1. Welcome to
High School
Class of 2018

2. Understanding High School 1/16
Semester
Average
Credit/Unit (1/2 credit = 1 semester)
Graduation Plans (3)
4-year Plan
Diploma
GPA (grade point average)

3. Understanding High School
Required Courses
Elective Courses
Block Schedule
Single Block
Double Block
“A” Day
“B” Day
STAAR End-of-Course Exam (EOC)

4. Understanding High School-1/17
Prerequisite – what is required before taking a course
Course Code – a combination of letters and numbers
Course Description – a brief summary of the class
Overall Grade Point Average – all semesters average together of all classes

5. Understanding High School
Career Pathways (Career Clusters)
Certificate Programs (17 available)
IB Program (International Baccalaureate)
AVID Program
(Advancement Via Individual Determination)

6. Understanding High School
Early College High School
Advanced Placement (AP) Courses
AP Exams
Dual Credit Courses
College Tuition
Post Secondary – after high school
Technical Schools
2-year College – associates degree
4-year College
Military

7. What does it take to get to high school from junior high? 1/21
Pass 8th grade Math
Pass 8th grade English
Pass 8th grade Social Studies
Pass 8th grade Science
Have an overall average of 70% in all other classes
Summer School may not be enough!

8. Two big differences between Junior High & High School
Semesters in Junior high are average together
If you fail any semester of a required course in junior high school, you can still improve the next semester to bring your early average up to 70 or better
You will get credit for the first semester course by passing the second semester course
Each semester stands alone rather than having a yearly average.
If you fail any semester of a required course in high school, you have to take that course again for that semester
You will not get credit for the first semester course by passing the second semester course

9. Foundation High School Plan
All students enter 9th grade on the Foundation High School Plan
Requires 22 credits for graduation
Every 9th grade student must declare an endorsement (There are 5)
Graduating with an endorsement requires 26 credits

10. Courses Required on Foundation High School Plan 1/22
English 4 Credits
English 1 (each semester is ½ of a credit)
English 2
English 3
English 4 or other 4th year English
Math 3 Credits
Alg. 1
Geometry
An Advanced Math Course
* Algebra II may still be required by the College Board for students going to college

11. Courses Required on Foundation High School Plan
Science 3 credits
Biology
IPC or an advanced science course
Any advanced science course
Physical Education 1 credit
Fine Arts 1 Credit

12. Courses Required on Foundation High School Plan
Social Studies 3 Credits
World History or World Geography or combined World History /w. Geography
U. S. History
U. S. Government (one-half credit)
Economics (one-half credit)

13. Courses Required on Foundation High School Plan
Languages Other Than English 2 Credits
Electives 5 Credits
Equals 22 Credits

14. Endorsements
A student may earn an endorsement by successfully completing:
Curriculum requirements for the endorsement
4 credits in mathematics
4 credits in science
2 additional elective credits

15. 5 Endorsements Categories You must choose 1
STEM (science, technology, engineering, math)
Business and Industry
Public Services
Arts and Humanities
Multidisciplinary Studies

16. Distinguished Graduation
Four credits in math, including credit in
Algebra II (still in question)
Four credits in science
Curriculum requirements for at least one endorsement

17. Performance Acknowledgement
For outstanding performance
In a dual credit course
In bilingualism and bi-literacy
On an AP test or IB exam
On the PSAT, ACT-Plan, SAT, ACT
For earning a nationally or internationally recognized business or industry certification or license

18. To get your high school diploma you must also. . .
You must pass the End of Course Exams for each grade level (9th -12th grades).
End of Course Exams Include:
English
Math
Social Studies
Science

19. AP vs. Dual Credit
Students that make a 3, 4, or 5 on an AP exam may be given credit for that course at a college or University
Dual Credit students earn college credit if they pass the course
Students that take dual-credit courses may participate in the Maverick Accelerated Bachelor Degree Program (UTA)

20. International Baccalaureate Program
Incorporates international curriculum, inter-cultural understanding
Provides university-entry credentials
Fosters responsible, compassionate citizens
IB courses begin in the junior year
Students are required to complete 150 hours of community service, write an extended essay, and take the IB exams
Students wishing to graduate with an IB diploma are encouraged to take all of the required courses as Pre-AP/AP and complete four years of a foreign language

