College Planning Night For Parents of Students In Grades 9 and 10

WELCOME  Introduce Guidance Staff Members  Tonight’s agenda  Copy of slides available at the end of our presentation  Time Flies—You have to start now!

SCHEDULES AND SCHEDULING Completing the requirements to graduate from high school is not enough to get into college. Colleges are looking for students who complete more than just the minimum requirements.

SCHEDULES AND SCHEDULING Graduation Requirements:  Language Arts—4 years  Math—3 years  Science—3 years  Social Studies—3 years  Health & Physical Education—4 years  World Language—1 year  Visual/Performing Arts—1 year  21 st Century Life and Careers or Technology—1 year  Financial Literacy—1 Semester

SCHEDULES AND SCHEDULING A typical freshman schedule with academic classes: (Not in order) 1. Physical Education/Health 9 2. English 9 Academic 3. World History Academic 4. Integrated Science Academic 5. Algebra 1 Academic (with lab) 6. World Language (Spanish 2 for most students) 7. Financial Literacy/Business Elective 8. Study (or Band or Academic Support) 9. Lunch (or Chorus)

SCHEDULES AND SCHEDULING A typical sophomore schedule with academic classes: (Not in order) 1. Physical Education 10/Driver’s Ed 2. English 10 Academic 3. US History 1 Academic 4. Biology Academic 5. Geometry Academic (with lab) 6. World Language (Spanish 3 for most students) 7. Visual Performing Arts Elective 8. Study (or Band or Academic Support) 9. Lunch (or Chorus)

SCHEDULES AND SCHEDULING A typical freshman schedule with honors classes: (Not in order) 1. Physical Education/Health 9 2. English 9 Honors 3. World History Honors 4. Biology Honors (must also have Geometry) 5. Geometry Honors (no lab) 6. World Language (Spanish 2 for most students) 7. Financial Literacy/Business Elective 8. Study (or Band or Academic Support) 9. Lunch (or Chorus)

SCHEDULES AND SCHEDULING A typical sophomore schedule with honors classes: (Not in order) 1. Physical Education 10/Driver’s Ed 2. English 10 Honors 3. US History 1 Honors 4. Chemistry Honors (with lab/must also have Algebra 2) 5. Algebra 2 Honors 6. World Language (Spanish 3 for most students) 7. Visual/Performing Arts Elective 8. Study (or Band or Academic Support) 9. Lunch (or Chorus)

SCHEDULES AND SCHEDULING Typical Math Sequence Grade 9: Algebra 1 with Lab (Academic Only) Grade 10: Geometry with Lab (Academic or Honors) Grade 11: Algebra 2 (Academic or Honors) Grade 12: Intro to College Math* or Precalculus* *optional

SCHEDULES AND SCHEDULING Accelerated Math Sequence Grade 8: Algebra 1 Grade 9: Geometry (Academic with Lab or Honors) Grade 10: Algebra 2 (Academic or Honors) Grade 11: Intro to College Math or Precalculus Grade 12: Academic Calculus* or AP Calculus** *Academic Calculus is optional and SHU-PA credits may be available. **AP Calculus is optional and requires a teacher recommendation

SCHEDULES AND SCHEDULING Typical Science Sequence Grade 9: Integrated Science (Academic) Grade 10: Biology (Academic or Honors) Grade 11: Chemistry (Academic or Honors) Grade 12: Physics* (Academic or Honors) or AP Biology** or AP Chemistry** *optional **optional—teacher recommendation required

SCHEDULES AND SCHEDULING Accelerated Science Sequence Grade 9: Biology (Academic or Honors) Grade 10: Chemistry (Academic or Honors) Grade 11: Physics (Academic or Honors) AND AP Biology*/AP Chemistry*/AP Environmental* Grade 12: AP Biology*/AP Chemistry*/AP Physics*/ AP Environmental* *optional—teacher recommendation required

SCHEDULES AND SCHEDULING Some final thoughts on schedules and scheduling:  Choose challenging courses that are appropriate for your son or daughter’s ability level.  Teacher recommendations are usually on target.  Talking Study vs. Quiet Study.  Use “Study” time to get your work done.

STANDARDIZED TESTING  PARCC (grades 9, 10, & 11)  NJ Biology Competency Test (grade 10*)  PSAT (grades 10 & 11)  SAT (grade 11 & 12) *any year a student is enrolled in a Biology class that is not AP

STANDARDIZED TESTING PARCC (grades 9, 10, & 11)  Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers  Replaces HSPA  Administered in March and May  Students must pass PARCC or one of the other transitioning graduation requirements approved by the NJ Department of Education

STANDARDIZED TESTING NJ Biology Competency Test  Administered in May  Mostly grade 10  All students who are in Biology are expected to test unless they are in AP Biology

STANDARDIZED TESTING PSAT  Administered in October  All students in grades 10 and 11  Paid for by Pompton Lakes Board of Education  Students with IEP’s or 504 plans can apply for modifications  Score reports mailed home in December  Score report includes test preparation suggestions for SAT

STANDARDIZED TESTING SAT  Administered 7 times per year  Students with IEP’s or 504 plans can apply for modifications  Students register and take the test on their own  Super-scoring  2-3 times between spring of grade 11 and fall of grade 12

STANDARDIZED TESTING PSAT/SAT Redesign (Class of 2017)  Elimination of writing section  Optional essay  Maximum score of 800 for critical reading and 800 for math  Revised scoring procedures  Revised content  More information is available at

GRADES Parent Portal  Parents and students must check the portal regularly  Account access  All text in blue is a link

GRADES  All four years of high school count.  All students have a planner that is paid for by the PTA.  Students who struggle MUST go for extra help.

