Freshman Guidance

High School InformationGraduation Plan for Class of

2020

Focus on the Goal: High School

Graduation – 2020!

Includes HB 5 revisions

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Grade Classification

Freshman 9th grade

Sophomore 10th grade(5.5 credits )

Junior 11th grade(12 credits)

Senior 12th grade(18 credits)Freshmen students with 5.5 credits will move to WHS at

the end of the year.

Graduation PlansRequirements Foundation

PlanFoundation Plan with

Endorsement and

Distinguished Level of

Achievement

English 4 4

-English 1-English 2-English 3-An advanced English Course

-English 1-English 2-English 3-An advanced English Course

Graduation PlansRequirements Foundation Plan Foundation Plan

with Endorsement and Distinguished

Level of Achievement

Math 3 4Three credits must consist of:

- Algebra 1 - Geometry

- An advanced Math Credit

Four credits must consist of:

- Algebra 1 - Geometry

- Algebra 2**-An Advanced Math

Credit

Math SpecificsExamples:

8th: PAP Algebra 19th: PAP Geometry10th: PAP Algebra 211th: PAP Pre-Calculus12th: AP Calculus/AP Statistic/College Statistics

9th: Algebra 110th: Geometry11th: Algebra 212th: Pre-Calculus/Advanced Quantitative Reasoning/Engineering Math

9th: Algebra 110th: Geometry11th: Math Models12th: Algebra 2Math Models must be taken prior to Algebra 2

Graduation PlansRequirements Foundation

Plan Foundation

Plan with Endorsement

and Distinguished

Level of Achievement

Science 3 4Three credits. One credit must be Biology. The remaining two credits must be chosen from the following areas. No more than one credit from each area.

- Biology-Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC)

-An Advanced Science Class

Four credits. One credit must be Biology. The remaining two credits must be chosen from the following areas. No more than one credit from each area.

- Biology-Chemistry or

- Physics - An Advanced

Science Class

Science Specifics•One credit must be a Biology credit•In addition to a Biology course, a student must select two credits from the following:

•IPC--May not be taken as final or fourth science. Must be taken prior to Senior year. IPC is not an acceptable Science on the distinguished level of achievement plan.•Chemistry or Physics

•After successful completion of 3 credits from the Science listed above, students can choose an additional Science from the following:

Science Specifics Cont.

9th: PAP Biology10th: PAP Chemistry11th: PAP Physics12th: AP Biology

9th: Biology10th: Chemistry 11th: Physics12th: Forensics

9th: IPC10th: Biology11th: Chemistry12th: Physics

Additional Sciences currently offered:•AP Biology•AP Chemistry•Environmental Systems•Aquatic Science•Astronomy•AP Physics 1 & 2•Anatomy & Physiology•Food Science•Forensic Science•Advanced Animal Science

Examples:

Graduation PlansRequirements Foundation

PlanFoundation Plan with

Endorsements and

Distinguished Level of

Achievement

History 3 4

World Geography

1 OR 1

World History 1 1

U.S. History 1 1

U.S. Government

.50 .50

Economics .50 .50

Graduation Plans

Requirements Foundation Plan

Foundation Plan with

Endorsements and

Distinguished Level of

Achievement

Physical EducationCan take up to 4.0 credits of Athletics(Includes Marching Band, Athletic classes, PE Aerobics and PE)

1.0 1.0

Graduation PlansRequirements Foundation Plan Foundation

Plan with Endorsements

and Distinguished

Level of Achievement

Foreign Language:Offerings:Spanish (Grades 8-12)French (Grades 10-12)American Sign Language (Grades 10-12)

2

Same Language

2

Same Language

Graduation PlansRequiremen

ts Foundation Plan Foundation Plan with

Endorsement and Distinguished Level of

Achievement

Fine Arts:BandChoirArtTheatre ArtsFloral Design

1 1

Additional Components: Electives

2.0 6.0

Two full credits (4.0 semesters): - State approved courses

Three full credits (6.0 semesters): - State approved courses

Graduation Plans

Requirements Foundation Plan

Foundation Plan with

Endorsement and

Distinguished Level of

Achievement

Total Credits

22 26

*Students receiving special education services will have individualized

considerations in their diploma plans based on the ARD committee decisions.

