1. Alvin High School September 12, 2018
Planning for Graduation in your Junior, Sophomore, and Freshmen Year

2. Counselors and Advanced Academics
We’re here to help you through your years at AHS.
Counselors for students with last names starting with the letters:
W – B Dani Gilcrease
C – F Karen Daly
G – J Donna Ruby
K – M Ashley Miller
N – R Vicki Cleland
S – V Ron Fitzwater
Special Programs Shannon Geletka
Lead Counselor Carlene Leal
Advanced Academics Michelle DeLeon ext 6354
ACC Dual Enrollment Advisor Alpha Trevino

3. Graduation Requirements HB5 Foundation + Endorsement Plan
Foundation Plan
ELA – 4 credits
Math – 3 credits
Social Studies – 3 credits
Science – 3 credits
Language other than English
2 credits
Fine Arts – 1 credit
Physical Education – 1 credit
Electives – 5 credits
Including Seniors 2019 only will need .5 credit Comm App
Total – 22 credits
Endorsements
Arts and Humanities
Business and Industry
Public Service
STEM
Multidisciplinary Studies
Endorsement includes:
1 advanced Math credit
1 advanced Science credit
2 Electives (endorsement specific)
TOTAL: 26 credits, including endorsements

4. Graduation Plans Continued
Distinguished Level of Achievement
Algebra II Success
Foundation curriculum with an endorsement
Required for top 10% automatic admission

5. Grade Level Classification
Freshman students are those with less than 6.0 credits regardless of year of entry
Sophomores are those students with less than 12 credits who are at least in their second year of high school
Juniors are those students with less than 19 credits who are at least in their 3rd year of high school
Seniors are those students with 19 or more credits who are at least in their 4th year of high school
Students may repeat a grade level based on the number of credits, but cannot be advanced a grade level
Grade level classification for the upcoming school year is made at the beginning of each school year including progress made during summer school.
Graduating Juniors are those students who are short of having enough credits to be classified as a senior at the beginning of their 4th year. Whenever these students gain 19 or more credits, they will have their grade level changed to 12-SENIOR.
Classification is important because it determines how many students are in the top 10% of each class.

6. So what are colleges looking for?
Colleges look at …
What courses are offered on our campus
What courses did your student take
How well did your student do in his/her chosen courses
What is the level of investment in campus and community activities including volunteer service hours
How is your student going to contribute or enhance their campus environment

7. Grade Point Average
Grade points are accumulated each semester based on the semester average in the class
Regular on-level courses are set on a 6.0 scale
Pre-AP and Dual Enrollment are on a 7.0 scale
Advanced Placement (AP) are on a 8.0 scale

8. Grade Point Average
Counselors audit transcripts at the end of each semester to verify credits earned and ensure that students are in the correct classes to satisfy their requirements
GPA and class rank will be calculated at:
10th grade - end of year
11th grade – after 1st semester and end of year
12th grade – after 1st semester and after 3rd 9 weeks
Parents will have access to GPA and rank in Skyward.
Hand calculation is tedious but not impossible
Assign the grade points using the grade scale in the previous slide for each semester grade
Add up all the scaled points
Divide by the number of semester classes
Example:
(Q) = PAP scale 7.0
(D) = Dual credit scale 7.0
(P) = AP scale 8.0
SM SM2
Eng 1 (Q) = = 3.05
Alg = = 2.4
Bio (Q) = = 2.65
AP HuGeo(P) 82 = = 3.55
PE = = 2.95
Sp = = 2.7
Art = = 2.8
Sum of all semester grade points = 39.6
Divide the sum by number of semesters
39.6 / 7= the quotient is carried to 5 digits.

9. Class Rank - Why are GPA and Class Rank important?
Public colleges within the state of Texas (except University of Texas) offer guaranteed admittance to any student who graduates in the top 10% of their class.
In accordance with Texas Education Code (TEC), §51.803, a student is eligible for automatic admission to a college or university as an undergraduate student if the applicant earned a grade point average in the top 10 percent of the student's high school graduating class, or the top 6 percent for admission to the University of Texas at Austin, and the applicant:
successfully completed the requirements for the Distinguished Achievement Program (DAP)
satisfied ACT's College Readiness Benchmarks on the ACT assessment or earned on the SAT assessment a score of at least 1,500 out of 2,400 or the equivalent.
In accordance with Title 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC), §5.5(e), high school rank for students seeking automatic admission to a general academic teaching institution on the basis of class rank is determined and reported as follows.  
Class rank shall be based on the end of the 11th grade, middle of the 12th grade, or at high school graduation, whichever is most recent at the application deadline.
The top 10 percent of a high school class shall not contain more than 10 percent of the total class size.
The student's rank shall be reported by the applicant's high school or school district as a specific number out of a specific number total class size.
Class rank shall be determined by the school or school district from which the student graduated or is expected to graduate.

