OPS Course Guide

Complete List of Course Offerings (View/Print)

Explanation of courses: All year-long courses (Grades 9-12)* receive one unit of credit upon the successful completion of the year's work, with the exception of AP Calculus and AP chemistry
which receive 1 1/2 units of credit. A 1/2 credit is awarded for the successful completion of a semester course.

All courses are academic unless noted as non-academic in the course description.

*Exception: In the eighth grade, Honors Algebra I, P.E., and Language Formation/Grammar 8 receives one unit of credit for each course upon successful completion.

Excessive absences, not medically documented, may cause a student not to receive credit for a course(s).

Table of Contents:

• Graduation Requirements
• Class Load
• Summer School
• Course Selection
• Honors Program and AP Courses
• Instructions for Registration
• Course Requirements at a Glance

Orangeburg Prep seeks to provide a comprehensive curriculum for students. The program is designed to include adequate flexibility, thereby enabling the student to meet his or her
individual needs.

A student's program of studies should be individually planned with the help of teachers, the guidance counselor, and parents. It is extremely important that careful thought and
consideration be given to selecting courses.

To be eligible for graduation from Orangeburg Prep, a student must earn a total of
twenty-four (24) units of credit distributed as follows:

*Those students taking A.P. History will have four (4) units of social studies.

At least twenty-one (21) units must be academic, and three (3) may be non-academic.

Orangeburg Preparatory Schools, Inc., admits students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin.

CLASS LOAD

A normal course load for a student at Orangeburg Prep is six (6) daily courses. This may include several ½ credit courses. (grades 8-12)

SUMMER SCHOOL

Grades 9-12

Students who fail a course during the school year are encouraged to repeat the course in summer school in order to have the necessary credits for graduation. Students failing 3 or more courses
will not be allowed to advance to the next grade level. Students will be allowed to take courses at
a regionally accredited summer school (i.e. SACS) other than Orangeburg Prep Summer School only if the course is not being offered at Orangeburg Prep Summer School.

Orangeburg Prep will not accept summer school credit for academic work taken in advance unless prior approval is given.

Grades 1-8

If a student in grades one through eight fails one subject, his promotion is contingent upon satisfactorily completing summer school or an approved tutorial program.

CONSIDERATIONS GOVERNING COURSE SELECTION

1. Mathematics
   1. It is strongly recommended that a student have an "80" in Algebra I before taking Algebra II.
   2. It is strongly recommended that a student have an "80" in Algebra II before taking College Math.
   3. All seniors must take a math course.
2. Science
   1. Students who are planning to enroll in Chemistry I are reminded that Algebra II is
      a pre-requisite or it must be taken concurrently.
3. Foreign Language
   *Students must begin their study of a modern foreign language in the 9th grade.
   1. It is recommended that a student have an "80" in a Level I course before taking Level II.
   2. Students are to take at least two consecutive years of a foreign language, but students are encouraged to take 3 years of a foreign language.
      (Clemson requires 3, and others are contemplating following suit next year.)

   Excessive absences which are not medically documented may cause a student not to receive credit for a course(s).

HONORS PROGRAM

Honors courses at Orangeburg Prep are designed for those students who have shown ability and motivation in the subject area. Honors courses will require more in-depth study of texts and more independent work from students than college prep course selections. Students in Honors classes are selected through a process that considers teacher recommendation, academic achievement, standardized test scores, work ethic, motivation, and conduct.. Grades in Honors courses will be computed on a 4.5 scale. These areas are used by the subject teachers when making the required recommendation.

GRADE POINT AVERAGE

A quality point system is used to determine grade point averages. Grades earned in all academic courses, including courses taken for credit in the eighth grade, are used to compute GPA's. Advanced Placement courses are computed on a 5.0 scale. Honors courses are computed on a 4.5 scale. College prep courses are computed on a 4.0 scale.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR REGISTRATION

Students will be given registration forms and the information concerning teacher approval.

Students should discuss their course selection with their parents.

The registration card must be copied in ink, and the student must have a parent sign the card
and return the card to the Guidance Office the next day.

Once a student has received his schedule of courses at the beginning of the 2009-2010 school
year, he/she will have ten days for year long courses or five days for semester courses to make adjustments.

Explanation of courses: All year-long courses (Grades 9-12)* receive one unit of credit upon the successful completion of the year's work, with the exception of AP Calculus and AP Chemistry which receive 1 1/2 units of credit. A 1/2 credit is awarded for the successful completion of a semester course.

All courses are academic unless noted as non-academic in the course description.

*Exception: In the eighth grade, Honors Algebra I and P.E. receive one unit of credit for each course upon successful completion.

Excessive absences which are not medically documented may cause a student not to receive
credit for a course(s).

Course Requirements by Grade Level