1. High School Planning

2. User Names and Passwords
My MPS Username = __________________________
st and your ID#
check grades Password = ___________________________
ID# (unless you change it)
Kuder Navigator Username = ___________________________
career research Password = ___________________________
MPS Connect Username = ___________________________
first initial, middle initial, last name, birth month
birth day (Ex: mnmcfly0416)
Password = ___________________________
first initial (capital), last initial (lower case), ID#
(Ex: Mm123456)
st123456
123456
st123456
123456
Note lower case
endwight0706
Ed123456

3. Graduation Requirements
In order to receive a high school diploma from Mesa Public Schools, students must:
Complete the credit requirements for one of the two offered diplomas:
Standard Diploma
Scholastic Diploma

4. On my study guide…
1. Mesa Public Schools offers ____________________ diplomas. One is called the __________________ Diploma, and the other is called the ____________________ Diploma.
two
Standard
Scholastic

5. *Meet attendance requirements
*Meet or Exceed the Standard in all three areas of the Arizona Instrument to
Measure Standards (AIMS) in:
Reading
Writing
Math

6. English 4 Math Science 3 Social Studies 2 World Language Arts 1 P.E.
Curriculum
Mesa Schools Standard Diploma I can go to community college, the military, or technical school.
Mesa Schools Scholastic Diploma
I can go to a 4 year college or university.
AZ University Entrance
English 4
Math
Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, + an additional math
Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, + an advanced math
Science 3
Biology, a physical science, + 1 additional science
Biology, Chemistry, + 2 advanced sciences
Biology, Chemistry, + 1 advanced science
Social Studies
World History, Am. History, Govt./Econ.
World History, Am. History, Govt./Econ 2
Am. History + 1 other social studies
World Language
(same language)
Arts 1
(fine or practical)
(fine: art, music, dance, drama)
(fine)
P.E.
Electives 6
Total 22 20
Grade Point Average
no minimum GPA
3.0 +
take 2 wtd classes
3.0
AIMS
reading, writing, math

7. My study guide…
If I am planning to go straight to a four-year college or university after high school, I need to earn the _________________________ Diploma.
2a. This means that my 4th math credit must be an _____________________ math: any class that is HIGHER than Algebra II.
2b. My 3rd and 4th science class must be _____________________ science classes, such as Physics or a science class with an AP (Advanced Placement) or CP (College Prep) designation.
2c. I must earn ________ World Language credits.
scholastic
advanced
advanced 2

8. My study guide…
2d. I must earn 1 credit in the Fine Arts: ____________________, _________________, _____________________, or ___________________.
2e. I must keep my Grade Point Average at ___________ or higher.
2f. I must take at least two ____________________ classes (Honors, AP, or CP).
art
music
dance
drama
3.0
weighted
3. In order to graduate high school, I must ALSO pass the AIMS in the areas of ________________________, ___________________, and ______________________.
reading
writing
math

9. College Core

10. What are grade points and weighted grades?
Grade points are the numeric equivalent of letter grades
An “A”, for instance equals 4 grade points
Weighted grades are worth additional grade points
A weighted “A” is worth 5 grade points

11. On my study guide…
4. A WEIGHTED grade is different from a regular grade, because I can earn more points on my
Regular GPA: _______ A _______ B _______ C_______ D
Weighted GPA: _______ A _______ B _______ C_______ D 4 3 2 1 5 4 3 2

12. What is a G.P.A.?
GPA is calculated by totaling your grade points and dividing that total by the total number of classes you’ve taken
Total number of classes taken
Total number of grade points earned in all your classes

13. 9th Grade Report Card
Subject
Grade
Points
Credit
English C 2 1
Algebra A 4
World History B 3
Essential Elements of Science
P.E.
Spanish I
Total 17 6
G.P.A. = 2.83 (17/6)

14. My study guide…
5. To figure my GPA, I add up the points I’ve earned for each grade and divide by the number of classes I’ve taken. As I move through high school, my GPA is ____________________, meaning I accumulate grade points throughout the four years.
6. Having a high GPA is important because ___________________ or other educational institutions, including the military, often select students based on their GPA.
cumulative
colleges

15. What is class rank?
Class rank is a measure of how your academic performance compares to other students in your graduating class
Colleges often use class rank as a factor in college admissions and for awarding scholarships

16. The College Core
Beginning with the class of 2013, Mesa Public Schools will use our core courses, or the College Core, as the basis for determining class rank. 
Core courses fall in the categories of English, Math, Science, World Languages, Fine Arts, and Social Studies.  
We will total the number of grade points earned in the 17 core courses and divide that number by 34.  If students take more than the minimum number of core courses, we will take the highest grade points earned in that particular core area.

17. The College Core Courses
Subject Area
Total Credits
Total Semesters
English 4 8
Math
Laboratory Science 3 6
Social Studies
World Language 2
Fine Arts 1
Total 17 34

18. What the College Core is not
College Core is not to be confused with a Grade Point Average (GPA)
GPA is calculated using the sum total of all your grade points and dividing by the total number of classes
The College Core is calculated by adding up your highest grade points in the 17 core academic areas and dividing by 34.

