VISD High School Parent Night

COURSE SELECTION

Course SelectionStudents will receive:

Transcript Course Selection Guide

Selection Sheet AP Potential

English II & III Classes:

• Day I: Presentation of Information

• Day II-VI: Individual guidance/selection

• Verification sheets mailed home

• Return changes

Schedule Changes

• Procedures for Schedule ChangesAll students are given the opportunity to select their courses for the next school year during the pre-registration process. The master schedule is then designed to accommodate the students’ requests. Schedule changes can result in overcrowding of classes, which reduces teacher availability for addressing individual student needs.

 

Schedule changes will be made for the following reasons:

• Course for graduation is not scheduled

• Already have credit for a course

• School error

Schedule ChangesLevel Changes:Before any level schedule changes (i.e. a Pre-AP/AP course to a regular course) are considered, the following interventions and/or strategies are required:

 

• Schedule parent-teacher conference

• Attend class daily

• Complete missing assignments

• Attend tutorials before and/or after school

The grades earned at the previous level of the course will transfer with the student to the new course. Failure to complete required summer assignments will not be considered for a schedule change.

Foundation Curriculum + Endorsement = 26 credits

English Language Arts (4 credits)• English I*• English II*• English III• Advanced English Course

Physical Education • One credit

Mathematics (3 credits + 1 endorsement math credit)• Algebra I*• Geometry• Advanced Mathematics Course• Math Endorsement Course

Languages Other Than English• Two credits in the same language Or• Computer Science I & II

Science (3 credits + 1 endorsement science credit)• Biology*• IPC or Advanced Science Course• Advanced Science Course• Science Endorsement Course

Fine Arts• One credit

Social Studies (3 credits)• World Geography or World History• U.S. History*• U.S. Government (1/2 credit)• Economics (1/2 credit)

Health Speech• ½ credit ½ credit

Electives• 4 credits + 2 endorsement elective

credits

Foundation High School ProgramEligible for general admission to institutions of higher education

*Course has a required EOC assessment (Page 2 of the Graduation Toolkit)

Enhancements Additionally, a student may earn the Distinguished Level of Achievement and/or a Performance Acknowledgment for outstanding performance. The Distinguished Level of Achievement must be earned to be admitted to a Texas public university under the Top 10 percent automatic admission law.

Distinguished Level of Achievement Performance Acknowledgments

• Foundation Program requirements • dual credit courses

• 4 credits in math including Algebra II • bilingualism and biliteracy

• 4 credits in science • PSAT, ACT’s Plan, SAT or ACT

• at least one endorsement • Advanced Placement

• earning a nationally or internationally recognized business or industry

certification or license

Endorsement Offerings

(Page 5 of the Graduation Toolkit)

Page 10 of the Course Guide

Career and Technical Education

• Engineering

• Health and Medical

• Law Enforcement

• Fire Fighting

• Information Technology

• Instrumentation and Electronics

• Process Technology

• Cosmetology

• Welding

• Education and Training

• Oil and Gas Production

• Auto Technology

• Collision Repair

• Agriculture Science

• Career Preparation

• Construction Technology

• Video Game Programming

• Architectural Design

• Graphic Design

• Business

*Page 58 of the Course Guide

Page 64 of the Course Guide

College and Career Readiness

• Dual Credit offerings-45 courses (page 17 of the course guide)

• Over $3 million in scholarships were awarded to VISD students in 2013-14

• College Resource Handbook

• Interest Inventories- Career Cruising & My Plan

• College Access and Resource Success Center (CARS) - College advisors at East and West High School

College readinessPre-AP Courses English* – 6th, 7th, & 8th grades, English I, English II

Math – 6th, 7th, & 8th grades, Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Precalculus

Social Studies – 6th, 7th & 8th grades, World Geography

Science – 6th, 7th & 8th grades, Biology, Chemistry, PhysicsAdvanced CoursesAdvanced Academic Skills & TPSP (AP weight)

ACT/SAT Preparation (1/2 credit, Pre-AP weight)

Forensic Science, Animal Science, Anatomy & Physiology, Engineering Design & Problem Solving (Pre-AP weight)

* Students enrolled in Pre-AP English classes (8th – 10th grades) will be required to complete a summer reading assignment.

College readinessAdvanced Placement Courses English* –English Language & Composition (English 3), English Literature & Composition (English 4)

Math – Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Statistics, Computer Science

Social Studies – World History, US History, Government & Politics, Macroeconomics, Psychology, European History, Human Geography

Science – Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Science

Fine Arts – Art History, Music Theory, Studio Art: 2D Design, Studio Art: 3D Design, Studio Art: Drawing

Foreign Language – Spanish Language & Culture

• Students enrolled in AP English classes will be required to complete a summer reading assignment.

• All students enrolled in AP courses will take the corresponding AP exam.

Why is the PSAT so important?

• PSAT/NMSQT – 11th Grade

• Testing opportunities begin in 8th grade

• AP Potential

• Aligned to the redesigned SAT

• National Merit Scholarship Competition – 11th grade• Semifinalist & Finalist– many universities offer scholarship

packages to students

• National Merit Scholars receive National Merit, corporate and university scholarships

College Readiness

• SAT Prep classes – offered multiple times throughout the year in the evenings

• SAT & ACT Boot Camps – offered during the school day

• SAT/ACT Prep course – ½ credit, receiving advanced weighting for GPA

REGISTE

R NOW!

SAT/ACT Preparation

January 27, 2015East HS

Beginning January 26, 2015

West HS

Free online test prephttps://

www.khanacademy.org/sat

VISD Proud!