8th Grade Registration
Welcome to Ridgeland High School Registration for the 2025-26 school year! We are excited to guide our future 9th graders through a smooth transition into high school. This page provides all the necessary information about the registration process, required courses, and various academic pathways available at our school. Let's embark on this exciting journey together!
Timeline
Graduation Requirements (23 required credits)
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4 English/Language Arts Classes
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4 Math Classes
- 4 Social Studies Classes
- 4 Science Classes
- 1 Health and PE Class OR 3 ROTC Classes
- 3 Classes from a Pathway (more information on pathways below)
- 3 Additional Elective Classes
- To attend a four-year college, you will also need to complete 2 foreign language classes.
How to Get to the Next Grade Level
In order to be promoted to the next grade level in high school, students must earn a set number of credits.
- 9th Graders: Students must earn 6 credits in order to be a sophomore.
- 10th Graders: Students must earn 12 credits in order to be a junior.
- 11th Graders: Students must earn 18 credits in order to be a senior.
- 12th Graders: Students must earn 23 credits and meet the graduation requirements for required credits in order to earn a high school diploma.
Academies
Ridgeland High School has three academies that make up the core of its academy structure: The Honors Academy, The College Prep Academy, and The College and Career Academy. All three of Ridgeland High School’s academies prepare students for any path they choose to take after high school, be that a four-year college, two-year college, technical college, military, or the job market. However, each of Ridgeland’s academies has a different focus.
- The Honors Academy offers students the most rigorous high school courses and provides students with the opportunity to take dual enrollment, college-level Advanced Placement courses, and honors courses.
- The College Prep Academy focuses on preparing students to succeed in a college setting by providing classes that emphasize writing, study skills, research, and verbal communication.
- The College and Career Academy focuses on preparing students to succeed in life after high school through the trades, college, or the workforce by providing opportunities in multiple pathway courses or the Walker County Launch program.
Sample Freshmen Schedules
College and Career Academy
College Prep Academy
Honors Academy
Tips for the Transition
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Get involved.
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Check PowerSchool regularly.
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Follow-up with teachers after absences.
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Talk to your teachers and counselors.
Timeline for Honors Academy and College Prep Academy Decisions
To be considered for the Honors Academy or the College Prep Academy, students need to apply.
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February 4: Information provided to all students about these academies during 8th grade visits to Ridgeland
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February 10-13: 9th Grade counselor visit to middle schools for registration
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February 21: Application deadline
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March 17: In-person student interviews at CVMS
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March 20: In-person student interviews at RMS
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April 7: Decision letters sent to middle schools
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April 15: Deadline to accept placement
Hope Scholarship: Pay for College
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The HOPE Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship for eligible students.
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The HOPE Scholarship pays for 90% of an eligible student’s college tuition.
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This money does not have to be repaid.
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Eligibility is determined by the calculation of all academic core courses that the student has taken and completed (grades 9-12).
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No middle school core course grades count.
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Both passing and failing grades in the core courses count.
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HOPE GPA is calculated on a traditional 4.0 GPA scale to 2 decimal places without rounding.
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Students must have a 3.0 HOPE GPA to be eligible:
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A 3.0 GPA is the equivalent of getting a “B” in all core academic courses. (The HOPE GPA is calculated differently than the regular GPA)
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Must complete four rigor courses as determined by GSFC:
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Algebra II, Math IV, Pre-Calculus, Biology II, Chemistry, Spanish II & Spanish III.
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Your GPA starts calculating on DAY ONE of high school!
Pathways
These detailed course offerings aim to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the diverse educational opportunities available at our high school. Each pathway is designed to nurture students' interests, skills, and aspirations, preparing them for success in their future endeavors.
Audio & Video Technology and Film is a course of study that teaches students how to produce videos, from the beginning to the end. It covers the theory and practice of video production, including pre-production, production, and post-production and the equipment required in each step. From writing scripts to learning how a camera works to editing, students in the pathway will gain the knowledge and skills to succeed in film and video production.