21. Early College High School (TCC)
Beginning in Fall 2014
Total enrollment first year will be 125 students
Have to meet one of criteria for enrollment
Identified as at-risk
English Language Learner
1st generation to attend college
Low income and/or
Underrepresented student

22. Graduation Requirements for Classification18 12 6
Classification Credits
The grade you’re in is determined by how many credits you have earned.
Example: to be a 10th grader, you must have earned 6 credits

23. How do they calculate your GPA?
Regular Grade Points 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4
Honors Grade Points 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7
Numerical Grade
97-100
93-96
90-92
87-89
83-86
80-82
77-79
73-76
70-72
0-69
Letter Grade A+ A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- F
A breakdown of how a student’s GPA is calculated.

24. School Day School hours are from 7:35AM to 2:45PM.
Classes are 90 minutes in length with approximately 7 minutes between classes for passing periods.
We are on an A Day/B Day Block schedule.
A Day = Periods 1 – 4
B Day = Periods 5 - 8

25. Sample Schedule (with double-blocked sport)
A Day B Day
1 – English I 5 – Algebra I
2 – Biology 6 – World Geo.
3 – 1 sem. Elective 7 – 1 sem. Elective
4 – Athletics 8 – Study Hall
(double blocking of
sport)

26. Athletics & Blocking
Athletics is a full year program consisting of single-blocked (meets every other day) and double-blocked (meets every day) sports.
Single-blocked – Cheerleading, Drill Team, Golf, Tennis
Double-blocked – Basketball, Cross Country (Fall), Football, Gymnastics, Swimming, Track (Spring), Wrestling
Single-blocked Fall / Double-blocked Spring – Soccer (Boys), Soccer (Girls), Softball, Baseball
Double-blocked Fall / Single-blocked Spring - Volleyball

27. PE Courses ROTC Athletics Band Cheerleading & Drill Team
Choose the first sport played in the school year
Band
Cheerleading & Drill Team
Choose PE since these are try-out activities

28. Scheduling

29. How to read a high school course description.
MA1245 – GEOMETRY This course includes a study of measurements, constructions and terminology essential to geometry. It is designed to develop deductive thinking, and emphasizes problem solving by means of logical proofs and definitions while integrating algebraic concepts. Relations, properties, and measurements of surfaces, lines and angles in one, two and three-dimensional figures are investigated.
Grade Placement: unit Prerequisite: Algebra I

30. Scheduling
Choose your 4 Core Subjects – English, Math, Science & Social Studies.
Next, choose your PE or Athletic Program, Band, or ROTC.
Then choose your other electives and “alternate” courses

31. Scheduling on Career Cruising
You can begin scheduling your classes now on any computer that has Internet access.
Register at Click on Student Info.
Click on the Career Cruising icon to view a
Course Planner informational video, the Student
Course Guide, or to log in to Course
Planner.

32. Scheduling on Career Cruising
Register at Click on the Student Info tab. Click on the Career Cruising icon to log in to your course planner.

33. You will add your course selections in the first box – Year 9
Career Cruising
You will add your course selections in the first box – Year 9

34. Plan Ahead – Dual Credit
Dual Credit courses are courses that receive high school and college credit and are open to students entering their Junior or Senior year.
*******
To be eligible to enroll in a Dual Credit class, students must have a 7.0 overall grade point average on a 12 point scale (a “B” average).
********
Taking Dual Credit Core & Elective classes at an Arlington high school as a Junior or Senior can lead to earning a Bachelors Degree for under $10,000.00!
Interested?
Information about the Maverick Accelerated Bachelors
Degree Program
Can be Found in the CTE Accelerate publication

35. FAQ’s
Summer School?
Watch for summer school dates, class times, and class fees on the Arlington ISD website.
Forms will be available in May from junior high counselors.
Athletic Study Hall?
When a student is in a double-blocked sport, the sport will appear on their A Day schedule, but Study Hall will appear on their B Day schedule.