19. My study guide…
7. My __________________ ___________________ is determined by the College Core, and it tells me how high my grades are in relation to other students in my graduating class.
8. Class Rank is important because some colleges and universities admit students based on class rank, and some ______________________ are awarded to students with a high class rank.
9. Only my academic classes (English, math, social studies, science, world language), and fine art classes will be used to determine my ____________________ _______________.
class
rank
scholarships
college
core

20. Calculating your College Core
Total number of grade points earned in the 17 College Core classes
*34
*In calculating the College Core, the divisor is always held at 34.  Thus, students who do not take all of the College Core courses (e.g., a student earning a standard diploma) will always have a lower College Core than a student who took all of the College Core courses.)

23. When and where
Your College Core will first appear on your high school transcript at the completion of your junior year
At the completion of your junior year, we will be dividing by 28, because by this time the maximum number of College Core courses you could have completed is 14
At the completion of the junior year, those students who have taken the most rigorous schedule of advanced courses and earned the most grade points will have the highest College Cores

24. The importance of planning
Those students who have taken the most rigorous schedule of college preparatory courses and earned the most grade points will have the highest College Core and will be ranked highest in their graduating class. 
Those students who do not take College Core courses or have fewer grade points will have lower College Cores and will be ranked lower in their graduating class. 

25. My study guide… rigorous
10. If I take more ______________________ (harder) classes, I will have a higher College Core because I can earn more points for weighted classes.
rigorous

26. Set your plans in motion
Decide what you want to do after you graduate from high school
Decide what classes you’ll need to take to get you where you want to be
Take as many advanced or college preparatory classes as you can
Earn the most grade points you possibly can by earning the best grades you can

27. Service Learning
Earn the Graduation Honor for Excellence in Service Learning by working 150 hours for a non-profit organization between 9th and 12th grades
See Mrs. Bodine during 4th quarter this year to get an application.
Once your application is approved, you will receive a time card to keep track of your hours over the summer.
Next fall, you will turn in your time card to the Service Learning coach at Red Mtn. H.S.

28. My study guide…
11. I can earn the Honor for Excellence in Service Learning by doing at least ___________ hours of community service between _________ and _________ grades.
12. Mrs. ___________________ is the Service Learning coach at Shepherd. I will need to get an application and a time card from her next _____________, before school is out, if I want to do community service over the summer. I will need to turn in my time card next fall to the Service Learning Coach at __________________________________.
150
9th
12th
Bodine
spring
Red Mountain H.S.

29. Kuder Career Navigator
user name: st + ID number
(ex: st111111)
password: ID number (no st)

30. My study guide…
13. I can review my career awareness survey and research careers by going to this website:
________________________________. My user name is __________________________ and my password is ____________________.
14. My four year plan will help me determine which _________________ I want to take in high school.
St + ID number (Ex: st123456)
ID number (Ex: )
classes

31. 8th grade timeline October 14 -18: ACT Explore Exam
December: receive Explore results and determine how they impact plans for high school and beyond
January: Create 4-year plan on Kuder Navigator
February: High School registration
April: AIMS
May: Choices unit with counselors

32. AZ High Honors Tuition Scholarship
The Arizona Board of Regents High Honors Tuition Scholarship (AIMS Scholarship) is a university academic merit scholarship administered by the Arizona Department of Education on behalf of the Arizona Board of Regents.
Qualified students who graduate from high school in 2013 and beyond will receive a 25% in-state university tuition scholarship.

33. Part 1 (Course Competency)
Students must complete all 16 Core Competency Courses by graduation with a B* or better in each unit of credit awarded or receive an acceptable score on the Advance Placement (AP) test or a 4 on the International Baccalaureate (IB) test for that subject area.
The 16 Core Competency Courses as defined by the Arizona Board of Regents Tri-University Admission requirements are: 4 units English; 4 units Math; 3 units Lab Science; 2 units Social Science; 2 units Foreign Language; and 1 unit Fine Arts.
* A "C" in a weighted course in any credit bearing unit of a core course does not convert to a "B". The grade is as reflected on the student's transcript.
- If a student receives a "C" in a core course he/she must complete one of the following options to remain eligible:
Retake the unit of credit and receive a "B" or better
Take an additional unit of credit in that subject matter and receive a “B” or better
Receive an Acceptable Score (See Table 1) on the Advance Placement (AP) Test or a 4 on the International Baccalaureate (IB) test for that subject area

34. Part 2 (GPA/Class Rank)Students must meet at least ONE of the following academic requirements:
Option 1 - GPA: A CORE GPA of 3.50 IN THE 16 CORE COMPETENCY COURSES on an un-weighted 4.00 scale.
Option 2 - Class Rank: Student is in the top 5% of high school graduating class upon graduation.

35. Part 3 (AIMS Exams)Students must meet the following assessment options:
Option 1: EXCEED Standards on all 3 of the AIMS Exams (Reading, Writing, and Math) by the end of junior year. The AIMS Science exam does not count as one of the 3 AIMS exams, for purposes of this scholarship.
Option 2: EXCEED Standards on 2 of the AIMS HS Exams (Reading, Writing, and Math) and MEET Standards on 1 of the AIMS HS Exams by the end of their junior year. Additionally, student would need to receive a minimum score of 3 on any two Advanced Placement tests or a minimum score of 4 on any two International Baccalaureate exams. AP/IB exams may be taken during the senior year. For additional information, see FAQ #12.

36. Part 4 (SAT1/ACT)
Students must meet at least one of the following admissions test options and submit scores to the university they apply to
Option 1: At least a 28 on the ACT test
Option 2: At least a 1300 on the SAT1 test (critical reading & math, excluding essay)