1. Independence HS Home of the Knights
Welcome
Class of 2021 Parents!

2. IHS Counselors Heather Mayfield Lead Randall Ford (A-D)
Rosalyn Greer (E-K)
Katie Puente (L-Q)
Jason Wooden (R-Z)
Heather Mayfield
Lead 2

3. Your Four-Year Plan!
Encourages your student to stay focused on a high school pathway
Helps guide your student through high school
Ensures that your student is college and/or career ready
Most of all, prepares students for the future!
“Four-Year Plans are a work in progress; it can change throughout your four years of high school. Today is a starting point with changes to be anticipated each year during spring registration!”

4. Academic & Course Catalog The Academic & Course Catalogs are online
Academic & Course Catalog The Academic & Course Catalogs are online! You can find the complete Academic Guide and Course Catalog online on the Frisco ISD website at:

5. What is a Credit in High School ?
A student needs 26 credits in order to graduate. A half-credit is earned each semester for each class passed with a 70 or above average.
All 9th grade students must be enrolled in eight class periods. 5

6. Class of 2021 Graduation Requirements
Subject Credits Required Courses
English 4 English 1, 2, 3, 4
Math 4 Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra II, 4th math
Science 4 Biology, Chemistry, Physics, 4th science
OR Biology, IPC, Chemistry, Physics
Social Studies 4 World Geo, World History, U.S. History,
Government & Economics
Foreign Language 2 Spanish, French, Chinese
P.E P.E., Athletics/Training, Fall Band, Fall Color Guard, Drill Team, Cheer, Dance 1 (not an option for athletes)
Health .5 Health, Health Science (Prereq: Medical Terminology)
Speech .5 Professional Communications
Fine Arts 1 Art, Theater Arts, Choir, Band, Dance, Orchestra, DGA, Elements of Floral Design (grade 10+)
Technology 1 BIM, DIM, DGA, Computer Science, Computer Maintenance, Journalism, Photojournalism, TV Broadcast, Intro to Engineering Design
Electives (Endorsements) 4
Total 26

7. 4 Credits in Each Core Area: English, Math, Science, Social Studies
Endorsement Plans
Multidisciplinary
All Career Pathways
Arts & Humanities
Political Science, World Languages, Cultural Studies, Literature, History, Fine Arts
4 Credits in Each Core Area: English, Math, Science, Social Studies
Public Services
Doctor, Nurse, Criminal Investigator, Law Clerk, Teacher, Athletic Trainer
Business & Industry
Information Technology, Finance, Architecture, Ag Science
Explain that everyone will be on the multidisciplinary endorsement plan as they enter 9th grade
STEM
Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics

8. Grades will be weighted according to the level of the course.
Rank in Class Policy
AP/PAP
Dual Credit
On-Level
Grade Point 95
100
5.5 94 99
5.4 93 98
5.3 92 97
5.2 91 96
5.1 90
5.0 89
4.9 88
4.8 87
4.7 86
4.6 85
4.5 84
4.4
Rank in class, honor graduate status, valedictorian and salutatorian determination shall be based on a weighted grade point average (GPA) system.
Grades will be weighted according to the level of the course.
Incoming 9th Graders will not receive a GPA and Rank until after the first Fall semester at Independence! 8

9. Top 10% Rule (end of junior year)
Class Rank and GPA are used to determine if a student is in the “Top 10%” of the class.
Students who are in the top 10% of their class are automatically accepted into Texas public colleges. (UT Austin is now top 7% for Fall 2017 & 2018)
“Freshman grades count!” Start strong and do your best from your first day of high school.” For admissions purposes, rank at the end of junior year dictates the top 10% of the class. 9

10. State Assessments for High School
5 STAAR End-of-Course (EOC) Exams
English I
English II
Algebra I
Biology
US History 10

11. Responsibilities of a PAP/AP Student
Actively engage with sophisticated concepts
Desire to be challenged
Ask questions during class
Seek help when clarification needed
Stay organized
Be judged by rigorous, college-level standards
More written vs. objective test
Open-ended questions
Faster pace
More depth
Complete longer and more complex nightly assignments
30-50 pages a week of outside reading
30 minutes to 1 hour of homework nightly 11

12. Balance – There are only 24 hours in a day! 
Try not to overload yourself. We do not recommend that a student take all advanced-level classes, join numerous activities (band, athletics, student council…), and expect to be successful in EVERYTHING.
We all need some down time. Consider your well-being and choose classes and activities carefully. 12

13. PAP/AP Six-Weeks Commitment
Students who sign up for a PAP/AP class will be required to stay the entire first six weeks. At the close of the first six weeks, students who wish to drop will meet with their teacher, parent and counselor to discuss the move. The grade at the end of the six weeks will go with the student to the new class.
Following the close of the first six weeks, students will not be allowed to drop the course until second term begins. 13

14. High School Schedule Known as an A-B block schedule 8 total classes
A Day = 4 classes; B Day = the other 4 classes
30-minute lunch is based on student’s 3rd period class
School begins at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 4:15 p.m.
Each class is 90 minutes with 5 minutes between each class 14

15. Block Schedule A Day B Day Periods 1-4 Periods1-4 Sunday Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
A Day
Periods 1-4
B Day
Periods1-4 15

