Academic Planning
Academic plans are consistent with the Davidson Academy Online philosophy of treating students as individuals who are invested in their own learning. Since students are grouped by ability rather than age in core courses, they may progress through the core curriculum in different ways.
Ability Grouping in Action
8th Grader A
Critical Reading and Writing MS
Early Civilizations MS
Physical Science MS
Algebra II/Pre-Calculus
Music Theory I
8th Grader B
Composition and Analysis MS
Patterns in Modern History MS
Environmental Science MS
Geometry
Spanish Fundamentals I/II
8th Grader C
Rhetoric and Literary Analysis
History of the United States
Biology
Algebra II
Chinese II
Academic Planning Process
Academic planning takes place during the spring semester for returning students. At this time, academic advisors are available in both small group and individual settings to guide students through the core and elective course selection process based on students' interests, levels of ability, achievement, and motivation. This is also a time for students to review their progress towards graduation and build multi-year course plans.
For new students, academic planning takes place in the summer. During this time, new students complete placement testing, meet with Davidson Academy Online staff for orientations on course progressions and graduation requirements, and select elective courses with guidance from academic advisors.
Academic Planning in Advisory
The Oracle Advisory Program allows for small groups of similarly-aged students to discuss general academic planning with a Davidson Academy Online staff member. In group advising students have the opportunity to review the core course sequence, ask questions about pre- and co-requisite course requirements, and sign up for courses.
Academic Planning with an Advisor
Students may also choose to meet one-on-one with a Davidson Academy Online academic advisor to discuss earned credits and graduation progress, potential course trajectories, and individual considerations such as UC A-G requirements or transfer courses. Students who are in ninth grade or older also have access to College Advising.
Academic Planning FAQs
How are initial course placements determined?
It is the job of the curriculum and assessment teams to place new students in courses. Initial English and history course placements are based on students' performance on the writing portion of the academic readiness assessment. Placements in math and science are made based on a combination of performance on the math and science portions of the academic readiness assessment and placement testing done in June. Students who wish to take either Chinese or Spanish also have the opportunity to complete placement testing in June to determine their course level.
Can students transfer in credits from other schools?
High school or university courses taken from accredited institutions where a grade was received and credit was awarded may be transferred. However, those credits may or may not count towards a student's core graduation requirements in English, history, math, and science. How a transfer credit is counted in graduation progress depends on what courses students place into. Credit appraisals are completed for accepted students after the first four weeks of school when course placements are set.
Can students take courses for credit at other schools?
Once students are enrolled at Davidson Academy Online, they must complete their core graduation requirements in English, history, math, and science. Students may choose to take elective courses with approved outside providers. Outside courses must be approved ahead of time for Davidson credit to be awarded.
What is the difference between academic planning and college advising?
Academic planning is available to all students and centers on creating students' course schedules and fulfilling graduation requirements. College advising is available to students in the ninth grade or older and focuses on finding and applying to colleges that fit students' academic, social, and financial needs.