This document provides information about the honors program at Eastern Alamance High School. It outlines the honors course offerings for 9th grade, including English 1, World History, Biology, Earth Science, and Geometry. It explains that honors classes provide more rigor and challenge for gifted and talented students. Key differences from regular classes are more complex learning targets, accelerated pace, and higher-level assessments. Traits of successful honors students are also described for each subject area, such as reading above grade level, thinking critically, and displaying sustained effort. Placement criteria includes achievement test scores and classroom performance. Parents can request honors placement by completing an interest form.

1. Welcome
to
Eastern Alamance
High School!
Honors Program

2. Agenda
 Introduction
 Honors Courses Available at EAHS for Grade 9
 General Placement Criteria
 What is an Honors Class?
 How is an Honors Class different?
 What are the specific traits of an Honor Student by
Subject Area
 Q & A
 Distribution of EVAAS Data

3. Why Honors Courses?
 For the vast majority of our students, placement in
the regular classes is appropriate. By using a
variety of strategies, teachers are able to
differentiate the instruction to provide varying
amounts of challenge and support to facilitate
successful student learning for a wide range of
students. The needs of some of our students exceed
the expectations of a regular classroom. To meet
the needs of these students, Eastern Alamance
High School provides honors courses based on the
North Carolina Standard Course of Study.

4. Determining Placement
 In order to determine appropriate placement of
Grade 9 students in honors classes we will use
multiple criteria and data including:
 Achievement scores as measured on the NC End of
Grade Test in reading and math.
 EVAAS Prediction Data
 Academic Performance
 Classroom performance- including-work ethic, effort
and attendance

5. Determining Placement
 If you believe that your student should participate in
honors classes at Eastern Alamance High School,
please do the following:
 Read the following information regarding classes that
are available, the qualities of a successful honors
student and the characteristics of an honors class.
 Complete an Honors Class Interest form (only if your
student in not identified as AG or is not in Algebra 1),
and we will gather the needed data to assess your
student.
 Students placed in English Honors will automatically
be placed in World History Honors unless otherwise
requested by parent.

6. Grade 9
Honors Course Offerings
 English 1 Honors
 World History Honors
 Biology Honors
 Earth Science Honors
 Geometry Honors

7. What is an Honors Class?
 An honors class parallels the curriculum
offered in the corresponding regular class,
but it provides more rigor and challenge to
a range of students who are intellectually
gifted and/or academically talented to
maximize student achievement. As with a
regular class, a teacher of an honors class
develops and implements effective high-
quality curriculum and instruction which
recognizes the variance in learner needs.

8. How is an honors class
different?
Characteristics include:
 Content:
1. Learning targets have expectations that are more
complex, rigorous, and require deeper levels of
cognition than a regular CP class.
2. Students apply knowledge, understandings and
skills to contexts that are unfamiliar and dissimilar
from those in a CP class.
4. Teaching and learning is focused on big ideas,
themes, principles and issues.
5. Increased depth and breadth of connections between
and/or within disciplines are evident.

9. How is an honors class
different?
Characteristics include:
 Teaching and Learning:
1. Pace of teaching and learning is accelerated.
2. Consistent use of advanced levels of communication in oral
and written form reflects the practices of the discipline.
3. Focus on complex thinking is ongoing and includes: deep
levels of critical and creative thinking, multifaceted
problem solving and meta-cognitive processes.
4. Greater levels of self directed learning and behavior, as
well as, increased use of research strategies are present.
5. Assessments are linked to the more complex levels of
teaching and learning.

10. What Are the Traits of a
Successful Honors Student?
English 1 Honors
Achievement Test Criteria Reading EOG of 4 or better with EVAAS score in the 90% and
final class average of a B+ or higher.
Reading Characteristics Reads above grade level
Connects reading to real-life situations
Thinks critically and creatively
Makes logical inferences
Grasps underlying principles
Writing Characteristics Organizes ideas when writing
Communicates in writing clearly and precisely
Provides details to support ideas
Uses rich vocabulary
Revises and edits
Other Characteristics Shows sustained effort
Completes work on time
Is self motivated
Is willing to devote at least an hour to reading homework each
night

11. What Are the Traits of a
Successful Honors Student?
World History Honors
Achievement Test Criteria Reading EOG of 4 or better with EVAAS score in the 90% and final
class average of a B+ or higher.
Social Studies Characteristics Interest in Social Studies is evident in the quality of questions
Reads avidly; reads across many topics and/or is singularly
focused on one topic
Reads above grade level
Possesses a comfort in working with unfamiliar words and content
Makes logical inferences from ideas details in content
Connects ideas, themes, and issues related to Social Studies
General Characteristics Employs a rich vocabulary
Possesses a keen memory
Is able to connect ideas across disciplines and/or time
Demonstrates the ability to think critically and abstractly
Demonstrates commitment to producing exemplary work
Works collaboratively and efficiently in groups

12. What Are the Traits of a
Successful Honors Student?
Science-Biology or Earth Science Honors
Achievement Test Criteria Biology Honors-Successfully completed Algebra 1 in
Middle School; High Level 4 on Math and Reading
EOG and EVAAS above 90%
Earth Science Honors- High Level 3 or higher on
Math and Reading EOG and EVAAS above 80%
Science and general ability characteristics Displays a keen interest in Science
Thinks critically
Thinks abstractly
Does well with problem solving
Connects ideas across disciplines
Other Characteristics Employs a rich vocabulary
Displays sustained effort
Completes work on time
Displays a positive attitude
Works well in groups

13. What Are the Traits of a
Successful Honors Student?
Math-Geometry Honors
Achievement Test Criteria Algebra 1 students who score a level 4 on the
Math EOG and Algebra 1 EOC with an EVAAS
score above 90% and an final class average of
B or better.
Mathematics Characteristics Thinks abstractly and logically
Connects concepts from different areas of
mathematics
Understands and uses symbols to replace
concepts, operations, ideas, and relationships
Isolates what they understand and what they
don't
Formulates strategies and approaches to
unique problems
Computes flexibly, accurately and efficiently
Extends their thinking
Other Characteristics Displays the willingness and persistence to
practice (homework) to reinforce and solidify
their thinking and skills.
Completes work on time

14. Questions????
Reminder Interest Form if not currently
identified as AG or in Algebra 1

15. Thank you
for
attending!