Academic Planning 2024

ACADEMIC PLANNING Empowering Students to Become Architects of Their Own Learning January 31, 2024 5:30 p.m.

www.acs.gr

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3. keep in mind, Q&A will follow the presentation.

Introductions David Nelson Academy Principal Mark McGowan Director of IB & AP Programs Anna Makris Counseling Coordinator K-12 Danai Papaioannou (A-G),Ifigeneia Rodopoulou (H-Pan),Maria Laiou (Pap-Z) Academy Guidance & Counseling Specialists Philippos Saccopoulos, Faye Sinos Academy Advisory Counseling Specialists

TODAY'S AGENDA Introductions ● ● ● ● ●

College Counseling The US High School Diploma & Graduation requirements The US High School Diploma +partial IB selection and/or AP courses The IB Diploma at ACS Athens Q&A

College Counseling

Class of 2023 (66%) of class dual track: IB Diploma + ACS Diploma Nearly 330 offers of admission from over 160 universities around the world

Class of 2024 (61%) of class dual track: IB Diploma + ACS Diploma

Thus far, 110 offers of admission from 60 universities around the world

US

US

UK

UK

UK

CANADA

NETHERLANDS

Harvard University

Purdue University

University of Southampton

Kingston University

University of York

McMaster University

Hague University of Applied Sciences

Ohio State University

Colorado State University

University of Warwick

University of Brighton

King’s College, London

Queen’s University at Kingston

University of Amsterdam

University of San Francisco

Brigham Young University

University of Bristol

University of Kent

University of Sussex

Bishop’s University

Maastricht University

Fordham University

Cardiff University

University of Plymouth

Queen Mary University

York University

University of Groningen

Kent State University

University of Sheffield

University of Exeter

City University of London

Leiden University

Emerson College

University of Nottingham

University of Glasgow

University of Essex

Vrije University

Suffolk University

Hult International Business School

University of Sheffield

University of the Arts, London

University of Twente

Washington State University

University for the Creative Arts

Oxford Brookes University

City University of London

Delft University of Technology

Michigan State University

University of Manchester

Northeastern University, London

The University of Edinburgh

Eindhoven University of Technology

The New School, NY

University of Westminster

University of Nottingham

Bath University

Erasmus University, Rotterdam

Babson College

University of Westminster

Goldsmiths University, London

University of Strathclyde

ACS Athens Academy

The Journey Begins…

9th Grade

● Commitment – Academics, Growth, Student Life, & Direction ● Independence & Initiative – Choice, Experiential Learning Possibilities ● Responsibility – Accountability, Project Based Approaches, and Support Services ● Community – Building belonging through experiences as conscious citizens

ACS Athens Academy

The Journey Begins…

9th Grade

● Commitment – Academics, Growth, Student Life, & Direction ● Independence & Initiative – Choice, Experiential Learning Possibilities ● Responsibility – Accountability, Project Based Approaches, and Support Services ● Community – Building belonging through experiences as conscious citizens

PART I ACS Athens Academy: The US High School Diploma

THE US HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA Academic Paths available at ACS Athens: US High School Diploma ● ACS Athens Courses ● AP Courses ● IB Courses

US High School Diploma + IB Diploma ● IB Courses

US HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA: GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS English: 4 credits Social Studies: 4 credits Mathematics: 3 credits (4 credits recommended) Science: 3 credits (4 credits recommended) Modern Languages: 3 credits (2 in same language) PE: 1.5 credits Art: 1 credit Technology: 1 credit Health: 0.5 credit General Electives: 5 credits 1 credit = 2 semester courses OR 1 year-long course

26 TOTAL CREDITS

PART II ACS Athens Academy: US High School Diploma + IB Diploma Program, partial IB selection and/or AP courses

AP EXAMS ● Standardized exams offered by College Board in May ● AP offers option for students to self-study and take any AP exam without attending an AP course ● Students have the choice to report their exam score to Colleges

US HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES ● One-year college preparatory courses ● Syllabus for these courses is approved by College Board ● Students take a standardized exam at the end of the school year (May) ● Grades are awarded on a scale of 0-5 ● Students scoring a 4 or above may receive equivalent college credit

AP COURSE OPTIONS AP Pre-Calculus AP Calculus AB AP Statistics AP Environmental Science AP Spanish AP German AP English Literature

WHAT IS THE IB PROGRAM? ● The International Baccalaureate (IB) program is a two-year program that is highly regarded worldwide. ● Students begin the program in 11th grade and complete it in 12th grade. ● Students are assessed on external exams at the end of Year 2 (May), as well as on Internal Assessments throughout the program.

