Aiming for CollegeMaking the Best High School Choices to

Meet Your College-Going Goals

Recommended High School Program vs. Distinguished Achievement Program

Pre-Advanced Placement Advanced Placement Dual Credit Auditing Classes Making the top 10% -- and what to do if you

don’t Improving your chances for scholarships PSAT/SAT/ACT Tests

Topics

The Deer Park HS Program of StudiesFind the DPHS Program of Studies at the Deer Park ISD website (www.dpisd.org under Parent Quick Links

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS?

26 credits The default curriculum for Texas high school

students Includes a “4x4” of core area class: 4

English; 4 Social Studies, 4 Math and 4 Science courses

Offers courses that give you the best opportunity to succeed in technical school, community college or a four-year university in Texas.

Recommended High School Program

The State of Texas seeks to recognize those students with exceptional achievement in high school. The DAP is for those students whose accomplishments are of such caliber as to be acknowledged on a national level.

Distinguished Achievement Program

Goes beyond the RHSP by requiring advanced schoolwork that reflects college- or professional-level skills by completing any combination of four advanced measures:1. Score 3 or above on a College Board Advanced

Placement Exam. Each exam counts as 1 measure.2. Complete original research or project under the

direction of mentor(s), judged by qualified professionals and reported to a qualified audience.

3. Earn a PSAT score that qualifies you as an award recipient in a variety of College Board or NMSQT programs.

4. Earn a grade of 3.0 or higher on dual-credit courses.

The Distinguished Achievement Program

Other requirements include an additional year of foreign language (3

rather than 2) and more stringent requirements as to course choices in math and science. This also drops the required number of elective courses from 4 to 3 (the foreign language replaces an elective).

Distinguished Achievement Program

PAP English I PAP World Geography AP Human Geography* Honors Algebra PAP Geometry PAP Algebra II PAP Biology PAP Spanish/French/German

Honors Level Courses

Courses available at North Campus for 9th Graders

A more rigorous course offering, which moves more quickly, covers content at a greater depth, and builds critical-thinking and reading skills.

Pre-AP courses provide excellent preparation for later Advanced Placement® courses

Honors and Pre-AP courses (and dual-credit and AP courses) receive a weighted GPA.

What is a Pre-AP or Honors Course?

Program of Studies, Page 4

How Many?

AP classes offer unique learning experiences that will help you succeed in college. Through AP courses and exams, you can earn college credit and stand out in the admissions process.

AP classrooms engage students in intense discussions, collaborative problem-solving, and learning to write clearly and persuasively.

Advanced Placement Courses

AP courses help students acquire the skills and habits needed to be successful in

college. Students improve writing skills, sharpen

problem-solving abilities, and develop time management skills, discipline, and study habits.

Most four-year colleges in the US and in more than 60 other countries give students credit on the basis of AP Exam scores.

AP Courses

English Literature English Language World History U.S. History Government Economics Calculus AB/BC Statistics Biology

Chemistry Physics C Studio Art French Language Spanish Language German Language Computer Science

AP Courses at SC

Open to juniors and seniors Taught by San Jacinto College professors at

SJC Students who receive a 70 or better receive

high school and college credit* Deer Park ISD pays the tuition for selected

courses taken during the regular school year

Students must meet SCJ entrance requirements

Dual Credit

U.S. History Sociology Psychology English IV Government Economics Automotive

Technology Cosmetology Geology

BCIS Math (College

Algebra and Trigonometry) if Pre-Calculus completed at DPHS – Dual enrollment but not credit

Other CATE courses as approved

Dual Credit Courses

When a student audits a course, they receive a pass/fail rather than a grade. This is of benefit to students who are in the

race to the top 10%. Only Juniors and Seniors who have a GPA of

4.9 or better can participate. Maximum of 2 courses/year. No core academic courses or foreign

language courses may be audited.

Auditing Courses

Start strong Grades matter Number of weighted GPA courses matters

(PAP/AP/Dual Credit/Honors) Auditing courses may make a difference In general, juniors at large begin to “kick it

in” – that means that those who started strong have an advantage, but only if they stay on track.

Making the Top 10%

Don’t give up hope Check the admissions criteria (know those

websites!) for your colleges of choice Have all of the other ducks in a row

◦ Rigorous coursework◦ SAT/ACT Scores◦ GPA◦ Volunteer Hours◦ Extra-curricular Activities

What to do if you don’t

1. Grades in AP Courses2. Difficulty of student’s course curriculum3. Admission tests scores (SAT and/or ACT)4. Overall grade point average5. Essay or writing sample6. Student’s demonstrated interest in

attending a particular college

College Admissions:What Counts?

8) Class rank9) Counselor recommendation10) Teacher recommendations11) AP subject test scores12) Interview13) Extracurricular activities14) SAT Subject Test Scores

What Counts?

2011 was the hardest year to get in to College College applicants are more interested in

Southern schools International Student Applications are Surging 73% of colleges and universities experienced

an increase in applications The typical school accepted 65.5% of its

applicants 48% of schools use a wait list – more selective

schools are most likely to use them

Trends in College Admissions

The acceptance rate for students who applied early-decision was 57% versus 50% for regular applicants.

Homeschoolers are on the rise Public schools are accepting more out-of-

state students Approximately 20.4 million students are

enrolled in college 56% of enrolled college freshmen are

female The average application fee is $40

Trends

Keep a journal of your awards, volunteer hours, etc… Start researching scholarships now Don’t start applying until your senior year If you qualify, absolutely make sure you are

on the free/reduced lunch records

Getting scholarships

Take the PSAT in 9th, 10th, and 11th grades◦ Currently DPISD pays for all 10th graders to take

the PSAT Nationwide, students who take the PSAT

perform better on the SAT test than students who did not, and each subsequent testing tends to improve students’ SAT scores.

Juniors who take the PSAT are entered into the National Merit Scholarship Competition.

The PSAT/NMSQT

Most Texas colleges and universities will use SAT scores as a college-entrance

exam The SAT is a timed test made up of 3

sections◦ Critical Reading◦ Mathematics◦ Critical Writing

Students who take the SAT more than once tend to improve their scores

The SAT is offered multiple times each year

The SAT Test

Most Texas colleges and universities will use ACT scores as a college-entrance

exam. The ACT is a timed exam made up of 4

sections◦ English◦ Mathematics◦ Reading◦ Science

The ACT is also offered several times each year.

The ACT Test

Websites◦ www.collegefortexans.com

◦ www.collegeboard.com

◦ www.hechingerreport.org

◦ www.dpisd.org

Helpful Information

Lisa Meyer Director of Social Studies and Advanced

Academic Programs 832-668-7112 lmeyer@dpisd.org

DPHS – North Campus Counselors Meagan Kiefer & Christine Frames 832-668-7305

Contact Information