1. Welcome

2. Byron Nelson High School
9th Grade Mission: GET INVOLVED!!! There is a place for YOU!

3. Graduation Requirements
STEM
Business and
Industry
Multidisciplinary
Public
Service
Arts and
Humanities
Graduation Requirements
The Pieces to the Puzzle

4. The New Grad Plans
Your Personal Graduation Plan will focus your area of study toward your interests.
Your graduation plan will include a foundation curriculum PLUS a field of interest, your ENDORSEMENT.

5. Again… What is an ENDORSEMENT?
A coherent sequence of electives in a specific area of interest. These electives may be taken through an academy or through a specified Career Pathway.

6. There are FIVE Endorsements
STEM
Public Services
Business and Industry
Arts and Humanities
Multidisciplinary Studies

7. What to Keep in Mind
Your Potential College Choices Your Possible Career Goals/ Fields of Study

8. Your Endorsement Plan - Your Puzzle
Must include 26 credits for graduation
19 ½ CORE credits (including required electives)
6 ½ elective credits geared towards your ENDORSEMENT
7 classes X 4 years = opportunity for 28 credits (plus any credits earned in middle school)

9. The Foundation with an Endorsement Requirements
English Language Arts – 4 credits
Math – 4 credits
Social Studies – 3 credits
Science – 4 credits
*Languages Other Than English (LOTE) – 2 credits (same language)
*Speech – ½ credit
*Fine Art – 1 credit
*Physical Education – 1 credit
Electives – 6½ credits (dependent upon endorsement)
*Credits in Languages Other Than English, Speech, Fine Arts, or PE may be acquired by various courses noted in the High School Course Selection Guide.
“The CORE”

10. Distinguished Achievement Requirements
Must meet all the requirements for an endorsement
Math – 4th math must include Algebra 2
Examples –
Algebra 1, Geometry, Math Models, Algebra 2
Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, an Advanced Math

11. Automatic College Admission
Students in the top 10%* of their graduating class are eligible for automatic admission to any public university in Texas.
To be eligible for this automatic admission, students entering high school in must complete the new Distinguished plan.
**UT Austin – top 7% currently

12. Benefits of PreAP/AP
College admissions – Colleges look for students who have completed rigorous coursework (PreAP, AP, Dual Credit).
Students with higher level courses are generally more prepared for college level work.
Students can earn college credits early through AP courses if you make qualifying scores on the AP exams (in high school).

13. Class Ranking
Class Ranking will include grades earned in courses under the following headings: English, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Languages other than English.
The Grade Point Average (GPA) used to determine class rank only is calculated on a weighted scale.
Advanced Placement (AP) = up to 7 points
PreAP = up to 6 points
Regular = up to 5 points

14. Eligibility for Financial Aid
All students applying to college will be encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) during the spring of their SENIOR year. Even if financial aid is not needed, some scholarships require the completion of the FAFSA.

15. The Freshman Core Four Pieces to your Puzzle!
English – Regular, PreAP, or GT
Math – Algebra 1 or PreAP Algebra 1
Geometry or PreAP Geometry
Science – Biology or PreAP Biology
Social Studies –
World Geography – Regular or PreAP
World History – Regular or PreAP
Human Geography – AP or AP/GT

16. Languages (LOTE) – same language Two credits = Two Pieces of your Puzzle
Spanish
German
Chinese
$$$
French

17. One Credit = One Piece of the Puzzle
Dance
Choir
Band F I N E A R T S
Theatre r
AP Music
Theory
Orchestra
Digital Arts & Animation
Floral Design
Drill Team

18. Physical Education One Credit = One Piece of Your Puzzle
Aerobic Fitness - .5 – 1.0 credit
(also earned through Dance 1)
Individual Sports / Team Sports credit
Strength & Tone - .5 – 1.0
Outdoor Education - .5
PE substitution credit through Band, Cheerleading, and Drill Team

19. Sports Offered Basketball Volleyball Swimming Diving Soccer Golf Track
Cross Country
Tennis
Baseball
Softball
Football
Wrestling
Athletic Trainer

20. What will your ENDORSEMENT be?
STEM
Business and
Industry
Multidisciplinary
Public
Service
Arts and
Humanities
What will your ENDORSEMENT be?

