Alpharetta High School Prospectus 2019-20

Alpharetta
High School

est. 2004

2019-20
School Prospectus

About AHS Mission, Values, and Vision

Alpharetta High School is located at 3595 At Alpharetta High School we believe that
Webb Bridge Road just a few miles east of education creates opportunity. As a
downtown Alpharetta. learning community, we seek to inspire intellectual
curiosity and stimulate personal creativity by
The school opened in 2004 and currently setting high expectations and developing engaging
maintains an enrollment of just over 2100 environments to promote a culture of continuous
students from the Alpharetta community. learning where hard work is a contributor to
Since 2011 Dr. Shannon Kersey has success.
provided leadership for AHS with a focus
on strengthening student achievement and We respect the diverse perspectives, beliefs,
teacher quality and has overseen some of and backgrounds of others and strive to build
the most significant growth and numerous a foundation of self-governing integrity that
awards for the school. Alpharetta High recognizes each of our unique contributions to
School’s parents offer a remarkable level of both our local and the global community.
support through the PTSA, The Alpharetta
High School Foundation, and numerous Because we are reflective practitioners de-
booster organizations. voted to the craft of education, we value a
passion for what we teach, a commitment to
AHS focuses on making student-driven whom we teach, and a desire for collaborat-
decisions motivated by its mission that
encourages students to be excellent, ing and improving how we teach.
contributing members of the school and
larger community. Alpharetta High School As a community, we aspire to find balance in
offers over 60 clubs and organizations, where we devote our time, to pursue a unity
30 different Advanced Placement course of shared purpose that guides our decisions,
offerings, 18 International Baccalaureate and to support one another and our learn-
courses, 23 Varsity level sports, and over ing community by bringing our best selves
35 fine arts and career tech classes for its
students. to every opportunity.
 
Alpharetta High School is a part of Fulton At Alpharetta High School, we are “creating
County Schools and holds accreditation opportunities for excellence in academics,
with AdvancED. In 2019, AHS earned a athletics, arts, and altruism!”
95.5 A+ CCRPI Score, the 10th highest in
Georgia, and a Five-Star Climate Rating. 95.5 A+ CCRPI Score
#10 in Georgia

Five-Star Climate Rating

Creating opportunities for excellence...

School Awards and Distinctions

Best Public High School Teachers
in Georgia, Ranked #3

Best Public High Schools in
Georgia, Ranked #4

Best College Prep Public High
Schools in Georgia, Ranked #4

U.S. News & World Report
Best High Schools

#8 in metro Atlanta
#11 in Georgia

2019-20 Enrollment Shannon N. Kersey, Ph.D.

9th Grade 561 students Principal
10th Grade 573 students
11th Grade 597 students Dr. Kersey joined the Alpharetta High
12th Grade 587 students School administrative team in fall 2010
as the Curriculum Assistant Principal
before being named the fifth Principal of
Total Enrollment for 2019-20 Alpharetta High School in 2011.
2,318 students
Dr. Kersey is a three-time graduate of
Administrative Team Georgia State University, earning her
Bachelors’s, Master’s, and, most recently
Assistant Principals Advanced Studies in 2014, her Doctorate.
Errol Dice, M.Ed. Sharolyn Ketchup, M.Ed.
Clair Greenaway, Ed.S. Under Dr. Kersey’s visionary leadership,
Tina Johnson, Ed.S. Advanced Placement Alpharetta High School has seen a
Michael Scheifflee, Ed.S. consistent rise in achievement at the
RTI/SST Specialist Frank Fortunato, M.A. local, state, and national level as well as
Allison Kornegay, M.Ed. developing a true collaborative culture
Talented and Gifted amongst teachers. Her strategic vision
International Baccalaureate has enabled AHS to be at the forefront of
many emerging educational initiatives,
Athletic Director while at the same time seeing great gains
Testing Coordinator Dustin Rennspies, M.Ed. in teacher quality, student success, and
Whitney Decaminada, M.A. positive school culture.

...in academics, arts, athletics, and altruism. 3

Credits/Schedule Graduate Profile, Class of 2019
Attending four-year colleges 88%
Alpharetta follows a traditional semester Attending two-year/technical colleges 9%
schedule. Classes meet for fifty-seven Military/ Other 3%
minutes daily. School hours are 8:20 am – HOPE Scholarship eligibility 60%
3:30 pm.

