Curriculum and Instruction

The SHS instructional program operates on an 18-week block semester system. The school year is divided into four 9-week grading periods. The curriculum is governed by the requirements of the State Department of Education.. All courses carry one (1) unit of credit.

AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM - Teachers at SHS provide before and after-school academic tutoring throughout the school year. Please refer to the specific teacher’s course syllabus for times and days.

COURSE SYLLABUS - Each classroom teacher will provide students with a class syllabus. The syllabus will include a brief course description and outline, grading procedures, and make-up policy.

CREDIT RECOVERY - (see ECS 2025-2026 Student Handbook)

HOMEWORK - Parents and students should realize that homework is an integral part of the educational experience. It is a reinforcement of the classroom and may affect the final grade. Students will be assigned homework on a regular basis and should make every effort to complete it on time.

FIELD TRIPS - Field trips are for the purpose of enhancing the instructional standards taught within the curriculum. Each student must meet a set criteria set forth by the club advisor, coach, and/or administration.

STANDARDIZED TESTING PROGRAM - State mandates require student participation in a wide array of assessments. The purposes of the testing program include monitoring student progress, assessing program effectiveness, planning for instructional improvement, and making placement decisions for special programming. Several of the assessments are utilized as part of the system’s promotion/retention policy. Below is a list indicating the specific tests to be administered in the Emanuel County System during the 2025-2026 school year. Specific details related to each test are provided, but also refer to the school/county calendar.

SHS TESTING SCHEDULE

Please refer to the ECS Calendar and SHS Calendar for specific dates.	PSAT	Grade 10
	ASVAB	Grades 11 – 12
	End of Pathway Assessment (EOPA)	Students who have completed 3 courses within a CTAE pathway.
	End of Course (EOC): Biology, Algebra, Literature and Composition II, and US History *10% of the Course Average.	Grades 9 – 12
	ACCESS	All English Language Learners
	Georgia Alternate Assessment (GAA 2.0)	Grade 11
	Measure of Adequate Progress (MAP)	Grades 9-12
	Midterms	Grades 9-12
	Finals	Grades 9-12

GRADES AND GRADING - (see ECS 2025-2026 Student Handbook)

EXAM EXEMPTIONS

Students will be exempt from finals if they:

have an A and no more than 3 absences per semester
have a B and no more than 2 absences per semester
have a C and 0 absences per semester

*The only exception is if a student scores distinguished on EOC.
*3 tardies per class count as an absence

HONOR ROLL - (see ECS 2025-2026 Student Handbook)

HONORS CLASSES - Requirements for Honors Classes:

Students currently enrolled in an honors class must maintain an overall semester average of 85 or above to be recommended for the next honors course in the sequence of study for that subject.

TEXTBOOKS

All textbooks furnished free of charge to students shall remain the property of the state or Emanuel County School System. At the completion of each course of study, or at the instructions of the principal or teacher in charge, such textbooks shall be returned as directed. These books must be used for several years. If a student damages or loses a state-owned textbook, he/she must pay for a replacement. The parent, guardian, or other person having custody of a child to whom such textbooks are issued shall be held liable for any loss, abuse, or damage in excess of that which would result from normal use of such textbooks. It is the responsibility of the student or his/her parents, guardian, or persons having legal custody of the child to pay for lost or damaged textbooks before the issuance of a replacement. Teachers will inspect all textbooks issued to their students at the end of each semester or year. Fines will be assessed if the book has been damaged according to the extent of the damage. When a student loses his book, he will be assessed for that book before another is issued to him. Discount 15% for each year used.

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

School administrators recognize that two-way communication through personal contacts is extremely valuable; therefore, they provide information to parents, as well as ongoing opportunities for school personnel to hear parents' concerns and comments.

Parents are encouraged to visit the school regularly and are expected to be actively involved in the behavior support processes designed to promote positive choices and behavior.

Georgia law mandates that any time a teacher or principal identifies a student as a chronic disciplinary problem student, the principal shall notify by telephone call and by mail the student's parent or guardian of the disciplinary problem, invite the parent or guardian to observe the student in a classroom situation, and request at least one (1) parent or guardian to attend a conference to devise a disciplinary and behavioral correction plan. Georgia law also states that before any chronic disciplinary problem student is permitted to return to the school from a suspension or expulsion, the school will request at least one (1) parent or guardian to schedule and attend a conference to devise a disciplinary and behavioral correction plan. Such notification will be by telephone and by mail. The law allows the Board of Education to petition the juvenile court to require a parent to attend a school conference. If the court finds that the parent or guardian has willfully and unreasonably failed to attend a conference requested by the principal pursuant to the laws cited above, the court may order the parent or guardian to attend such conference, order the parent or guardian to participate in such programs or such treatment as the court deems appropriate to improve the student's behavior, or both. After notice and opportunity for hearing, the court may impose a fine not to exceed $500.00 on a parent or guardian who willfully disobeys an order of the court under this law.