Each Carroll County high school is dedicated to increasing student achievement and accountability to match increasing state standards and national goals. A focused approach to improving the quality of instruction in the academic arena as well as the career and technical area is being targeted through a results-oriented, standards-based curriculum, emphasizing development of critical thinking skills and depth of knowledge. Through diverse programming, the secondary program is committed to providing students’ opportunities for academic advancement, personal growth, and extracurricular development. Carroll County high schools are committed to preparing all students for postsecondary education and the high performance demands of a quality workforce in business and industry.
The Carroll County 9-12 instructional program is designed on a six period day semester system, which allows graduates to earn 24 unit credits in four years of high school. Students in grades ten through twelve are required to obtain a minimum of 22 units to graduate from a Carroll County high school.
Under the new graduation rule, current ninth grade students are required to earn a minimum of 23 units to graduate. During high school orientation or advisement, students are presented core curriculum courses required for the course of study as prescribed by state and local graduation policies. Courses offered at the secondary level are based upon state and local graduation requirements and are in accordance with the Georgia Performance Standards developed by the Georgia Department of Education. During advisement sessions, students are also introduced to Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) courses and program concentrations.
Additionally, gifted services, special education, remedial education, and English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programs are provided for all students meeting the criteria for services.
The concept of Ninth Grade Academies has been implemented in some Carroll County high schools. The purpose of the Ninth Grade Academy is to assist incoming students in becoming fully integrated into high school life by creating the best teaching and learning environment possible. Ninth Grade Academy does this by organizing students and faculty into a learning community that focuses on connecting students to other students, to faculty, and to academic areas and resources. As a result of these connections, it is expected that students will be able to show evidence of positive learning outcomes and that this foundation will ensure the successful graduation of all students.
Students entering ninth grade for the first time during 2008/09 or subsequent school years are eligible for a Career Pathway Completion Seal by completing four (4) units with three (3) of the four (4) units in the same career concentration area.
Graduating seniors who earn a total of 23 units and maintain a grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 or above in the core courses of English, math, science, social studies, and foreign language will be recognized as Carroll County Scholars. All courses taken in the core content area will be calculated into the grade point average, including repeated courses.
Advanced Placement courses are offered at all high schools and are available online through approved virtual programs.
The Advanced Placement Program, administered by the College Board, is a national program of college-level courses and exams for high school students. Advanced Placement courses are more challenging and, compared to other high school courses, take more time, require more work, give greater opportunity for individual progress and accomplishment, and go into greater depth at a higher level of understanding. Upon passing an examination covering the material in an AP course, students may receive college credit, advanced standing in a subject required in their college curriculum, or both. Credit awarded or academic standing/placement is determined by the College Board and the college or university selected by the student.
CTAE offers challenging curriculum, hands-on experience in authentic work environments, and intensive career guidance as a means of ensuring every student graduates from high school with the skills necessary to be successful in college and/or employment. Industry certified technical programs, agriscience courses, cosmetology, and welding are available at the Technical Education Center. Some CTAE courses are also offered at various high schools throughout the system.
Career Related Education (CRE) includes structured age appropriate experiences which prepare students for the school-to-career transition. The range of CRE experiences begin with Career Awareness and Exploration in middle school and culminate with work-based learning during the eleventh and twelfth grade. Work-based learning provides students the opportunity to be enrolled in an internship, cooperative education, or youth apprenticeship.
Students are offered the opportunity to participate in Seamless Education Opportunities, which enable students to earn either advanced credit or equivalent college credit while still in high school. Articulation agreements with post-secondary schools are in place, allowing students to earn credit at a university or technical college/institute while still in high school. There are three options for participation.
Dual Enrollment: High School students can take postsecondary courses for both high school and postsecondary credit. This option is available for credit toward certificate and diploma programs as well as degree programs.
Joint Enrollment: Students may opt to take a postsecondary course while still in high school. In this case, credit is attained during high school but applied only at the postsecondary level.
Alignment/Articulation: Under this option, students take a high school course that is aligned with a postsecondary course that has been approved for postsecondary credit upon completion of high school and entrance into a two- or four-year college or university.
Carroll County Schools offers a variety of opportunities for online learning.
Students may participate in online courses for full unit credit offered by Georgia Virtual School and Virtual High School. These courses are rigorous and require students to be highly motivated. Many upper level courses and advanced content courses are available through the approved online programs in Carroll County.
Additionally, credit recovery opportunities are available through Georgia Department of Education Credit Recovery Program and E2020. Credit recovery is an opportunity for a student to retake a course in which he/she previously was not academically successful. Credit recovery options allow students who have completed seat time and calendar requirements to earn credit based on demonstrated competency of the content standards. These programs include complete courses aligned to the Georgia Performance Standards, and students must demonstrate mastery before receiving a new grade. In general, credit recovery programs are intended for students who have been previously unsuccessful in a specific academic course and need additional review of the academic material in order to earn credit for the course.
An assortment of student activities, including honor societies and clubs, comprehensive athletic programs, academic teams, debate teams, foreign language clubs, journalism/yearbook experiences, drama clubs, instrumental and vocal music organizations, and other special interest/skills clubs are available to interested students. Eligible students may be nominated for scholarship opportunities and special events such as the Governor’s Honors Program.