Each student is assigned to six classes, $5.7 million scholarships offered
a lunch period and an advisement/
homeroom. Students must carry a full (not including HOPE/Zell Miller Scholarship)
schedule of classes, which can include dual
enrollment, online courses and internship
experiences.

The school year consists of two semesters “The most effective way to understand science is to see
with 0.5 unit of credit awarded, per course, science and to do science.”
at the end of each semester.
Mr. Martinez, Chemistry
Grading Scale
SAT Ranked 11th in Georgia
A = 90–100 C = 70-79 Reading/
B = 80-89 F = 69 or lower 2019 Writing Math Total
595 604 1199
Seven quality points are awarded to passing AHS 548 538 1086
grades for all honors, AP, and college courses. System 533 515 1048
Georgia 524 515 1039
National

2018 Reading/ Math Total
Writing 605 1212
AHS 607 540 1054
System 551 517 1054
Georgia 537 520 1049
National 529

ACT AP Exams

Ranked 9th in 2,387 exams completed in ‘19
543
Georgia
2019 24% 27% 25%
2019 COMPOSITE 2018 26% 28% 27%

“Students retain concepts when they are AHS 25.8 IB Exams 3A.H9S2 G4lo.1b4al
provided unique experiences to actively System 23.9 4.29 3.77
engage in learning, to move away from their Georgia 21.4 4.13 4.51
desks and interact in ways that leave lasting National 20.7 2019
connections.” Vis. Arts
Mr. Womack, English Lit/Perf

Creating opportunities for excellence...

Advanced Studies

Alpharetta High School offers thirty AP and twenty-two
Honors courses. Students may also apply to the Inter-
national Baccalaureate Diploma Programme or pursue
Course Candidacy through the eighteen different IB
courses offered during 11th and 12th grade.

Students have the opportunity to participate in the Dual “Encouraging English language learners to
Enrollment classes with local colleges or universities. think strategically about a text that is not in
College Calculus 2 and 3 are taught by Georgia Institute their native language supports excellence in
of Technology on the AHS campus through the Distance all content areas.”
Learning Program, and many virtual and/or online
course opportunities are available to students. Mrs. Nutter, ELL

IB Courses Environmental Systems and Rigor and Engagement
Societies SL
Language and Literature HL Sports, Health, Exercise Sci SL At AHS, we believe that rigor is achieved
Literature &Performance SL Physics SL or HL when teachers provide opportunities
French ab initio SL Mathematics: Analysis SL/HL that appropriately challenge all students
French SL or HL Mathematics: Applications SL to cultivate skills such as: higher-order
Spanish SL or HL Music SL or HL and critical thinking, problem solving,
History of the Americas HL Visual Arts SL or HL leadership, imagination, curiosity,
Global Politics SL/HL Theory of Knowledge citizenship, and the ability to tolerate
Business Management SL Latin ambiguity.
Macroeconomics
AP Courses Microeconomics We believe engagement is founded
Music Theory on positive student-teacher and peer
Art History Psychology relationships—which encourage
Biology Physics 1 appropriate levels of risk-taking—and
Calculus AB Physics 2 is developed via work that is relevant,
Calculus BC Physics C-Electricity differentiated, and achievable, and in which
Chemistry Physics C-Mechanics the student has a shared responsibility for
Chinese Spanish Language his or her success.
Computer Science A Studio Art: 2-D Design
Computer Science Principles Studio Art: 3-D Design Career Technology Options
English Language and Comp. Statistics
English Literature and Comp. US History Architectural Drawing and Design
Environmental Science World History Audio-Video Technology & Film
European History French 2 H Business and Computer Science
French Language French 3 H Culinary Arts
Gov. and Politics (US) French 4 H Engineering and Technology
Human Geography Spanish 2 H Finance - Advanced Accounting
Spanish 3 H Healthcare Science
Honors Classes Spanish 4 H Information Technology - Computer Science, Programming,
Latin 2 H and Web & Digital Design
9th Lit/Comp H Latin 3 H
World Lit/Comp H Chinese 2 H
11th Lit/Comp H Chinese 3 H
GSE Geometry H Chinese 4 H
GSE Algebra II H
GSE Acc Algebra I/Geometry A
GSE Acc Geometry B/Algebra II
GSE Pre-Calculus H
Biology H
Chemistry H
Human Anatomy H

...in academics, arts, athletics, and altruism. 5

AHS visual arts offers students the opportunity to explore, create, and Approximately 20% of AHS
problem solve via the art making process. Our outstanding Visual Arts students participate in Fine
faculty supports and actively engages our students. Every year our
students are recognized for their artistic achievements by Scholastics Arts programming.
Art and Writing Awards, both regionally and nationally, and routinely
are recognized by local competitions in the metro-Atlanta area.

