2017-18 Freshmen Parent Meeting

House Bill 5 -Legislation passed in 2013 which changed graduation requirements -Also changed the amount of required STAAR End-of-Course Exams required for graduation

Required STAAR End-of-Course Exams (Must pass all 5 in order to graduate) -English 1(freshman yr) -Biology (freshman yr) -US History (freshman yr) -Algebra 1 (8th or freshman yr) -English 2 (sophomore yr) *Given 3 times per yr (spring, summer, fall)

Graduation Requirements -Foundation Only – 22 Credits (jr or comm college) 4 English 3 Math 3 Science 3 Social Studies 2 Lang Other than Eng (LOTE) 1 PE 1 Fine Art 5 Electives *Speech/Health (local) *Dollars & Sense/Personal Financial Literacy (local) *World Geography (local)

-Distinguished Level of Achievement (for entry into 4 year institutions) Graduation requirements of at least 1 of the 5 endorsements and Algebra 2

Endorsements What are they? Much like college majors, endorsements consist of a related series of courses that are grouped together by interest or skill set. They provide students with in-depth knowledge of a subject area. These courses are electives in addition to the foundation requirements.

TYPES OF ENDORSEMENTS OFFERED AT WHS -Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) (engineer, architect, scientist) -Public Services (teacher, doctor, lawyer, police, military) -Business and Industry (vet, communications, marketing, sales, journalist) -Arts and Humanities (artist, musician, translator, theatre, writer) -Multidisciplinary (any career)

STEM -Must have Alg 2, Chemistry and Physics plus one of the following: *4 or more of a coherent sequence of CTE courses *4 credits in computer science *5 credits in math with two being higher than Alg 2 *5 credits in science including Bio, Chem, and Physics *In addition to Alg 2, Chem and Physics, a coherent sequence of 3 additional credits from the above areas

Business and Industry -Coherent sequence of 4 or more CTE credits -4 Eng elective credits (3 from a selected list) -Four Tech Apps credits from a selected list -A coherent sequence of 4 credits from the above

Public Services -A coherent sequence of 4 or more credits in CTE (with final course from specific career clusters) -4 courses in JROTC

Arts and Humanities -Total of 5 Social Studies Credits -4 levels of the same language in LOTE -2 levels of the same LOTE and 2 of another -4 levels of ASL -A coherent sequence of 4 credits of fine arts -4 English elective credits from a select list

Multidisciplinary -4 advance courses that prepare a student to enter the workforce successfully or postsecondary education with remediation -4 credits in each of the four foundation subject areas to include Eng 4 and Chem and/or Physics -4 credits in AP, IB, or dual credit selected from Eng, math, sci, soc stud, eco, LOTE, or fine arts

Performance Acknowledgements -12 hours of dual credit with at least an 80 avg -Bilingual/Biliteracy -AP – scores of 3 or above on AP exam -College Entrance Exams

REVIEW: -Two types of plans – Foundation and Foundation with Endorsement -There are 5 endorsements – STEM, Business and Industry, Arts and Humanities, Public Service, and Multidisciplinary -Distinguished Level of Achievement (Endorsement + Alg 2) -Performance Acknowledgements

How and When are GPA’s figured? -Your GPA is your grade point average of your combined classes. -GPA is figured at the end of each semester, and new transcripts are distributed. -Your ranking  is a measure of how your performance compares to other students in your class. -Top 10% Rule (see handout)

Choosing Classes -What is your end goal? -How motivated are you? -Are you going to be involved in extra-curricular activities? -You MUST keep up your GPA!! -Do you want to take weighted classes?

Name Choose One Endorsement Eng 1 or PreAP Alg 1 or PreAP Geom (if Alg 1 taken 8th) Bio or PreAP Bio US History LOTE – Spanish 1 or German 1 Sign at bottom/Date

Name Eng or PreAP Alg 1 or PreAP Geom Bio or PreAP Bio US History Speech/Health (unless taking DC sophomore year) LOTE – Spanish or German Electives: *Pick two (if taking speech/health) *Pick three (if taking DC speech/health as a sophomore)

When considering electives: -Athletics OR PE…not both -Yearbook, Band, Band Ensemble, Jazz Choir – Tryouts -All sports except golf require Athletics -Color Guard – Marching Band -Public Service – Principles of Human Service -Business & Industry – Principles of Ag -STEM – Principles of Technology -UIL Class – For prep for UIL events

Remind 101 Group for Incoming Freshmen Text @ehb9f to the number 81010 Or text @ehb9f to (817) 310-8894 Receive messages only – no reply