1. 9th - 11th Grade Parent Information Night
Tomball High School
January 2017

2. Agenda Graduation Requirements Course Selections SAT and ACT
EOC Testing
AP vs DC
Post Secondary Planning
Scholarships

3. Graduation Requirements
Foundation Graduation Program
Endorsements
Distinguished Level of Achievement
Performance Acknowledgements

4. Foundation Graduation Program
4 credits ELA
3 credits Mathematics
3 credits Science
3 credits Social Studies
2 credits LOTE
1 credit Fine Arts
1 credit PE
.5 credits Health
.5 credits Speech
4 credits Electives
22 credits

5. Endorsements STEM Business & Industry Arts & Humanities
Public Services
Multidisciplinary
4 credits
Must have 4 years of Math and Science
Total: 26 credits to graduate

6. Distinguished Level of Achievement
4 credits in Math (Algebra 2)
4 credits in Science
Curriculum requirements for Foundation
1 or more Endorsement areas
Mandatory to be eligible for the top 10% Automatic Admission

7. Performance Acknowledgements
A student may earn a performance acknowledgement for
“B” or higher in a Dual Credit course
“3” or higher on an AP Exam
PSAT commended scholar
SAT math + reading = 1250
ACT score = 28
Earning a nationally or internationally recognized business or industry certification or license (Welding, Health Science)

8. Algebra II, Chemistry, and Physics and
4 Computer Science or
2 additional Math courses or
2 additional Science courses or
4 Engineering (PLTW) or
A coherent sequence of 3 credits from 2 of the above

9. Business & Industry Career and Technical Education
A coherent sequence of courses for 4 or more credits that consists of at least two courses in the same career cluster, including at least one advanced CTE course and the final course from one of the following clusters.
Clusters
Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources, Architecture and Construction
Business Management and Administration
Finance
Manufacturing
Marketing or

10. Business & Industry (continued)
English
Four English elective credits including three levels in one of the following areas:
Debate or
Advanced Journalism: Newspaper or
Advanced Journalism: Yearbook or
Combination
A coherent sequence of four credits from the above programs

11. Public Services Career and Technical Education
A coherent sequence of courses for 4 or more credits that consists of at least two courses in the same career cluster, including at least one advanced CTE course and the final course from one of the following clusters.
Clusters
Welding or
Education and Training/Human Services or
Health Science or
Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps
Four courses in JROTC

12. Arts and Humanities Social Studies Foreign Languages Fine Arts
Five Social Studies credits or
Foreign Languages
Four Levels of the same language other than English or
Two levels of the same language other than English and two levels of a different language other than English or
Fine Arts
Four credits from one or two disciplines of fine arts

13. Multidisciplinary Studies
Four advanced courses that prepare a student to enter the workforce successfully or postsecondary education or
Four credits in each of the four foundation subject areas to include English IV and chemistry and/or physics or
Four credits in Advanced Placement or dual credit selected from English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Economics, Other Languages, or Fine Arts

14. STAAR/EOC Testing Dates

15. STAAR/EOC Testing March 28, 2017 – English I
March 30, 2017 – English II
May 2, Algebra 1
May 3, 2017 – Biology
May 4, US History

16. Credits for Grade Classification
Sophomore – 6 credits
Junior – 12 credits
Senior – 18 credits
Graduation – 26 credits (meeting all specific state credit requirements)

17. Course Selections for 2017-2018

18. Course Selections-Timeline
January 10th - Cougar course selection day
Course verification sheets will go home February 7th for parent review
Course selection changes due by February 16, 2017
See THS website home page for the TISD High School Course Selection Guide

19. Local Credit Options Office Aide (11th or 12th)
Duty assignments made by Assistant Principal
No State Credit awarded, local credit only
Is not included into GPA calculation
Student must be in good standing with attendance and discipline

20. Senior Release Late Arrival or Senior Release
Students must have enough state credits to be eligible
Students must have passing scores on all state required STAAR EOCs
Students must be off campus during release time

21. Course Request Changes
Changes must be in writing and turned in to appropriate alpha office by deadline
Students wanting Dual Credit courses should attend DC meeting and get started on the Lone Star College exceptional admit process
Final schedule change requests due in writing by February 16, 2017.

22. Advanced Placement Dual Credit

23. Advanced Placement (AP) or Dual Credit (DC)
Both can earn college credit
Colleges can award a student credit based on AP exams in May. The student must be enrolled in the college before credit is awarded.
Lone Star College awards college credit on a transcript at the end of the semester the student is enrolled in the college course.
Both give 15 quality points per semester toward high school GPA
The TISD Course Description Book provides course descriptions and requirements.