10. How do I improve my GPA Course selection is key
Our 6.0 GPA scale allows students to receive weighted grade points for the more academically challenging courses
Choosing from advanced courses and doing well in those courses is the best way to improve your student’s GPA
Keep in mind a student has to earn credit in the course to benefit from the weighted grade points

11. Course Selection for
The course guide for the upcoming year is being finalized now.
Course selection for current freshmen and sophomores will start in January.
Juniors will conference with their individual counselor to plan for their senior year starting in November and finishing up by Spring Break Parents will be invited to attend these conferences.
Please keep in mind that the graduation requirements for certain endorsements will allow your student to graduate from high school, but they may or may not meet the requirements for your chosen college/university or field of study.

12. Course Requests Verifications
After conferences are complete, the counselors will send out course request verification sheets in late April or early May. This will be a the last chance to review your student’s course requests and make any changes without consequence. Approval for these changes will be based on making sure your student is staying on track with chosen endorsement requirements.
The results from course request verifications are used to staff the campus needs for the upcoming year. Changes requested after this period are not guaranteed. Changes requested after the verification deadline are granted depending on availability of seats in the replacement course, course prerequisite, graduation requirements, and the ability to align replacement with your student’s endorsement plan.

13. Advanced Academics and Dual Enrollment
Michelle DeLeon is our Advanced Academic Specialist – ext 6354
Works with our students in preparing for the rigor of Pre-AP, AP, and Dual Enrollment courses
Acts as a resource for finding tutorial help
Provides workshops and resources for parents
Alpha Trevino is our Alvin Community College Dual Enrollment Advisor – or
Advises students with enrollment at ACC both dual enrollment and full time after graduation
Locates resources as dual enrollment students transition to university after high school

14. ACC Dual Enrollment Select courses with high school counselors
Complete
ACC Online Application
Early Admission Contract
Attend Dual Enrollment Orientation
Testing
Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Assessment
SAT
ACT
Pay for courses and purchase books
DC Courses are $ per course, plus $30 registration fee

15. College Admissions Testing
TSI – A (Texas Success Initiative – Assessment) Entrance/placement exam for Junior/Community Colleges and our Dual Enrollment Program
Test dates at AHS (TBD) and ACC
TSI Registration procedures will be posted in the counseling section of the AHS webpage
Alvin High School
Our School
Counselors
TSI/Accuplacer
The link to the PAA (Pre Assessment Activity) will also be posted.
ACT and SAT- Colleges and Universities Admission Test
to sign up for this test

16. ACT - Colleges and Universities Admission Test www. Actstudent
ACT - Colleges and Universities Admission Test to sign up for this test
Test Date
Registration Deadline
Complete Score Release**
September 8, 2018
August 10, 2018
September 18 - November 2, 2018
October 27, 2018
September 28, 2018
November 13, January 1, 2019
December 8, 2018
November 2, 2018
December 18, February 1, 2019
February 9, 2019*
January 11, 2019
February 20 - April 5, 2019
April 13, 2019
March 8, 2019
April 23 - June 7, 2019
June 8, 2019
May 3, 2019
June 18 - August 2, 2019
July 13, 2019*
June 14, 2019
July 23 - August 26, 2019

17. SAT – Colleges and Universities Admission Test www. Collegeboard
SAT – Colleges and Universities Admission Test to sign up for this test
SAT TEST DATE
REGISTRATION DATE
SCORES BACK DATE**
Saturday, June 2, 2018
May 3, 2018
July 11, 2018
Saturday, August 25, 2018
July 27, 2018
September 7, 2018
Saturday, October 6, 2018
October 19, 2018
Saturday, November 3, 2018
October 5, 2018
November 16, 2018
Saturday, December 1, 2018
November 2, 2018
December 14, 2018
Saturday, March 9, 2019
February 8, 2019
March 22, 2019
Saturday, May 4, 2019
April 5, 2019
May 17, 2019
Saturday, June 1, 2019
May 3, 2019
July 10, 2019

18. 2017-18 SAT/ACT PRACTICE TEST DATES
Alvin ISD will offer practice exams for both SAT and ACT prior to each SAT/ACT administration.
Times, locations, and prices are still being finalized.
Check the Advanced Academics page of the Alvin High School Website for more information as it becomes available.

19. Counselors and Advanced Academics
If you have any questions, please feel free to call or us.
Counselors for students with last names starting with the letters:
W – B Dani Gilcrease
C – F Karen Daly
G – J Donna Ruby
K – M Ashley Miller
N – R Vicki Cleland
S – V Ron Fitzwater
Special Programs Shannon Geletka
Lead Counselor Carlene Leal
Advanced Academics Michelle DeLeon ext 6354
ACC Dual Enrollment Advisor Alpha Trevino