Dedicated to instructing students in the musical arts, as well as inspiring them to become active members
in the community, the Alpharetta High School music programs—orchestra, band, and chorus—strive for
excellence in music education at the high school level. Musical arts consistently performs well at many
local and national exhibitions. The AHS Theatre program has put on annual performances that highlight
the skill and talent of the performing arts through exciting and engaging productions.

Teams representing all Georgia High School Association (GHSA) sanctioned sports are available at the var-
sity and sub-varsity levels, including football, baseball, basketball, volleyball, lacrosse, cheerleading, soccer,
track, softball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, tennis, wrestling, and swimming. In addition, Debate and
Literary Competitions are offered under the auspices of GHSA. Participants must meet academic eligibility
requirements. For information about individual sports, contact the head coach or visit the Alpharetta Ath-
letics website: alpharettaathletics.com. For other information, contact our Athletic Director.

By developing the character, integrity, self-confidence,
and pride of our student athletes, Alpharetta High School
athletics supports student athletes in maximizing not
only their athletic potential but their academic success

and community

In 2016-17, Raider athletics won 4 Region Championships and 3 State
Championships. Over 35 student athletes signed with Division 1-AA or
1-A colleges and were awarded 18 full scholarships.

Mascot and Colors
We are the Alpharetta Raiders and proudly display the school colors
of black and silver with the accent color of cardinal. Our mascot is the
“Rowdy Raider.”

Creating opportunities for excellence...

Altruism is a central tenant of what it means to be part of the
AHS “Raider Nation” community. From the seemingly small,
everyday service of assisting another student in the hallways
or cleaning up a lunch room table all the way to participation
in one of the service organizations or events contributes to the
more than 20,000 hours of service
AHS students log with GivingPoint
each year—our students have long
endeavored to leave their school and
community even better than the one
they first stepped into as freshmen.

R.I.C.H. Raiders
Alpharetta High School community
members are all encouraged to be
R.I.C.H. in character by demonstrating
Respect, Integrity, Citizenship, and Hard
Work in all areas of their lives—both at AHS and out in the
“ community.
Will my actions and choices…
...show RESPECT for others or for myself?
...compromise my INTEGRITY or the integrity of someone else?
...promote responsible action through CITIZeNSHIP?
...demonstrate consistent effort through HARD WORK? ”

It is the mission of the Alpharetta High School Guidance
Department to provide a comprehensive and developmental
counseling program that addresses the academic, career,
personal and social development of all students. Counselors
work with the school staff to provide the best educational
experience for students and develop the skills necessary to
become a respectful, healthy, productive, and responsible
citizen in an ever-changing global society.

Counselors are assigned to students based on the first letter(s) of the student's last name.

A – COH Dee Webb R – SE Flandecia Richards-Boyles Donna Byrd Registrar
COI – HAR Jay Wiley Department Chair Sandra Papp Bi-lingual Liaison
HAS – L Amy Longstreth SF – Z Karen Bolt Janet Viafora Records
M – Q Jay Mercer

...in academics, arts, athletics, and altruism. 7

“AHS provides various types of classes and differing levels of rigor, which allow
students to explore their own interests and to grow to their potential. I have been
able to specialize my schedule to fit my career interests and challenge myself
enough to grow without being overwhelmed. With classes that have helped me
grow in the specific career field I intend to pursue, such as AP Biology, I have been
able to secure opportunities outside of school at hospitals and doctor’s offices
to pursue my passions even more.”

Kylee rahm
Valedictorian, Class of 2019

Alpharetta High School

3595 Webb Bridge Road
Alpharetta, GA 30005
470-254-7640
http://school.fultonschools.org/hs/alpharetta/Pages/default.aspx

It is the policy of the Fulton County School System not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national
origin, age, or disability in any employment practice, educational program, or any other program, activity or service.
The IB and Diploma Programme logos are registered trademarks of the International Baccalaureate Organization.
AdvancedED is a registered trademark of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Cover photo courtesy of Eric Traugott.