24. Advanced Placement (AP)
AP courses are open enrollment.
Expectation is that all students take the AP exam during the first two weeks of May.
Students are required to pay for each AP exam taken ($98 per test)

25. More Advanced Placement
College credit is based on AP exam scores. Scores range from 1 to 5. Passing scores range is from 3 to 5. Most colleges require a 3 or higher. Check with each college for required passing score.
Students earning below a 70 for the semester in any AP course may be removed for the spring semester.

26. Profile of the Student Who Should Take an AP Course
Able to work at a higher level of rigor and faster pace of a university course
Above grade level in reading, and the specific area of the AP course
Above grade level in writing skills, especially for English and Social Studies courses
Interests match courses in the areas the student wants to pursue as a career

27. Dual Credit (DC) Student dually enrolled in THS and Lone Star College
Courses taken on THS campus
Student is responsible for course fees and textbooks
Grade and credit posted on both high school and college transcripts
Credits generally accepted by Texas state colleges and universities. Check with each college/university for credit transfer details.

28. Dual Credit (DC)
FIRST time DC students are REQUIRED to attend ONE of these meetings:
January 31st – 6:45am or 2:45pm in the LGI
February 1st – 6:45am or 2:45pm in the LGI
RETURNING DC students – Mrs. Nichols will be coming to the classrooms during the week of February 6th
Firm deadline for DC – April 7th
Must be qualified for all!

29. Making an Informed Decision: AP vs. DC
Professes interest in subject selected
Research what colleges are accepting and requiring, as well as degree requirements
Research the expectations/work load of each course
Don’t overextend yourself!
Carefully consider time commitment and be able to balance academic load with extracurricular activities, family life, or outside commitments.

30. Informed Decision Is the student self motivated?
Does the student persevere when faced with challenging material?
Does the student plan and work ahead on long term projects?
Talk to current subject teacher in courses considering AP or DC.
Talk to your counselor.

31. Check with Universities
Transfer Course Equivalency
Search universities website for AP scores needed to obtain college credit

32. Post Secondary Planning

33. What are my options? Four year university Community or Junior College
Associate degree or certificate program
Military
Many branches and scholarships available to help you fund your education
Tech School
Certifications for specific job areas
Work

34. SAT New in the spring of 2016 Removed the penalty for wrong answers
Essay is optional and is given at the end
Post secondary schools will determine how/if they will use it.
More information can be found at

35. SAT/ACT PrepMe on Naviance http://connection.naviance.com/tomballhs
Recommended to take in the spring semester of the junior year
Writing component should be taken
for SAT
for ACT
Please review/practice for tests!
PrepMe on Naviance
Username – Student TISD ID#
Password – tisd + date of birth - tisd

36. Freshman To Do List
Begin a “senior” file – grades, EOC scores, PSAT scores, college info, scholarship info, etc
Establish membership in clubs & organizations within your school
Begin community service hours & building a resume
Be thinking about career interests & goals

37. Sophomore To Do List Take challenging coursework.
Review post graduation plans.
Gather college information.
Get involved in your school.
Run for leadership roles.
Community service.
Student athlete planning on playing in college? Register for NCAA.
Taking DC in 11th grade? Attend DC meeting for steps.

38. Junior To Do List Take SAT and/or ACT in the spring.
Schedule college visit days (2 each year in 11th and 12th!)
Research college entrance requirements (required test scores, deadlines, essay requirements, scholarship opportunities, etc.)
Study, study, study! GPA sent to colleges comes out before the fall of the senior year.
Community Service.

39. To Do List Summer BEFORE Senior Year
Visit colleges and make decisions on where to send applications.
Write essays for college applications.
Study if taking SAT/ACT again in fall.
Continue looking for scholarships.
Apply Texas (for Texas Public Universities) opens August 1st. Start the application early, especially if you are attending a competitive 4 year university.

40. What makes my college application complete?
For Texas public universities apply at
All others see the university website
Official Test Scores
Must come from testing agency (SAT-College Board or ACT)
Official Transcripts—Available this summer!
Send 6th semester rank/GPA
Application Fee

41. Letters of Recommendation
Not required for all college applications
If needed, request from someone who knows the student well
Counselor Recommendation/Brag Sheet available on Naviance
Allow 2 weeks for processing
Give the person addressed, stamped envelopes AND date needed by the college

42. Scholarships http://connection.naviance.com/tomballhs
Username - Student ID#
Password – tisd + date of birth
ex. tisd

43. Thank you for coming!
Please feel free to contact your child’s counselor with specific questions you may have about their graduation plan.
A-Fe Amy Vann
Fi-Le Keyla Carroll
Li-Rod Karen Hill
Roe-Z Nancy Lynch
College & Career Emily Nichols