Northwood High School

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Incoming 9th Grade Students

Class of 2029

2025-2026 School Year (9th grade)

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WELCOME!

Class of 2029 Northwood Gladiators

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We are excited that you will be part of the Gladiator family.

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This presentation consists of multiple resources to help you think about, reflect, and make the best course decisions for yourself. We ask that you share this presentation with your family and caregivers.

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Website: https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/nhscounseling/home

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Follow us@ https://www.instagram.com/nhs_counseling/

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What to Expect at Northwood

• 7 period day (3 days a week) /Block Schedules (2 days a week)

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• School day begin at 7:40 & ends at 2:10
• Year-round sports, clubs, and extracurricular activities either during lunch or after school
• Comprehensive School Based Wellness Center
• Closed-campus for lunch

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Graduation Requirements

• 4 credits English
• 4 credits Math (Alg & Geom)
• 3 credits Science (Bio, physical science, NGSS)
• 3 credits Social Studies (US Hist, Gov, Modern World)
• 1 credit Technology
• 1 credit Fine Arts *22 Credits
• 1 credit Physical Education *Testing: ALG, ENG,
• 1 credit Health MISA, GOV
• Program of Study (next slide) *SSL: 75
• 2 credits Additional Electives

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NHS Programs of Study

Law

2 Years of the Same World Language

College and Career Research and Development

Computer Science Pathway

Child Development Associate Preschool Program

Curriculum for Agriculture Science Education (CASE)

Audiovisual & Broadcast Technologies AMC

Marketing

Business Management

Justice, Law and Society

Thomas Edison High School Programs

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➔1.0 Math credit

➔1.0 English Credit

➔3.0 Additional Credits

*Minimum 5 total credits

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*Students have an opportunity to to earn 7.0 total credits each school year.

Grade Level Promotions

9th to 10th Grade-

Students must earn the following

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Northwood High School Academy Programs

Academies are smaller learning communities within high schools that are designed to help students prepare for higher education and explore possible career pathways.

All NHS students should be enrolled in an academy.

Sign Up: https://bit.ly/478yCp9

Website: click here

Academies Portfolio: click here

Questions: Holly_M_Jones@mcpsmd.org

The Academy of Finance, Accounting, Marketing, and Education

(FAME)

The Academy of Humanities, Art, and Media

(HAM)

The Academy of Music, Theatre, and Dance

(AMTAD)

The Academy of Politics, Advocacy, and Law

(PAL)

The Academy of Technological, Environmental, and Systems Sciences

(TESS)

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MC² Program at Northwood HS

Class of 2029 - Rising 9th Graders

• Your cohort begins with AP US History with an AP support course (Digital Literacy), but you may choose to take Honors US History if you are not that interested in history or do not feel ready to take a college level course in 9th grade.
• Students should also take at least geometry for Math, Honors English 9, Honors Biology, and PE. Take a world language or a technology course. Students who intend to pursue engineering or computer science should be in Hon Algebra 2 in 9th grade.
• These courses will be difficult for students to understand the text they must read if they do not have at least a 230 MAP-R score by the end of 8th grade.
• Students will have to submit a writing sample to Montgomery College in April of grade 9 to qualify.

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Considerations for Selecting- ENGLISH

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• English 9:

Consider for students who are:

• Earned Cs and below in 8th grade English

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• Honors English 9:

Consider for students who are:

• Earned As and Bs in 8th grade English
• Participates in classroom discourse and activities
• Able to write a multi-paragraph essay that includes a thesis and uses evidence effectively
• Plans on an Honors or AP track for English classes in high school

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Considerations for Selecting- MATH

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Considerations for Selecting- SOCIAL STUDIES

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• US History:

Consider for students who are:

• Earned Cs and below in 8th grade History

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• Honors US History:

Consider for students who are:

• Earned As and Bs in 8th grade History
• Readily engages in classroom discourse and activities
• Motivated to complete challenging tasks
• Able to write a multi paragraph essay that includes a thesis and uses evidence effectively

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• AP US History & Literacy in the Digital Age: (2 classes)

Consider for very strong students who are:

• Highly motivated, have strong organizational & study skills
• Earning consistent A’s in 8th grade US History
• Able to write a multi paragraph essay that includes a thesis and uses evidence effectively

*Will be reading 30-40 textbook pages a week outside of class as well as completing other homework

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Considerations for Selecting- SCIENCE

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• Biology:

Consider for students who are:

• Earned Cs and below in 8th grade Science

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• Honors Biology:

Consider for students who are:

• Earned As and Bs in 8th grade Science
• Motivated to complete challenging tasks, able to independently follow lab directions and write paragraph length conclusions from lab and text-based evidence.

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• Earth Systems & Sustainability:

This option should be used for ALL English Language Learners (Current ELP 1 & 2) that have not yet taken a high school science course. It will introduce students to scientific language and skills through the lens of Earth Science.

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• Honors Physics:

Consider for very strong students who are:

• Have a strong math background and would be interested in taking AP Biology for their Life Science credit during their Junior year (they would bypass on-level Biology).
• Students should have earned As or Bs in Algebra and be enrolled in Geometry or higher for their freshmen year.

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• AP Physics 1:

Consider for students who:

• Have a very strong math background. Students should have earned As in Algebra and Geometry, be enrolled in Algebra 2 for 9th grade.
• Are interested in taking AP Biology for their Life Science credit during their Junior year (they would bypass on-level Biology).

This is a college level course so students should be up for a challenge, self-starters and motivated to complete work at home as well as in school.

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Considerations for Selecting- WORLD LANGUAGE

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• Spanish (Levels 1-5)
• Spanish for Spanish Speakers* (Levels 1-3)
• French (Levels 1-5)
• Arabic (Levels 1-2)

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Native Speakers of Spanish: Please note that Spanish 1 and Spanish 2 are not appropriate courses for students who speak Spanish at home. Students who speak Spanish at home should consider and take the placement test for the Spanish for Spanish Speakers courses.

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Students who speak fluent Spanish at home who plan to take Spanish in high school must be added to the Spanish for Spanish Speakers placement test list in late February/early March.

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Procedures for placement testing this year are still being determined by the World Languages Office.

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Building your Academic Portfolio for College

• Well rounded student (academically, involved in extracurriculars)
• Colleges require a minimum of 2 years of the same world language in high school
• Competitive colleges require 4 years of the same world language
• Honors, AP and dual enrollment courses (challenging yourself academically)

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Interested in playing sports in college?

Visit www.ncaa.org for more information.

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Today, you will…

1. Identify 7 courses to request for the 2025-2026 School Year and at least 3 “back-up” electives.

Course Requests

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• Complete a registration card to give the Northwood School Counselor

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