Agriculture: Horticulture/Mechanical Systems and Plant and Floral Design Systems combine plant cultivation and care (horticulture) knowledge with an understanding of mechanical systems, including equipment operation, maintenance, and automation technologies used in horticultural settings, like greenhouses, nurseries, and farms, to optimize plant growth and production processes. The advanced side of this study covers plant life's scientific and practical aspects and floral design. It prepares students for horticulture, greenhouse management, and floral design careers.
Agriculture: Ag Mechanics Systems and Ag Metal Fabrication focus on the technical skills needed to maintain, repair, and operate farm machinery, including tractors, harvesting equipment, and other agricultural tools, encompassing areas like woodworking, welding, electrical systems, hydraulics, and basic design principles, often with hands-on training in a workshop setting to prepare students for roles as agricultural mechanics or related positions in the agricultural industry. The advanced side of this program focuses on developing skills in maintaining and repairing agricultural machinery alongside advanced metal fabrication techniques like welding and cutting, primarily used to create or modify farm equipment and structures on a farm or ranch.
Agriculture: Forest Mechanical Systems and Forestry/Wildlife Systems focus on the maintenance, repair, and operation of heavy machinery used in forestry operations, including logging trucks, harvesters, skidders, and other specialized equipment designed to work in challenging forest terrain, requiring skills in mechanical troubleshooting, hydraulic systems, powertrains, and safety procedures specific to the forestry industry. The advanced side of this pathway focuses on the study and management of forest ecosystems, including tree cultivation, timber.
Business Entrepreneurship is an educational program designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to start and run their own businesses, focusing on developing ideas, creating business plans, managing finances, marketing strategies, and navigating the challenges of launching a new venture in the marketplace; essentially, it prepares individuals to become successful entrepreneurs.
Early Childhood Care and Education encompasses a range of programs designed to support the development of children from birth to the beginning of primary school. These programs equip future educators with the skills to prepare young children for kindergarten and the transition to formal schooling.
JROTC includes lessons in leadership, health and wellness, physical fitness, first-aid, geography, American history and government, communications, and emotional intelligence. The curriculum is rigorous and relevant to 21st-century education.
Law Enforcement Services/Criminal Investigations emphasizes a combination of theory and practical, hands-on application necessary for successful employment. There are three components of the criminal justice system: law enforcement, the courts, and corrections, as well as careers in private security.
Therapeutic Services/Patient Care offers high school students hands-on training in essential healthcare skills, including patient care, medical support, and teamwork in clinical settings. This program prepares students for entry-level healthcare roles, such as patient care technicians or nursing assistants, while providing a strong foundation for further studies in nursing or allied health fields. Perfect for students passionate about making a difference in patients' lives.
Visual and Performing Arts Pathways
Art consists of three courses: Art I, Drawing & Painting, and Sculpture. In both Art I and Drawing & Painting, students learn and create art using the following art media: graphite pencil, charcoal, watercolor, oil pastel, pen, marker, ink, and acrylic. In Sculpture, students experiment with paper folding, paper mache, and basic ceramic techniques that include forming, texturing, and glazing/painting clay. Students also learn about a variety of artists and their works in all three classes.
Band provides students with the fundamentals of music performance and theory. It covers instrument techniques, ensemble playing, and music interpretation. From reading sheet music to improving individual and group performance, students will gain the skills and knowledge needed to succeed as musicians.
Chorus trains students to become musically independent. Students train in music reading skills, listening skills, and performance skills and put them to practice in class each day while preparing for performances several times a semester. Chorus is suggested to be taken year long and accepts students at any level. Chorale, the advanced class, requires an audition while Sinfonia is a beginners chorus available to anyone who registers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- When will students register for classes for the 2025-26 school year?
- How does my application for the College Prep Academy and/or Honors Academy affect the registration process?
- Are students guaranteed to be registered for the classes that they register for?
- My student selected pathway classes but now wants to change those selections. What is the process for getting those changed?
- When will I know my schedule for next school year?
- My student was absent when 8th grade students registered for classes. How do they register for classes?
- My student earned high school credits in middle school. How and when will these credits be applied?
- On the class registration sheet for 9th grade, students selected alternates. How does this impact my student's schedule?