For Middle And High School

Loudoun County Public SchoolsStudents New to Loudoun County Public SchoolsAcademic and Career PlanningParents of students new to Loudoun CountyPublic Schools should visithttps://www.lcps.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID 1012 forregistration information, forms, and documentationneeded to register their student.Loudoun County Public Schools is dedicated todeveloping knowledgeable critical thinkers, communicators,collaborators, creators, and contributors, and academic andcareer planning is part of that process. School counselorsand teachers use Naviance to ensure students engage inself-exploration, career exploration, and skill developmentthat will assist in accomplishing their personalized goals.Beginning in 7th grade, students will engage in academic andcareer planning activities to ensure they are college and/orcareer ready upon graduation through assigned tasks to becompleted both in school and at home. For moreinformation regarding the academic and career planningprocess, please contact the student’s school counselor orthe VDOE website.Purpose of the Program of StudiesThis educational planning guide is designed tohelp students and their parents: Learn about courses and programs offered in themiddle and high schools of Loudoun County PublicSchoolsMake informed choices about coursesRealize that academic performance fromkindergarten through high school relates to futuregoalsUnderstand and prepare for Virginia’s graduationrequirements, and assist students in planning andrefining their academic and career plans (ACP) tomeet educational and career goalsStudents should study this guide and consult with theirparents, school counselors, and teachers in planning theirindividual plans.General InformationIt is the responsibility of each student and parentthat requirements for an Applied Studies, Standard, orAdvanced Studies Diploma are met. Beginning in seventhgrade, school counselors review graduation requirementswith students annually, and the school counseling staff ateach school is available to assist students and parents.Parents should work closely with their student’s schoolcounselor in making the best academic decisions for theirstudent. To determine graduation requirements, studentsand parents must consider both the desired diploma optionand the year the student first enters(ed) ninth grade.How Can I Prepare?All high school graduates can expect to work, earna living, and build a career. To do this successfully requiresplanning and selecting a career goal that is right for thestudent. Students need to set personal goals that will givefocus on their high school years. These goals should beoutlined in an academic and career plan developed with theassistance of a school counselor and the parents. Thestudent’s academic and career plan provides a strategy foraccomplishing goals. Students should consider the followingas they develop their plan and select courses: Student’s abilities, interests, values,strengths, likes, and dislikesCurriculum in the career area of the student’schoice, including work-related optionsCost, transportation, and extracurricularactivitiesPossible occupations that relate to thestudent’s skillsCareer ClustersCareer Clusters help students investigate careersand design their courses of study to advance their careergoals. For this reason, the state of Virginia has adopted thenationally accepted structure of career clusters, careerpathways, and sample career specialties or occupationsA Career Cluster is a grouping of occupations andbroad industries based on commonalities. Within eachcareer cluster there are multiple career pathways thatrepresent a common set of skills and knowledge - bothacademic and technical - necessary to pursue a full range ofcareer opportunities within that pathway, ranging fromentry level to management, including technical andprofessional career specialties. Based on the skill setstaught, all CTE courses are aligned with one or more of thecareer clusters and pathways. – Virginia Department t/files/CareerClustersPathways.pdfAgriculture, Food & Natural ResourcesFood Products and Processing Systems; Plant Systems;Animal Systems; Power, Structural and Technical Systems;Natural Resource Systems; Environmental Service Systems;Agribusiness SystemsArchitecture & ConstructionDesign/Pre-Construction; Construction;Maintenance/OperationsArts, AV Technology & CommunicationsAudio and Video Technology and Film; Printing Technology;Visual Arts; Performing Arts; Journalism and Broadcasting;TelecommunicationsBusiness, Management & AdministrationGeneral Management; Business Information Management;Human Resources Management; Operations Management;Administrative SupportEducation & TrainingAdministration and Administrative Support; ProfessionalSupport Services; Teaching/Training1 Page

