West Virginia

Recognized Rigorous Secondary School Programs of Study

If otherwise eligible, all students, including private school students,
home-schooled students, students enrolled in Department of Defense
Overseas Schools, and Bureau of Indian Affairs students may qualify for
an ACG under the rigorous secondary school program of study options
pre-recognized by the Secretary. These options include a set of courses
similar to the State Scholars Initiative and the Advanced Placement (AP)
or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses and test scores as detailed
below.

The eligibility options for a student graduating from secondary school
in West Virginia during the 2008 calendar year are:

-   ***West Virginia Scholars*.** This program, part of the national
    State Scholars Initiative and patterned after the recommendations of
    the National Commission on Excellence in Education, requires at
    least:[^1]

    -   Four years of English;

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    -   **Four** years of math (including Algebra I, Algebra II and
        Geometry);

    -   **Four** years of lab science (biology, chemistry, physics);

    -   **Four** years of social studies (chosen from U.S. and World
        History, Geography, Economics, and Government); and

    -   Two years of a language other than English.

-   ***A set of courses similar to the State Scholars Initiative.***
    This program of study requires passing grades in the following:

    -   Four years of English;

    -   Three years of math (including Algebra I and a higher level
        course such as Algebra II, geometry, or data analysis and
        statistics);

    -   Three years of science, including one year each of at least two
        of the following courses: biology, chemistry, and physics;

    -   Three years of social studies; and

    -   One year of a language other than English.

-   ***Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB)
    courses and test scores.*** This program requires a minimum of two
    Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses
    in high school and a minimum passing score on the exams for those
    classes. Students must score 3 or higher on AP exams and 4 or higher
    on IB exams.

-   ***West Virginia PROMISE.***   The requirements for this program
    are**:**

    -   English - 4 credits

    -   Mathematics - 3 credits (Algebra I, plus two other math courses,
        one of which must be above Algebra I, such as Geometry, Algebra
        II, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Integrated Math or
        Discrete Math)

    -   Social Sciences - 3 credits (US History to 1900, World Studies
        to 1900, 20^th^-21st Century History)

    -   Natural Sciences - 3 credits (Coordinated and Thematic Science
        9, Coordinated and Thematic Science 10, and one additional
        credit from biology, chemistry, physics, human
        anatomy/physiology, or environmental earth science)

    -   A student must graduate with a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA (grade
        point average) or whatever is locally considered a \"B\" average
        (weighted grades may be used).   In addition, the student needs
        to graduate with a minimum 3.0 GPA in his/her core courses.  

    -   A student must attain an ACT composite score of **22** with a
        minimum sub-score of 20 in each of the four subject areas; or a
        combined SAT score of **1020** with minimum sub-scores of 490 in
        the critical reading section and 480 in the math section. 
        Scores cannot be combined from multiple test administrations.
        The highest scores will be accepted from one, single test
        date.[^2]

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-   ***West Virginia Earn a Degree - Graduate Early (EDGE).*** The
    requirements for this program are**:**

    -   English - 4 credits

    -   Mathematics - 3 credits (Algebra I, plus two other math courses,
        one of which must be above Algebra I, such as Geometry, Algebra
        II, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Integrated Math or
        Discrete Math)

    -   Social Sciences - 3 credits (US History to 1900, World Studies
        to 1900, 20^th^-21st Century History)

    -   Natural Sciences - 3 credits (Coordinated and Thematic Science
        9, Coordinated and Thematic Science 10, and one additional
        credit from biology, chemistry, physics, human
        anatomy/physiology, or environmental earth science)

    -   EDGE students earn college credit in escrow by successfully
        passing at least three high school courses that have been
        approved by both the West Virginia Department of Education and
        the West Virginia Community and Technical College Office. In
        addition to successfully passing the approved course, the
        student must also take the accompanying end-of-course exams and
        receive a score of at least 74% on each exam. 

-   ***West Virginia Dual Credit Program*.** The requirements for this
    program are:

    -   English - 4 credits

    -   Mathematics - 3 credits (Algebra I, plus two other math courses,
        one of which must be above Algebra I, such as Geometry, Algebra
        II, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Integrated Math or
        Discrete Math)

    -   Social Sciences - 3 credits (US History to 1900, World Studies
        to 1900, 20^th^-21st Century History)

    -   Natural Sciences - 3 credits (Coordinated and Thematic Science
        9, Coordinated and Thematic Science 10, and one additional
        credit from biology, chemistry, physics, human
        anatomy/physiology, or environmental earth science)

    -   Students in this option must have successfully passed and
        received credit for **at least three dual credit courses.**

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-   ***High Schools That Work Award of Educational Achievement.***
    Students must complete the HSTW-recommended curriculum in at least
    two of the three subject areas; complete a concentration in a
    career/technical field, mathematics/science, or the humanities; and
    meet all three of the performance goals on the HSTW assessment.

    -   The recommended curriculum consists of:

        -   English: Four credits in college-preparatory level courses

        -   Math: Four credits in college-preparatory level courses,
            including Algebra I, geometry, Algebra II and a higher level
            mathematics course such as trigonometry, statistics,
            pre-calculus, calculus, or Advanced Placement mathematics.

        -   Science: Three or more credits in science, including at
            least two credits in college-preparatory biology, chemistry,
            anatomy/physiology or physics/applied physics.

    -   The concentrations consist of:

        -   Career/Technical: Four or more credits in a coherent
            sequence in a career/technical field or major.

        -   Mathematics/Science: Four college-preparatory courses each
            in mathematics and science. At least one course in either
            mathematics or science must be at the Advanced Placement
            level.

        -   Humanities: Four college-preparatory courses each in
            English/language arts and social studies and four courses in
            an area of the humanities, such as foreign language, fine
            arts or additional English and social studies courses. At
            least one course in either English or social studies must be
            at the Advanced Placement level.

    -   Performance Goals:

        -   The performance goals on the HSTW assessment are a 279 in
            reading, a 297 in mathematics, and a 299 in science on a
            scale of 0-500.

[^1]: West Virginia Scholars requirements were increased for students
    graduating from secondary school in 2007.

[^2]: West Virginia PROMISE minimum ACT composite and SAT combined
    scores were slightly increased for 2007 secondary school graduates.