AACPS College and Career Readiness

Essential Guideposts for the Journey to Success Guidepost 1 - Reading  Read at or above grade level by the end of grade 2 Guidepost 2 - Reading/ Math Perform at the Advanced Level on MSA in reading and math in grades 3-8 Guidepost 3 - Algebra Readiness 8/Algebra I  Complete Algebra Readiness 8 or Algebra I by the end of grade 8 Guidepost 4 - World/ Classical Languages   Complete a Level 1 World and Classical Language by the end of grade 8 Guidepost 5 - Algebra II Complete Algebra II by end of grade 10 or 11 Guidepost 6 - Biology  Complete Biology by the end of grade 9 Guidepost 7 - High School Study Complete a rigorous course of high school study Guidepost 8-Rigorous Standardized Testing  Demonstrate readiness for college and career by scoring well on a recognized standardized test (e.g. PSAT, SAT, ACT, Maryland Industry Certification) Will Your Child Be Ready for College and/or a Career?   Today, most jobs require more than a high school diploma and many workforce training/vocational programs require the same readiness skills as those required for success in college.  In fact, for students to be ultimately successful in the workplace, knowing how to think critically, solve problems and get along with others are as important as knowing how to read, write, and calculate.  The Great Eight: Essential Guideposts for the Journey to Greatness was developed as a resource for parents in making decisions along the pathway from grades K-12.  Each guidepost is aligned to the Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) strategic plan and promotes the development of a strong foundation for student success in college or in a vocational career.   Since the guideposts are more strenuous than the requirements for graduation from high school, starting early allows parents to plan for the numerous pathways to graduation while accommodating the various learning styles of individual students.  Therefore, it’s never too late to reach one of the Great 8!