21. ENDORSEMENT Details
You must specify in writing the endorsement you intend to earn upon entering Grade 9.
You may select more than one endorsement.

22. STEM
STEM ENDORSEMENT
Students who choose a STEM endorsement will need to take a coherent sequence of credits in a specific area of interest and Algebra 2, Chemistry, and Physics. Options may include:
STEM/Engineering
Additional Science
Additional Math
Information Technology

23. STEM options

24. STEM more options

25. Business and Industry Endorsement
Students who choose a Business and Industry endorsement will need to take a coherent sequence of credits in a specific area of interest:
Ag, Food, and Natural Resources
Marketing
Architecture and Construction
Career Preparation
Arts, Audio/Video Tech. & Comm.
Debate
Business Management & Administration
Newspaper
Finance
Yearbook
Information Technology
Technology Application
NISD Culinary Arts and Hospitality Academy (BNHS only)
NISD AMAT Academy (NHS only)

26. Business & Industry options

27. Business & Industry more options

28. Business & Industry more options

29. Public Service Endorsement
Students who choose a Public Service endorsement will need to take a coherent sequence of credits in a specific area of interest:
- Education and Training
- Health Science
- Human Services
- Career Preparation
- NISD AMP Academy (BNHS only)
- NISD Cosmetology Academy (SAHS only)

30. Public Service options

31. Arts and Humanities Endorsement
Students who choose an Arts and Humanities endorsement will need to take a coherent sequence of credits in a specific area of interest:
- Additional Social Studies
- Fine Arts
- Additional World Languages

32. Arts and Humanities options

33. Arts and Humanities more options

34. Multidisciplinary Endorsement
Students who choose the Multidisciplinary endorsement will choose courses with an academic focus:
- Courses within the four Core areas
- Courses within the AP Subject areas

35. Multidisciplinary options

36. Performance Acknowledgements
Students may earn performance acknowledgments for outstanding performance in the following areas:
Dual credit courses
Bilingualism and bi-literacy
AP testing
ACT – Plan, PSAT, SAT, or ACT
Earning a nationally or internationally recognized business or industry certification or license
* See NISD Course Selection Guide for more detailed information.

37. Diploma & Transcript
Endorsements and Performance Acknowledgements will be printed on diplomas and transcripts.

38. As You Complete YOUR Puzzle
6 credits = Sophomore
13 credits = Junior
19 credits = Senior
Remember, 26 credits to graduate!

39. Required STAAR Tests
Algebra 1
English 1
English 2
US History
Biology

40. Step One: Complete the top See below for Due Date
Medlin Middle School
Form due: March 26th
Tidwell Middle School
Wilson Middle School
Complete all lines. Please write NEATLY!

41. Step Two: Choose your core Choose one in each box
Make sure you get coaches/teachers signatures for classes which need approval and/or check the appropriate area if you have been accepted into one of the Academies.

42. Please Read Carefully!
Step 3: Your Electives

43. The Symbols and More
The most up-to-date Course Selection Handbook can be found on our website at
You may also make changes to your course selection sheet (once submitted) by accessing the BNHS counseling website. Changes are due by May 30, 2014

44. Your Electives Keep in Mind…
You need the following pieces to your puzzle by the time you graduate.
PE – 1 credit
Communication Applications - .5 credit
(Speech)
Fine Art – 1 credit
LOTE – 2 credits
(Languages Other Than English)

45. If Choosing a Sport…
If you play more than one sport, select the sport that occurs first in the school year.
If you enter another sport in the school year, your counselor will change your schedule reflecting your next sport.
You must obtain your middle school coach’s signature indicating his/her approval for the sport.

46. Electives and Your Endorsement
Also keep in mind: Your electives will be aligned with your endorsement(s) each year, your field of study.
STEM
Public Services
Business and Industry
Arts and Humanities
Multidisciplinary Studies

47. Endorsement Commitment Requires Student and Parent Signature
Your Endorsement can be changed as long as there is still time to complete a new Endorsement!

48. Parent Night Byron Nelson – March 24th 6:30pm BNHS Student Union
(Cafeteria)

49. Counselors A – C Paige Smith D – G – Leah Berry H – L – Chris Bell
M – P – Shana Greenwood
Q – T – Surnedra Simmons
U – Z – Alicia Edwards, Lead Counselor