DECISIONS FOR HIGH SCHOOL

AND BEYOND:

We Offer Choice2011 - 2012

HIGH SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS FOR

INCOMING 9TH GRADERS

A student must earn at least 26 credits to complete the graduation

requirements.

4x4 Core Subject Requirements

ENGLISH 4 CREDITSMATH 4 CREDITSSCIENCE 4 CREDITSSOCIAL STUDIES 4 CREDITS

Other RequirementsPhysical Ed 1 CREDITTechnology Application 1 CREDITPrinciples of Information Technology 1 CREDITHigh School to College Transition 1 CREDIT

Other RequirementsSpeech .5 CREDITFine Arts 1 CREDITLanguages other than English 2 CREDITS -For Distinguished Achievement Program (DAP) 3 CREDITS

STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness)

ElectivesDAP 1.5 CREDITS

Recommended 2.5 CREDITS

Career Technical Education (CTE)

CTE programs enable students to gain entry-level employment in a high-skill, high-wage job and/or to continue their

education.

Career Technical Education unit provides:

Fifteen career cluster of instruction and training 95 course options Dual enrollment opportunities with post-secondary institutions Job shadowing opportunities Industry certification/licensing opportunities PREP – Employability Skill Training Course/Interest and Aptitude Assessment

Other High School Recognitions

Distinguished Achievement Program(DAP)

Texas Scholars

Texas Tech Prep Scholars

ADVANCEDPLACEMENTPROGRAM

(AP)

What is Pre-AP?

Pre-AP courses help students learn skills to be prepared for the college level AP courses.

Pre-AP courses begin at 9th & 10th grades.

What is AP? AP courses are college

level courses taken in high school.

AP courses help students acquire skills and habits needed to be successful in college.

AP courses are rigorous and challenging.

How to Receive College Credit

Students enrolled in AP courses must take the AP Exams (maintained by College Board) in May.

Students who earn a score of 3, 4, or 5 may receive college credit.

Students enrolled in AP courses have exam fees currently paid through a combination of state fee waivers and district funds.

Recognition for Students

As students pass AP exams, they may be recognized as an:

AP Scholar, AP Scholar of Honor,

AP Scholar of Distinction, AP State Scholar, or National AP Scholar.

AP graduates have received admittance into Honors & specialized programs as freshmen in college.

Parent Meetingavailable for Student to register in

Pre-AP and AP classes.

More information about AP can be found at the

following websites:http://www.collegeboard.com

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com

DUAL & CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT

Students can earn college credit while in high school.

DEFINITIONS:

DUAL ENROLLMENTA dual enrollment course is any taken in high school for the purposes of gaining high school and college credit simultaneously.(Can be taken at high school campus).

CONCURRENT ENROLLMENTA concurrent enrollment course is any taken at a college/university for the purposes of gaining college/university credit.

Complete Apply Texas application For technology courses - 2100 or higher on

TAKS For academic courses – minimum 2200 TAKS

plus a 3 or higher on the writing component for English dual enrollment courses or take the Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA) or Accuplacer for equivalent scores.

South Texas College (STC) Requirements for Dual classes taught at High School Campuses

Students must meet ONE of the following: Rank in the top 10 percent of his/her graduating class, or Have a 90 or above grade point average (based on grades

in academic courses such as English, math, natural sciences, social studies, and foreign languages), or

SAT combined score of 1030 or higher (Verbal/Critical Reading and Math), or

ACT 22 composite score. See Counselor for additional information

University of Texas Pan American (UTPA)

Requirements for Concurrent Enrollment

• Student may begin their college coursework at end of 10th grade and minimize the expense of a college education.

• Students may take 6 hours (2 courses) a semester.

• Most courses are transferable to the college of their choice in Texas.

Additional Information

Cost Benefits of Dual Enrollment:STC courses taken on high school campuses are FREE if the

student qualifies for dual enrollment. Off campus UTPA/STC courses are $60 a credit hour. STC UTPARegular college student (6 hours) $400

$1000MISD HS Dual Enrollment (6 hours) $0

$300 _________________________________________________________Savings after 2 years in HS $1600

$2800(6 hours each semester)

*No financial aid is available for students in high school taking concurrent/dual enrollment with STC or UTPA.

Potential College Savings

Once a student has taken college courses, the college Grade Point Average (GPA) officially begins.

Courses dropped and/or failed could potentially affect the registration and financial aid status at a college/university.

Students need to investigate requirements for specific college programs.

Points to Consider

DUAL ENROLLMENT ACADEMIES

•DEMSA is a two year dual enrollment (year-round) program developed for high school students who are committed in pursuing a career in Biology.

