WESTERN ALBEMARLE HIGH SCHOOL
2009-2010 School Profile
CEEB Code: 470-627
5941 Rockfish Gap Turnpike
Crozet, Virginia 22932
Counseling Department: (434) 823-8701 Fax: (434) 823-8710
David Francis, Principal
Amy M. Wright, Director of Counseling
THE SCHOOL
Western Albemarle High School is a comprehensive public school of grades nine through twelve with an
enrollment of approximately 1050. The academic year is 36 weeks in length, encompassing two semesters,
each with two grading periods of nine weeks. The school schedule consists of seven classes, which meet on
alternating days.
LOCATION
Western Albemarle High School, one of four public high schools in Albemarle County, Virginia, is located
approximately 110 miles southwest of Washington, D.C., and 70 miles west of Richmond. At the time of
2000 census, the population of Albemarle County was approximately 84,186. It was estimated that
Albemarle County's July 1, 2005, population was 90,400 and by 2010, the population will be 97,200.
GRADUATION
REQUIREMENTS
STANDARD DIPLOMA
English
Mathematics
Lab Science
World History
US/VA History
US/VA Government
Physical Education & Health
Fine or Practical Arts
Electives
Total credits:
GRADING SCALE:
PRIOR TO FALL 2007
A = 93-100
B = 85-92
C = 77-84
D = 69-76
F = 68 and below
ADVANCED STUDIES DIPLOMA
4 credits
3 credits
3 credits
1 credit
1 credit
1 credit
2 credits
1 credit
6 credits
22 credits
English
4 credits
Mathematics
4 credits
Lab Science
4 credits
World History
2 credits
US/VA History
1 credit
US/VA Government
1 credit
Foreign Language
3 or 4 credits
(3 years of 1 language or 2 years each of 2 languages)
Physical Education & Health
2 credits
Fine or Practical Arts
1 credit
Electives
2 credits
Total Credits:
24 credits
GRADE DISTRIBUTION 2009-10
CURRENT
A = 90-100
B = 80-89
C = 70-79
D = 60-69
F = 59 and below
NATIONAL MERIT COMPETITION
2009
2010
Commended: 21 Commended: 21
Semifinalist: 7 Semifinalist: 4
Finalist:
7 Finalist:
CLASS RANK 2008
CLASS RANK Weighted GPA
Top 10%
4.460-4.810
11%-25%
4.010-4.450
26%-50%
3.500-3.990
51%-75%
3.030-3.490
76%-100%
1.030-3.000
Grade 9:
Grade 10:
Grade 11:
Grade 12:
SAT RESULTS
Critical Read
Western Albemarle
599
Virginia
511
National
501
291
281
234
244
Critical Writing
581
498
493
AP EXAM RESULTS Spring 2009
Total students who took AP Exams: 314
Total AP Exams taken: 588
Score: 5
220
37%
4
165
28%
3
145
25%
2
40
7%
1
18
3%
Math
588
512
515
CURRICULUM - The Albemarle County School Division offers academic, vocational and elective curricula to complete the
requirements for Virginia diplomas and to provide a wide range of educational experiences.
ACADEMIC/ADVANCED (AA) CLASSES: English 9, 10,
11, 12; World History -1500, World History to Present, VA/US
History, VA/US Government; Earth Science, Biology I,
Geospatial II; Spanish I, II, III, French I, II, III;
ADVANCED (ADV) CLASSES: Geometry, Algebra I & II,
College Algebra/Trig, Discrete Math; Chemistry, Physics, Ecology;
German, Latin and Japanese, Virtual Chinese II
HONORS (HON) CLASSES: English 9, 10, 11; World History I & II; Geometry, Algebra II, Math Analysis; Earth Science, Biology,
Chemistry, Physics; Spanish IV, French IV, Latin III & IV, German IV, Japanese IV
ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) CLASSES: English 12; US/VA History, US/VA Government, European History; Calculus AB &
BC, Statistics; Biology II, Chemistry II, Physics II; French IV, Spanish V, German V, Virtual French; Art Portfolio, Art History;
Psychology.
