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• Aiming Higher: Is Your 9th-grader On Track for College? (English)

  

  April 2008 - Aiming Higher, English edition, outlines the importance of the ninth grade in achieving college readiness and provides parents with concrete steps to ensure their ninth graders get a strong start on the road to college.

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9th-Grade Timeline

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G2G 9th Grade Brochure

March 2010 - This brochure gives advice to 9th graders on beginning high school and what they need to do to be sure that they are on track to graduate and ready for college or a career.

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You will need to reach several very important benchmarks by the end of your freshman year. This section will introduce you to these benchmarks and help you plan for them over the course of the year.

Ninth-Grade Benchmarks

Every freshman

• earns at least two credits in each core subject area (English/language arts, math, science and social studies)
• earns at least 11 total credits
• passes at least one Regents at a 65 or above, 75 or above for math or ELA
• has at least 92 percent attendance and earns at least an 80 percent in all core classes
• understands graduation and college-readiness requirements
• develops a four-year plan to meet benchmarks for career and college readiness
• goes on a college visit
• takes a practice PSAT and discusses results with a teacher
• participates in a career-talk series or job-shadow experience
• learns about the various career and college pathways available after college.

Planning Your Freshman Year

Fall

• Get to know your school advisers, teachers and principal.
• Find out how many credits and courses you need to graduate from high school.
• Meet with your high school guidance counselor to create a four-year plan that includes college preparation.
• Get involved in extracurricular activities. Colleges are interested in the way you spend your extra time.

January and February

Meet with your high school guidance counselor to:

• Review your first-semester grades.
• Learn which Regents exams you need to take in June.

March

• Take a virtual tour of or visit a college campus. New York City has dozens of colleges, all just a subway ride away.
• Research and apply for summer programs and internships. Pay attention to program deadlines so you don’t miss out on valuable opportunities.

April and May

• Study for your Regents and final exams.
• Check with your high school guidance counselor and teachers to see if they know of any summer jobs that suit your interests.
• Apply for working papers with your high school guidance counselor’s help. Remember you must be 15 to work in New York City.
• Take a practice PSAT and discuss the results with a teacher or guidance counselor.
• Meet with your high school guidance counselor to review how you did this year, how you might improve and which classes you should take next year.

June

• Pass at least one Regents exam by the end of ninth grade.