Course Planning&

College and Career ReadinessJ.R. Tucker High School

School Counseling Department February 6, 2012

Student Scheduling Calendar

• January 9-13 School Counselors visit English classes and Middle Schools to review the HCPS Planning Guide and draft CRRS (Course Recommendation and

Request Sheet) and present on course planning & graduation requirements. You may also access the Planning Guide on the HCPS website at http://henrico.k12.va.us/Pdf/Instruction/PlanningGuide.pdf

• January 23 – 27 Online teacher recommendation window – all English, Math, Social Studies, Science, and Health/PE teachers will complete their recommendations in the online CRRS system

• February 1 Elective Fair during the school day for students; parents are welcome to visit.• February 6 CRRS forms distributed to students (this form will have the English, Math,

Social Studies, Science, and Health/PE recommendations already printed on them from the online system)

• February 6-9 Students will pick elective and World Language courses and obtain any teacher signatures on the CRRS

• February 10 Students must turn in the CRRS to Homeroom • March 15 Parent Override Deadline (this first deadline guarantees the student a spot in

the class – unless it conflicts with another course in the final schedule).• April 27 Final Parent Override Deadline (if space is available in the class)• May CVS (Course Verification Sheets) sent home. The CVS is the student and

family’s last opportunity to double check that the correct courses and levels are requested before the June 15th deadline

• June 15 Last day of school and the last day to change any course requests

Graduation & Diploma Requirements

This information is also available in the HCPS Planning Guide for Students and Parents pages 8.STANDARD DIPLOMA COURSE REQUIREMENTSDiscipline Area Standard Credits Effective

with students entering ninth grade in 2003-04 through 2010-2011

Standard Credits Effective with students entering ninth grade in 2011-2012

Verified Credits – Effective for ninth graders: 2003-04 and beyond

English 4 4 2Mathematics 3 3 1Laboratory Science 3 3 1History & Social Sciences 3 3 1

Health & Physical Education 2 2

Fine Arts or Career & Technical Education

1

World Language, Fine Arts or Career & Technical Education

2

Economics & Personal Finance 1

Electives 6 4 Student Selected Test 1Total 22 22 6

Graduation & Diploma RequirementsThis information is also available in the HCPS Planning Guide for Students and Parents page 9.

ADVANCED STUDIES DIPLOMA COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Discipline Area Standard Credits Effective with students entering ninth grade in 2003-04 through 2010-2011

Standard Credits Effective with students entering ninth grade in 2011-2012

Verified Credits – Effective for ninth graders: 2003-04 and beyond

English 4 4 2

Mathematics 4 4 2

Laboratory Science 4 4 2

History & Social Sciences 4 4 2

World Languages 3 or 2 & 2 3 or 2 & 2

Health & Physical Education 2 2

Fine Arts or Career & Technical Education

1 1

Economics & Personal Finance 1

Electives 2 3

Student Selected Test 1

Total 24 26 9

Course Planning for College & Career Readiness

• English– 4 years – Levels

• Social Studies– Offerings and graduation requirements– “So why did I take WHI in the 8th grade?”

• Mathematics– “Why should I take more the minimum requirement?”

• Science– “Why should I take 4 content areas within science?”

• World Languages– The benefits of the study of World Languages

• Electives– Adding Rigor and Relevance to your transcript

The VASS grant at J.R. Tucker High School

Goal 1 – Increase the number of students enrolled in AP MSE classes

Subject 2008-2009

2009-2010Year 1 of VASS grant

2010-2011Year 2 ofVASSgrant

2011-2012*benchmark groupYear 3 of VASS grant

% increase from 2009-2012

English 80 166 242 211 163%

Math 33 81 128 101 206%

Science 25 99 203 220 780%

The VASS grant at J.R. Tucker High School

Goal 2 – Increase the number of MSE qualifying scores

Additionally, J.R. Tucker High School ranked 33rd in the state and 4th in the Richmond Metro Area for performance on AP Math, Science, and English exams for 2011.

Subject 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 % increase in QS from 2009-2011

English 58 118 144 148%

Math 23 49 66 186%

Science 11 49 86 681%

College Admissions1. Rigor of academic record2. Academic performance3. Test Scores

College Admissions TestsSAT• An Aptitude Test that measures

future predicted ability in Critical Reading, Math, and Writing

• The “old” scale (1600) only takes Critical Reading & Math into consideration

• At least 2, no more than 3

• Start in the spring of Junior year (take AP & SOL testing into consideration)

• Is it a “good” score?

• www.collegeboard.com

ACT• An Achievement Test that

measures what level of learning or knowledge have you achieved throughout high school. 4 sections: English, Mathematics, Reading (Social Studies, Natural Sciences, Prose Fiction, Humanities), Science + Optional Writing section (for an additional fee).

• Should I take the optional Writing section? www.actstudent.org/writing/

• One test – before the end of junior year or early fall senior year.

• www.actstudent.org

SAT & ACT Test Dates for Spring 2012U.S. SAT Registration Deadlines2010-11Test Dates

Test Regular Registration Deadline(postmark/submit by)

March 10, 2012 SAT only February 10, 2012May 10, 2012 SAT & Subject Tests April 6, 2012June 2, 2012 SAT & Subject Tests May 8, 2012

ACT Test Date Registration Deadline

April 14, 2012 March 9, 2012

June 9, 2012 May 4, 2012

September 8, 2012 *registration deadlines for 2012-2013 will be posted in March 2012

October 27, 2012

SAT Subject Tests (formerly known as SAT II’s)

• Student’s responsibility to know if they are required or recommended for the college of choice (www.collegeboard.com)

• Which?• When?

Prep Courses: What to consider- What are you shopping for?- Cost - What do you hope to get out of it?

- Materials and resources?- Homework and accountability?- Practice and diagnostic tests?- Strategies?- A score guarantee?

SAT Test Preparation Available to students and parents any time –

www.collegeboard.com1. The Official SAT Question of the Day –

Answer a different SAT practice question every day for FREE! (*5th period class)

2. The Official SAT Practice Test – A FREE practice test scored with detailed answer explanations to help you better understand where you need to improve.

SAT Test Preparation FREE SAT test prep at J.R. Tucker High

School!• Triumph College Admissions (TCA) test prep• College Board Online SAT Program:

– SAT Question of the day– AE Reading exercises (bimonthly)– Math review

• Integrated in our instruction:– Reading and Writing Across the curriculum

What’s Next … • Visit your school counselor … • Scheduling deadlines

– May CVS– June 15, 2012 last day of school & last

day to make changes to course requests• Work on the “top three”

– Challenge yourself– Do your best– Prepare for standardized tests