ACADEMICS

Southwood High School's primary goal is offering students a quality education that will prepare them for the future.  We offer the traditional honors, enriched, and advanced placement (AP) courses, as well as a wide variety of elective courses that appear to a broad range of student interests.

 

BLOCK SCHEDULE
Southwood High School is on a 4 X 4 Block Schedule.  Four subjects are taken the first half the year, and then four new subjects are taken the second half after the Christmas break for a total of 8 credits per school year.

Classes are 90 minutes each, 4 classes per day with the same classes being held each day, Monday thru Friday.

School begins at 8:35 am and ends at 3:35 pm. 

GRADE CLASSIFICATION POLICY     
Grade classification requirements are based upon credits earned in accordance with the Caddo Parish School board Pupil Progression Plan.  To be classified as a sophomore, a student must earn a minimum of 5 credits.  To be classified as a junior, a student must earn a minimum of 11 credits.  To be classified as a senior, a student must earn 17 credits.

GRADING POLICIES
It shall be the policy of the Caddo Parish School Board that the grading scale for secondary schools be a percentage-based grade.  Secondary teachers will derive report card grades by averaging the student's scores. Scores accumulate until the end of the quarter, at which time, if the percentage of the scores reflects a passing grade according to the grading scale, the student shall receive the appropriate Carnegie credit.  Under a percentage-based grading system, grades on the report card reflect scores earned from the first day of the quarter through the last day of the quarter.  The 4-1/2 week report card ( Mid-Quarter) grade reflects the student's percentage at that point in the quarter.


GRADING SCALE

93-100
A
 
85-92
B
 
74-84
C
 
66-73
D
 
0-65
F
 
GRADE HONORS, ENRICHED, AP GENERAL
A 5 4
B 4 3
C 3 2
D 2 1


TRANSFERS
A student in Caddo Parish may apply for a majority to minority, hardship, medical, or curriculum necessity transfer to attend Southwood if they are out of the school's district.  Applications and information regarding transfers may be obtained from the Attendance and Census Department, CPSB, 1961 Midway Avenue, Room 205, from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.  The deadline for all transfer requests for the upcoming school year is April 15 of each year.  All transfers must be renewed annually.

EARLY OUT INFORMATION
Students are required to attend school four periods each for four years.  It is the policy of the Caddo Parish School Board to allow only students who are taking college courses or area participating in School-to-Work activities to take less than a full schedule.
 

MID-TERM GRADUATES
There are several conditions and consequences that apply to students who plan to graduate at the end of the first term.

  • You may participate in the May Graduation ceremonies only if you provide proof to the school that you are enrolled at a college, university, or technical school or that you have enlisted in the armed forces.

  • You may not participate in ay school activities.  You will no longer be registered at Southwood High School.  You may not participate in Prom, Sadie Hawkins, Beauty Pageant, or school sports.  You may attend Prom as a guest of a current student, but not by yourself.

  • You may not come to the Southwood Campus once you leave.

 

COURSE DIFFERENTIAL.........
 

GENERAL PHASE

General courses concentrate on content from the Comprehensive Curriculum in the core areas of English, mathematics, science, and social studies. These courses are college preparatory, and, in each area, activities are designed for content mastery, to engage students’ higher order thinking skills, and to and to emphasize study skills which will prepare students for norm and criterion-referenced tests.

Grades for general courses are not weighted (A = 4 points, B = 3 points, C = 2 points, D = 1 point, and F = 0 points).


 
ENRICHED PHASE

Courses listed as enriched center on content from the Comprehensive Curriculum and are college preparatory.  Classes are fast-paced, and lessons are designed to deeply engage students in critical thinking activities, encourage close textual readings, and provide for intensive study of periods, concepts, computations, and complex ideas.  Course requirements also include intensive readings of works by specific authors, utilization of research skills for extended and short term projects, and formal research papers. 

Grades for enriched courses are weighted (A = 5 points, B = 4 points, C = 3 points, D = 2 points and F = 0 points).  The following courses are offered for enriched credit: Algebra I, American history, biology, civics, English, geometry, and physical science. 

The following courses are offered for enriched credit and cannot be taken for general credit:  advanced math, Biology II, calculus, chemistry, computer science, creative writing, Speech II, novels, human anatomy, foreign language II-IV, physics, and probability and statistics.  


 
HONORS

Honors courses focus on the Comprehensive Curriculum and are college preparatory.  They provide for fast-paced, rigorous, and in-depth analysis of content for high achieving students.  Students enrolled in these courses must have above average reading, research, and computational skills.  The courses provide opportunity for the investigation of real problems related to a student’s interests.  A variety of methods are used to enhance students’ critical thinking skills.  Course requirements include extensive and intensive readings of books and novels and analytical writing based on them, extended critical research projects, research papers, and summer readings. 

Grades for honors courses are weighted (A = 5 points, B = 4 points, C = 3 points, D = 2 points, and F = 0 points). 

Honors courses are offered in English I, II, III, and IV; Algebra I and II; geometry; Biology I and II; Chemistry I and II; physics; civics; world history; and world geography.  To enroll in an honors class, students should have scored above the 85th percentile on a recent standardized test, have an A  or a B in a prerequisite or related course, have the recommendation of a teacher in the same subject area, and have their parents’ approval.


