1. The Importance of David Brearley School Counseling Department
Mrs. Jessica Kaiser (A-L)
Ms. Stephanie Scasso (M-Z)

2. How is High School Different from Middle School?
High School has more opportunities/more classes/more responsibilities
9th Grade Counts! Grades 9-12 are considered in college decisions
Self-Reliance: Teachers may not always remind you of work that is due or check homework
Self-Advocate: It will be up to you to ASK FOR HELP. Mom and Dad cannot do it for you
Growth- Personal and Social; Try new things, join clubs, activities, and develop yourself outside of the classroom

3. What Do Colleges Look for?
Course Selection
Grade Point Average
SAT and/or ACT scores
Activities
Awards
Letters of Recommendations
Personal Essays

4. Grade Point Average/Grading
G.P.A. is the average of all final grades earned in all courses throughout high school.
Each marking period is worth 20% of the final grade
The midterm and final exam are worth 10% of the final grade
THIS INCLUDES YOUR FRESHMAN YEAR!

5. Transcript
A transcript is a record of all the courses you took throughout your high school career

6. Sample Transcript #1

7. Sample Transcript #2

8. What Makes a Strong Transcript?
It is recommended that each student take “college prep courses” and challenge themselves to the best of their ability

9. School Counselor’s Role
Assist students with social and personal issues
Advise students on courses and academics
Help foster individual student responsibility
Monitor progress to ensure graduation requirements are met
Develop a post-high school plan with each student
Address any school-related concern where a student or parent needs assistance
Course Selection

10. Graduation Requirements:
 Class of 2018 must fulfill the following minimum 120 credit graduation requirement
English At least 20 credits; one per year
Mathematics At least 15 credits
Science At least 15 credits
Global Studies At least 5 credits
United States History At least 10 credits
World Language At least 5 credits
Health and Physical Education At least 5 credits per year
Fine Arts At least 5 credits
21st Century Life & Careers At least 5 credits
Financial Literacy At least 2.5 credits
Information Processing At least 2.5 credits
Electives At least 15 credits
Total Minimum Credit Requirement 120

11. Sample Student Schedule

12. PARCC
Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Career (PARCC)
Transitioning from NJ ASK and HSPA to PARCC Assessments
By Spring 2015, the following students will be tested:
Grades 3-8
Algebra
Geometry
Algebra 2
English 9-11
The new assessments will be ready for administration during the school year.

13. State Testing Requirements continued…
These assessments will:
Help establish a pathway to college and career readiness by the end of high school
2. Provide information regarding students progress toward this goal from grade 3 on up.
3. Provide teachers with timely information, allowing them to give informed instruction and provide student with support.

14. PSAT The following grades will take the PSAT: Grade 9 Grade 10
To be eligible for the National Merit Scholarship, you will use your Grade 11 PSAT score
PSAT’s are administered in October of each school year
There is a parent night to review your child’s PSAT results and what they could be doing to improve their scores.

15. Course Levels Core Courses
*Core Courses are for the English, Math and Biology courses only
Core courses are designed for students who have been identified (through assessment scores, grades and teacher recommendations) as needing more individualized attention to successfully navigate the curriculum. The class contains the same content as a college prep course, but the content is covered at a slower pace with more individualized attention.
Honors Courses
Honors courses are enriched; they offer the same material as a regular class but in greater depth and with a faster pace. Honors courses emphasize critical and independent thinking to produce creative application of ideas.
Advanced Placement Courses
AP Classes are college-level courses and exams. Students will engage in intense discussions, solve problems collaboratively, and learn to write clearly and persuasively. Students are required to take an AP Exam at the end of each course and must pay the cost of the exam.

16. Course Placement into Core
Component
Possible Points
Points Earned
Midterm Exam
0% - 64%
65% - 69%
70% - 72%
3 points
2 points
1 point
Grades
Teacher Recommendation
The teacher believes that the given student struggles to succeed in the given content area
Total points needed for placement (out of 7 possible)
5 points
Total points earned
points
Student Placed into Core
YES NO
Course Placement into Core
Component
Possible Points
Points Earned
NJ ASK / NJ ASK (For students entering Grade 9 – use grade 7 scores)
Partially proficient score ( )
Partially proficient score ( )
Partially proficient score ( )
3 points
2 points
1 point
Midterm Exam
0% - 64%
65% - 69%
70% - 72%
Grades
Teacher Recommendation
The teacher believes that the given student struggles to succeed in the given content area
Total points needed for placement (out of 10 possible)
8 points
Total points earned
points
Student Placed
YES NO

17. Course Placement into Honors/AP
Component
Possible Points
Points Earned
NJ ASK / NJ ASK (For students entering Grade 9 – use grade 7 scores)
Superior score (275 or greater)
Advanced proficient score (250 to 274)
Proficient score (235 – 249)
Proficient score (220 – 234)
4 points
3 points
2 points
1 point
Midterm Exam
Superior score (95% or higher)
Very strong score (90% - 94%)
Strong score (85% - 89%)
Grades
95% - 100%
90% - 94%
85% - 89%
Teacher Recommendation
The teacher believes that the given student has the ability to succeed in an honors-level course.
Total points needed for placement (out of 11 possible)
9 points
Total points earned
points
Student Placed
YES NO
Course Placement into Honors/AP
Component
Possible Points
Points Earned
NJ ASK / NJ ASK (For students entering Grade 9 – use grade 7 scores)
Superior score (275 or greater)
Advanced proficient score (250 to 274)
Proficient score (235 – 249)
Proficient score (220 – 234)
4 points
3 points
2 points
1 point
Midterm Exam
Superior score (95% or higher)
Very strong score (90% - 94%)
Strong score (85% - 89%)
Grades
95% - 100%
90% - 94%
85% - 89%
Teacher Recommendation
The teacher believes that the given student has the ability to succeed in an honors-level course.
Total points needed for placement (out of 11 possible)
9 points
Total points earned
points
Student Placed
YES NO

18. Pathways to Graduation
Program of Studies can be found on the Kenilworth schools website under the counseling department
Option 2:
College Course Work for High School Credit (UCC Bridge Program)
Online or Distance Learning (Virtual High School Courses)

19. It Is Never Too Early To Think About College!