High School Graduation Info. for Parents:

What is needed?What has changed?What is available?

What do you need to know?

Requirements for Graduation:

Must satisfy all 3 of the below areas to graduate: 1) Need to pass specific courses (ie. 4 yrs. of English, etc.) 2) Need to pass specific exams (Regents = Common Core) 3) Need to accumulate > 22 credits*Not satisfying any of the above requirements – will not graduate! (extra yr. of HS or summer school/August graduate?)_____________________________________________Keep in mind long range planning, such as: - NCAA (college athletics)? (Approved courses?) - College bound? (Course rigor! Take college, &/or AP.) - Vocational/Trade (BOCES)? (Can’t be failing/behind.)

Graduation Requirements: Courses• English 9, *10, *11, *12 = 4 cr.• Glob. 1, *Glob. 2, *US Hist., *PIG/Econ = 4 cr.• Three math courses (which ones depends on ability and dipl. type)= 3 cr. (must

be Regents/college/AP level for NCAA!)• Three science course (which ones depends on ability and dipl. type)= 3cr. (must

be Regents/college/AP level for NCAA!)• Four Gym/PE classes =2 cr.• One credit in Art or Music= 1 cr.• Health = .5 cr. (or *Allied Health)• At least Spanish 1 cr. (highly encouraged to take additional ones)= 1 cr.

Total = 18.5 credits

Must accumulate > 22 credits though! Remaining credits=electives.

*AP & college level courses count towards these requirements

Required “Regents” Exams: by diploma type

NYS has transitioned from Regents to Common Core Exams (“CC”) for several subjects.

Regents Diploma: -ELA cc (Eng. 11) -Social Studies: Global 2 & US History -Math: 1 Reg. Exam (Alg 1cc, Geom cc or Alg 2 cc) -Science: 1 Reg. Exam (E. Sci., Liv. Env., Chem. or Physics) = Total of 5 Regents Exams

(Note: A Local Diploma is still available for students identified with a disability. Must still take Regents Exams though. Scores on Regents Exams may be < 65% for these students.)

(Regents Exams continued)

Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation (“Advanced Regents Diploma”): -ELA cc (Eng. 11) -Social Studies: Global 2 & US History(+2) -Math: 3 Reg. Exam (Alg 1, Geom. and Alg 2)(+1) -Science: 2 Reg. Exam - Liv. Env. and any 1 of remaining 3: E. Sci., Chem. or Physics)(+1?) - Plus take and pass Spanish 3 and Span. 3 Regents or replace with a 5 credit major in: art,music,business,tech,or BOCES. = Total of 8 or 9 Regents Exams (depends on Span.)

Honors/Merit/Annotation of Mastery

• Based on Regents Exam Scores Only (not GPA)– Honors Distinction: add up all Regents Exam scores required for the

diploma type (Regents=5; Adv. Regents=8) and divide by that number of exams (Spanish Regents is not included). If > 90%, then Honors.

– Merit Distinction: add up all Regents Exam scores required for the diploma type (Regents=5; Adv. Regents=8) and divide by that number of exams.

If > 85-89.9%, then Merit. (no Span.)_______________________________________________Annotation of Mastery, on Adv. Reg. Diploma only: Annotation of Mastery Math: >85% on all 3 Math Reg. ExamsAnnotation of Mastery Sci.: >85% on 3 Sci. Reg. Exams

Where is all this data kept?On the high school transcript! • Every HS student has a transcript in progress

– Starts in grade 9, and some 8th grade courses applyWhat is on it?

-current yr. courses are listed-courses taken every year (whether passed or failed)

-final average in the courses-Regents/cc Exam scores (if taken more than once, only

highest score is shown- so students should retake!)-AP,ACT,and SAT scores (redesigned SAT discussion later)-Cumulative GPA (weighted & unweighted) and class rank

• Transcripts (proof of graduation) required by colleges, military, NCAA, & many employers.

What Do College Admissions Look At?

1) Cumulative GPA (typically weighted ave.) & class rank -Includes any grade 8 HS courses/credits, plus gr. 9-11

• When apply in fall senior yr. – no senior grades yet BUT most colleges ask for mid-year grades and all will require a FINAL transcript! List of senior yr. courses.

2) SAT or ACT test scores -also important for merit scholarships (GPA and SAT/ACT score … higher =more $)3) What courses were taken to get GPA? Course/exam grades in the intended major? More course rigor is best – especially for more selective colleges- (College & AP which are weighted more to give a higher GPA). School profile sent with transcript which lists all available College & AP courses.4) Letters of recommendations, activities/volunteerism, leadership, student contact with admissions (college fair, campus tour/visit, college rep. visit to HS, etc.)

What does a HS Transcript look like?

• Transcript examples from past graduates: 1st- Excellent - Ivy League College2nd- Good- 4 yr. SUNY College3rd- Poor – Graduated in August then military

*We have added several college and AP courses since these students have graduated.

More About Transcripts

• Take the most rigorous courses possible!– The more selective the college, the more rigorous

the courses need to take throughout HS.-College admissions folks know the difference between a good GPA with regular courses and a good GPA with college/AP courses.-College and AP courses are weighted higher!

-course wt. translates into a higher wt. GPA/rank

-also benefit by accruing coll. credits in HS

Transcript, though important, is not “The end all, be all!”

• Besides paying attention to the academics, work on “well-roundedness”.– Be involved in something and take a leadership

role if possible! Resume builder ( for coll. applications and scholarships)• Can be community/volunteer service, sports, clubs,

peer tutoring, employment, etc.• Don’t have to spread self thin. Pick an interest and get

involved. Getting very involved in one, or a few things, is better than doing little for many activities.

Finally…

Students must do the homework, study for tests/quizzes, ask for help (no ‘magic bullet’)

Students struggling in the core content areas? -Besides staying after school, tutoring/AIS

is available.Good academic upperclassman students can become peer tutors (receive HS credit & is good resume content).

Recap: What was covered?

• Requirements: Graduation/diploma type, Honors/Merit/Annotation of Mastery

• Transcripts: Data (grades/scores) listed, need for as much course rigor student can handle

• Well-roundedness: Activities/leadership positions that are almost as important as academics

Not covered: Redesigned SAT-starting Mar. 2016Questions???