College Requirements:

There are different requirements for every college and university. One thing all colleges and universities require is a high school diploma. The following are the graduation requirements for Norwood High School students.

A minimum of twenty-one (21) credits is required for graduation. A student must receive full credit for the following courses:

English: 4.0 credits
Mathematics: 4.0 credits (Including Algebra II)
Science: 4.0 credits (Including 1 credit based on lab-based Physical Science, 1 credit lab-based Biology, and 2 credits of the following: lab-based credit of Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Science, Anatomy, engineering science, or biomedical science.)
Social Studies: 4.0 credits (Including 1 credit of Western Civilization, 1 credit of American History, and 1 credit of American Government Systems)
Physical Education: .50 credits
Health: .50 credits
Electives: 4.0 credits (From business, career-tech, fine arts, foreign language and technology)

Notes:

• College bound students should take three years of foreign language or two years of two different languages
• Many colleges require Pre-Calculus/Calculus and Physics on a student’s transcripts
• A student’s senior year schedule is one factor used in the college admissions process.

Students interested in applying at a four-year college/university must take a college entrance exam, SAT or ACT. Most colleges and universities accept both entrance exams, but some only accept one or the other. If you do not plan to take both the ACT and SAT, please check with the schools you are interested in to ensure you are taking the correct test. It is suggested that juniors in their second semester take their first college entrance exam.

Ohio Graduation Tests:

All students are required to pass the Ohio Graduation Test (OGT) that aligns to academic content standards in Writing, Reading, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science. After the first Administration in March of their sophomore year, students will be given three opportunities a year to pass the OGT; however, they are REQUIRED to take the two opportunities during the school year...summer testing is optional.

Grade Point Average (GPA)/ Athletic Eligibility (OHSAA):

To be academically eligible to participate in sports at Norwood High School, all students must meet three-fold standard.

• All high school student-athletes must meet the O.H.S.A.A. academic requirement, which states that the athlete is required to have passed the equivalent of five one-credit courses (or the equivalent) toward graduation the preceding grading period in order to participate the following grading period. Physical education courses do not count toward athletic eligibility.
• Norwood City School students must achieve a minimum GPA of 1.5 (on a scale of 4.0) on course work taken the preceding grading period in order to maintain their interscholastic athletic eligibility.
• If a student-athlete’s GPA is below the 1.5 requirement at interim reporting time in courses that the athlete is currently enrolled, he/she will be ineligible during the upcoming interim period. The student athlete may have this ineligibility waived by filling an academic probation petition with the athletic office. This will establish an academic intervention plan for upcoming interim period.

Course Selection:

Suggested 4 year core course sequence

AA A

Grade 9 Grade 9
English AA English A
Geometry AA or Geometry A Algebra I A
Physical Science AA Physical Science A
Western Civilization AA Western Civilization A

Grade 10 Grade 10
English 10AA English 10 A
Algebra II AA Geometry A or Integrated Math II
Biology AA Biology A
AP American History or American History AA American History A

Grade 11 Grade 11
English 11 AA English 11 A
Pre-Calculus AA or Pre- Calculus Algebra II A or Integrated Math III
AP American Govt. or AGS A AGS A
AP Chemistry or Chemistry Chemistry or Chemistry in Community
Grade 12 Grade 12
AP English Literature English 12 A
AP Calculus AB or Calculus Pre-Calculus A
Global Issues and Sociology Global Issues and Sociology
AP Biology, Physics, or Anatomy and Physiology Physics, Zoology, or Environmental Science

The AA selections are highly recommended for students entering a four-year college immediately upon graduation.

The A selections are suggested for those students who will be entering a two or four year college either immediately after high school or at some point after post high school employment.

Course Availability:

English 9 AA English 9 A
English 10 AA English 10 A
English 11 AA English 11A
English 12 AP English 12A
World Literature Mythology
Literature and Film Introduction to Media
Journalism Newspaper
The Write Experience The Art of Expression

Algebra 1A Integrated Math 1
Geometry AA Geometry A
Integrated Math II Algebra II AA
Algebra II A Integrated Math III
Pre-Calculus AA Pre-Calculus A
Calculus A AP Calculus AB
Probability and Statistics Transition Math
Math Projects

Physical Science AA Physical Science A
Biology AA Biology A
AP Biology Anatomy and Physiology
Zoology Chemistry in Community
Chemistry AP Chemistry
Environmental Science Physics
Life on Earth Botany

Western Civilization AA Western Civilization A
AP American History American History AA
American History A AP Government and Politics
American Government and Economic Systems A
Sociology Global Issues
History of the Holocaust Cultural Geography
The Law and You

Art I Art II
Art III Art IV
AP ART History Fiber Arts
Ceramics I Ceramics II
Basic Drawing Basic Painting
Art Appreciation Basic Design
Computer Graphic Design I Computer Graphic Design II
Photography I Photography II

Personal Finance Accounting
Yearbook Desktop Publishing
Web Design Business Computer Appreciation (BCA)
Basic Drafting Technology for Tomorrow

French I French II
French III French IV
French V Spanish I
Spanish II Spanish III
Spanish IV AP Spanish

Health Physical Education I
Recreational Sports Physical Fitness
Team Sports P.E.O.P.E.L.

Chorus Chorale
Choral-Combo (Silhouettes) Orchestra
Band Color Guard
Music Appreciation Study of Rock Music
Acting I Acting II

Financial Aid for College:

Financial Aid comes in three forms:

1.) Scholarships
2.) Grants
3.) Loans

Scholarships may be based on several factors: academic, sports, volunteer, financial need, etc. and vary in amount and duration. Scholarships may be found through each college/university, private funding, and Norwood High School. Each student is signed up in his or her junior year for www.prephq.com. This website is a way for the counselors to communicate with the students about the available scholarships and it is a way for the students to search colleges.

Grants are usually provided through the government and/or non-profit organizations and cover a wide variety of expenditures. Grants do not need to be paid back.

Loans do have to be paid back. The majority of people going to college take out loans. Most of them go through Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov. These are loans through the government. The amount of money the student will receive depends on multiple criteria, for example: financial situation of the parents, number of dependents, number of siblings in college, etc. When a student and his/her parents sign up for FAFSA, they will be applying not only for loans, but also for grants that the governments have available (ex. Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Teach Grant, etc.)

Help from the High School Guidance Department:

The guidance department is ready to help each individual student with the questions they have about preparing for college.

Information Packets in the guidance department: