High School Courses
While some high school courses build on one another or require pre-requisties, others classes can be taken in any order of your choice. Below is a common sequence of most high school classes by subject.
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Please also review the class requirements for graduation to make sure you are getting all of the necessary credits.
Science
Standard Sequence
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8th/9th Grade: Physical Science
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9th/10th Grade: Biology
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10th/11th Grade: Chemistry
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11th/12th Grade: Physics or other science elective
Notes
4 years of science is required: a physical science, biology, chemistry, and an elective.
Environmental science can be used in place of chemistry.
Physical science, chemistry, and physics have math pre-requisites. If your student has not taken the required math yet, he/she can take a different science out of sequence and catch up on the math-based sciences as math classes are completed.
English
Standard Sequence
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9th Grade: Introduction to Literature and Composition
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10th Grade: World Liteature or American Literature
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11th & 12th Grade: British Literature or American Literature or Classic Literature
Notes
Students need 4 years of high school English. After the Freshman Intro to Lit and Comp, most classes can be taken in any order, but some (like British and Classic Lit) will be taught at a higher level and be more appropriate for upper classmen.
Social Studies
Courses Offered
Social studies classes do not need to be taken in a particular order. These are the recommended courses:
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World History I (ancient) and II (Modern)
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American History
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U.S. Government and Economics
Notes
High school graduation requirements require a minimum of 1 year of world history, 1 year of American history, and 1 year of government and economics.
World Geography can be taken as a high school elective. It can also be used as a replacement for World History, but colleges prefer to see World History if only one is taken.
World History is offered over two years to cover the full scope. We recommend taking both years and counting one as an elective.
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Other Requirements
Other high school requirements include math, foreign language OR CTAE, health & PE, financial literary, fine arts, and electives. Please refer to the complete list of requirements and the GA Department of Education to make sure you are meeting all of the credits required for graduation and college admission.