Graduation PlansDistinguished Level of Achievement *

Requirements:-Foundation Program Requirements-Four credits in Math including Algebra 2-Four credits in science-At Least One Endorsement

**All students in WISD plan to graduate under the foundation plan with endorsement which means they automatically qualify to graduate with the multi-disciplinary foundation endorsement as all four core classes must be taken ALL four years.

Graduation Plans

Performance Acknowledgements Dual Credit Course Bilingualism and Bi-literacy PSAT, ACT’s Plan, SAT or ACT Advanced Placement (AP Course) Earning a Nationally or Internationally

recognized Business or Industry Certification or License

End of Course Exams (STAAR)

Students will take 5 End of Course Exams. These include:

English 1 & English 2 Algebra 1 Biology United States History

Endorsements:Business and Industry:1. Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources

Animal ScienceAgribusinessMechanical Systems

2. Architecture and Construction/ManufacturingArchitecture and ConstructionWeldingManufacturing

3. Arts, Audio Visual and CommunicationGraphic DesignFashionAnimationAudio Visual Production

Endorsements:Business and Industry:4. Business, Management and Administrative

Business

5. Finance6. Hospitality and Tourism

Culinary Arts

7. Marketing8. Transportation, Distribution and Logistics

Automotive Technology

9. English Journalism

Endorsements:Public Service:1. Education and Training2. Government and Public Administration3. Health Science4. Human Services

Cosmetology

5. Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security

Endorsements:STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and

Mathematics 1. Engineering2. Computer Science3. Mathematics4. Science

Endorsements:Arts and Humanities:1. Art2. Choral Music3. Dance4. Color Guard5. Instrumental Music6. Social Studies7. Foreign Language8. English 9. Theatre

Endorsements:Multi-Disciplinary:1. Four Advanced courses that prepare a student to enter

the work force or post secondary education 2. Four credits in each of the four foundation subject areas

including English 4 and Chemistry and/or Physics3. Four credits in Advanced Placement or Dual Credit

selected from English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Economics, Languages other than English or Fine Arts

Focus on developing: Good Study Habits Being Responsible Making Positive Choices Becoming Independent Planning Setting goals

All Eighth grade students will need to meet with their school counselor to develop a high school 4-year plan.

Look out for: Attendance Concerns Missing Assignments Missing Credits—Credits are

earned at the end of each semester

Missing Deadlines

Rank and G.P.A. Top 10% receive guaranteed admissions to

Texas state universities except University of Texas at Austin

Grade Point Average (G.P.A.) will be calculated on a 4.5 scale for all students.

Note: Pre-AP and Dual Credit (DC) classes receive an additional .50 weighting for G.P.A. (5.0 scale). Advanced Placement (AP) classes receive an additional 1.0 weighting for G.P.A. (5.5 scale).

Subject Load Weatherford Freshman will take 8

classes each term (Periods 1-8) WHS Sophomores and Juniors will also

take 8 classes each term (Periods 1-8). Seniors may be eligible for early

dismissal based on their selected coursework, grades, STAAR testing, etc.

Subject Load? Can freshmen students take all 4 core classes

as Pre-AP? Answer is “yes” – Pre-AP is open enrollment,

therefore; careful consideration must be given for additional commitment. Most students who are successful in Pre-AP classes make A’s and high B’s.

Pre-AP classes are easy to get into and difficult to exit. Be serious about taking this class if you sign up.

Suggestion: Keep it balanced.

Testing Opportunities High School End of

Course Exams (required for graduation)

PSAT – Practice or Competition – WHS

ACT – College Admissions SAT – College Admissions ASVAB – Military TSI

Websites: www.weatherfordisd.com www.collegefortexans.co

m www.collegeboard.com www.act.org