Academy: A program at designated high schools — currently Berkmar, Central Gwinnett, Discovery, Lanier, Meadowcreek, Shiloh, and South Gwinnett— that allows students to pursue core and elective coursework in specific, career-focused areas.

Advisement Program: A structured, non-graded portion of the day in which students receive school information and discuss grade-level appropriate topics with their advisor.

Agenda Book: An organizational tool for students that includes the school handbook, calendar of school events, assignment book, and reference information.

AKS (Academic Knowledge and Skills): Gwinnett’s custom, Board-approved curriculum that spells out the essential things students are expected to know and be able to do for each subject. The AKS curriculum is aligned to state standards. For more information, visit the AKS page.

AP (Advanced Placement): Rigorous, college-level coursework taken in high school. Students who make a 3 or better (1–5 scale) on an optional AP exam at the end of the school year may earn college credit or skip entry-level college classes.

Asynchronous digital learning: Learning activities completed in a flexible timeframe, without a scheduled meeting or direct interaction with a teacher.

Career and Technical Education: Elective courses focusing on knowledge and skills that prepare students for a successful transition to postsecondary studies and/or careers.

Career Cluster/Pathway: A concentration of three or four designated career and technical and/or academic courses that offer a seamless path to postsecondary work in college or technical school in a designated field. 9th graders, with help from their family and school advisors, will select a Career Pathway to explore during high school, with the possibility of real-life experience in the field before graduation. 

Class Rank: A student’s standing based on his or her cumulative grade percent average as compared with that of other members of the class. In a class of 100, the student with the highest grade percent average would be Number 1 and the lowest Number 100.

Core Courses: Refers to both required and elective courses in Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. (For the purpose of college admissions, Modern/Classical Language credits also are included in the Core Course category.)

Credits/Units: The terms credits and units (or Carnegie Units) are used interchangeably to identify how much each course passed counts toward meeting the 23 credits/units required for graduation from high school.

Digital Learning Day (DLD): School day when school buildings are closed to all students, but instruction continues via online course pages and other digital resources.

Digital Learning: Online classes conducted through various forms of technology, including synchronous (live with teacher) and asynchronous (self-directed) activities.

eCLASS: GCPS’ digital Content, Learning, Assessment, and Support System, in which you will find existing technology resources, plus new resources that will help enhance your learning.

Elective Courses: Classes that may be selected by the student and are included in the 23 credits/units required for high school graduation.

Eligibility: The mandatory guidelines for students participating in sports and extracurriculars. The Georgia High School Association (GHSA) is the governing body for competitive interscholastic teams. 

End of Course (EOC) assessments: Tests that measure learning of the statewide curriculum in designated courses to ensure that high academic standards are being met in all Georgia high schools, as required by the Georgia Board of Education.

Four-Year Plan:  An outline of the courses a student plans to take while in high school. The plan will take into consideration the student’s academic history, career goals, interests, and plans for additional education beyond high school. 

Georgia Standards of Excellence: State performance standards embedded in Gwinnett’s AKS curriculum that help to define the knowledge and skills students should have during their K–12 education careers so that they will graduate from high school fully prepared for college and careers. Adopted at the state level, Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSE) are in place for grades K–12 in Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies, as well as Career and Technical Education (6–12) for the 2021–22 school year.

Gifted Courses: Rigorous coursework for students who qualify for Gifted Education services. Gifted sections are designated in selected subjects by local schools.

Honors Courses: Coursework designed at an advanced level for students who excel in that content area. Honors sections are designated in selected subjects by local schools.

HOPE Scholarship Program: (Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally) An educational funding program through the Georgia Lottery, offering three funding op- tions. Learn more at www.gafutures.org.

• HOPE Grant: As of July 2023, the HOPE Grant pays 100% of the prior year hourly undergraduate tuition rate for qualified students who are enrolled in eligible diploma or certificate programs at selected technical colleges in Georgia.

• HOPE Scholarship: As of 2023, the HOPE Scholarship pays 100% of the prior year hourly undergraduate tuition rate for qualified students who are enrolled at eligible public colleges and universities in the state of Georgia. Eligible students enrolled in a Georgia private college or university qualify for a full private HOPE award at private Georgia colleges and universities. 

Hospital/Homebound (Teleclass): A program offered to students who cannot attend in a regular setting due to illness or accident. To participate in the program, students must expect to be absent from school for at least 10 consecutive school days. Check with your counselor for the necessary form to enter the program.

In-person Learning: Classes conducted in the school building.

Online Courses: Gwinnett Online Campus (GOC) offers online learning options for students to earn credit. Both options offer AKS curriculum courses found at traditional high schools. Learn more at www.gcpsk12.org/gwinnettonline.

Full-Time School: GOC offers a full-time course of study at no cost for students who would like to earn a GCPS diploma online. The registration window opens each February.

Supplemental Program: Students enrolled at a local high school may take up to five courses as part of their regular school schedule without paying a fee. Students also may choose to pay tuition and take additional courses— after school or during the summer— to get ahead or make room in their schedule for electives.

Postsecondary: Referring to college or technical college coursework, and career plans.

Prerequisites: Courses, test scores, recommendations, and/or grade level that must be completed before taking the next sequential course, grade, etc.

Required Courses: Specific courses that must be successfully completed prior to high school graduation. These courses must be retaken if not passed the first time.

School-Plus Classes: An opportunity for students to take a needed course or retake a course they have previously failed in order to receive credit. This opportunity is provided after the end of the school day, through the community school. There is a fee for these courses. Check with your community school director. Courses may vary by location.

Semester: An 18-week instructional period during which students earn .5 credits (traditional schedule) or 1.0 credits (block schedule) for each course passed. The school year is comprised of two semesters.

Summer School: A shorter, more intensive session offering students the opportunity to repeat or take additional courses required for high school graduation, either face-to-face at a school or through Online Campus.

Synchronous digital learning: Learning activities with real-time interaction between a teacher and students, often through a web-conference (e.g., Zoom session).

Transcript: The complete record of all high school courses taken and grades earned. A student’s transcript contains his or her cumulative record along with scores on required tests.

Weighted Numeric Average: A cumulative average of all numeric averages earned for every high school course the student has taken, including courses taken in 8th grade. A numeric average ranges 0-100 plus 10 points (added weight) for courses with increased rigor such as Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and some college-level math and science courses. Reached by multiplying the course average by the credit, adding all the results, and dividing by the sum of the credits.

Weighted Grade Point Average: A cumulative average of all quality points (5-point scale) earned for every high school course the student has taken, including courses taken in 8th grade. Reached by adding quality points multi- plied by each credit and dividing by total number of credits. Both the Weighted Numeric Average and the Weighted GPA are reported on the student transcript each semester.