Elkins High School Course Selection Its a great

Elkins High School Course Selection It’s a great day to be a Knight!

Why is 9 th grade important for my future? Grades determine your GPA and Class Rank used for postsecondary opportunities!! ***Every year and credit counts!

Graduation Requirements Foundation + Endorsements 26 credits Distinguished Level of Achievement 26 credits, must include: 1 endorsement, algebra 2, and a 4 th science credit. Must be DLA to be “Top 10%” for automatic admission to a Texas public university. **Four Year Universities require the 4 x 4 Foundations only 22 credits No Endorsement Scoring Satisfactory on the 5 EOC Tests: Algebra 1, Biology, English 1, English 2, and US History

Required Core Courses: � English – 4 � Math – 4 � Social Studies – 3** ◦ Universities still like to see 4 � Science – 4 � Health/Speech -. 5 each � Fine Art – 1 � PE or substitutions – 1 � Foreign Language – 2 of the same � Electives – 5 � Endorsements fall under electives

What is a Credit? Credits are what move students to the next grade towards graduation. � � A full year course will earn you 1 credit (1 credit awarded at the end of the year) Ex. English 1, World Geography A semester course will earn you a ½ credit (½ credit awarded at the end of the semester) Ex. Health, Professional Communications ** High School courses earned in middle school will be be included on transcript

What is an Endorsement? � An Endorsement is the personal part of a student’s high school experience. They are what’s known as “majors” in college – the subjects that students are most interested in that pertain to career and technical interests. These classes lend a specialized knowledge and skills to prepare students for higher education and careers!

Endorsements Business and Industry Public Service Arts and Humanities Multidisciplinary STEM Many endorsements starting in 2020 -2021 will have options to complete their pathway at the James E. Reese Center. We will also have pathways that 9 th grade students can apply to for their 10 th grade year! ALL ENDORSEMENTS COURSES HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CERTIFICATIONS!

Online Course Selection � Online Course Selection is January 21 st - Feb. 21 st � Your current middle school counselor will train and assist students with inputting course selections online and completing their 4 year plans. * High School Pre-Ap/AP courses are much more rigorous than middle school, keep this in mind as you work through your course selection. � Parents must log into Skyward Family Access to sign their student’s endorsements selection.

� Review your course choices and enter them in Skyward. Be sure that you have 7 credits. Do not forget that if you choose a semester course you will need another one to pair with it. � List alternate elective choices from 1 -6 in order of preference. *If you have no alternates listed this could cause us to select a course for you. * � Turn in course selection sheet with your chosen endorsement. Be sure to have parent signature! � Contact your 8 th grade counselor if you have any questions – they are very knowledgeable!

GET INVOLVED-Do not wait until your senior year to join activities! Apply for our special programs such as AVID, PALS (11 th and 12 th grade), and the Tech Center (11 th and 12 th grade) !! *Volunteer YES Service Organization at school *Join a club/team at school *Part time jobs

REMINDER � Middle school counselors will field any questions 8 th graders have about online input. High school counselors will not have access to 8 th grade student selections until later in the year. � If students want to make a change after inputting their courses online, they must: 1. print their schedule, 2. make the correction, 3. obtain a parent signature and 4. return it to their middle school counselor. Please note that students have an opportunity to change course choices in March – course verification.

� Quick � � � � Tips for Parents Please be mindful when selecting multiple Pre-AP courses, band, athletics, etc. of how much time is required for each. We want our students to have healthy balance! Pre-AP courses at the high school level are much more rigorous and require more time for homework/assignments than an honors course at the middle school level. Check course verification to change courses prior to school starting. Boys basketball – please select PE rather than the class. When selecting band also add PBM 01 the PE portion. Principles of Health Science full year, will waive health requirement. Debate full year will waive speech requirement.

Questions � Thank us!! you for taking your time to come meet