Madison County
Advanced Scholars Academy
Meeting
Freshman Cohort
Presented by:
Drew Muntz, Laura Dedic & Nicki Tipton
What is the
Advance Scholars Academy?
O It is an advanced academic course selection
providing students with the opportunity to be
engaged in a challenging and rigorous
curriculum designed to ensure college
readiness and the potential to earn 45 or
more college credit hours through the
successful completion of AP Exams and
Dual Credit Courses.
Qualifying for MCASA
Why did my child receive an invitation?
The following were considered:
O EXPLORE Benchmarks
O Middle School GPA
O MAP Assessments
Admittance to MCASA
How will my child be accepted?
Your child needs to fill out and return the
application:
O Application
O Application Form
O 2 Teacher Recommendations
O Essay
Who should apply?
O MCASA is a program for kids who are…
O College bound.
O Academically or intellectually inclined.
O “Bored” with school.
O Need to be and want to be challenged.
O Hard workers.
Kids who should not apply…
O Let’s be frank. Do not apply if…:
O You don’t like to work or homework.
O Don’t want to be challenged.
O Only want to take these classes to be with
their friends.
O Are afraid of not getting an “A”.
Common Questions
from Parents
O What benefit is this program to my child?
O We will cover this in a minute.
O Do colleges really look at courses they take?
O Yes.
O My child plays sports can they really be in
this program at the same time?
O Yes.
Common Questions
from Parents
O What benefit is this program to my child?
O We will cover this in a minute.
O Do colleges really look at courses they take?
O Yes.
O My child plays sports can they really be in
this program at the same time?
O Yes.
General Requirements for the
Advanced Scholars Academy
Diploma
O Have a minimum cumulative high
O
O
O
O
school/college grade-point average of 3.0.
Have a minimum ACT composite score of
22.
Take and pass a minimum of 8 AP courses,
or a combination of college and AP courses
that are equivalent to 8 AP courses.
Take the AP exam for each AP course taken.
Fulfill the required classes.
What is AP?
O The Advanced Placement (AP) is a program in
the United States created by the College Board
offering college-level curriculum and
examinations to high school students.
O Colleges often grant placement and course
credit to students who obtain high scores above
a certain number on the examinations.
O For a high school course to have the AP
designation, the course must be audited by the
College Board to ascertain it satisfies the AP
curriculum.
O AP Teachers are trained by the College Board.
What is an AP Test?
O The culminating
event of the AP class
is the AP Exam.
O The exam consists of
O AP tests are scored
on a 1 to 5 scale as
follows:
O 5 – Extremely well
O Multiple Choice
O
O Free Response or
O
Essays
O
O
qualified
4 – Well qualified
3 – Qualified
2 – Possibly
qualified
1 – No
recommendation
How does AP credit work?
O College Credit
O School Credit/Transcript
O A qualifying AP score is
O AP classes are
a 3, 4, or 5
O Depending on the
college and score
O
O students may be
awarded college credit
O Or allowed to bypass
certain intro college
classes
O
O
O
weighted credits
An A = 5 points rather
than 4 on a unweighted scale
B=4
C=3
Pre-AP classes are NOT
weighted
Current AP offerings?
There are currently 35 AP offering those in red are offered by
MCHS.
Arts
O
O
O
O
O
AP Art History
AP Music Theory
AP Studio Art: 2-D Design
AP Studio Art: 3-D Design
AP Studio Art: Drawing
English
O
AP English Language and Composition
O
AP English Literature and Composition
History & Social Science
O
AP Comparative Government and Politics
O
AP European History
O
AP Human Geography
O
AP Macroeconomics
O
AP Microeconomics
O
AP Psychology
O
AP United States Government and Politics
O
AP United States History
O
AP World History
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
Math & Computer Science
AP Calculus AB
AP Calculus BC
AP Computer Science A
AP Statistics
Sciences
AP Biology
AP Chemistry
AP Environmental Science
AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
AP Physics C: Mechanics
AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based
AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based
World Languages & Cultures
AP Chinese Language and Culture
AP French Language and Culture
AP German Language and Culture
AP Italian Language and Culture
AP Japanese Language and Culture
AP Latin
AP Spanish Language and Culture
AP Spanish Literature and Culture
General Requirements for the
Advanced Scholars Academy
Diploma
O Have a minimum cumulative high
O
O
O
O
school/college grade-point average of 3.0.
Have a minimum ACT composite score of
22.
Take and pass a minimum of 8 AP courses,
or a combination of college and AP courses
that are equivalent to 8 AP courses.
Take the AP exam for each AP course taken.
Fulfill the required classes.
