1. Class of 2019 Registration for Sophomore Classes Independence High School Home of the Knights

2. Freshman, registration for next year’s classes will be beginning soon! The IHS counselors will be meeting with you February 12 th - 18 th. Here is some information for you in order to prepare!

3. Academic & Course Catalog Academic & Course Catalog The Academic & Course Catalogs are online! You can find the complete 2016-17 Academic Guide and Course Catalog online on the Frisco ISD website at:

4. How Many Credits are Required to Graduate? A student needs 26 credits in order to graduate. A half-credit is earned each semester for each class passed with a 70 or above average. Next year, as a sophomore, you must must take 8 classes.

5. Graduation Plans- What Credits are required to graduate SubjectCreditsRequired Courses English4English 1, 2, 3, 4 Math4Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra II, 4 th math Science4Biology, Chemistry, Physics, 4 th science OR Biology, IPC, Chemistry, Physics Social Studies4World Geo, World History, U.S. History, Government & Economics Foreign Language2Spanish, French, Chinese, ASL* 1 & 2 P.E.1P.E., Athletics/Training, Fall Band, Fall Color Guard, Drill Team, Cheer, Dance (not an option for athletes) Health.5Health, Health Science (Pre-req: Medical Terminology) Speech.5Professional Communications Fine Arts1Art, Theater Arts, Choir, Band, Dance, Orchestra, DGA, Elements of Floral Design (grade 10+) Technology1BIM, Digital Interactive Media, DGA, Computer Science, Web Technologies, Computer Maintenance, Yearbook, Video Technology, Broadcast, IED, + possible additions Electives (Endorsements) 4 Total26 *ASL does not meet all college admissions requirements. **Chinese is online and ASL may be online. Freshman PLEASE REVIEW:

6. Arts & Humanities Political Science, World Languages, Cultural Studies, Literature, History, Fine Arts Business & Industry Information Technology, Finance, Architecture, Ag Science Freshman must also earn an Endorsement during high school (by taking classes in one (or more) of these areas:

7. All IHS students will earn a Multi-Disciplinary endorsement by taking the 4 core classes each year. Additional endorsements will be earned simply by the classes you take in high school. Public Services Doctor, Nurse, Criminal Investigator, Law Clerk, Teacher, Athletic Trainer STEM Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics Endorsements continued

8. What counts as an elective credit? Any course taken that is not on the required list of classes, is an elective. This includes extra math, science, technology, etc. courses.

9. What’s Different About AP Courses? AP courses provide COLLEGE-LEVEL curriculum. Requires more independent work outside of class Take the same 3-hour AP exam at the same specified time in May as other students across the nation AP Exam scores range from 1 - 5 Students scoring a 3, 4, or 5 may be eligible for college credit

10. Should I Sign Up for On-Level or Pre-AP/AP in a Subject? Pre-AP/AP provides additional weight points and colleges like to see these on your transcript if you do well. Consult with your teachers in that subject area; they know your abilities and study habits best. Talk with your counselor and your parents. Pre-AP/AP schedule changes only allowed after first six-weeks grading cycle and at semester.

11. New for 2016-17 AP CAPSTONE Program AP Capstone is a two year sequence of courses- AP Seminar and AP Research. AP Seminar will be offered in 2016-17 for any 10 th -12 th grader. AP Seminar focuses on college-level analysis, writing, and research skills. This class will count as an additional Social Studies credit. For more information, make plans to attend the AP Capstone information night on: January 20 th at 6:00 pm in the IHS auditorium

12. Class Rank Class Rank is used for College Admission purposes. Rank is computed by Grade Point Average. Junior rank determines college admissions. Pre-AP, AP and college courses receive additional grade points. No points earned for failed classes. Refer to the Academic Guide for GPA guidelines. Class rank for 9 th graders will be posted to Family Connection in mid-February—make sure that your email address is current in Family Connection!

