WELCOME HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2020 THE DIFFERENCES

WELCOME HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2020!!!!!

THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL Middle Grades do not count as credits High Grades become credits that are required for graduation You go to the same You will follow a class every day modified block schedule

HOW DO I EARN A CREDIT? ? ? A student earns a credit when he or she successfully completes a course by earning a minimum grade of a 70 and being in attendance 90% of the time. Students earn a half credit for each successfully completed semester class. Students must earn a particular number of credits to be promoted from one grade to the next and to graduate.

Modified Block A DAY B DAY 1 st Block (55 minutes) 2 A (90 minutes) 2 B (90 minutes) 3 A (90 minutes)/LUNCH 3 B (90 minutes)/LUNCH 4 A (90 minutes) 4 B (90 minutes) 5 th Block (55 minutes) School Ends: 4: 10 pm MODIFIED BLOCK SCHEDULING School Begins: 8: 50 am

Freshman Year • English 1 • Algebra 1 • Biology Sophomore • English 2 Year Junior Year • US History EOC GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS All students must earn a Level 2 on the following STAAR/EOC EXAMS:

All students graduating with an Endorsement are required to take an additional math and science credit. ENDORSEMENTS Every student will select an Endorsement (major) under which he or she will graduate

Helps the student build skills toward college and/or career choices Allows the student to earn licensures and certifications while in high school Why Choose an Endorsement/Major? Allows the student to apply core curriculum in a practical way

Advanced Technology Complex (ATC)

Must be earned to be admitted to a Texas public university under the Top 10 percent automatic admission law Why graduate on the Distinguished Level of Achievement? Better preparation for college-level coursework Ensures you are a more competitive applicant at the most selective colleges and universities

q. Dual Credit q. Bilingualism and Biliteracy q. AP/IB Exams q. National Merit Scholarship Finalist q. Particular score on PSAT, or ACT q. Business/Industry Certification Performance Acknowledgement How do I earn a Performance Acknowledgement?

Take rigorous courses your freshman year and throughout high school. Performance Acknowledgement What can I do now to work toward earning a performance acknowledgement?

PRE AP & ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) PROGRAM • Pre AP classes are available to all freshmen • Pre AP courses go into more depth and breadth than other courses • Frequently, Pre AP courses have summer reading and/or writing assignments • Pre AP courses help prepare students for AP courses and college level work

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM Middle Years Programme (MYP) 9 t h & 10 t h Grade Diploma Programme (DP) 11 t h & 12 t h Grade ALL 9 thgraders will take MYP Design (HS 101/Professional Comm. ) Students receive a rigorous, college prep program valued throughout the world Multiple assessments are used to achieve scores reported to colleges TX HB 111 provides a minimum of 24 college credit hours at TX public universities for diploma earners DP is a choice program for 11 t h and 12 t h graders but is required for all IB transfer students Begin your 4 years of a World Language Individual learning through Problem-Based Units and Personal Project Gain technology and practical skills that will produce success in the DP All 9 t h & 10 t h graders are MYP students

q Only the courses being input for 9 th grade on the PGP will be for course selection. q Students may not take a course in high school that they have already taken in middle school for HS credit. (Example – Algebra and/or Spanish) Course Selection q Counselors will work with students to make sure they are selecting the correct courses for 9 th grade.

Arts & Humanities Students will write in their endorsement and Sub Endorsement. These can be changed! Theater

Students will complete all of the demographic information

With the assistance of the counselors, students will select the courses they will be taking as 9 th graders.

With the assistance of the counselors, students will develop the remainder of their Personal Graduation Plans. This will be revisited each year of high school!

The student and parent should sign the PGP acknowledging the endorsement choice and schedule change policy

Signed PGP Due Date Calhoun Middle School DATE

April 28 will be the last date to make any changes to 9 th grade selected courses. VERIFICATION LETTER A VERIFICATION LETTER WILL BE MAILED HOME IN EARLY APRIL FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS TO REVIEW.

GOT QUESTIONS? ? ? PLEASE REACH OUT TO THE COUNSELOR

Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now. -Alan Lakein STILL HAVE QUESTIONS? ? ? View this power point on the Denton ISD Counseling Website or the high school websites.