•The Academy is designed to encourage students to explore careers in health care through college course work and health related opportunities.

•The Academy will prepare students for higher education in the field of medicine while completing an Associate of Science (AS) degree in Biology by the end of their senior year of high school.

DEMSA Dual Enrollment Medical

Science Academy

DEEA Dual Enrollment Engineering

Academy •DEEA is a two year dual enrollment (year round) program developed for high school students who are committed in pursuing careers in Engineering.

•The Academy is designed to encourage students to explore careers in engineering by providing college course work and engineering related opportunities.

•The academy prepares students for higher education in the field of math and science while completing an Associate of Science (AS) degree in Engineering by the end of their senior year of high school.

DECSADual Enrollment Computer

Science Academy•DECSA is a two year dual enrollment (year-round) program developed for high school students who are committed in pursuing careers in Computer Science.

•The Academy is designed to encourage students to explore careers in Computer Science by providing college course work and computer related opportunities.

•The academy prepares students for higher education while completing an Associate of Science (AS) degree in Computer Science by the end of their senior year of high school

Who Can Participate? •High School students must complete an application during the 10th grade year.

•Students should be enrolled in the Distinguished Achievement Program(DAP) curriculum.

•Students must have serious interest in pursuing a career in health care, engineering or computer science. •Students must complete an application which includes writing a brief essay.

•Other requirements apply.

STC Dual Enrollment Academies

Contact Information

Contact Your High School Counselor

Or

Jessica Garcia, Retention SpecialistDual Enrollment Medical Science Academy

South Texas College- Pecan CampusOffice: (956) 872-2613

E-mail: jgarcia@southtexascollege.edu

ACHIEVE EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL

Est. 2008

Yvette Cavazos, PrincipalAlicia Acuna, Assistant Principal

Noemi Vasquez, Counselor

Class of 2015

Begin With The End In Mind

High School Diploma

South Texas College Associate Degree

AND

What is an Early College High School?

Early College High Schools (ECHS) blend the traditional high school and college into one educational program.

Early College High Schools are small. Only 100 students are admitted as freshmen each year, recruited from the seven McAllen ISD middle schools.

An opportunity and commitment to work-

hard!

ACADEMIC PLAN

High School Distinguished Achievement Program (26 high

school credits)and

STC Associates Degree (60+ hours/2 years of college-

FREE)

Students in the ECHS take a rigorous curriculum of Pre-AP high school courses to prepare them for the college curriculum starting in the 9th grade.

Curriculum

STC Resources Achieve ECHS is located at the South

Texas College Pecan Campus. Students use all college resources including computer labs, learning center tutorial services, library services, and all other student services that regular college students can use.

Additional Information

Waived Tuition for Dual Enrollment Transfer of Credits to Other Colleges and

Universities Scholarships for Colleges and Universities Financial Aid After High School Applications are due in February Eligible for dual enrollment academies at

STC

Middle Years Program (MYP) Grades 9-10 Diploma Program (DP) Grades 11-12

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE

@ Lamar Academy

The IB Middle Years Program provides a framework of rigorous academic challenge that:

Encourages students to embrace and understand the connections between traditional school subjects and the real world; Encourages students to become critical and reflective thinkers; Specifically prepares students for entry into the Diploma Program (grades 11-12).

ALL MISD STUDENTS MAY APPLY

What is the IB Middle Years Program?

The 8 Academic Areas/Subject Groups

Students are required to study in all of these areas at a Pre-Diploma Program level of challenge and rigor:– English (I and II)– Second Language (Spanish or French)– Humanities (World Geography and World History)– Sciences (Biology, Physics, and Chemistry)– Mathematics (Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry) – Arts (Visual and Theater arts)– Physical Education– Technology

MYP students must additionally:-- complete a community service component-- undertake independent research – the Personal ProjectTaken as a whole, the curriculum provides abalanced education that will equip young people

foreffective participation in the modern world.

Community and service starts in the classroom and extends beyond it, requiring students to take an active part in the communities in which they live.

As part of the MYP requirements, students are expected to undertake 5 activities per year that demonstrate they are developing community awareness and concern, and they are making an effective contribution to society.

Area of Interaction: Community & Service

In the 10th grade year of the program, each student completes a personal project: a significant piece of work that is the product of the student's own initiative and creativity.

The personal project involves: Planning Research A high degree of personal reflection A commitment of 20-25 hours work towards the

project. A personal essay of no more than 4000 words.

The Personal Project

Global curriculum for global citizens,

Challenging and meaningful courses,

Academic culture,

Excellent preparation for transition into the Diploma Program and, eventually, college.

Why IB?