DECISIONS FOR
HIGH SCHOOL
AND
BEYOND:
We Offer Choice
2011 - 2012
HIGH SCHOOL
REQUIREMENTS FOR
TH
INCOMING 9 GRADERS
A student must earn at least 26 credits to
complete the graduation requirements.
4x4 Core Subject Requirements
ENGLISH
MATH
SCIENCE
SOCIAL STUDIES
4 CREDITS
4 CREDITS
4 CREDITS
4 CREDITS
Other Requirements
Physical Ed
Technology Application
Principles of Information Technology
High School to College Transition
1 CREDIT
1 CREDIT
1 CREDIT
1 CREDIT
Other Requirements
Speech
Fine Arts
Languages other than English
-For Distinguished Achievement Program (DAP)
.5 CREDIT
1 CREDIT
2 CREDITS
3 CREDITS
STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness)
Electives
DAP
1.5 CREDITS
Recommended
2.5 CREDITS
Career Technical Education (CTE)
CTE programs enable students to gain entry-level
employment in a high-skill, high-wage job and/or to
continue their education.
Career Technical Education unit provides:
 Fifteen career cluster of instruction and training
 95 course options
 Dual enrollment opportunities with post-secondary institutions
 Job shadowing opportunities
 Industry certification/licensing opportunities
 PREP – Employability Skill Training Course/Interest and Aptitude Assessment
Other High School Recognitions
 Distinguished Achievement Program
(DAP)
 Texas Scholars
 Texas Tech Prep Scholars
ADVANCED
PLACEMENT
PROGRAM
(AP)
What is Pre-AP?
 Pre-AP courses help
students learn skills to be
prepared for the college
level AP courses.
 Pre-AP courses begin at 9th
& 10th grades.
What is AP?
 AP courses are college level
courses taken in high school.
 AP courses help students
acquire skills and habits
needed to be successful in
college.
 AP courses are rigorous and
challenging.
How to Receive
College Credit
 Students enrolled in AP courses
must take the AP Exams (maintained
by College Board) in May.
 Students who earn a score of 3, 4, or
5 may receive college credit.
 Students enrolled in AP courses have
exam fees currently paid through a
combination of state fee waivers and
district funds.
Recognition
for Students
 As students pass AP exams,
they may be recognized as an:
AP Scholar,
AP Scholar of Honor,
AP Scholar of Distinction,
AP State Scholar, or
National AP Scholar.
 AP graduates have received
admittance into Honors &
specialized programs as
freshmen in college.
Parent Meeting
available for Student to
register in
Pre-AP and AP classes.
More information about AP can be
found at the following websites:
http://www.collegeboard.com
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com
DUAL &
CONCURRENT
ENROLLMENT
Students can earn college credit while in high school.
DEFINITIONS:
DUAL ENROLLMENT
A dual enrollment course is any taken in high school for the
purposes of gaining high school and college credit simultaneously.
(Can be taken at high school campus).
CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT
A concurrent enrollment course is any taken at a college/university
for the purposes of gaining college/university credit.
South Texas College (STC) Requirements
for Dual classes taught at High School
Campuses
 Complete Apply Texas application
 For technology courses - 2100 or higher on TAKS
 For academic courses – minimum 2200 TAKS plus a 3 or
higher on the writing component for English dual
enrollment courses or take the Texas Higher Education
Assessment (THEA) or Accuplacer for equivalent scores.
University of Texas Pan American (UTPA)
Requirements for Concurrent Enrollment
Students must meet ONE of the following:
 Rank in the top 10 percent of his/her graduating class, or
 Have a 90 or above grade point average (based on grades in academic
courses such as English, math, natural sciences, social studies, and
foreign languages), or
 SAT combined score of 1030 or higher (Verbal/Critical Reading and
Math), or
 ACT 22 composite score.
See Counselor for additional information
Additional Information
• Student may begin their college
coursework at end of 10th grade and
minimize the expense of a college
education.
• Students may take 6 hours (2 courses) a
semester.
• Most courses are transferable to the
college of their choice in Texas.
Potential College Savings
Cost Benefits of Dual Enrollment:
STC courses taken on high school campuses are FREE if the student qualifies
for dual enrollment.
Off campus UTPA/STC courses are $60 a credit hour.
STC
UTPA
Regular college student (6 hours)
$400
$1000
MISD HS Dual Enrollment (6 hours)
$0
$300
_________________________________________________________
Savings after 2 years in HS
$1600
$2800
(6 hours each semester)
*No financial aid is available for students in high school taking concurrent/dual
enrollment with STC or UTPA.
Points to Consider
 Once a student has taken college courses, the college Grade
Point Average (GPA) officially begins.
 Courses dropped and/or failed could potentially affect the
registration and financial aid status at a college/university.
 Students need to investigate requirements for specific college
programs.
DUAL ENROLLMENT
ACADEMIES
DEMSA
Dual Enrollment Medical Science Academy
•DEMSA is a two year dual enrollment (year-round) program
developed for high school students who are committed in pursuing a
career in Biology.
•The Academy is designed to encourage students to explore careers
in health care through college course work and health related
opportunities.
•The Academy will prepare students for higher education in the
field of medicine while completing an Associate of Science (AS)
degree in Biology by the end of their senior year of high school.
DEEA
Dual Enrollment Engineering Academy
•DEEA is a two year dual enrollment (year round) program
developed for high school students who are committed in
pursuing careers in Engineering.
•The Academy is designed to encourage students to explore
careers in engineering by providing college course work and
engineering related opportunities.
•The academy prepares students for higher education in the
field of math and science while completing an Associate of
Science (AS) degree in Engineering by the end of their senior
year of high school.
DECSA
Dual Enrollment Computer Science Academy
•DECSA is a two year dual enrollment (year-round) program
developed for high school students who are committed in
pursuing careers in Computer Science.
•The Academy is designed to encourage students to explore
careers in Computer Science by providing college course work
and computer related opportunities.
•The academy prepares students for higher education while
completing an Associate of Science (AS) degree in Computer
Science by the end of their senior year of high school
Who Can Participate?
•High School students must complete an application
during the 10th grade year.
•Students should be enrolled in the Distinguished
Achievement Program(DAP) curriculum.
•Students must have serious interest in pursuing a career
in health care, engineering or computer science.
•Students must complete an application which includes
writing a brief essay.
•Other requirements apply.
STC Dual Enrollment Academies
Contact Information
Contact Your High School Counselor
Or
Jessica Garcia, Retention Specialist
Dual Enrollment Medical Science Academy
South Texas College- Pecan Campus
Office: (956) 872-2613
E-mail: jgarcia@southtexascollege.edu
Yvette Cavazos, Principal
Alicia Acuna, Assistant Principal
Noemi Vasquez, Counselor
Class of 2015
Begin With The End In Mind
High School
Diploma
South Texas College
Associate Degree
What is an Early College High School?
 Early College High Schools (ECHS) blend the traditional
high school and college into one educational program.
 Early College High Schools are small. Only 100 students
are admitted as freshmen each year, recruited from the
seven McAllen ISD middle schools.
An opportunity and commitment to work-hard!
ACADEMIC PLAN
High School Distinguished Achievement
Program (26 high school credits)
and
STC Associates Degree
(60+ hours/2 years of college- FREE)
Curriculum
 Students in the ECHS take a rigorous curriculum of
Pre-AP high school courses to prepare them for the
college curriculum starting in the 9th grade.
STC Resources
 Achieve ECHS is located at the South Texas College
Pecan Campus. Students use all college resources
including computer labs, learning center tutorial
services, library services, and all other student services
that regular college students can use.
Additional Information