13. Rank in Class Policy Rank in class, honor graduate status, valedictorian and salutatorian determination shall be based on a weighted grade point average (GPA) system. Grades will be weighted according to the level of the course. AP/PAPDual Credit RegularGrade Point 951005.5 94995.4 93985.3 92975.2 91965.1 90951005.0 8994994.9 8893984.8 8792974.7 8691964.6 8590954.5 8489944.4

14. A Rank Example A Rank Example (Use Your Semester Grades to calculate) On-level English – 89 = 3.9 grade points Pre-AP W. Geog – 88 = 4.8 grade points Algebra 1 – 68 = 0 grade points On-level Biology – 79 = 2.9 grade points Add the grade points: 3.9 + 4.8 + 0 + 2.9 = 11.6 Divide 11.6 by 4 = 2.9 GPA

15. What Counts in College Admissions? Source: NACAC Admission Trends Survey 2011

16. Top 10% Rule Class Rank and GPA are used to determine if you are in the “Top 10%” of your class. Students who are in the top 10% of their class (end of junior year) are automatically accepted into Texas public colleges. (UT Austin is now top 8%)

17. Promotion to 10 th Grade To become a sophomore, you must have at least 6 total credits at the end of this year!

18. Plan Carefully Some classes have prerequisites. Consult the course catalog and plan your schedule carefully. Example of a prerequisite: You must take Medical Terminology before you can take Health Science I. Pay attention to what you must first take in order to get to your ultimate goal. This is very important for CTE classes!

19. Programs Needing Applications or Teacher Approval at IHS: Teacher Approval or Audition: Band Orchestra Choir Athletics Off Campus PE – Contact Sally Turner at district Applications: Music Theory Athletic Trainer Broadcast 2 & 3 Yearbook 2 & 3 Partner’s P E Teen Leadership 2 **All applications can be picked up in the counseling office starting February 1st!

20. Interested in Student Congress? Do not sign up for Student Congress on your course verification sheet (when you meet with the counselors in February). There will be an application process later in April for next year’s Student Congress!

21. Schedule Changes No elective changes, including alternates, will be made after April 15, 2016. Only approved program changes (in or out of athletics, band, etc.) can be made the first two weeks of the new semester. PAP and AP students must complete the first six-weeks grade cycle before a change to on-level will be considered.

22. Thinking of Summer School??? The following courses are typically offered in summer school for advancement: Business Information Mgmt (1 credit) Digital & Interactive Media (1 credit) Health (.5 credit) Professional Communications (.5 credit) Medical Terminology (.5 credit) IPC (Integrated Physics & Chemistry) (1 credit) Summer school registration information is available on the FISD website in late April. **Can take up to 1 full credit in summer school. Summer school grades do NOT count into GPA.**

23. Career Planner in HAC Want to update your courses before you meet with your counselor in February? Starting January 15 th, IHS students can update courses in Home Access under the “Class” icon by selecting the “Career Planner” tab.

24. Career Planner in HAC This is an assignment you will complete on your own, if you choose. Login to Home Access and modify your 4-year plan to reflect your new courses for the upcoming year(s). This online function will close January 24 th. The counselors will meet with you in February to review your selections and make any needed changes.

25. Dates to Remember Jan. 15 th -24 th - Career Planner turned on in HAC for students to update 4 year plan if they choose to February 12 th - 18th – Counselors will meet individually with all freshman February 24 th - all course verification forms due back to the IHS counseling office ***If you do not turn in your course verification sheet, we will choose classes for you. ***Complete the alternate classes or we choose those for you! Alternates that end up on your schedule next year cannot be changed!

26. IHS Counselors  Heather Holmes (A-B)  holmesh@friscoisd.org holmesh@friscoisd.org  Rosalyn Greer (C – J)  greerr@friscoisd.org greerr@friscoisd.org  Katie Puente (K-Q)  puentek@friscoisd.org puentek@friscoisd.org  Jason Wooden (R-Z)  woodenj@friscoisd.org woodenj@friscoisd.org We look forward to seeing you in a few weeks for registration!