Tenth Grade Fall
Workshop
J.M. Tate Cafeteria
Tuesday, September 30
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Agenda
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Counselor Information
High School Planning
Graduation Requirements
Resources and Support
Tenth Grade Testing
Postsecondary Planning
Bright Futures Scholarships
Counselor’s Role
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High school counselors help students and
parents with:
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Academic development
Personal/social development
Career development
Counselors are responsible for students by
class for all four years of high school.
Communication
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Email: kporter@escambia.k12.fl.us
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Telephone: (850)937-2300 ext. 232
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Appointment requests
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Guidance web page
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Remind.com
 Register to receive email and/or text
communications
High School Planning
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Continue to develop and follow four year plan.
Maintain focus.
Take rigorous courses when possible.
Keep options open.
Do not hesitate to ask for help from parents,
teachers, and counselor.
Standard Diploma
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Credits
 English
4
 Math (includes Algebra and Geometry)
4
 Social Studies
3
 Science
3
 Physical Education
1½
 Fine/Performing Arts or approved Practical Arts
1
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 Required academic credits
16½
 Elective credits
7½
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 Total credits
24
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Unweighted cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0.
Passing score on Grade 10 ELA or concordant ACT/SAT score.
Passing score on Algebra EOC or comparative score on the P.E.R.T.
Receive credit for 1 online course (Driver Education and Read 180
classes now meet the online course requirement).
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18 Credit Diploma Option
Meet the standard diploma requirements with the
following exceptions:
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3 elective credits instead of 8 are required.
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Physical Education courses are not required.
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Online course is not required.
Merit Diploma Designation
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Meet the standard diploma requirements.
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Earn at least 1 approved industry certification.
Scholar Diploma Designation
In addition to meeting the standard diploma requirements, the
following requirements must be met:
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Earn 1 credit in Algebra 2 and 1 credit in a Level 3 mathematics
course.
Earn 1 credit in physics or chemistry and 1 credit in a Level 3
science course.
Pass the Biology and U.S. History EOC tests.
Earn 2 consecutive credits in a world language (Ex: Spanish 1 and
Spanish 2).
Earn at least 1 credit in AP, IB, or DE courses or earn an approved
industry certification.
Students enrolled in AP Biology and AP U.S. History are exempted
from the Biology and U.S. History EOC tests if the minimum AP
exam scores required to earn college credit are achieved.
Grade Point Averages
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Grades for courses with End of Course exams are
averaged for the year (2 semesters 70% + EOC 30%).
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All other grades are earned by semester (2 quarters 80%
+ semester exam 20%).
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Grade point averages are cumulative.
 All grades received for high school credits included.
Grade Point Averages Con’t.
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Graduation: unweighted GPA based on all classes
(honors points not included) = State
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Class Rank: weighted GPA based on all classes
(honors points included) = District
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State University System: 16 core academic courses
and 2 approved electives.
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NCAA: GPA based on core academic classes.
Escambia Virtual Academy
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Students may register now to take online classes that will
be activated in January.
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Once students are assigned to courses, they may begin
working.
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Students may request more than one online course a
semester, but only one class will be active at a time.
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Once students have requested a course, they need to
contact Ms. Porter for guidance approval.
Community School
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Students who have earned a “D” or “F” in a course may
be able to retake the course in community school.
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The next session of community school starts Tuesday,
October 14 and ends Thursday, December 11.
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Community school classes meet two afternoons each
week from 3:15 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.
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Students interested in attending community school need
to contact Ms. Porter by Friday, October 10.
How Parents Can Help
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Know your student’s schedule and understand course
requirements.
Make school attendance a priority.
Help your student develop effective study habits.
Check FOCUS often to monitor your student’s grades and
attendance.
Contact teachers by email or telephone.
Schedule a parent/teacher conference and/or tutoring
when needed.
Parent/Teacher Conferences
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Conferences are scheduled for 7:45 a.m. in the
Guidance Department.
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Conferences are usually not scheduled on Wednesdays
due to faculty and departmental meetings.
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To schedule a conference, please contact Mrs. Reeder
in the Guidance Department.
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(850)937-2300 ext. 229
breeder@escambia.k12.fl.us
Absences
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The ECSD Absence Verification Form must be
completed and turned in to the Attendance Office
within 3 days from the date of an absence in order for
the absence to be excused.
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This form is available on the ECSD web page and in the
Attendance Office.
When a student has been absent 3 days, make up work
may be obtained by contacting Mrs. Reeder in the
Guidance Department.