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

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Waived Tuition for Dual Enrollment
Transfer of Credits to Other Colleges and Universities
Scholarships for Colleges and Universities
Financial Aid After High School
Applications are due in February
Eligible for dual enrollment academies at STC
INTERNATIONAL
BACCALAUREATE
@ Lamar Academy
Middle Years Program (MYP)
Diploma Program (DP)
Grades 9-10
Grades 11-12
What is the IB Middle Years Program?
The IB Middle Years Program provides a framework of
rigorous academic challenge that:
 Encourages students to embrace and understand the
connections between traditional school subjects and
the real world;
 Encourages students to become critical and reflective
thinkers;
 Specifically prepares students for entry into the Diploma
Program (grades 11-12).
ALL MISD STUDENTS MAY APPLY
The 8 Academic Areas/
Subject Groups
 Students are required to study in all of these areas at a Pre-Diploma
Program level of challenge and rigor:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
English (I and II)
Second Language (Spanish or French)
Humanities (World Geography and World History)
Sciences (Biology, Physics, and Chemistry)
Mathematics (Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry)
Arts (Visual and Theater arts)
Physical Education
Technology
 MYP students must additionally:
-- complete a community service component
-- undertake independent research – the Personal Project
Taken as a whole, the curriculum provides a
balanced education that will equip young people for
effective participation in the modern world.
Area of Interaction: Community & Service
 Community and service starts in the classroom
and extends beyond it, requiring students to take
an active part in the communities in which they
live.
 As part of the MYP requirements, students are
expected to undertake 5 activities per year that
demonstrate they are developing community
awareness and concern, and they are making an
effective contribution to society.
The Personal Project
 In the 10th grade year of the program, each student completes a
personal project: a significant piece of work that is the product
of the student's own initiative and creativity.




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The personal project involves:
Planning
Research
A high degree of personal reflection
A commitment of 20-25 hours work towards the project.
A personal essay of no more than 4000 words.
Why IB?
 Global curriculum for global citizens,
 Challenging and meaningful courses,
 Academic culture,
 Excellent preparation for transition into the
Diploma Program and, eventually, college.