The Four-Year Plan and Career Clusters/Pathways

The Four-Year Plan takes into consideration your academic abilities, career goals, interests, and plans for additional education beyond high school. The purpose of the plan is to familiarize you with graduation requirements and to get you thinking about life after high school… What you want to do with your future, where you want to go, and what you need to do in high school to make it happen. Each spring, you’ll register for classes for the next year. Your teachers will advise you about a recommended course selection and level of difficulty, based on your prior academic performance. As a result, your initial plan might change with future registrations. While teachers, counselors, advisors, and adminis- trators will make every effort to give you the best advice, ultimately, you are responsible for taking the correct courses for graduation. Make sure your parents know your plans and keep them updated on your progress toward meeting requirements for graduation. Talk to your counselor or advisor if you have any questions. The following list of required courses and course sequences is designed to help you as you develop your Four-Year Plan. Please keep in mind that these sequences may be modified to accommodate special circumstances. However, the majority of students will ad- here to the course sequences listed below. Unless noted, you would take a full year (1 credit) of the designated course.

Career Clusters/Pathways

Georgia students choose a Career Cluster/Pathway to pursue in high school. Under this model, you— with the help of parents, teachers and school — will choose a Pathway in one of 17 Career Clusters, or in the areas of Advanced Academics, World Language, or Fine Arts. You can select your Pathway based on what you want to do after graduation and take a core set of classes and electives based on your chosen field. You have the freedom to switch Pathways or Clusters if you discover a particular area is not your passion. You can choose Pathways that lead to two-year, four-year, or technical colleges, or directly into careers.

The Four-Year Plan Worksheet (for a regular-schedule school or block-schedule school) should be used while you review the course descriptions. Gifted and Honors sections are designated in selected subjects by local schools.

Language Arts – 4 Units

• 9th Grade Literature and Composition
• 10th Grade Literature and Composition
• 11th Grade American Literature and Composition* or AP English Language and Composition with American Literature focus
• 12th Grade British Literature and Composition or AP English Language and Composition or AP English Literature and Composition or Critical Literacy

Mathematics – 4 Units

See the Recommended Math Sequences chart for GCPS’ four recommended math sequences. The classes you take each year will depend on which sequence you are following. Math is a required course every year. An End of Course assessment is required for Alegebra: Concepts & Connections.

Science – 4 Units

• Biology*
• Chemistry or AP Chemistry
• Physics or AP Physics I
• Approved 4th Science course

Social Studies – 3 Units

• World History or AP World History
• U.S. History* or AP U.S. History
• Economics and Personal Finance or
• AP Macroeconomics or
• AP Microeconomics (½ Unit)
• Political Systems or AP American Government (½ Unit)
  
  

  Health and Physical Education – 1 Unit

Personal Fitness (½ Unit) and Health (½ Unit) or JROTC (3 Units)

Modern or Classical Language*, Fine Arts, Career and Technical Education** – 3 Units

Any combination.

*Note: At least 2 units of the same Modern or Classical Language are required for admission to University System of Georgia schools. Be aware of requirements for colleges you are interested in attending.

Additional Required Electives – 4 Units

Any combination.

*State-mandated End of Course (EOC) assessment required.