SOPHOMORE PARENT MEETING

Jennifer Spurgers A-CWendy Risner D-HeSusan Palmore Hi-MiAlice Rogers Mo-Sc

Jill Lauck Se-ZJulie Johnson College/Career

Credits

Students earn .5 credit point for each semester class they pass. The UIL sets the standards for classification:

5 credits = sophomore10 credits = junior15 credits = senior• It doesn’t matter that a student takes

a class – what matters is that they pass the class for the semester and are awarded the credit.

• Passing is a grade of 70 or higher.

Attendance• Credits denied due to absences

-It is required by law, that a student must be in attendance at least 90% of each class, in order to receive credit for class.    [TEC Sec. 25.092]

• If not, they may be required to attend Saturday school.

Graduation Plans

Recommended Plan:• 4 x 4• ½ credit Communication Application

(Speech)• 2 years of the same Foreign Language• 1 credit of PE (or PE equivalent)• 1 credit of Fine Arts• TEA removed 1.0 credit of Technology, 0.5 of PE, and 0.5 of

Health and added 2.0 credits of Electives

Four Year PlanGrade Course 1 Course 2 Course 3 Course 4 Course 5 Course 6 Course 7

9English 1Reg. Pre-AP

MathAlg. 1 or GeometryReg. Pre-AP

BiologyReg. Pre-AP

WorldGeographyReg. Pre-AP

10English 2Reg. Pre-AP

MathGeom. Or Alg. 2Reg. Pre-AP

ScienceIPC or Chem.Reg. Pre-AP

WorldHistoryReg. Pre-AP

11

English 3Reg. AP

Dual

MathAlg. 2 or PreCal.Reg. Pre-AP

ScienceChem. Or PhysicsReg. Pre-AP

U.S. HistoryReg. AP

Dual

12

English 4Reg. AP

Dual

MathStudent

choiceReg. Pre-AP AP

ScienceStudent

choiceReg. Pre-AP AP

Government/EconomicsReg. AP

Dual

The following courses are required. However, they may be taken at any time during their high school career:

Fine Arts (1.0)Comm. Applications (.5)PE/PE Equivalent (1.0)Foreign Language (2.0 of the same language)Electives (5.5)

These, along with the mandatory 4 x 4, complete the requirements for the Recommended Graduation Plan.

Distinguished Achievement

• Recommended Plan PLUS a third year of a Foreign Language

• There are additional measures, such as high scores on at least 4 AP tests or earning a 3.0 on college classes

Graduation Plans

GPA/Class Rank• GPA/Class Rank is recalculated at the

end of each semester.• Top 10% of the Senior Class is

granted automatic admission to Texas 4-year public institutions – except at The University of Texas. Because of high numbers of applicants, they will only be taking the top 8%.

GPA

Grade points differ for regular vs. PreAP/AP classes:

Regular PreAP/AP90-100 (A) 4 580-89 (B) 3 475-79 (C) 2 370-74 (D) 1 2Below 70 (F) 0 0

GPA

PreAP/AP Grade Reg. 4 84 3 5 91 4 add up points

9 7 divide by number of semesters (2)

4.5 GPA 3.5

Changing from PreAP to regular classes

• A student must remain in a PreAP class for the entire year to receive the extra grade point.

• Students cannot be changed from PreAP to regular during the last six weeks of each semester (3rd & 6th six weeks).

TAKS Test Dates

March 1 ELAApril 26 MathApril 28 ScienceApril 29 Social Studies

Benefits of passing TAKS• Finals exemptions! If your child passes all 4

TAKS tests, he will be exempt from ALL of his (spring) finals. However, he must still attend closure or he will receive a zero on the final.

• Also, if your child needs to take the final in order to pass the class, please encourage him to do so.

• Example – Say this student passed all TAKS tests, but his six weeks grades for a class were 68, 68, and 68 – This student needs to take and pass the final to receive credit.

Benefits of passing TAKS

• For Dual credit classes, passing ELA and Math (with a 2200 or higher) and a 3 or higher on the Written Composition means that they are TSI ready

PSAT

• It's a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT®. It also gives students a chance to enter NMSC scholarship programs and gain access to college and career planning tools.

• Wednesday, Oct. 13• If your child is in PreAP English, he/she must

take PSAT and anyone can sign up through his/her English teacher.

• Results from the PSAT test are expected in December. Scores will be handed out in English class.

• Sorry, but it’s too late to sign up now.

PLAN Test

• As a "pre-ACT" test, PLAN is a powerful predictor of success on the ACT. At the same time, many schools recognize the importance of PLAN testing for all students, as it focuses attention on both career preparation and improving academic achievement.

• This is for sophomores only and is required by the district.

• Test date is in October.

Scheduling - February

• Students will be given a credit sheet (see example) with grades for classes they have had.

• We highlight on their credit sheet what classes they need for next year.

Dual Credit / Concurrent Classes

• Dual Credit means students get high school and college credit while still in high school.

• Concurrent means that the class is only for college credit.

• Dual credit for 2010-11: – On campus through Vernon College

–English III and US History

Dual Credit Info

• TSI – Texas Success Initiative - are students college ready?

• Scholarships are available from WFISD and Vernon College.

College NightCollege Night

•College representatives will be present to give students and parents information about their programs

•Thursday, December 2, 2010•Region 9 Education Service

Center on Loop 11

College

• It's never too early to start researching and gathering information.

• Check college websites for H.S. requirement and deadlines

• Check the Rider Counselors’ website

Websites• SAT www.collegeboard.com• ACT www.actstudent.org• Financial Aid www.fafsa.ed.gov You

can look at FAFSA 4caster for estimated cost of college.

• Rider Counselors’ Office website http://www.wfisd.net/108920102411330847/site/default.asp

• Career search resources in Mrs. Johnson’s office or online (ACT & SAT)

Thank you And

Good Night!!