16. Typical Schedule for a Student in P.E. Class
A Day
B Day
1st period: Algebra I
1st period: Biology
2nd period: English I
2nd period: Health/Speech
3rd period: Art I
3rd period: World
Geography
4th period: PE
4th period: Spanish I 16

17. Typical Schedule for a Student in Band or Athletics Every Day
A Day
B Day
1st period: Algebra I
1st period: Biology
2nd period: English I
2nd period: Health/Speech
3rd period: Spanish I
3rd period: World
Geography
4th period: Athletics or Band
4th period: Athletics or Band
*Girls Athletics is double-blocked
1st period each day.
*Boys Athletics is double-blocked 4th period each day. 17

18. Completing Other Requirements
Technology (BIM, DIM, DGA, Computer Science, Computer Maintenance, Journalism, Photojournalism, TV Broadcast, Intro to Engineering Design, Architectural Design)
Fine Arts (Art, Theatre, Technical Theatre, Elements of Floral Design, AP Art History, DGA, Music Theory, Band, Choir, Orchestra, Dance)
Health (or Health Science pathway which requires Medical Terminology)
Professional Communications (speech)
Dance 1 – Counts for Fine Arts and PE
DGA – Counts for Fine Arts and Technology 18

19. Ways to Meet P.E. Credit March in the Band- (fall PE credit only)
Make Color Guard (fall PE credit only)
Make an athletic team (football, volleyball, soccer, etc.)
Be an Athletic Trainer (+ Sports Medicine and application)
Make Drill Team
Make Cheerleading
Take Dance I (cannot take if in athletics)
Take PE class:
Personal Fitness
Aerobics
Team/Individual
Weightlifting
Adventure/Outdoor
Off-Campus PE
Have students turn to the back of the Endorsement Pathways (What Counts as……?) 19

20. Athletic Try-Outs
All students are free to sign up for any athletic class they wish, but they must make the team in order to stay in the class. PE teaches how to play various sports, but the athletic teams in high school are competitive and require you to already know how to play.
Try-outs are typically made the first two weeks of each semester.
Those not making the team will be moved to P.E. and to elective classes that are STILL OPEN. 20

21. BAND
Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band (top 2 groups), & percussion are double-blocked classes; Concert Band (third band) & color guard are single blocked classes. Variances are handled on a case by case basis in order to work with other campus programs.
All band students participate in marching band during the fall.
The band director and athletic coach must be contacted if a student wants to participate in both band and a sport.

22. Foreign Language
We encourage all freshman to start their foreign language in 9th grade!
IHS currently offers Spanish, French, and Chinese.
FYI…Chinese classes are online. 22

23. Programs Needing Applications
We will bring with us to middle schools in January.
Music Theory – Application
Academic Decathlon – Application
Athletic Trainer – Application
Partner’s PE- Application
Off Campus PE – Contact Sally Turner at district
Middle school will advertise drill team and cheer tryouts. 23

24. Summer School Options
The following courses MAY be offered in summer school for advancement:
Business Information Mgmt (1 credit/2 terms)
Digital Interactive Media (1 credit/2 terms
Health (.5 credit/one term)
Professional Communications (.5 credit/1 term)
IPC (Integrated Physics & Chemistry) (1 credit/2 terms)
Medical Terminology (.5 credit/1 term)
**Can take up to 1 full credit in summer school. Does not count in GPA calculation**
***FISD Summer School may be revamped this summer due to funding. Complete summer school details usually arrive to campuses in May. 24

25. Credit By Exams for Acceleration
Current 8th graders may be able to test at the end of school this year to ensure that grades are received in time for an accurate schedule at schedule pickup.
A student’s schedule will not change until grades have been received.
Grade does not count in GPA. 25

26. 9th Grade Schedule Q&A
How does my student select courses for 9th grade?
Counselors will be back to the middle school next week to start the 4-year plan with students.
Counselors return in late January to specifically review 9th grade course requests. Students and parents will have the opportunity to make any needed changes. Students will have until April 13th to make any needed elective changes!
Will my student get every elective class we requested for 9th grade year?
Maybe, but there are no guarantees with high school scheduling! We love for the students to get every class they selected, but there are MANY factors that affect a student’s schedule. Don’t forget to list alternate choices on your course requests in January! No alternates listed on course verification form? We pick a new class for you (and unfortunately you can’t change it). Your student’s schedule may not work out as planned, and we prefer not to make that choice! 26

27. Making a Schedule Change
Your last opportunity to change an elective is on or before:
April 13th, 2017
Only approved program changes (in or out of athletics, band, etc) can be made during the first two weeks of the new semester.
PAP/AP students must complete the first six-weeks grade cycle before a change to on-level will be considered. 27

28. Dates to Remember August 2017 - Schedule Pickup/9th Grade Orientation
December year plan meetings at Scoggins and Nelson
Monday, January 23rd – Rising Freshman Night, 6:00 IHS Auditorium
Tuesday, January 24th- Individual Meetings at Scoggins (discuss 9th grade classes)
Wednesday, January 25th- Individual Meetings at Nelson (discuss 9th grade classes)
***All course verification forms due back to the middle school counselors the following week
March Middle School Dual Credit Night for FISD
April 13th, 2017– Last Day for Elective Changes (Home Access open to view course requests- course request change form with middle school counselors)
May 18th, Aloha Pep Rally at IHS (8th grade field trip to IHS for pep rally and high school panel)
August Schedule Pickup/9th Grade Orientation 28