1. Rusk Middle School
Parent Informational
Meeting for 8th Grade
Students Taking
High School Credit Courses 1

2. What Courses are offered to 8th
Grade Students at Rusk Middle
School for High School Credit?
• Honors Accelerated CCGPS Coordinate
Algebra/Analytic Geometry
• Physical Science
• Spanish 1
• Latin 1
• Intro to Engineering Drawing & Design
• HS Band
2

3. How is my child identified for
placement in Honors Accelerated
CCGPS Coordinate Algebra/
Analytic Geometry?
This placement track was determined at the
beginning of 6th grade based on CCSD
County/Middle School criteria consisting of
various data points (CRCT results, ITBS
results, CogAT results and classroom
performance in mathematics).
3

4. How is my child identified for
placement in Physical Science?
This placement is determined one of
two ways:
• Linked with Honors Accelerated CCGPS
Coordinate Algebra/Analytic Geometry
• CCSD County/Middle School criteria
consisting of various data points (CRCT
results, ITBS results, CogAT results and
classroom performance in science). 4

5. How is my child identified for
placement in Spanish 1?
This placement is determined by CCSD
County/Middle School criteria consisting of
various data points (CRCT results, ITBS
results, CogAT results and classroom
performance in language arts and reading).
*Students taking Spanish 1 will take Grade 8
Lit/Comp due to the 8th Grade Reading and
Language Arts CRCT.
5

6. How is my child identified for
placement in Latin 1, Intro to
Engineering Drawing & Design , or
HS Band?
• Students who qualified for Spanish may
have elected to take Latin 1.
• 7th grade students were recommended for
Drafting by their 7th grade math teachers.
• Students were recommended for
placement in the HS Band course. 6

7. Rusk Middle School Expectations
• Although these courses are taught in middle
school, they are considered high school
courses carrying Carnegie unit credit weight.
Two semesters at the middle school level
equate to one full unit of high school credit.
• Classes for high school credit are more
difficult than typical middle school courses.
They require higher level thinking, reading
and writing skills as well as more preparation
time outside of class. 7

8. Rusk Middle School Expectations:
(continued)
Once a student and his or her
parent/guardian agree to enrollment in one
or more of these courses and to ensure
curriculum integrity, the school will only
honor a parent request for schedule changes
during and immediately after (2 days after
report cards are distributed) the first quarter
(nine weeks).
8

9. Important Note Regarding
Middle School Expectations
After this first nine weeks window, all
grades for the high school credit classes will
automatically be reported on the student’s
high school transcript. Hence, parents/
students are not able to opt out of
accepting credit for this class(es). Credit will
be automatically assigned to the high school
transcript.
9

10. Attendance Requirements
The High School Attendance Policy
reads, “Any student having seven or more
excused, approved or unexcused absences
in a semester will receive no credit for that
class unless a waiver is granted by the High
School Attendance Committee.” Middle
schools will, after the seventh
absence, provide a waiver hearing at the
request of the student or parent.
*1/2 day is considered present at the
middle school level. 10

11. 11

12. Transcript Implications
High school level courses taken and passed
in middle school will count towards the 23
total units required to graduate. Honors
Accelerated CCGPS Coordinate
Algebra/Analytic Geometry will receive an
additional 5 points when calculated for NGA
(Numeric Grade Point Average)/GPA and
ranking purposes; however these additional
points are not posted on the transcript.
12

13. Sample Freshman Transcript
• Each Semester: You OWN it!
• Grades are cumulative
• Aug-Dec (Semester 1) – posted to your
transcript, ex: 9th Grade Lit A
• Jan-May (Semester 2) posted to your
transcript, ex: would say 9th Grade
Lit/Comp B
• Notice that Physical Science has earned a
passing grade, but not received credit.
Why not? Attendance is taken every
period, students must meet grade
requirements and attendance
requirements.
13

14. EOCT Grading
• EOCT = End-of-Course-Test
• For students who entered high school
after July 1, 2011, the EOCT counts as 20%
of the student’s final course grade.
Students must earn a 70 or higher final
course grade to pass the course and earn
credit toward graduation.
14

15. HOPE Implications
While high school level courses taken in
middle school count toward graduation and
CCSD GPA calculations, they will not be
included in the student’s HOPE GPA
calculation. The Georgia Student Finance
Commission only uses courses taken after a
student’s ninth grade entry date in their
HOPE GPA.
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16. •Finish What You Started !!!
• Students should be challenged everyday!
S t r e t c h e d, but not ripped in half!
• Rigor is measured in length (time committed), depth (difficulty
& volume of content), speed (pace in which the depth and
breadth is taught)
• Does your child have the ability to do more with less time and
still create quality work?
• Motivation: Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic . . .
• What does your child want to achieve and how bad do they
want it?
• Rigor, Endurance, Motivation, Stamina
• Ramp up instead of run out! 16