1. Course Selection for Rising Seniors
February 1 and 7, 2017

2. FREE SAT @ LHS April 5 Registration at Lamar this month
Free SAT test prep at khanacademy.org
Registration will take place in student’s English classes.

3. Course Selection Timetable
Juniors are receiving information on their credits, graduation requirements and course options for senior year.
Course requests are made in a meeting with their Academic Deans 3

4. Course Selection Timetable
Materials and selections go home for parent review after the student meetings
Course Requests are made at student meeting (See attachment 1)
Course Verifications (3) are for review and changes (if needed).
All changes are made on the verification sheet
Review transcript for GPA!!!

5. Course Selection Timetable
April/May Course choices available for
review & changes 3 times
August Schedule mailed home for review and limited changes as needed
Course choices vs. schedule
Schedule built based on student requests – changes are made if too many students sign up for the same classes. 5

6. Course Selection Timetable
Choose Carefully:
Do not plan on making changes after school begins
Best way to get it as you like is to have it correct by the third verification received in May
Changes are made as space is available
Schedule is based on student requests and available staffing
Course choices vs. schedule
Schedule built based on student requests – changes are made if too many students sign up for the same classes. 6

7. Graduation Requirements
4 credits of English 4 credits of Math 4 credits of Social Studies 4 credits of Science 2 credits of a language other than English

8. Graduation Requirements
1 credit of PE or equivalent
1 credit in Fine Arts
.5 credit in Health
5.5 credits of Electives
26 credits total

9. Graduation Requirements
4 credits of math
Algebra 1 & 2, Geometry and a fourth math
Fourth Math: Precalculus or
Advanced Quantative Reasoning (Application of concepts in Algebra & Geometry)

10. Advanced Quantitative Reasoning
Cannot start with Precalculus and move to AQR in January. Credit must be from the same class.
Must complete both semesters of Algebra 2 before AQR

11. Graduation Requirements
4 credits of science
Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and a fourth science
Fourth Science: IB Environmental Science, Biology, Chemistry, or Physics
Anatomy, Aquatic Science(Recommended)

12. 4th Science To earn graduation credit in SCIENCE:
Credit for both semesters must be earned in the same science
You cannot move from one science to another for the spring semester

13. Health Health is required for the Class of 2018.
There are 3 ways to complete this requirement (all require counselor approval):
Summer school
Online Grad Lab
Outside institution

14. Health Free in summer school Free via Grad Lab online.
Outside institutions have fees attached

15. Credit Appeal
If excessive unexcused absences are earned in any class, credit will be denied for the semester.
Fall semester – over three absences
Spring semester – over four absences
(Depends on number of days in semester so number may fluctuate)

16. Credits Needed
Student who… …have not completed both semesters of English 1,2,AND 3 cannot be scheduled for English 4 Students who…. ...have credit appeal denied ...did not file credit appeals …failed courses needed to graduate Have 3 options before next year: Summer School Online coursework free through Grad Lab Online Course – Texas Tech $$

17. Credits Needed
Students who have lost credit due to absences or failed classes needed to graduate will not be rescheduled into the class.
Students will be scheduled into one “Grad Lab” period where they can retake the course(s) online or attend summer school at no charge.
Students who fail an advance academic class needed for graduation MUST take the class for original credit, not credit recovery

18. See your Academic Dean soon for approval
Credits Needed
Online/Correspondence will not be approved for completion of graduation requirements during senior year to allow room for Off Campus
SOLUTION:
Complete Summer School or Correspondence before the fall semester begins.
See your Academic Dean soon for approval
1st day of school: There is an Alternative Graduation Credit Agreement…Can register online without it, but we will not allow the credit without prior approval.

19. Dual Credit
College Instructors come to Lamar to teach college level classes for HCC AND IB credit
Students must register in the fall are required to take the end of the year exam for IB credit
Dual Credit classes are not for IB Diploma testing

20. Dual Credit Free tuition for HCC Central residents Purchase textbooks
Students must take the IB exam. Registration fees for IB exams apply ($195.00)
Student assistance available to those in the free or reduced lunch program
$10 K savings based on average tuition costs in Texas: IB Registration Fees are set by IB International and are subject to change. They are up from last year. Full diploma students pay the fee one time. IB students who drop the full diploma in junior year but who continue to take IB classes are required to pay the registration fee again in senior year. Financial assistance s available for students who meet qualifications. 20

21. Dual Credit HCC/IBSL English 4 HCC/IBSL Psychology (online)
BOTH are full year, 2 semesters
Students are required to be in both semesters
These courses are not for IB Diploma testing classes

22. Ms. Sue Ling in the College Corner
Dual Credit
For Eligibility Approval:
Ms. Sue Ling in the College Corner

23. HCC Summer Credit
Free tuition in the summer for dual credit classes at HCC Central Campus
No high school credit for summer courses
Approval is required and begins at Lamar
See Ms. Sue Ling in the College Corner after spring break for information

24. Off Campus for seniors Off campus is a privilege and not a right
Off Campus is not recommended for students applying to selective universities
Seniors must take 1 Advanced Academic course for each requested period of Off Campus (PDP, IB, AP, Dual Credit)
Students must leave the campus during the Off Campus period

25. Off Campus for seniors
Seniors may take only one non-credited course each day (Study Lab, Grad Lab, Student Aide, STARR review, Off Campus)
No student will be placed in Off Campus
if in Grad Lab.
Off Campus is only available to seniors who need 7.5 or fewer credits in August to graduate

26. What colleges want…
Above all, they look for a strong record in difficult classes
Continued rigor in senior year
An improving transcript rather than one in decline
Improved communication skills especially writing
Involvement in outside activities
Better for strong record with low scores than vice versa. Finish strong 26 26

27. Math, Science and Foreign Language
What colleges want…..
Texas A & M admission
Through Algebra 2 plus credit in advanced math: Pre-calculus or IB Math
UT Austin Units Plus
Admissions bump for having courses over the minimum in 2 of 3 subject areas:
Math, Science and Foreign Language

28. Adding a PDP or IBDP class?
Complete an Advanced Academics assessment form
If in IBDP now, add another on your course selection sheet without additional paperwork

29. Course Recommendations for College
Take as much as you can:
MATH
SCIENCE
LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH
If having trouble with PDP/IB, change to recommended level rather than dropping the subject for the senior year
Drop PIB/IB language for regular 29

30. Work/Study Magnet Internship – Coach Nolen Career Prep – Ms. Branch
Supervised work experience for magnet seniors at Houston area corporations
Career Prep – Ms. Branch
Option for seniors not in magnet
Work at businesses supervised by Lamar teachers
EARN $$ while you LEARN
Salary plus high school credit earned
Leave school early because of work schedule

31. Junior Year Tasks Visit colleges when possible
Spring Break is a great time
Private or out of state colleges
Have your list ready this summer
Community Service
Colleges usually ask for this on applications

32. Make an ACT/SAT plan The free SAT @ LHS on April 5th counts
Encourage your junior to prepare
Consider taking the ACT in the spring of junior year
If the needed score is not met, take the SAT/ACT test again in fall of senior year

33. Review Information
Copy of transcript grades and courses will be sent home with course selection materials
Check transcript received in summer for accuracy before final fall rank is determined in October
Review applications for needed information:
www. applytexas.com;
Essays often do not change for the next year
I will you as soon as I know. New applications are available in July or August

34. Next Up: Junior Transcript Review February 13th and 16th Thanks for coming