We know the transition to high school is a time filled with excitement, anticipation, worry, and lots of questions. There is a LOT of information to take in! Be sure to check your email and watch social media for updates about school events. There are several different opportunities to learn about highs school and have your questions answered. The high school counselors, administrators, teachers and staff are all here to help!

One of the most obvious differences you will notice about the school day in high school is that we only have 4 class periods every day instead of 8! Class periods are 90 minutes long so that you still have enough time to get in everything you need. Your attendance every day is very important because with fewer class periods that meet longer, one absence in the accelerated block is like missing two days in a regular schedule!

All of your high school courses earn credits that go towards meeting your high school graduation requirements. You must have a grade of 70% or higher in order to be considered passing and receive credit.

In order to move on to the next grade, you must meet a minimum requirement of credits earned. (Example: 6 credits = Sophomore, 12 credits = Junior, 18 credits = Senior)

Freshman grades are included in your Grade Point Average (GPA). Your freshman grades will be used to figure your high school grade point average. Your GPA is important because colleges and employers will use it to help determine what kind of student or employee you might be. Your overall GPA starts accumulating with the classes you take in 9th grade.

Starting in the 9th grade, the courses you take, the grades and credits you earn, and your test scores (STAAR, SAT, ACT, etc.) will become a part of your permanent record called your transcript.

This transcript will have all your freshman courses and grades on it. By the time you graduate, it will include every course you took in your entire high school experience! If you fail a course and have to retake it, the new grade does not replace the original failing grade. Every high school course you take in high school shows on your transcript. You want to make sure your transcript is one that you can be proud of.

• Take Courses for High School Credit (if that is appropriate for your pathway)
• Take a Language Other Than English (LOTE) Credit by Exam (CBE) if you are fluent in another language
• Enter your 4 Year Plan and Endorsement in Skyward

• Getting involved is the best way to meet people and have fun.
• We will tell you everything you need to know during Orientation, Advisory, etc.
• If there is a mistake... it can be fixed.
• There are people here to help!
  

We want to hear from you. What do you want to know more about? What is your student worried about when it comes to high school? What is your student most excited about? How can we help?