PONCHATOULA
HIGH SCHOOL
LEAP
Graduation Requirements
Assessments
IGP’s
AOC’s
TOPS
Scheduling
Introduction
• The information you are receiving is important for you and
your child. You, the school, and the student must work
together to ensure that your student achieves his/her
educational goals.
• Each student will receive an informational newspaper
needed for scheduling. It will provide you with graduation
requirements, scheduling requirements, course
summaries and other important information. Read this
guide carefully and discuss the scheduling options with
your child.
• Students are NOT allowed to change teachers or courses
once the schedules are issued. So please give serious
consideration to your selections.
Louisiana Educational Assessment
Program (LEAP)
Students must score Basic or above in either English or
math and Approaching Basic or above in the other subject
on the LEAP to advance to the next grade.
LOUISIANA GRADUATION
REQUIREMENTS
College And Career Diploma
Louisiana Core 4 Curriculum
Louisiana Basic Core Curriculum
Career Diploma
What can I do with each diploma?
Core 4
Basic
Career
√
4 year college
2 year college
√
√
√
Technical college
Military
Work
√
√
√
√
√
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State Policy
All students entering 9th grade are automatically
placed on the LA Core 4 pathway.
At the end of the 10th grade year, a student with
parent or guardian permission may opt into the
Basic Core or Career Diploma curriculum.
Louisiana Graduation Requirements
College and Career Diploma
Entering 9th Graders 2008-2009 and Beyond
Louisiana Core 4 Curriculum
Louisiana Basic Core Curriculum
English - 4 units
English – 4 units
English I, II, III, and IV
English I, II, III and IV or Senior Applications
in English
Math – 4 units
Algebra I or Algebra I-Pt. 2 or Applied
Math – 4 units
Algebra I
Algebra I or Algebra I-Pt1 and Algebra I-Pt 2
Geometry
or Applied Algebra I
Algebra II
Geometry
Remaining unit shall come from the
Remaining units shall come from the
following: Financial Math, Math
following:
Essentials, Advanced Math–PreAlgebra II, Financial Math, Math
Calculus, Advanced Math–Functions
Essentials,
and Statistics, Pre-Calculus, Calculus,
Advanced Math–Pre-Calculus,
Probability and Statistics, Discrete
Advanced Math–Functions and
Math, or a locally-initiated elective
Statistics, Pre-Calculus, Calculus,
approved by BESE as a math
Probability and Statistics, Discrete
substitute.
Math, or a locally-initiated elective
approved by BESE as a math
Science – 4 units
substitute
Biology
Chemistry
Science – 3 units
2 units from the following: Physical
Biology
Science, Integrated Science, Physics
1 unit from physical science cluster: Physical
I, Physics of Technology I, Aerospace
Science, Integrated Science, Chemistry
Science, Biology II, Chemistry II, Earth
I, Physics I, or Physics of Technology I
Science, Environmental Science,
1 unit from Aerospace Science, Biology II,
Physics II, Physics of Technology II,
Chemistry II, Earth Science,
Agriscience II, Anatomy and
Environmental Science, Physics II,
Physiology, or a locally initiated
Physics of Technology II, Agriscience
elective approved by BESE as a
II, Anatomy and Physiology, an
science substitute.*
additional course from the physical
Science cluster, or a locally initiated
Social Studies – 4 units
elective approved by BESE as a
½ unit of Civics or AP American
science substitute.
Government
½ unit of Free Enterprise.
Social Studies – 3 units
American History
American History
1 unit from the following: World History,
½ unit of Civics or AP American Government
World Geography, Western
½ unit of Free Enterprise.
Civilization, or AP European History
1 unit from World History, Western
1 unit from World History, World
Civilization, World Geography, or AP
Geography, Western Civilization, AP
European History
European History, Civics (second
Health – ½ Unit
semester – ½ credit), Law Studies,
Psychology, Sociology, or African
Physical Education – 1½ units
American Studies*
Health – ½ Unit
Physical Education – 1½ units
Foreign Language – 2 units
2 units from the same foreign language or
2 units of speech
Arts – 1 unit
Fine Arts Survey or one unit of Art, Dance,
Music, or Theatre*
Electives – 8 units
Education for Careers or Journey to Careers*
Shall include the minimum courses required to
complete a Career/Technical Area of
Concentration*
*Effective with entering 9th graders 2010-2011 and
beyond
Electives – 3 units
*Approved IBC-related course may be substituted.
Total – 24 units
Total – 24 units
Louisiana Graduation Requirements
Career Diploma
English 
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
4 units
English I, II
The remaining unit shall come from the following:
Technical Reading and Writing
Business English
Business Communications
Using Research in Careers (1/2 credit)
American Literature (1/2 credit)
Film in America (1/2 credit)
English III
English IV
Senior Applications in English
A course developed by the LEA and approved by BESE
Math – 4 units

