9th and 10th Grade
Parent Night
Information and Planning
High School Years
NHS Counselors
•
•
•
•
•
•
A-Coo – Sheneka Davis
Cop-G – Mike Hays
H-L – Trista Lepore
M-Rec – Amber Ward
Red-Ti – Keith Tremethick
To-Z – Betty Collins, Lead Counselor
Grade Classification
• Promotion to 10th Grade = 6 credits
• Promotion to 11th Grade = 13 credits
• Promotion to 12th Grade = 19 credits
GPA & Class Rank
• Grade Point Average (GPA) starts the semester a
student enrolls in a course eligible for HS credit
through the final semester of 12th grade
• Class rank measures performance compared to
all students in the class. It begins the first
semester of 9th grade and continues until
graduation
• Reported GPA is unweighted
• Class Rank is weighted
– The level of coursework (i.e. Pre/AP and AP courses) is factored in
the weighted class ranking
GPA & Class Rank, cont.
• Un-weighted GPA – all courses are weighted on a
4.0 scale
• Weighted GPA – courses are assigned grade
points according to rigor; weighted on a 6.0 scale
(PreAP) or a 7.0 scale (AP). Weighted GPA
determines class rank.
• GPA exempt courses – correspondence, credit by
exams, and summer school for remediation
• Weighted elective courses
–
Only weighted electives in the four core subject areas
and world languages will count toward GPA and class
rank.
Attendance Requirements
• Students must attend class at least 90% of the
time in order to receive credit earned for a
course
• There will be opportunities to make up
attendance should students fall below 90%
• Assistant principals will be able to assist with
an attendance redemption plan.
Graduation Program
Foundation Plan + Endorsement
26 credits
•
•
•
•
•
4 English
4 Math
4 Science
3 Social Studies
2 World Languages (same language)
– Spanish, French, or German
• 1 Physical Education
• 1 Fine Art
– Art, Choir, Dance, Theatre Arts, and more
• ½ Credit of Communication Applications (Speech)
• 6 ½ Elective Credits
NISD Endorsements
•
•
•
•
•
Arts and Humanities
Business and Industry
Public Services
STEM
Multidisciplinary Studies
STAAR Requirements
English 1
English 2
Algebra 1
Biology
US History
STAAR Testing Calendar 2015-2016
• Dec. 7-11
Make up Testing
• March 29
English I
• March 31
English II
• May 2-6
Algebra 1, Biology, US History
• July 11-15
Make up Testing
College Admissions Criteria
• Criteria important in the college admissions process
rated by college admissions officers:
–
–
–
–
–
GPA
Class Rank
Strength of Course (PreAP, AP, and dual credit courses)
ACT/SAT Scores
Essay or writing sample
• Other potential factors for college admissions
–
–
–
–
Recommendations
Special talents/awards
Extracurricular/community service activities
Interviews
Top 10% Rule for Admissions
• Graduate in the top 10% of class at a public or private Texas high
school, or
• Graduate in the top 10% of class from a HS operated by the US Dept
of Defense and be a Texas resident or eligible to pay resident tuition
• Enroll in college no more than two years after graduation; and
• Submit an application to the Texas public university for admission
before the institution’s application deadline (check w/university
regarding specific deadlines)
 Under legislation approved May 2009 by the Texas House as part of the 81st
Regular Session (Senate Bill 175), UT Austin (no other state university) was
allowed to trim the number of students it accepts under the 10% rule; UT
Austin could limit those students to 75% of entering in-state freshmen from
Texas. The university would admit the top 1%, 2%, and so forth until the cap is
reached, beginning with the 2011 entering class.
Strength of Course
• Pre-Ap and AP Program Benefits
1. Students who follow a Pre-AP/AP program in
school tend to perform better in college
2. More challenging courses
3. Potential to earn college credit by taking an
AP exam at the end of the course
4. Colleges and scholarship committees desire
students who complete Pre-AP/AP courses
Dual Credit:
http://www.nisdtx.org/Page
/53742
List of Dual Credit Courses(2015-2016):
English Composition and Literature
(Communication)
English 1301 (Comp I)
English 1302 (Comp II)
English 2322 (World Lit I)
English 2323 (World Lit II)
Creative Arts
Arts 1301 (Art Appreciation)
Mathematics
Math 1314 (College Alg.)
Math 1316 (Trigonometry)
Math 1342 (Elm. Statistics)
Math 1342 (Elm. Statistics OnRAMPS)
Math 2412 (PreCalculus)
Math 2412 (PreCalculus OnRAMPS)
Math 2413 (Calculus I)
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Economics 2301 (Macroeconomics)
Psychology 2301 (General Psychology)
Sociology 1301 (Intro to Sociology)
Life Sciences
Biology 2401 ( Human Anatomy and
Physiology I)
Biology 2402 (Human Anatomy and
Physiology II)
Government
Government 2305 (Federal
Government)
Component Area Option
Speech 1315 (Public Speaking)
Speech 1321 (Business and
Professional Communication)
Education 1300 (Learning Frameworks)
Paying for College
Keeping College Costs Down
• Enroll in challenging courses in high school to
avoid taking developmental or remedial
courses in college
• Take AP courses and exams
• Take dual credit courses to earn college and
high school credit
PSAT/SAT/ACT
• Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT)
- A standard test measuring critical reading, math, problem
solving and writing skills important for success in college
- Available for 9th, 10th, and 11th grades
- Provides firsthand practice for the SAT Reasoning Test
- National Merit Scholarship programs, based on 11th grade
scores
• Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) & American College
Test (ACT)
- The majority of colleges, univerisities, and scholarship
commmittees take the scores of these assessments into
consideration
- Begin taking one or both during 11th grade, spring semester
Credit Recovery Options
• Summer School
• Academic Coaching Program (ACP)
• Credit by Exam
- Not available for students who failed due to absences
• Correspondence Courses through Texas Tech or
UT
• On-line Courses through TXVSN
• Averaging of semester grades
-If 1st and 2nd semester grades average 70 or higher, a
failing 1st or 2nd semester credit may be recovered
Credits for Acceleration
• Summer School
• Credit by Exam
• Correspondence Courses through Texas Tech or
UT
• On-line Courses through TXVSN
Community Service and
Extracurricular Activities
Community service and extracurricular activities play an
important role with colleges and scholarship committees.
•
•
•
•
•
Become involved in school and community activities now – don’t wait until
your senior year
Seek activities and opportunities relative to your future career plans
Visit the Northwest High School Counseling website for volunteer and
community service activities
Start an activities record including all school and community activities,
leadership positions, honors, awards, uniques educational experiences,
employment, and volunteer work.
THE BIG EVENT! April 30, 2016
– Be sure to update this record at least once a year.
NHS Extracurricular Activities and
Clubs & Organizations
Graduation Cords
Naviance is an American “college and career
readiness software provider” that partners with
high schools and other K-12 institutions to
provide students with college planning and
career assessment tools.
Sends student to ACT and SAT Prep
“My Planner” tab
“Colleges” tab
“Careers” tab
“About Me” tab
Students can
only take the
Strengths
Explorer one
time.
Strength Explorer
Tips for Parents
•
•
•
•
Discuss classes and set goals
Be available to help with homework
Monitor your child’s activities and jobs
Work with your school
- Contact the teacher if you do not receive a progress report for a
specific class or the school if you do not receive a report card
- Teacher contact information can be found on the NHS website or by
calling
817.215.0200
- For questions or concerns regarding a specific class, please contact
the teacher directly
Q&A
THANK YOU!!