Loudoun County Public SchoolsFinanceSecurities and Investments; Business Finance; Accounting;Insurance; Banking ServicesGovernment & Public AdministrationGovernance; National Security; Foreign Service; Planning;Revenue and Taxation; Regulation; Public Management andAdministrationHealth SciencesTherapeutic Services; Diagnostic Services; HealthInformatics; Support Services; Biotechnology Research andDevelopmentHospitality & TourismRestaurants and Food/Beverage Services; Lodging; Traveland Tourism; Recreation, Amusements and AttractionsHuman ServicesEarly Childhood Development and Services; Counseling andMental Health Services; Family and Community Services;Personal Care Services; Consumer ServicesInformation TechnologyNetwork Systems; Information Support and Services; Weband Digital Communications; Programming and SoftwareDevelopmentLaw, Public Safety, Corrections & SecurityCorrection Services; Emergency and Fire ManagementServices; Security and Protective Services; LawEnforcement Services; Legal ServicesManufacturingProduction; Manufacturing Production ProcessDevelopment; Maintenance, Installation and Repair;Quality Assurance; Logistics and Inventory Control; Health,Safety, and Environmental AssuranceMarketingMarketing Management; Professional Sales;Merchandising; Marketing Communications; MarketingResearchScience, Technology, Engineering & MathematicsEngineering and Technology; Science and MathematicsTransportation, Distribution & LogisticsTransportation Operations; Logistics Planning andManagement Services; Warehousing and DistributionCenter Operations; Facility and Mobile EquipmentMaintenance; Transportation Systems/ InfrastructurePlanning, Management and Regulation; Health, Safety, andEnvironmental Management; Sales and ServiceGrading ScaleAdopted at the beginning of the 2009-10 school year.GradeNumerical EquivalentA 98-100A93-97A90-92B 87-89B83-86B80-82C 77-79C73-76C70-72D 67-69D63-66D60-62F59 and belowWP: Withdrawn PassingWF: Withdrawn FailPoints rt CardsStudents receive report cards four times eachyear. They are issued on the seventh working day forteachers after the end of each nine-week grading period.Loudoun County Public Schools offers an on-line parentportal to view student assignments, assessments, resources,schedules, and grades. The parent portal is intended to beopen communication between teachers, students, andparents. Authorization forms requesting access are /Domain/17270Grade Point Average and Class RankGrade point average (GPA) and class rank includeall courses for which credit was earned or could have beenearned in grades 9-12. Also included are the credit-bearingcourses (Algebra I, Parts 1 and 2; Algebra I; Geometry;Algebra II; world language) completed at the middle schoollevel. When a course is repeated, both final course gradesare included when calculating the GPA and rank. Based ontheir GPA, students are ranked at the beginning of the senioryear and at the end of each semester of the senior year.If a student withdraws from a course before theend of the eleventh week of the course, the course is notrecorded on the scholastic record. All grades earned arerecorded on the transcript. Partial credit is not given foryear-long courses dropped at the end of the first semester;however, grades earned are included in the determinationof grade point average and class rank.If a student withdraws from a year-long courseafter the second week of second semester, WP, WF, or F willbe recorded for the remaining grading periods. The finalgrade is recorded on the scholastic record and includedwhen calculating grade point average and class rank if thegrade is an F. See corresponding chart under “DroppingSubjects/Withdrawals.”Advanced Placement, Honors, Dual Enrollment,Academy of Engineering and Technology, and Academy ofScience courses are all weighted, receiving either 0.5 or 1.02 Page

Loudoun County Public Schoolsadded to the point value of the grade, with the exception ofa grade of “F.” Weighting designations are listed in the indexof this publication.Dropping Subjects/WithdrawalsThe chart below explains if and how dropping acourse affects the student’s GPA and class rank, as per LCPSRegulation 5-5. In addition, dropping a course may alter thestudent’s diploma status or impact VHSL eligibility.Full-year Course – One Credit*First Grading PeriodSecond Grading PeriodCourses Dropped will notbe counted in GPA or classrankWP or WF recordedThird Grading PeriodCourses dropped will notbe counted in GPA or classrankWP or WF recordedFourth Grading PeriodCourses dropped will notbe counted in GPA or classrankWP or F is recordedCourses dropped will notbe counted in GPA unless itis an FAn F will be calculated intoGPA and class rank.The above explanations for dropping a course does notpertain to any Dual Enrollment course.Semester Course – Half Credit*First Grading PeriodCourses dropped will notbe counted in GPASecond Grading PeriodWP or F is recordedCourses dropped will notbe counted in GPA unless itis an FF will be calculated intoGPA and class rankGPACourses dropped will not be counted ingrade point average except when an F isreceived*For the first grading period only, a student enrolled in a fullyear or one-semester course will have one week (5 schooldays) after the date on which report cards are sent home, inwhich to drop a course without having a grade recorded.Course Selection, Course Load, and Schedule ChangesCourses listed will be included in the curriculumfor the 2019-2020 school year if there are sufficientenrollment and available staff. Students in Grades 6-8 areexpected to select and be enrolled in 8 classes, one of thembeing Resource or Spectrum. Students in Grades 9-11 areexpected to select and be enrolled in 7 credit subjects ortheir equivalent and adhere to their selections and may takeup to 8 courses per year through Virtual Loudoun. Schedulechange procedures are established by each school and inspecial situations. Any variation requires the principal’spermission.Course Level ChangesRequests to drop down in rigor level from anaccelerated yearlong course (i.e., from an Honors level to anAcademic level) may not be considered prior to the InterimTime of the First Marking Period or after Interim Time of theThird Marking Period unless otherwise deemed necessary bythe building principal/designee.Prior to requesting a drop down in rigor level,communication between student, teacher, parent orguardian, and counselor should take place to support thestudent in their attempted strategies for success at theselected level of rigor.If after attempted strategies for success andcollaboration with all involved parties, a drop down in rigorlevel is still requested, the request is passed on to thebuilding principal/designee to be reviewed for approval.If approved, a request to drop down in rigor levelwill only be made if space is available in the desired courselevel. The schedule change may require changing othercourses and/or teachers within the student’s schedule.School administration will determine final placement of newcourse (course block and teacher). Course grades earned inpre

Harper Park Middle School 701 Potomac Station Drive Leesburg, VA 20176 Phone: 517.252.2820 Elizabeth A. Robinson, Principal Smart’s Mill Middle School 850 North King Street Leesburg, VA 20176 Phone: 571.252.2030 William Y. Waldman, Principal Blue Ridge Middle School 551 East A Street Purcellville, VA 20132 Phone: 540.751.2520