4-Year Planning Carole McPherson, M.Ed. School Counselor (H-Pa)

1. What is the Distinguished Achievement Plan? What are Advanced Measures? What are weighted and un-weighted courses? What is the difference between Cumulative GPA and Rank GPA? How many electives do I get to take? 4-Year PlanningCarole McPherson, M.Ed.School Counselor (H-Pa)

2. 3 plans • Distinguished Achievement Plan (DAP) • Our expectation for all LASA graduates • Recommended Plan • Required for entrance to most colleges • Minimum Plan • Similar to a GED

3. What classes should I take in order to graduate on the Distinguished Achievement Plan?

4. Overview of DAP • Earn year-long passing grades in the following: • 4 English, 4 Math, 4 Science, 4 Social Studies • 3 years of the same Foreign Language • 1.5 PE, 1 Fine Art, 0.5 Health, 0.5 Speech • Earn 4 Advanced Measures

5. DAP Graduation Requirements • 4 X 4 Distinguished Achievement Plan • Earn year-long passing grades in • 4 English • 4 Math • 4 Science • 4 Social Studies

6. Lots of 4th Math choices • 4th Math options: • Pre-Calculus • Calculus • AP Computer Science • Advanced Mathematical Reasoning • AP Statistics • Stats and Risk Management

7. Lots of 4th Science choices! 4th Science Options: Astronomy, Anatomy and Physiology, Advanced Biotechnology, AP Physics B, AP Physics C, Medical Microbiology, AP chemistry, AP Biology, Pathophysiology, Organic Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, Robotics II • Approved Dual Credit Courses for ACC: • Astronomy • Anatomy and Physiology • Advanced Biotechnology • Environmental Systems

8. Other Requirements • 3 years of the same Foreign Language • Yes, you can start a new language • 1.5 PE, 1 Fine Art, 0.5 Health, 0.5 Speech

9. More choices!

10. Overview of DAP • Earn year-long passing grades in the following: • 4 English, 4 Math, 4 Science, 4 Social Studies • 3 years of the same Foreign Language • 1.5 PE, 1 Fine Art, 0.5 Health, 0.5 Speech • Earn 4 Advanced Measures

11. What are ADVANCED MEASURES? The Distinguished Achievement Program Additional Requirements: Advanced Measures

12. 4 Advanced Measures • 4 measures needed to graduate on DAP • Original research projects may not be used for more that two of the four advanced measures. • LASA courses that fall into this category are: Sci-Tech, Graphic Design (Ezine), and Planet Earth • 2 or more can be earned another way: • Test scores: • 3 or better on an AP exam • Recognition through PSAT scores • Grade of B or better in college or career course • ACC or dual-credit courses • See list of career technical courses taught at LASA

13. What is the difference between weighted and un-weighted courses?

14. What’s the difference? • Weighted= honors , AP, or Pre-AP course • Un-weighted = regular-level course

15. How can I tell if my courses are weighted or un-weighted? See course codes on the course offerings sheet R= un-weighted or regular course H or P= honors or weighted course

16. Weighted vs. Un-weighted

17. Calculating GPA • English I : 91= 4.1 • Biology : 81= 3.1 • World Geo: 85= 3.5 • Geometry: 85= 3.5 • Art I: 90= 3.0 • Sci-Tech: 89= 3.9 • Sci-Tech:89= 3.9 • Latin II: 91= 3.1 • Total of 28.1 ÷ 8 = • 3.51 weighted GPA

18. Grade Point Average (GPA) • CUMULATIVE GPA • The cumulative grade point average is reflective of ALLcompleted high school credit courses, including grades earned in high school courses prior to grade 9, through the given reporting semester.

19. CUMULATIVE GPA • Six weeks grades for courses in progress are NOT included in the cumulative grade point average. The high school report card reflects the cumulative grade point average.

20. CUMULATIVE GPA • GPA is calculated twice per year, at the end of each semester.

21. RANK GPA • For students entering grade 9 during the 2011–12 school year and thereafter, class rank shall be determined by descending order of students’ weighted GPAs earned in courses that satisfy the students’ graduation plans in the following curriculum categories:· • English/language arts; • Mathematics; • Science; • Social studies; and • Languages other than English (LOTE)

22. RANK GPA • If a student completes more courses that satisfy the student’s graduation plan than required within any of the five categories specified above, the student’s weighted GPA used for class rank shall be calculated using the student’s grades within each category with the highest grade point value.

23. PASS/FAIL SCORES Pass/fail scores, whether earned in the District or transferred from a sending district, shall not be used in computing GPA.

24. How many electives do I get to take?

25. Electives (aka not graduation requirements)

26. Choosing elective courses • Your elective courses tell future college admissions officers a lot about WHO YOU ARE! • Select elective courses mindfully • Career goals and future majors of study • Example: Future engineers • Physics-B or Physics-C, AP Calculus, Robotics, etc • Example: Future lawyers and historians • AP European History, Constitutional Law, Model UN, etc

27. Any questions? Shannon Bergeron (A-G) shannon.bergeron@austinisd.org Carole McPherson(H-Pa) carole.mcpherson@austinisd.org Meagan Butler (Pe-Z) meagan.butler@austinisd.org Jamie Kocian (college counselor) Jamie.kocian@austinisd.org Stacey Hopper (wellness counselor) stacey.hopper@austinisd.org

28. Thank you!