About Ridgeland High School
Established 2002
Mission:
The mission of Ridgeland High School is to serve our community by
challenging each student to realize his or her potential through access to a quality
education in a safe environment that requires accountability from all students and employees.
Vision:
We are committed to becoming one of the ten best schools in the nation by
being student-centered and by creating an environment that inspires our employees
and students to perform to their potential.
Community:
Ridgeland High School was opened in August 2002 by Madison County School District, the second fastest growing public school district in the State of Mississippi. The school is located and serves students from within the city limits of Ridgeland, a suburb that is north of metropolitan Jackson. The area’s convenient location, strong public school system, and easy access to Jackson have made Ridgeland one of the more rapidly developing areas within the metropolitan area.
Accreditation:
Ridgeland High School is accredited by the Mississippi State Department of Education.
School Control:
Ridgeland High School is a part of Madison County School District and adheres to the policies established by the school district and the Mississippi Department of Education.
Description of School:
Ridgeland High School is a public, four-year, comprehensive high school with a strong college-preparatory program. There are approximately 850 students enrolled in grades 9-12 for the 2007-2008 school year as follows: 9th grade – 235 students; 10th grade – 250 students; 11th grade – 200 students; and 12th grade – 175 students.
Grading System:
All Ridgeland High School grades are recorded as numerical grades. The letter grade equivalents are as follows: A = 94-100; B = 85-93; C = 75-84; D = 70-74; F = Below 70. The transcript of a high school student’s work will show both semester and final grades. Transfer students’ transcripts are recorded exactly as received from their previous school.
Time Frame:
Ridgeland High School operates on an 8 period, alternating day, block-scheduling format. There are 4 block periods per day, which are 90 minutes in length. The school year is divided into two semesters with each semester containing two nine-week terms.
Units Required for Graduation:
Each student graduating from Ridgeland in 2007 must have earned a passing grade on the state-mandated Algebra I, Biology I, English II, and United States History Subject Area Tests. Additionally they must have earned a minimum of 24 Carnegie units distributed as follows: Four (4) units in English; Three (3) units in Math to specifically include Algebra I and Geometry; Three (3) units in Science, one of which must be Biology I; Four (4) units in Social Studies to specifically include United States History, World History, Mississippi Studies, United States Government, Economics, and World Geography; One (1) unit of Fine Arts; One (1) unit of Keyboarding/Computer Application; One-half (1/2) unit of Health, and Seven and one-half (7 1/2) units of elective courses.
Accelerated Classes:
Ridgeland offers both Accelerated and College Board Advanced Placement Courses. These courses, designated as “Acc” and “AP” are written in front of the respective subject on the student’s transcript. The College Board’s Advanced Placement Courses offered during the school’s fifth year of operation include AP Biology, AP Calculus, AP English Language & Composition, AP English Literature & Composition, AP Physics, AP United States Government & Politics, and AP United States History. The end-of-year Advanced Placement Exams are optional, but are offered in all courses.
Grade Averaging and Ranking:
Class rank and grade point averages are updated on a semester basis and include all graded courses from 9th through 12th grades. The actual numerical grades earned by the student are recorded on the transcript. Weighted grades are used only for the purpose of determining rank in class and honor graduates, as specified by school district policy. Weighted averages are determined by adding numerical semester grades using the following scales:
-
1.10 x Grade - College Board Advanced Placement Courses
-
1.05 x Grade - Advanced Courses (as specified below)
-
Actual Grade - All remaining courses
The College Board’s Advanced Placement Courses weighted at 1.10 are as follows: AP Biology, AP Calculus, AP English Language & Composition, AP English Literature & Composition, AP Physics, AP U.S. Government & Politics, and AP United States History.
Advanced Courses to be weighted at 1.05 are as follows: English - Accelerated English I, II , III, IV; Science - Genetics, Chemistry II, Physics; Mathematics – Advanced Algebra, Trigonometry, PreCalculus, and Probability & Statistics; Foreign Language – French III, Latin III, Spanish III; and Computer Science – Advanced Programming,
Advanced Placement Testing:
Twenty (20) Ridgeland High School students took the AP Exams in the subjects of Biology, Calculus AB, English Language & Composition, English Literature & Composition, and United States History. A total of thirty (30) test grades were reported with eighty (80%) of these students earning a score of 3 or higher composite.
Post Graduation Statistics:
The Ridgeland High School Class of 2007 graduated 163 students of which fifty percent (50%) are enrolled in four-year colleges; forty three percent (43%) are attending two-year colleges; and the remaining seven (7%) are in the military or in full-time employment. Eighty eight percent (88%)of the college-bound graduates are attending in-state colleges while and seven percent (12%) are attending college out-of state.
Colleges Attended:
The four- year colleges/universities our 2007 graduates are attending this Fall: Alcorn State, Barry University, Belhaven College, Delta State University, Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Grambling University, Harding University, Jackson State University, Louisiana State University, Miami International University, Millsaps College, Mississippi College, Mississippi State University, Mississippi University for Women, Mississippi Valley State University, Texas A& M University, San Antonio College, Tougaloo College, and the Universities of Alabama, Florida, Memphis, Mississippi, North Carolina, Southern Mississippi and Texas.
Scholarships:
Forty three percent (43%) of the 2007 graduating class at Ridgeland High School received merit-based, college scholarships.
Standardized Test Results:
Ridgeland High School has only five years of standardized test history.
Year |
ACT Mean |
PSAT/NMSQT Mean |
*SAT I Mean |
|
Composite |
Verbal |
Math |
Writing |
Verbal |
Math |
Writing |
2002-2003 |
18.5 |
44.0 |
44.4 |
47.1 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
2003-2004 |
20.2 |
49.2 |
47.4 |
52.5 |
646 |
624 |
|
2004-2005 |
19.9 |
47.4 |
47.2 |
54.7 |
607 |
620 |
n/a |
2005-2006 |
19.5 |
44.1 |
42.6 |
46.9 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
2006-2007 |
20.6 |
49.4 |
47.0 |
49.7 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
* The SAT I Test has been traditionally taken by less than 10% of the students in our graduating classes . The ACT Assessment is the predominant test for the colleges most attended by our students.
National Merit:
Ridgeland High School has had a total of 13 National Merit Semifinalists; 11 National Merit Finalists since opening its doors in August, 2002.