One of the following:

Algebra I (1 unit) or

Algebra I-Pt. 1 and Algebra I-Pt. 2 (2 units) or

Applied Algebra I (1 unit)

The remaining units shall come from the following:
Geometry or Applied Geometry, Technical Math, Medical Math, Applications in Statistics
and Probability, Financial Math, Math Essentials, Algebra II, Advanced Math—Pre-Calculus,
Discrete Mathematics, or course(s) developed by the LEA and approved by BESE
Science – 3 units

Biology

1 unit from the following physical science cluster:
Physical Science, Integrated Science, Chemistry I, ChemCom, Physics I, or Physics of
Technology I

The remaining unit shall come from the following:
Food Science, Forensic Science, Allied Health Science, Basic Body Structure and Function,
Basic Physics with Applications, Aerospace Science, Earth Science, Agriscience II,
Physics of Technology II, Environmental Science, Anatomy and Physiology, Animal
Science, Biotechnology in Agriculture
Environmental Studies in Agriculture, Health Science II, EMT – Basic, an additional course
from the physical science cluster, or course(s) developed by the LEA and approved by
BESE
Social Studies – 3 units
½ unit of Civics
½ unit of Free Enterprise.
American History
1 unit from the following: Child Psychology and Parenthood Education, Law Studies, Psychology,
Sociology, World History, World Geography, Western Civilization, Economics, American
Government, African American Studies, Course developed by the LEA and approved by
BESE
Health – ½ Unit
Physical Education – 1½ units
Career and Technical Education – 7 units