Mandatory Academy
Required Classes
O Pre-AP English 1
O Pre-AP English 2
O AP English Language and Composition
O AP World History or AP European History
O AP Human Geography
**All students must also fulfill all other MCHS
graduation requirements
Minimum State Requirements
for Graduation
O English – 4 credits
O I, II, III, IV
O Math – 4 credits
O Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, 4th year Math
O Science – 3 credits
O Physical, Chemical, Biology
O Social Studies – 3 Credits
O Geography, World Civilization, US History
O
O
O
O
O
Health/PE - .5 Credits each
Humanities – 1 credit
Foreign Language – 2 credits for College Bound
Electives – 4 Credits
22 – Total Credits
MCASA
Requirements for Graduation
O Handout from Mrs. Tipton
English (4 credits):
9th grade – Pre-AP English 1
10th grade – Pre-AP English 2
11th grade – AP English 3
12th grade – AP English 4 or Dual Credit ENG
101/102
MCASA
Requirements for Graduation
Math (4 credits):
Alternate math for students
needing Algebra 1:
9th grade – Pre-AP Algebra 2
10th grade- Pre-AP Geometry
11th grade – AP Calculus AB (or
dual credit)
12th grade – AP Calculus BC/
AP Statistics (or dual credit)
9th grade – Pre-AP Algebra 1
10th grade – Pre-AP Algebra 2
11th grade – Pre-AP Geometry
12th grade – AP Calculus
AB/AP Stats (or dual credit)
MCASA
Requirements for Graduation
Science (3 credits):
9th grade – Pre- AP Biology
10th grade – Pre-AP
Chemistry
11th grade – AP Physics or
Physics
Alternate science for AP Biology
and AP Chemistry:
9th grade – Pre-AP Biology
10th grade – AP Biology and PreAP Chemistry
11th grade – AP Chemistry
12th grade – AP Physics or
Physics
Alternate Science for AP
Biology:
9th grade – Pre-AP Biology
10th grade – AP Biology
11th grade – Pre-AP Chemistry
12th grade – AP Physics or
Physics
MCASA
Requirements for Graduation
Social Studies (3 credits):
9th grade – AP Human Geography
10th grade – AP European History or AP World
History
11th grade – AP US History or US History
MCASA
Requirements for Graduation
O Other required credits…
Health and PE – 1 credit
World Language – 2 credits (possibly 4 credits for AP class)
Humanities – 1 credit*
Electives – 4 credits (Possible additional AP credits)
22 credits total for graduation
* There are many ways to earn the Humanities credit.
Projected Schedule Freshman Year
O Pre-AP English I
O AP Human Geography
O Pre-AP Algebra II ***
O Pre-AP Biology
O Pre-AP Foreign Language I (or another
elective)
O Elective
***May be Pre-AP Algebra I
Depends on math placement 8th grade year.
Projected Schedule
Sophomore Year
O Pre-AP English II
O AP European History OR AP World History
O Pre-AP Geometry***
O Pre-AP Chemistry or AP Biology
O Honors Foreign Language II (or I if not enrolled)
O Elective
O Some may wish to double up in science with
Pre AP Chemistry
***Depends on placement Freshman Year
Projected Schedule
Junior Year
O AP English III – Language & Composition
O AP US History
O AP Calculus AB***
O AP Chemistry or AP Physics/Physics
O Elective (possibly Foreign Language III if interested in going on to AP)
O Elective
***Depends on placement Freshman Year
Projected Schedule
Senior Year
O AP English IV or Dual Credit ENG 101/102
O AP Calculus BC/AP Stats/Dual Credit MAT
O
O
O
O
107/109***
AP Physics or Physics
Elective (possibly AP Foreign Language)
Elective
Elective
***Depends on placement Freshman Year
What are the benefits?
What the school program offers.
O Scheduling Advantage
O Preference giving to Academy students
O Freshman year cohort will be scheduled together
in Pre-AP English, AP Human Geography, & Pre-AP
Biology.
O Diploma Recognition at Graduation
O Rigorous curriculum designed to attract more
academic scholarships.
O Governor’s Scholars Program
O ??? Health/PE Credit Option
O Outside of the school day
So why apply for the ASA?
What the students have to say.
O Challenging
O Earn college credit
O Advanced courses not
O
O
O
O
offered to other freshmen
Awesome teachers
First time I have had to
learn how to study
Realizing we have to work
for our grade
I feel like I have learned
more this year than all my
years of middle school
combined.
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
AP classes & exams
Preparation for college
Relationships/Family
Spending time with others
of my intellect
Classes that are on my
level
Not much drama
High level thinking
Good grades mean more
Being with people who
actually care about their
education
What are the advantages?
What the students have to say.
O Extra help from teachers &
O Building friendships with
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
students
Guaranteed spots in
advanced classes
Scholarships
Advancing science classes
because of interest in the
medical field
College credit
No class disruptions
Intellectual conversations
Don’t have to wait on
students who don’t get it
O
O
O
O
O
intellectual peers
Teachers expect more
from students
Learning time
management skills
Being prepared for college
and life.
Not being bored in class
More freedom &
responsibility
All students pay attention
& participate
Would you recommend the
Academy program to other students?
O Yes – Do it!
O For students who
need the challenge
and are ready to
work
O Cohort takes a lot
of work, time, &
effort
O Made me work on
my procrastination
O No – Not for you if…
O If you are not ready
to work don’t apply
O It’s not for people
who are not willing
to work for the
grade
Questions?