Suspended students may request assignments beginning
the first day of the suspension.
Tenth Grade Testing
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PSAT (pre-SAT – optional)
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PLAN (pre-ACT – all students)
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P.E.R.T. (dual enrollment eligibility – optional)
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EOCs (Algebra, Geometry, Biology – selected
students)
ELA (replaces FCAT Reading – all students)
PSAT
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The PSAT will be given at Tate on October 15. The
cost of the test is $14.00 (cash or check). Students need
to register for the PSAT in the Guidance Department by
October 8. Space is limited.
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Students take the PSAT in the 10th grade as part of their
preparation for taking the test in the 11th grade. The
PSAT in the 11th grade is used to determine eligibility
for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
The PSAT provides a measure of students’ college
readiness and the opportunity to practice for the SAT.
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PLAN
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The PLAN will be administered to all 10th grade
students in late October. There is no cost for the test.
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Students will complete the PLAN Interest Inventory the
week of October 20.This part of the test helps students
identify their career interests.
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The academic part of the PLAN will be given the
following week.
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The PLAN provides a measure of students’ current
college readiness as well as practice for the ACT.
P.E.R.T.
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The Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (P.E.R.T.)
will be administered to qualified 10th graders in
February. There is no cost for the test.
The P.E.R.T. is used to assess students’ mathematics,
reading, and writing abilities to determine if students
are prepared to take college level courses.
A study guide for the P.E.R.T. is available on the
Florida Department of Education website.
Dual Enrollment
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Dual enrollment courses are college classes that are taken
either on the high school or college campus. Students receive
both high school and college credit.
Eligibility for dual enrollment courses:
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Junior status
Unweighted 3.0 grade point average (no honors points)
Reading, English, and Math P.E.R.T., ACT, or SAT scores
Postsecondary Planning
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Identify interests and goals
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Research colleges and careers
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Understand admission requirements
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Learn about scholarship requirements
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Be involved in extracurricular activities
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Complete community service
State University System
Updates and Reminders
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Industry certifications that meet math and science high school
graduation requirements are NOT accepted as math or science
credits required for university admission.
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Liberal Arts Mathematics 1 and 2 are now accepted as core
math courses for university admission and Bright Futures
Scholarships.
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Remember that university admission is competitive.
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Students should take the most rigorous coursework in which
they can be successful.
Bright Futures Scholarships
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Create student account at www.FLVC.org.
Check progress toward eligibility.
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Grades, test scores, and community service update after
each semester.
Monitor grades in core subjects and career
education classes.
Take the PLAN and PSAT in 10th grade.
Take ACT/SAT in 11th and 12th grade.
Complete community service.
Florida Academic Scholars
Award
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Specified amount per credit hour for college tuition
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Renewable for up to 120 semester hours
Eligibility Requirements
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3.5 weighted GPA (16 college prep courses)
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100 hours community service
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1290 SAT or 29 ACT (composite) – no writing included
Florida Medallion Scholars
Award
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Specified amount per credit hour for tuition
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Renewable for up to 120 semester hours
Eligibility Requirements
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3.0 weighted GPA (16 college prep courses)
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75 hours community service
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1170 SAT or 26 ACT (composite) – no writing included
Courses Required for Academic
and Medallion Levels
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English (3 must include substantial writing)
Mathematics (at or above the Algebra I level)
Natural Sciences (2 must have substantial laboratory)
Social Sciences
World Language (sequential in same language)
4
4
3
3
2
Required coursework aligns with the State University
System admission requirements.
Refer to the Course Table for information on which courses
meet the SUS admission requirements.
Gold Seal Vocational Scholars
Award
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Specified amount per credit hour for tuition
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Renewable for up to 72 semester hours
Eligibility Requirements
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3.0 weighted GPA (16 core credits required for high school graduation)
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3.5 unweighted GPA in 3 career program classes (same career program)
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30 hours community service
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Minimum subsection scores on one of these tests:
SAT Verbal 440 Math 440
ACT English 17 Reading 19 Math 19
PERT Reading 106 Writing 103 Math 114
Resources
CollegeBoard PSAT/NMSQT – PSAT information
ACT PLAN – PLAN information, career research and planning
Florida Virtual Campus – career and college research
Florida CHOICES – interest inventories, career and college research
Economic Security Report – employment opportunities and earnings for FL
postsecondary graduates
State University System Matrix – FL university admission requirements
Bright Futures Scholarship Program
FastWeb.com – scholarship search engine
Escambia County School District EOC Reviews
Study Guides and Strategies