1. 2017-18 Freshmen Parent Meeting

2. 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

3. 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)

4. 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)

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

6. 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.

7. 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)

8. 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

9. 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

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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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)

16. 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?

17. 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

18. 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)

19. 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

20. Remind 101 Group for
Incoming Freshmen
to the number 81010
Or to (817)
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