GRADES What is on a transcript?  Final grades only for all completed courses  Grade point average  Rank in class  Completed credits to date  Graduation date

GRADES The Power of a Zero / 2 = 50 F / 3 = 67 D For every 0, a student needs 2 100’s to bring the average back to barely passing.

GRADES Three Failing Scenarios:  Average falls below 65.  F for quarters 3 and 4.  F for more than 50% of the grading cycles.

GRADES Be careful:  Health and Driver’s Ed  Summer assignments  Summer school

GRADES Athletic Eligibility:  All freshmen are eligible for fall and winter sports.  In order to play a spring sport, students must be passing 15 credits (6 courses) at the end of second marking period.  In order to play a fall or winter sport, students must be passing 30 credits (6 courses) at the end of the school year.

GRADES Athletic Eligibility: Hypothetically, if a student fails a full year class like English: Eligible and promoted to the next grade

GRADES Athletic Eligibility: Algebra and Geometry are now 6 credits NOT ELIGIBLE! NOT PROMOTED to the next grade unless the student goes to summer school!

ATTENDANCE  Students should try not to be absent or late.  Students should try not to take vacations during the school year.  When absences are unavoidable, students should make every effort to get their make-up work.  Limits:  20 for full year course  10 for semester  5 for quarter (health) If a student exceeds these limits they will be denied credit for the course (WAT).

ATTENDANCE “Cutting” class  3 cuts in the same class will result in denial of credit for the course (WAT).  If a student accumulates 10 cuts over several periods, the student will be denied credit for the 11 th cut regardless of which course it is.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Colleges are looking for students who do more after school than just play video games. Getting involved in the high school community makes high school more fun. Students who are involved in activities tend to be well- rounded and more successful academically. Involvement in extracurricular activities forces students to budget their time, which is a great life skill.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Examples:  Athletics  Clubs (list in planner)  Community Service/Volunteer Work  Religious Groups  Boy/Girl Scouts  LEADERSHIP and VOLUNTEER WORK are key

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Keep track of activities, awards, and leadership participation. Quality over Quantity

SOCIAL NETWORKING Parents should monitor social networking sites for appropriateness. Harassment/Intimidation/Bullying Laws Inappropriate posts on social networking sites can have a serious impact on college applications and acceptances as well as on future employment. Appropriate posts on social networking sites are not harmful.

ADVANCE COLLEGE OPTIONS Advanced Placement Courses Seton Hall University Project Acceleration Challenger Program through Passaic County Community College On-Site Decision Days

ADVANCED COLLEGE OPTIONS  Biology  Calculus  Chemistry  Economics  English  Environmental Science  European History  German  Music  Physics  Spanish  Statistics  Studio Art  US History Advanced Placement (AP) Courses

ADVANCED COLLEGE OPTIONS Seton Hall University Project Acceleration (SHU-PA) Courses  Anatomy and Physiology  AP Spanish  Astronomy  Calculus Academic  Sociology  Techniques of Written Expression

ADVANCED COLLEGE OPTIONS Challenger  Passaic County Community College in Wanaque  Approximately $300 per course  Elective courses on a college campus  4 courses per year

ADVANCED COLLEGE OPTIONS On-Site Decision Days  Fairleigh Dickinson University  Ramapo College of New Jersey  William Paterson University  Kean University  East Stroudsburg University  Centenary College

COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS  College Fairs (grades 9-12)  College Research (grades 9-11)  Internet  Guidance Office Resources  Guidance Office Website  Visit Colleges (grade 11)  Some Colleges Visit PLHS (grade 12) All applications must be submitted prior to winter break of senior year.

COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS College is expensive and the price increases every year. Most students receive some sort of financial aid. Based on data:  Average Public College in NJ: $12,634  Average Private College in NJ: $34,076  Average Room and Board: $11,033

COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS Private colleges may have a higher sticker price, but they may be able to give more scholarships. Apply to variety of colleges with different price ranges. Some students opt to start their post high school education at a 2-year college.

COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS Scholarships are advertised online in the Senior Newsletter. Local Scholarships will be mailed home in spring of senior year. FAFSA—Free Application for Federal Student Aid

THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING! Questions?

THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING! Don’t forget to take a copy of the slides from tonight’s presentation!