COURSES THROUGH PIEDMONT VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (dual credit): English 111-112, Astronomy, Political
Science 211 and US Government 212, Architectural Drafting, Technical Drawing
The Academic level (AA) and the Advanced level (ADV) are offered as college preparatory/school-to-work programs. Students in
Academic/Advanced classes are engaged in a rigorous curriculum designed to stimulate and encourage academic growth and
performance. Honors and Advanced Placement level (HON, AP) is designed for students demonstrating exceptional aptitude and
achievement in the discipline, and a desire to pursue the curriculum beyond the Academic/Advanced level of study. Honors and AP
students are expected to be self-motivated, independent learners able to engage in self-instruction through independent reading, projects,
and research.
CLASS RANK & GPA
Albemarle County determines GPA and rank in class separately. The rank in class is designed to balance the GPA and the
difficulty of courses taken. The rank in class procedure is designed to reward a strong academic schedule, but not to discourage
a student’s desire to enrich his experiences through elective courses. Rank in class is reported by decile (top 10% is first decile,
next 10% is second, etc.) until February of the senior year when final class rank is determined.
GPA is determined by dividing the total grade points received by the total number of credits attempted in earning the points. The points
are 4 for A, 3 for B, 2 for C, 1 for D, and 0 for F. The highest unweighted GPA is 4.0
Rank in class is computed using the following weighted course system for current high school students
entering grades 10 – 12.
Standard and practical levels
= no differential
Academic/Advanced & Advanced level
= +. 5
Honors/Advanced Placement/Dual credit courses = +1.0
Classes are weighted only for determining class rank.
Local recognition of honor students is based on the unweighted grade point average.
Weighted grades for the entering 9th grade class
The following weighted scale for students entering the 9 th grade, (or taking high school courses in the middle school), effective for the
2008-2009 school year:
Grade
Practical, Standard,
Honors/Dual Credit/Dual
Academic Advanced
Enrollment/AP
A
4
5
B
3
4
C
2
3
D
1
2
F
0
0
Students obtaining Individual Education Diplomas and foreign exchange students are not calculated in the final class rank.
The following courses are not calculated in class rank and grade point average: Study Hall, Teacher Assistant, and Driver Education.
Students receiving a “Pass” in a course designated as pass/fail are credited with completion of the course, but the grade from such a
course is not included in the calculation of the GPA. Students receiving a “Fail” in a pass/fail course receive a grade point of zero,
which is included in calculations of the GPA.
Profile Supplement
65% Four-year colleges and universities
12% Full-time jobs
GRADUATE PLANS CLASS OF 2009
16% Two-year colleges and vocational schools
4% Other education programs, military
2009 GRADUATES PLAN TO ATTEND THE COLLEGES LISTED
Art Institute of Philadelphia
Blue Ridge Community College
Bridgewater College
Brigham Young University-Utah
Brown University
Cabrini College
California State University at Sacramento
Campbell University
Christopher Newport University
College Of Charleston
College of William & Mary
College of Wooster
Colorado State University
Colorado University
Denison University
Emory & Henry College
Emory University
Fordham University
George Mason University
Guilford College
Hamilton College
Hollins University
Ithaca College
James Madison University
Johnson & Wales University
Kansas State University
Lafayette College
Longwood University
Lynchburg College
Manchester College
Marshall University
Marymount University
Michigan State University
National Outdoor Leadership School
New York University
North Carolina State University
Ohio Wesleyan University
Old Dominion University
Piedmont Virginia Community College
Radford University
Randolph Macon College
Rochester Institute of Technology
Savannah College of Art & Design
St. Joseph’s College
Temple University
United State Merchant Marines
Universal Technical Institute, Texas
University of Alabama
University of British Columbia
University of Colorado
University of Georgia
University of Kentucky
University of Mary Washington
University of Mississippi
University of New Mexico
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at
Wilmington
University of Northern Colorado
University of Notre Dame
University of Oregon-Eugene
University of Pittsburg
University of Richmond
University of South Carolina
University of Virginia
University of Virginia at Wise
University of Wisconsin
Vanderbilt University
Vassar College
Villanova University
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Tech
Virginia Western Community College
Washington& Lee University
West Virginia University