IB COURSES ● Students may opt to take IB courses to satisfy US high school diploma requirements, creating an individualized program combining ACS Athens courses, IB courses and AP courses ● This provides students with the opportunity to create a diverse schedule tailored to their strengths resulting in a more competitive profile.

WHAT IS THE “Full” IB DIPLOMA? ● Students taking the IB Diploma choose six IB courses ● In grade 12 those six courses will be defined as ○ 3 Higher Level courses and ○ 3 Standard Level courses ● Along with three additional components: Theory of Knowledge course, Extended Essay and CAS. **Every student at ACS graduates with an American high school diploma regardless of whether or not they choose to take the IB Diploma.

THE IB DIPLOMA COURSES Students take six courses: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Language A course (at ACS Athens: English) Language B course Natural Science course Social Science course Math course Art or Elective course

THE SIX IB DIPLOMA GROUPS Group 1 - Language A: English, Greek or Chinese – Literature or Language and Literature Group 2 - Language B: Spanish (B or Ab Initio), French (B or Ab Initio), German (B only), Arabic (B only), Chinese (B only), Mandarin (Ab Initio only).

Group 3 - Social Sciences: Business Management, History, Psychology, Economics, Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS).

Group 4 - Natural Sciences: Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, or Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS).

Group 5 - Math: Analysis and Approaches (AA) or Applications and Interpretations (AI) Group 6 - The Arts OR Elective: Visual Arts, Theater, Music OR an additional course from Groups 2, 3 or 4

THE IB DIPLOMA CORE ★ Extended Essay: Students write a 4,000 word research paper on a subject of their choice (due in Year 2) ★ Theory of Knowledge: Students take a 7th course called ToK that ends in January of Year 2 ★ Creativity, Action and Service (CAS): Students volunteer, play sports or engage in the arts to develop the social physical and aesthetic aspects of their personality

THE IB DIPLOMA: GRADING SCALE ● Students are graded by the IB on a scale of 1-7. ● Certain universities, as in the UK, ask for a certain amount of total points for admissions. ● For example, a university may ask for 36 total points, which means a student must obtain a 6 in all six of his/her courses. ● Students get 1-3 extra points based on their combined success of their Extended Essay and ToK essay.

IB DIPLOMA: ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS ● General requirement: No grade lower than “C” in any 10th Grade core course (English, Social Studies, Science, Math, Greek or Other Language B) ● Specific requirements: Math, Science and Language B courses have additional specific requirements for placement ● 300-500 word motivation letter ● Teacher recommendation

THE IB DIPLOMA: STUDENT ASSESSMENT ● In each IB course, students prepare internal assessments, which are papers written and submitted to the IB. They account for 20-30% of a student’s final grade. ● There are final exams, in May of Year 2. They account for the remaining 70-80 % of the grade.

Course Selection Samples Profile 1: Student wants to study Economics in the UK; many universities they like require higher level math; student also wants to take the full IB diploma.

Possible course selection: IB English, IB Math, IB Business Management, IB Economics, IB ESS, IB Spanish Ab Initio, Greeki2Flex.

Profile 2: Student wants to study in the US, still undecided on major, is considering Chemistry, Fashion Design and Business.

Possible course selection: IB Visual Arts, IB Business Management, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, Design, Statistics and Business Math, Greek.

Course Selection Samples Profile 3: Student wants to study law in the Netherlands and Dutch Universities require the full IB diploma Possible course selection: IB English, IB History, IB Biology, IB Psychology, IB French B, IB Math AA SL, Greeki2Flex.

Profile 4: Student is considering the UK, US and the Netherlands for further studies in areas including math, fashion design and environmental issues.

Possible course selection: IB Visual Arts, IB English, IB ESS, IB Math, IB Greek, IB Business Management.

(IB diploma keeps all options open, especially when considering a European country as a study destination).

PART III ACS Athens Academy: The US High School Diploma + Greek Isotimia

US HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA - GREEK ISOTIMIA ● ● ● ●

Two-year program Begins in grade 11 For native Greek speakers Results in equivalency with the Greek Apolytirion

US HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA ACS ATHENS SCHOLARS DIPLOMA

● Overall GPA of 3.0 ● Requires 14 honors courses to be completed ● Additional Senior Research Project also required

QUESTIONS? CONTACT US DAVID NELSON nelsond@acs.gr, 210 607 0222 MARK MCGOWAN mcgowanm@acs.gr, 210 607 0247 Center for Student Success 210 607 0226 ANNA MAKRIS makrisa@acs.gr DANAI PAPAIOANNOU papaioannoud@acs.gr (A-G) IFIGENEIA RODOPOULOU rodopouloui@acs.gr (H-Pan) MARIA LAIOU laioum@acs.gr (Pap-Z)

ACS ATHENS ACADEMY