1. 9th and 10th Grade Parent Night
Information and Planning
High School Years

2. NHS Counselors A-Coo – Sheneka Davis Cop-G – Mike Hays
H-L – Trista Lepore
M-Rec – Amber Ward
Red-Ti – Keith Tremethick
To-Z – Betty Collins, Lead Counselor

3. Grade Classification Promotion to 10th Grade = 6 credits

4. GPA & Class Rank
Grade Point Average (GPA) starts the semester a student enrolls in a course eligible for HS credit through the final semester of 12th grade
Class rank measures performance compared to all students in the class. It begins the first semester of 9th grade and continues until graduation
Reported GPA is unweighted
Class Rank is weighted
The level of coursework (i.e. Pre/AP and AP courses) is factored in the weighted class ranking

5. GPA & Class Rank, cont.
Un-weighted GPA – all courses are weighted on a 4.0 scale
Weighted GPA – courses are assigned grade points according to rigor; weighted on a 6.0 scale (PreAP) or a 7.0 scale (AP). Weighted GPA determines class rank.
GPA exempt courses – correspondence, credit by exams, and summer school for remediation
Weighted elective courses
Only weighted electives in the four core subject areas and world languages will count toward GPA and class rank.

6. Attendance Requirements
Students must attend class at least 90% of the time in order to receive credit earned for a course
There will be opportunities to make up attendance should students fall below 90%
Assistant principals will be able to assist with an attendance redemption plan.

7. Graduation Program Foundation Plan + Endorsement 26 credits 4 English
4 Math
4 Science
3 Social Studies
2 World Languages (same language)
Spanish, French, or German
1 Physical Education
1 Fine Art
Art, Choir, Dance, Theatre Arts, and more
½ Credit of Communication Applications (Speech)
6 ½ Elective Credits

8. NISD Endorsements Arts and Humanities Business and Industry
Public Services
STEM
Multidisciplinary Studies

9. English 1 English 2 Algebra 1 Biology US History
STAAR Requirements
English 1 English 2 Algebra 1 Biology US History

10. STAAR Testing Calendar 2015-2016
Dec. 7-11
Make up Testing
March 29
English I
March 31
English II
May 2-6
Algebra 1, Biology, US History
July 11-15

11. College Admissions Criteria
Criteria important in the college admissions process rated by college admissions officers:
GPA
Class Rank
Strength of Course (PreAP, AP, and dual credit courses)
ACT/SAT Scores
Essay or writing sample
Other potential factors for college admissions
Recommendations
Special talents/awards
Extracurricular/community service activities
Interviews

12. Top 10% Rule for Admissions
Graduate in the top 10% of class at a public or private Texas high school, or
Graduate in the top 10% of class from a HS operated by the US Dept of Defense and be a Texas resident or eligible to pay resident tuition
Enroll in college no more than two years after graduation; and
Submit an application to the Texas public university for admission before the institution’s application deadline (check w/university regarding specific deadlines)
Under legislation approved May 2009 by the Texas House as part of the 81st Regular Session (Senate Bill 175), UT Austin (no other state university) was allowed to trim the number of students it accepts under the 10% rule; UT Austin could limit those students to 75% of entering in-state freshmen from Texas. The university would admit the top 1%, 2%, and so forth until the cap is reached, beginning with the 2011 entering class.

13. Strength of Course Pre-Ap and AP Program Benefits
Students who follow a Pre-AP/AP program in school tend to perform better in college
More challenging courses
Potential to earn college credit by taking an AP exam at the end of the course
Colleges and scholarship committees desire students who complete Pre-AP/AP courses

14. Dual Credit: http://www.nisdtx.org/Page/53742

15. List of Dual Credit Courses(2015-2016):
English Composition and Literature (Communication)
Creative Arts
Arts 1301 (Art Appreciation)
English 1301 (Comp I)
English 1302 (Comp II)
Government
English 2322 (World Lit I)
Government 2305 (Federal Government)
English 2323 (World Lit II)
Mathematics
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Math 1314 (College Alg.)
Economics 2301 (Macroeconomics)
Math 1316 (Trigonometry)
Psychology 2301 (General Psychology)
Math 1342 (Elm. Statistics)
Sociology 1301 (Intro to Sociology)
Math 1342 (Elm. Statistics OnRAMPS)
Math 2412 (PreCalculus)
Component Area Option
Math 2412 (PreCalculus OnRAMPS)
Speech 1315 (Public Speaking)
Math 2413 (Calculus I)
Speech 1321 (Business and Professional Communication)
Life Sciences
Education 1300 (Learning Frameworks)
Biology 2401 ( Human Anatomy and Physiology I)
Biology 2402 (Human Anatomy and Physiology II)

16. Paying for College Keeping College Costs Down
Enroll in challenging courses in high school to avoid taking developmental or remedial courses in college
Take AP courses and exams
Take dual credit courses to earn college and high school credit

17. PSAT/SAT/ACT Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT)
- A standard test measuring critical reading, math, problem
solving and writing skills important for success in college
- Available for 9th, 10th, and 11th grades
- Provides firsthand practice for the SAT Reasoning Test
- National Merit Scholarship programs, based on 11th grade
scores
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) & American College Test (ACT)
- The majority of colleges, univerisities, and scholarship
commmittees take the scores of these assessments into
consideration
- Begin taking one or both during 11th grade, spring semester

18. Credit Recovery Options
Summer School
Academic Coaching Program (ACP)
Credit by Exam
- Not available for students who failed due to absences
Correspondence Courses through Texas Tech or UT
On-line Courses through TXVSN
Averaging of semester grades
-If 1st and 2nd semester grades average 70 or higher, a failing 1st or 2nd semester credit may be recovered

19. Credits for Acceleration
Summer School
Credit by Exam
Correspondence Courses through Texas Tech or UT
On-line Courses through TXVSN

20. Community Service and Extracurricular Activities
Community service and extracurricular activities play an important role with colleges and scholarship committees.
Become involved in school and community activities now – don’t wait until your senior year
Seek activities and opportunities relative to your future career plans
Visit the Northwest High School Counseling website for volunteer and community service activities
Start an activities record including all school and community activities, leadership positions, honors, awards, uniques educational experiences, employment, and volunteer work.
THE BIG EVENT! April 30, 2016
Be sure to update this record at least once a year.

21. NHS Extracurricular Activities and Clubs & Organizations

22. Graduation Cords

23. Naviance is an American “college and career readiness software provider” that partners with high schools and other K-12 institutions to provide students with college planning and career assessment tools.

25. Sends student to ACT and SAT Prep

27. “My Planner” tab

31. “Colleges” tab

38. “Careers” tab

42. “About Me” tab

43. Students can
only take the
Strengths
Explorer one
time.

44. Strength Explorer

47. Tips for Parents Discuss classes and set goals
Be available to help with homework
Monitor your child’s activities and jobs
Work with your school
Contact the teacher if you do not receive a progress report for a specific class or the school if you do not receive a report card
Teacher contact information can be found on the NHS website or by calling
For questions or concerns regarding a specific class, please contact
the teacher directly

48. Q & A THANK YOU!!