North Forest High SchoolGraduation Requirements

Graduation Requirements (2 parts)

•Earn required credits

•Pass required assessments

A student must complete the academic course requirements and must pass the applicable state-developed graduation assessments before the student can graduate.

Graduation Plan: Cohort

There have been recent changes to graduation requirements.

The plan a student follows is based on the academic year the student ENTERED 9th

grade.

Entered 9th grade Cohort

2014-2015 2014

2013-2014 2013

2012-2013 2012

2011-2012 2011

Graduation Plan

This table shows grade level and graduation class for students who progress and finish on time

Grade Class of Entered 9th grade

9 2018 2014-2015

10 2017 2013-2014

11 2016 2012-2013

12 2015 2011-2012

Earning Credits

• Typically you a half a credit for each semester (semester A and semester B)

• To earn credit, the average for that semester must be equal to or greater than 70.

•A semester•Cycle 1•Cycle 2•Cycle 3•Fall Final Exam

•B semester•Cycle 4•Cycle 5•Cycle 6•Spring Final Exam

• Each semester, the average is derived from your report card grades and final exam

Credits required for graduation

•Students must earn 26 credits to graduate

5 STAAR End of Course Exams

• Student must meet the standard on five STAAR End of Course exams

1. Algebra I

2. Biology

3. English I

4. English II

5. U.S. History

• If student does not meet minimum standard on these exams, student will be required to re-test until standard is met in order to be granted diploma

• Once student is enrolled in course, student is eligible to sit for exam

Core Credits=16

English - 4 credits A B Science - 4 credits A B

English IBiology

English IIChemistry

English IIIPhysics

English IV

Math - 4 credits A B Social Studies - 4 credits A B

Algebra I World Geography

Algebra II World History

Geometry U.S. History

Government/Economics

• Courses highlighted in gray represent courses with a required STAAR EOC exam.

• Once student is enrolled in course, they qualify to take the test

Other Requirements = 5 credits (4.5 for students entering 9th grade in 2014-2015)

LOTE means Language Other Than English (Spanish or French)

Speech is not a graduation requirement for students entering 9th grade in 2014-

2015 (current 9th graders)

LOTE - 2 credits A B

Speech - 1/2 credit A or B

Comm App

Health - 1/2 credit A or B

Health Ed

Fine Arts - 1 credit A B

Physical Education - 1 credit A B Can be PE, NJROTC or marching band

Can be Art, Choir, Band, or Dance

Electives (vary by cohort)

Grade Class of CohortElective Credits

Notes

9 2018 2014-2015 5.5Class of 2018 students choose electives

aligned with a specific endorsement

10 2017 2013-2014 5

11 2016 2012-2013 5

12 2015 2011-2012 5

For students entering 9th grade in 2011-2012 (current seniors), technology credit is required as one of the elective credits

Re-test

• December 1-5, 2014

• Below are scores required to meet minimum standard

• Algebra – 3500 (about 20/54)

• Biology – 3500 (about 20/54)

• U.S. History – 3500 (about 28/68)

• English I – 3750 (about 49/92)

• English II – 3750 (about 50/93)

Transcript

• Like a report keeps track of grades for current school year, a transcript shows information from the beginning of a student’s high school career

• Academic transcript shows credits attempted/earned and test history on track to graduation

• Items you find on a transcript• Credits • Test history• Classification• GPA

Grade Classification

• Number of credits on transcript each August determines classification for the school year

Credits Earned Classification (year)

0–5.5 grade 9 (freshman)

6–11.5 grade 10 (sophomore)

12–17.5 grade 11 (junior)

18 or more grade 12 (senior)

Grade Point Average (GPA)

Even though all grades will be reported as numeric scores, these scores will still represent various levels of achievement which can be compared to letter grades. The following grading scale will be used in HISD to determine the grade points for each credit course:

Numeric Average

Letter Grade Regular

Quality (Pre-AP/AP)

90-100 A 4 5

80-89 B 3 4

75-79 C 2 3

70-74 D 1 2

Below 70 F 0 0

Credit Recovery Options

If credit is not earned for a specific course, below are options to recover credit

Impacts of Absences on Grades

If a student exceeds the absence limit for a

semester or for the year on an annual promotion

course, an asterisk (*) will appear next to the

grade on the report card for the appropriate

cycle. Even though the grade may be passing,

no credit is awarded

• Credit Appeal • For students with passing average and

excessive absences

• Repeat course next year

• Repeat in summer School

• Composite Grading • (More info on next slide)

• Grad Lab• Online recovery if course is available online

• See Ms. Cooks for more info

Composite Grading: Whole year Average

One whole credit can be awarded upon completion of the “B” part of a two-semester course with a grade above 70 under the following conditions • Whole course credit applies to all HISD two-semester

sequential high school courses (designated “A” and “B”) completed within the same school year.

• Students whose first semester grade is a 60 or above and whose total points for both semesters is 140 or above are eligible to receive one credit upon successful completion of the second semester with a grade above 70.

• A student who fails the second semester is not eligible to receive credit under this rule. Credit Recovery programs may not be utilized for whole course credit.

• This basically means if you fail the “A” part of a course with 60-69, and you pass “B” semester AND the whole year averages to 70, you will receive credit for the entire year (Semester A and B)

Reality Check

• A first year teacher in HISD makes $49,100/year

• A first year teacher works 187 days (out of 365)

• A teacher works 7.75 hours per day

• This equates to $33.88/hour for a first year teacher

Texas Reality Check

• Go to school website

• Click on “Students”

• Click on “Discover Interests and Abilities”• Reality Check

• Future Salary

• Occupation Direct

Texas Reality Check

• Go to school website

• Click on “Students”

• Click on “Labor Market Resources”

• Explore different occupations• Adding most jobs

• Fastest growth

• Most openings

• etc