 
ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES
 

These demanding courses are designed to help students succeed on the College Board’s Advanced Placement Exam.  A passing score will enable incoming college freshmen to achieve college credit in identified courses. 

The curriculum is set by the College Board.  Requirements include extensive outside reading and in-class discussion, curriculum-based projects, summer readings, and research assignments. 

Grades for AP courses are weighted ( A = 5 points, B = 4 points, C = 3 points, D = 2 points and F = 0 points).  Advanced placement courses are offered in the following classes if enrollment is sufficient:  American history, Biology II, calculus, Chemistry II, world history, environmental science, and English IV.

 
DUAL CREDIT

Students may also take advantage of a unique program offered at Southwood in conjunction with designated institutions of higher education.  Students taking specific courses at Southwood can earn high school credit and college credit at the same time.  Students who are eligible for dual enrollment must meet the current enrollment requirements for both institutions and pay the current dual enrollment tuition rate.  

 


 

 

 

Interscholastic Athletic Eligibility

To participate in in interscholastic athletic competition, a student must have a minimum of 2 ½  credits and a minimum grade point average of 2.0.  Students not achieving a GPA of at least 2.0 and not earning at least 2 ½ credits will be placed on probation for the following term.  If the GPA is below 2.0 and 2 ½ credits are not earned by the end of the probation period, the student will be ineligible until such requirements are met.  The only exceptions are entering freshmen who are eligible for the first term.  The grades used to determine eligibility are the first and second term grades.


NCAA Athletic Requirements

For athletes who have the potential of earning a college scholarship, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has established requirements for student athletes entering college.  Students must meet certain requirements to be able to practice, play, and get a scholarship at a Division I or Division II school.  Visit the NCAA website, http://www.ncaa.org , to review the specifics regarding core courses, GPA, and test scores. 

 

Assessments

Ninth grade students are administered the iLEAP tests which are used to evaluate student performance.  The iLEAP tests integrate standards-based tests (CRTs) and norm-referenced tests (NRTs) into one program.  Any student who graduates from a Louisiana high school must pass the Louisiana     Graduation Exit Examination.  The Graduation Exit Examination is correlated with academic standards and benchmarks and is based on foundation skills.  The Graduation Exit Examination is correlated with the Comprehensive Curriculum which is based on the Grade Level Expectations (GLEs), which are statements of what all students should know or be able to do at the end of each grade.  The achievement levels on GEE 21 are advanced, mastery, basic, approaching basic, and unsatisfactory.  This examination consists of four components: 1) English Language Arts Assessment 2) Mathematics Assessment 3) Science Assessment and 4) Social Studies Assessment.  Students take the English Language Arts Assessment and the Mathematics Assessment in March of their sophomore year and the Social Studies Assessment and the Science Assessment in March of their junior year.  Students must pass the English Language Arts Assessment, the Mathematics Assessment, and the Science Assessment or the Social Studies Assessment.  Tutoring classes and retake dates are scheduled for students who do not pass the test.

 

Using a Career Plan for Scheduling

In planning your academic courses in high school, it is important to look at your career goals.  All students are encouraged to continue their education beyond high school.  College is an option for many students; however, not all students will choose college.  There are many options for further education other than the traditional four-year college.  Some students may consider a two-year college or a two-year Associate Degree program at a four-year college.  Others may choose to attend a vocational technical college where they can receive an Associate Degree or a specialized diploma.  Whatever  students plan for their next level of education, they should try to take as many high school courses as possible that will help prepare them for the next level of education.  Our goal is to prepare students for the next level of education and/or for a career. 

 

                      

 SEE THE COMPLETE CURRICULUM GUIDE
FOR COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

 

ENROLLMENT PROCEDURES FOR NEW STUDENTS
Procedures and information on what is required to enroll at Southwood.  You can also download basic registration forms from the website.

 


COURSES OFFERED

AP COURSES:

American History
Biology II
Calculus
Chemistry II
English IV
Western Civilization

 

ELECTIVES:

Creative Writing
Speech I, II, III
Journalism
Novels
Publications
French I, II, III, IV
Spanish I, II, III, IV
Law Studies
JROTC
Psychology
Sociology
Web Design
Veterinary Science
Environmental and Spatial Technologies (EAST)
For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST)
Art I, II, III, IV
Calligraphy
Accounting
Food and Nutrition
Human Anatomy and Physiology
Adult Responsibilities
Computer Multimedia Presentation
Child Development
Clothing and Textiles
Family and Consumer Science

 



NEW STUDENT REGISTRATION AND ENROLLMENT PROCEDURES

 

ALMA MATER

SOUTHWOOD, OUR ALMA MATER,
THE PRIDE OF THE ORANGE AND BLUE,
WE SHALL LAUD YOUR SPIRITS PROUDLY
AND KEEP YOUR STANDARDS TRUE.

WE SHALL SING YOUR PRAISES FOREVER
LIFTING OUR VOICES TO THE SKY,
RESOUNDING ECHOES LING'RING ALWAYS
KEEPING OUR HEADS HELD HIGH.

AN INSTITUTION BUILT ON PRIDE, TRADITION SPIRIT AND LOVE