV
When classes are formed, schedules are made and staff hired and assigned on
the basis of total regitration, courses cannot be changed after the spring registration.
SELECT
COURSES WITH CARE!
Mid-year
adjustments are limited to the following types of changes:
1. Failures
in full year courses
2. Graduation
requirements
3. Class
balancing
Students may drop or add classes, if the schedule permits, durig the 1st week of the semester. Schedules may be changed by teacher request during the 1st three weeks of a semester. The principal or assistant principal must approve all schedule changes.
Correspondence Courses
A student enrolled in a correspondence course may receive high school credit
for work completed, provided:
1. The
course is given by the University of Missouri's Continuing Education Division.
2. The
student is a fourth or fifth year student.
3. The
student assumes responsibility for all fees; and
4. The
course is approved in advance by the High School Principal.
Normally, a maximum of 2 units of credit may be counted toward the requirements for a student's high school graduation; however under extenuating circumstances, exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis upon the prior approval of the Superintendent and High School Principal.
College Courses
A student who successfully complete community college courses may receive high
school credit, provided:
1. The
student is a senior in good academic standing;
2. The
course is not offered in the high school curriculum;
3. The
course is approved in advance by the high school guidance counselor
and the High School principal; and
4. The
student assumes responsibility for all fees.
A maximum of 2 units of credit may be counted toward the requirements for a student's hgh school graduation.
A student completing the required credits for graduation may elect to graduate after 7 semesters.
Students planning early graduation must complete an application one semester prior to the intended graduation. For example, a student who plans to finish in January needs to obtain approval prior to the opening of school for the fall semester. A conference with a student's parent is also required.
Grades received from credit courses through correspondence at University of Missouri or Lincoln Land College's Continuing Education Division will be recorded on a student's permanent record, but will not accelerate graduation.
Students who receive approval for early graduation may return and participate in commencement exercises or they may receive their diplomas "in absentia."
Students must complete a minimum of two complete semesters in residency at Hillsboro High School for early graduation.
A student may apply for early graduation if he/she has met all requirements for graduation as established by the administration and the Board of Education. Careful program planning should be made with the counselor as soon as the early graduation decision is made. Early graduation should be chosen only after considerable thought and deliberation and only by those students whose specific needs are served by this option. The school administration does not recommend early graduation for the vast majority of students
Good college planning should not focus on minimum admissions requirements. Many colleges require the following: a high school diploma, specific high school courses, a certain rank based on grades in the graduating class and/or a given score level on a standardized admission test.
A recommended program would include:
1. English
- four year sequence
2. Math
- Algebra and Geometry (minimum recommended)
3. Science
- Biology and one additional lab course - 2 semesters
4. Social
Studies - two years other than American History
5. Foreign
Language - two years of same language
The above does not imply that specific requirements or recommendations for a particular curriculum or college should or can be overlooked. For example, some "Ivy League" institutions require four years of foreign language for all applicants. The University of Illinois, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences requires two years of foreign language for admission. Students and parents are strongly urged to consult with the counselors and check college catalogues regarding specifics of college planning.
The EIP program is designed to encourage students to pass all of their classes. Any student who is passing all of his/her classes will dismissed from school at 2:40 p.m. and must leave campus at this time. Any student who is not required to attend the tutoring, but rides the bus must go to an alternative designated area. Those students who are failing oneor more of their classes will be required to attend 8th period, which is a mandatory tutoring session to assist them with their classes. This tutoring session wil end at 3:20 p.m. All busses will run at this time.
EDIP Guidelines
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Good vocational planning begins with career exploration by course selection. A variety of courses are offered in the high school which will provide students with experiences introducing them to the world of work. If a student desires an entry- level job upon graduation, it is advisable to follow a particular sequence of courses in a vocational field.
The opportunities at the post-secondary level are so varied that they cannot be included in this book nor can a particular course sequence be suggested to cover all the vocational and technical training programs in two years or less. Detailed information on how to prepare for them can be obtained in the counselor's office.
Last updated: February 20, 2008