In an attempt to align LCHS more closely with the standards used by the Georgia Department of Education, particularly in regard to the Hope Scholarship, the school's quality point system has been revised for incoming freshmen, according to LCHS Principal Becky Barden.

For the 2006-2007 freshman class, honors courses will no longer be offered; instead, these same courses will be designated as college preparatory classes and as such, will not generate any extra quality points for students. The only way a student can earn extra quality points under the new system is to take AP (Advanced Placement) classes.

In addition to extra quality points, a student may also receive college credit for successfully completing an AP course and then scoring three or higher on a scale of five on the AP exam.

Moreover, honor graduates and honor ushers must have an overall average of 90 or above.

Although the system has changed for the Class of 2010, it will remain the same for entering sophomores, juniors, and seniors, with honors classes earning more quality points than regular courses and AP (Advanced Placement) classes earning more points that honors courses.

"In essence, we will be offering college preparatory classes in the areas in which we originally offered honors classes," said Dr. Barden. "However, we will still honor the quality point system that was in effect at the time the incoming sophomores, juniors, and seniors entered high school as freshmen."

Nevertheless, there will be a few immediate adjustments concerning honor graduates and ushers. In the past, students were required to have a quality point average of 4.5 to graduate with honors or to serve as an honor usher. Under the new system, honor graduates will be those graduating with a quality point average of 4.4 for the Class of 2007, 4.35 for the Class of 2008, and 4.3 for the Class of 2009. Honor ushers will be those students who have obtained the same quality point average, as assigned to their respective classes, during their junior year.

Dr. Barden went on to point out that because there will be a drop in demand, some honors/college prep courses will not be offered during the upcoming school year. "However, there will be just as many or more opportunities to take courses with quality points."

In regard to AP courses, the principal indicated that a review of these courses showed that the number of AP courses offered since each class' freshman year has increased. "Our plan is to add one AP course to the curriculum each year," she said.

At the present time, only AP courses are given "weights" by the State of Georgia when it comes to the selection criteria for the Hope Scholarship.

Some of the AP courses currently being offered at LCHS are Calculus, English, and English Literature. AP Biology will be added this year.

In other comments, Dr. Barden explained the administration and School Improvement Team's rationale for revising the quality point system as follows:

(1) The school's current system is used only for local purposes and can mislead students as to their overall performance. "We feel that this system will give our students a clearer picture of their overall standing," said the principal.

(2) The administration could find no schools in the area with this type of system.

(3) LCHS's present system limits the chances of a student, who is seeking the technical/career endorsement, of being an honor usher or honor graduate. Since only a handful of the

courses taken by these students carry quality points, they would have to maintain an average of 95 or above to qualify for these honors.

In conclusion, Principal Barden said, "Although there has been some concern expressed about students not signing up for higher level courses because these courses don't carry quality points, I feel that our students and their parents are capable of selecting the courses that will best prepare the students to meet the demands of their college and career choices. We're just trying to make things fairer across the board for all of our students."