CURRICULUM

All courses offered at Appalachia High School are listed below. Unless otherwise stated in the course description, courses carry one unit of credit for one year's work in the ninth grade and above.

ENGLISH PROGRAM

Standards of learning, as established by the State Department of Education and the Wise County Schools, are the major guidelines for all English courses taught at Appalachia High School.

English 8 - 12

College Preparatory

Photojournalism

Speech & Drama

SAT Verbal
AP English 12

*See Electronic Classroom
Dual Enrollment with Mountain Empire Community College

MATH PROGRAM

Algebra I Part A and Part B is designed to present students with the same material covered in Algebra I. Each class is one credit and both must be taken to meet the state requirement for Algebra I.

Algebra I Part A
Algebra I Part B
Algebra II
Geometry
Mathematics 8/Pre-Algebra
Mathematics Analysis
*See Electronic Classroom

SCIENCE PROGRAM

Biology I
Biology II: Anatomy and Physiology (Fall); Environmental Science (Spring)
Chemistry
Earth Science
Physical Science

SOCIAL STUDIES PROGRAM

American Government

Current Affairs (Fiber Optics Classroom)
Sociology

U. S. History--Twentieth Century

U. S. and Virginia History 11

World Geography
World History 10
World History Part A: Ancient History
World History Part B: Modern History
*See Electronic Classroom

PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM

Physical Education and Health
Advanced Physical Education

MUSIC PROGRAM

Advanced Band
Band
Chorus
Music Appreciation

FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROGRAM

Latin I
Latin II
Latin III
Spanish I
Spanish II
Spanish III
Spanish IV
*See Electronic Classroom

BUSINESS PROGRAM

 

Keyboarding Applications
Word Processing
Office Administration

Computer Information Systems
Advanced Computer Information Systems

Desktop/Multimedia Presentations

Principles of Business

MARKETING EDUCATION PROGRAM

Advanced Marketing
Fundamentals Of Marketing
Marketing
 
WORK AND FAMILY STUDIES

Nutrition and Wellness

Resource Management
Family Relations
Fashion Design
Parenting
Introduction to Foods
Individual Development
 

SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM

The Special Education Program is available to students who are screened, evaluated, and found eligible for services.

ELECTRONIC CLASSROOM COURSES

Advanced Placement Calculus
Advanced Placement English 12
Advanced Placement American History
Latin I
Latin II
Latin III

WISE COUNTY VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL COURSES

Auto Body Repair I, II, III
Auto Mechanics I, II, III
Bricklaying I, II, III
Carpentry-Cabinet Making I, II, III
Child Care Occupations I, II
Cosmetology I, II
Design and Technology with Applications of Math
Diesel Mechanics/Heavy Duty Equipment I, II, III
Drafting I, II, III
Electricity I, II, III
Electronics I, II, III
Food Services Occupation I, II
Law Enforcement
Machine Shop I, II, III
Power Mechanics I, II, III
Practical Nursing I
Printing I, II, III
Sheet Metal I, II, III
Small Engine Repair I, II, III
Welding I, II, III
 
OTHER ELECTIVES

College Preparatory - PACE

 
DIPLOMA REQUIREMENTS

Appalachia High School offers a 24- and a 28-credit diploma. Diploma requirements are listed below.

*Must be three years of one language or two years each of two languages.

Students receiving the 24-credit diploma and graduating with a "A" or better average will receive a Board of Education Seal on their diploma. The 28-credit candidates who do not have an AP course or college level course will receive the Board of Education Seal on their diplomas.

Students receiving the 28-credit diploma and graduating with a "B" or better average will receive the Governor's Seal on their diploma. An AP course or college level course is required.

Students without the "B" or better average will receive a Regular Diploma or an Advanced Studies Diploma without the Governor's or Board of Education's Seal.
 
Grade 8

1. Basic eighth grade subjects carry no credit. If the eighth grade is failed, the student must repeat all eighth grade work.

2. To be promoted to the ninth grade, students must pass five units; one unit must be either math or English.

3. Eighth grade students receive credit for a class only if it is a class designated as ninth grade level or above. (World Geography, Keyboarding, Resource Management or Band)

EXAMINATION EXEMPTION POLICY

Regulations for Examination Exemption Policy for Wise County Schools are stated below:

1. All students enrolled in the following courses will be required to take a final examination each term:

All the courses listed above have an end of course SOL test, except English which is designed and implemented differently. English 8 is part of the 8th grade SOL test that covers English SOLs from grades 6, 7, and 8. The SOL test in English at the end of English 11 will cover the SOLs from English 9, 10, and 11.

2. Students in grades 8 through 12 will be exempt from final examinations each term in their remaining courses provided they meet the following grade and attendance requirements:

For purpose of this policy, no distinction will be made between excused and unexcused absences. Students participating in approved school activities are counted present.
 
3. Students who are exempted from exams because of grades and absences will be allowed to take examinations for the purpose of attempting to improve their grades. In such cases, the examination may not lower the grade.

4. Three accumulated tardies constitutes one day of absences.

5. The end of course SOL test and the final examination will be averaged together and the resulting score will count 1/4th of the final grade. If SOL test results are unavailable, the final examination will count as 1/4th of the student's course grade.

In cases where students have met grade and attendance requirements and the SOL test results are available, the SOL test will be computed as 1/8th of the student's final grade. If the SOL test results are unavailable, the final grade will stand as is.

Once SOL passing scores are determined a conversion table will be developed to establish a numerical grade to be used to compute the final grade.

6. This policy shall supersede all existing school board policies relative to exemption from semester examinations.
 

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR REGISTRATION

Students register in the spring for the coming fall session. Schedules are made during the summer. No schedule changes will be made after June 5 except when necessary to resolve conflict based upon the school's inability to schedule requested classes. Schedules are filed in the main office. All schedule changes, including class withdrawals, must be made through the Guidance Office. The students must present a Change of Schedule form to all teachers involved for approval and return the completed form to the Guidance office.

After confirmation of this schedule with the Guidance Office, it will be changed only upon consultation of parents, guidance office personnel, and the student.

Prospective nurses should take Algebra I, Algebra II, Earth Science, Biology, and Chemistry. They should take as much upper level math and science as possible.
 
Technical School students must be sixteen years old by January 1 of the school year. Technical School courses count four units per year. Students have to be in at least tenth grade homeroom to go to the vocational school.
 
Both Cosmetology and Child Care are two-year courses taken only in the junior and senior years.

LPN nursing is open to seniors only.
 
Students will be allowed to take only a total of one credit in summer school unless they can graduate by the end of summer school. At that time they can take two classes: one repeat, one new.
 
No student will be permitted to take a subject in summer school without having registered and having been issued a permit to do so from the Guidance Office.
 
GRADES

Numerical grades are assigned throughout the grading period and converted to letter grades after the average for the grading period is determined.

A = 94 - 100
B = 86 - 93
C = 78 - 85
D = 70 - 77
F = Any grade below 70

Grade point average and class rank are determined by the following scales:
  

 

Quality points are totaled and divided by the number of credits attempted. Driver's Education is not included in these averages.

INCOMPLETES

Grades that are incomplete at the end of the semester will automatically become "F" if not completed within two weeks' time.

All course requirements, including final examinations, must be fulfilled; otherwise, the grade will become "F" within a period of two weeks. Extenuating circumstances, such as long-term illness or hospitalization, warrant special consideration upon request.