1. Graduating in Texas
A Summary of the Current Graduation Requirements for Texas High School Students and Other Things You Need to Know as a WFHS Parent
September 27, 2011

2. The Coyote Counseling Cove
WFHS Counselors
Kathy Rannila
A-D
Tracey Craig
E-L
Shonna Norton
M-Ro
Stephanie Schelter
Ru-Z

3. The Coyote Counseling Cove
What Do We Do?
Sign-up Students for Courses
Recommend Courses
Create Schedules
Graduation Plans
Letters of Recommendation
College Applications
Guidance Counseling
Etc., etc., etc….

4. The Coyote Counseling Cove
WFHS Registrar - Cindy Willingham
Enrolls/Withdraws Students
Updates/Changes Contact Information
Handles all counseling office business during the summer months
WFHS Transcript Clerk - Mary Sine
Sends Transcripts
Requests/Sends Records
Managing Front Office

5. College & Career Readiness
College & Career Facilitator
Kris Gossom
College & Career Clerk
Tamra Hamlin
This Office Can Assist With:
Completing Applications
Dual Credit
SAT/ACT Testing
Etc…

6. Pre-AP & AP Courses These courses are weighted
Can increase GPA for those students in the race for top spots
Still need a 70 to earn credit
Pre-AP courses prepare students for AP
AP courses prepare students for the AP Exam, which gives students the opportunity to earn college credit

7. Pre-AP & AP Courses
If a student struggles in these classes, there is a process that they must complete in order to go to a regular course.
Pick-up a form from the Counseling Cove
Obtain signatures from parent & teacher
Return form to Counseling Cove
Changes will probably not be completed on the same day, so it is important that students not wait until the last minute
District Policy: Can not drop to regular after the 2nd 6 weeks of a semester

8. The Recommended Program
Requires 26 Credits, including:
4 from each core area
1 PE
1 Fine Art
2 Foreign Language
½ Speech
5 ½ Electives
Must Pass the State’s
required Exam, as well

9. English Requirements 4 Credits, taken in the following order:
English I
English II
English III
English IV

10. Social Studies Requirements
4 Credits, generally in the following order:
World Geography
World History
US History
Government (0.5)
Economics (0.5)

11. Mathematics Requirements
4 Credits
3 MUST be:
Algebra I
Geometry
Algebra II
The 4th credit:
Can be Math Models IF taken prior to Algebra II
Otherwise, MUST be a Post-Algebra II course:
Pre-Calculus
Advanced Quantitative Reasoning
AP Statistics

12. Science Requirements 4 Credits 3 MUST be Biology Chemistry Physics
The 4th credit
Can be IPC IF taken prior to Chemistry & Physics
Otherwise, MUST be a 4th year option, such as
Earth & Space
Environmental Science
Anatomy & Physiology
Any AP course: Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, etc.

13. AP Courses
Some AP courses do not have a “regular” course associated with it
If a student begins this course as their 4th credit in math or science, they must finish and pass the course.
If they fail, they will have to take and pay for a different course in Night School during 2nd semester in order to earn their 4th credit.
Examples include, but are not limited to:
AP Statistics
AP Biology
Anatomy & Physiology

14. The Distinguished Program
Requires the same 26 Credits as The Recommended Plan, EXCEPT:
1 of the 5 ½ Electives MUST be a 3rd year of Foreign Language
Students MUST also meet 4 additional advanced measures connected to:
concurrent courses
AP exam scores

15. Advising for Graduation
Every year, we meet with students during 2nd semester & discuss what classes they need to sign-up for the following year. You do not have to worry about your student staying on- track for graduation – we will guide them through the process!
It is very important that course changes are done prior to the development of the Master Schedule, so look for your students to bring home their Course Request Form sometime around Spring Break.

16. Some Final Notes…
We are operating an office complete with deadlines and lots of paperwork! Each counselor has approximately 400 students on their caseload. Please be understanding and patient with us!
Encourage your student to follow rules and procedures and to pay attention to deadlines. It will help with the process and result in fewer “no’s”.
Encourage your student to come to the counseling office themselves rather than calling for them. It allows us to get to know students on a more personal basis and makes writing those letters of recommendation a more personal experience!

17. Presented by the WFHS Coyote Counselor’s Cove