Education for Careers or Journey to Careers
6 credits required for a career Area of Concentration
Total – 23 units
Diploma Curriculum Comparison
PHS Courses
This comparison only includes the courses currently available at
PHS. A complete list of the diploma requirements can be found in
the scheduling newspaper.
English
Core 4
(4 units)
Basic
(4 units)
Career
(4 units)
English I
English II
English III
English IV
English IV or
Senior
Applications
English IV or
Senior
Applications
Math
Core 4
(4 units)
Basic
(4 units)
Career
(4 units)
Algebra I or
Alg I Pt I & Alg 1 Pt 2
Geometry
Geometry
Algebra II
Financial Math, Math
Essentials, Algebra II, Adv.
Math, Calculus
Financial Math, Math
Essentials, Adv. Math,
Calculus
Geometry, Financial Math,
Math Essentials, Algebra
II, Adv. Math, Calculus
Note: Algebra I Pt. 1 & Algebra I Pt. 2 counts for 2 units in the Basic and Career
Diploma.
In Core 4, Financial Math & Math Essentials do not meet TOPS requirements.
Science
Core 4
(4 units)
Basic
(3 units)
Career
(3 units)
Physical Science or Integrated Science
Biology
Chemistry I
Anatomy & Physiology,
Biology II, Chemistry II,
Physics, Environmental
Science, Agriscience II
Anatomy & Physiology, Biology II, Chemistry I,
Chemistry II, Physics, Environmental Science,
Agriscience II
In Basic and Career curriculum, Chemistry I required for TOPS Tech.
Social Studies
Core 4
(4 units)
Basic
(3 units)
World Geography
Civics
American History
World History
Career
(3 units)
Additional Requirements
Core 4
Total – 24 units
Basic
Total – 24 units
Career
Total – 23 units
1 ½ PE & Health or ROTC I & II
2 units of a foreign language
1 unit of an art
3 electives
Journey to Careers or Educ. For Careers
7 electives
6 electives
Must complete an AOC
State Assessments
End of Course Test
Students must pass three End of Course tests to
graduate.
English II or English III
Algebra I or Geometry
Biology I
or American History
* EOC Test will count as 15% of the final grade.
Individual Graduation Plans
According to the Career Options Law, every student must
have an Individual Graduation Plan (IGP) on file at the school.
The plan is initiated in 8th grade and will be updated each
year.
The IGP shall be signed by the student and parent or legal
guardian each year.
The IGP reflects the curriculum pathway and the
recommended sequence of elective courses.
The IGP is flexible, yet sufficiently structured, to ensure that a
student will meet the high school requirements for admission
to a postsecondary education institution or enter the
workforce.
Areas of Concentration
Each student MUST choose an Area of
Concentration on the Individual Graduation Plan
(IGP).
An Area of Concentration is a sequence of courses
based on a student’s interests.
Area of Concentrations
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Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
• Agriculture
Production/Management/Entrepreneurship
• Animal Science
Architecture and Construction
• Carpentry and Construction
• Drafting
Arts, A/V Technology, and Communication
• Graphic Arts
• Journalism
• Liberal Arts
• Mass Communication
• Performing Arts
Business, Management and Administration
• Administrative Support
• Business, Administration
Education and Training
• Advanced Studies/Core 4 only
• General Studies
Finance
• Banking and Finance (NAF Academy)
Government and Public Administration
• JROTC
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Health Science
• Nutrition and Food
• Emergency Health Care
• Health Professionals
• Pharmacy
Hospitality and Tourism
• Culinary Arts
Human Services
• Child Development Services
• Management of Family Resources
Manufacturing
• Welding
Marketing, Sales and Services
• Entrepreneurship
• Marketing and Sales Management
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Engineering
How do I choose an area of
concentration?
Louisiana’s Taylor Opportunity
Program for Students
TOPS
• A series of merit-based scholarships that award amounts
equal to tuition, some including a stipend, at a state
public college, university, community college or
technical school, (or the weighted average of public
school tuition at certain in-state private colleges).
TOPS Opportunity, Performance, and Honors Awards
8 semesters of college tuition
TOPS Tech Award
2 years of technical college tuition
Overview of TOPS Requirements
TOPS
4 year college
2 year college
Technical college
TOPS Core Curriculum
TOPS GPA
ACT
TOPS
Tech
Option 1
TOPS
Tech
Option 2
√
√
19 units
√
√
17 units
√
√
19 units
2.5
20
2.5
17
2.5
17
√
Scheduling Information
Classification by Grade Levels
9th Grade
0 – 5.5
Credits
10th Grade
6 – 10.5 Credits
11th Grade
11 –16.5 Credits
12th Grade
17 -
Credits
Scheduling Forms
Forms
Schedule Request 2012 – 2013
Individual Graduation Plan
Career Clusters & Area of Concentration Form
Student Application and/or Teacher Input Form for
honors classes
The Principal or School Counselor will inform your child
regarding the procedures for returning the scheduling forms to
his/her school.
If the forms are not returned a schedule will be made for the
student by the counselor.
Honors Courses Criteria
A student must meet three of the five criteria yearly
for the subject area requested.
1. Minimum overall GPA of 2.8
2. Minimum subject area average of 3.0
3. Teacher Recommendation based on a
subject-area checklist
4. Student Application and Self-evaluation
Form with Parent Signature
5. Score Mastery or Advanced on LEAP or
EOC test in subject area
What will my schedule look like?
9th grade schedule
English I or English II
Algebra I, Algebra I Pt. , or Geometry
Physical Science, Integrated Science, or
Biology
World Geography
PE I or ROTC I
Intro to BCA
Elective – preferably from your AOC
9th Grade Electives
Agriscience I
Principles of Business
French I (requires a 3.5 GPA)
Spanish I (requires an A or B in 8th grade Spanish)
Theater I
Family and Consumer Sciences I
Basic Wood Tech
Beginning Chorus
Band
Course Selection
Please be sure to read the description of the elective
before choosing.
Please choose wisely, because we do not change
electives once the master schedule is made.
If you ask for a class and receive it, you are expected
to stay there for the entire length of the course.
Some courses require that you get special approval.
Special approval means that you must get the teacher
granting permission to sign your schedule request form.
For example, band requires that the PJHS band
director signs.
Principal
Danny Strickland
Ninth Grade Academy
Melanie Monistere
Counselors
• A-D
Denise Latour
• E-K
Orlisa DePhillips
• L-Q
Katharine Meadors
• R-Z
Tommie Robertson