Kingwood High School Welcomes

1. Kingwood High School Welcomes The Class of 2014

2. What willKingwood High School offer you? • New opportunities • New responsibilities • New challenges • New privileges • Mustang Spirit

3. How do you decide which classes to take? • HISD Course Guide • Course Request Card • PowerPoint Presentation • Group Conference with KHS Counselors • Individual Conferences with KHS Counselor for 4 year plan & registration

4. Why are there 2 course sheets? • White practice copy • “Official” blue card -Teachers recommend core class & Spanish 2 (if you are in Spanish 1) levels - You choose other 3 classes International Baccalaureate Program offered at HHS pg 33 Are you interested? □ Yes □ No

5. How do you complete your blue course sheet? • Select 7 total credits • A combination of semester-long &/or year-long courses • 2 alternate courses • Parent signature

6. Your 4-year plan Course Grade 9 Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12 English – 4 credits English I English II English III English IV Math – 4 credits Science – 4 credits Social Studies/Eco – 4 credits World Geography World History U.S. History Government/Economics Foreign Language- 2 or 3 credits* *The Distinguished Achievement Program requires a third year of foreign language and four advanced measures.

7. What is in the High School Course Guide? • Graduation Requirements • Recommended Course Placement • Award of Credit • Grade Point Explanation • Policies & Procedures • Course Descriptions

8. What happens when? KHS Counselors work with you on 4-Year Plans @: • CMS: Feb.3 • RMS: Feb.1 Course Selection Sheets Due: • CMS- Feb. 10 • RMS- Feb. 10 Meet with KHS Counselors about course selections: • CMS Feb. 12 • RMS Feb. 12

9. What classes do you need to graduate? • 4 years each of: English, Math, Science & Social Studies • 2 years of one Foreign Language • 1 semester of Communication Applications (Speech) • 2 semesters of PE/Athletics/Substitute • 1 year of a Fine Art • 5.5 credits of electives

10. How do you earn credits? • You earn a credit for each semester of a course that you pass. • Semester credit • Grade Averaging credit

11. What are GPA & Class Rank & why do they matter? Colleges use your GPA & Rank in their admissions decisions. It counts as soon as you begin 9th grade! • GPA = Grade Point Average Grade points are assigned based on the level of your classes: honors, level, modified. • Class rank comes from your GPA. Every grade is part of your GPA & your GPA determines your class rank. NOTE: Classes taken in 8th grade for high school credit do not go into GPA or rank (Algebra 1 & Spanish 1)

12. Who can give you advice about choosing classes? Your: • Parents • Teachers • Counselor • College Admissions Counselor

13. English • English 1: • Level • PreAP • Gifted and Talented Both PreAP & GT earn honors grade points. Additional requirements: English 2 - 4

14. Math • Requirements: • Algebra 1 – no Honors available • Geometry, Level or Honors • Algebra 2, Level or Honors • An additional upper level math like Algebra 3, PreCalculus, AP Statistics, Calculus

15. Science • ALL freshmen take Biology (Level or Honors) • Additional requirements for graduation: • Chemistry • Physics • An additional 4th lab science

16. Social Studies • ALL freshmen take World Geography (Level or Honors) • Additional requirements: • World History, Level or Honors • US History, Level or AP • Government (.5 credit) Level, Honors or AP • Economics (.5 credit) Level, Honors or AP

17. Languages Other Than English2 years of one Language are required • Spanish 1 through 5 • French 1 through 4 • German 1 through 4 • Latin 1 through 4 • American Sign Language 1 through 3 * DAP requires 3 years – not 2 * Most offered as Level, Honors & AP (2 – 5) & Dual Credit (3 – 5).

18. Fine ArtsOne year required • Art • Theater Arts • Band • Choir • Orchestra • Dance

19. Electives5.5 credits required • any state credited courses not required for graduation: • Technology Applications • Business Management & Admin. • Family & Consumer Science • Agriculture • Architecture & Construction • Additional courses in any required subject area • And many more!

20. NJROTCNavy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps • Navy Science 1 – 4 for freshman through senior year • Focuses on: leadership, citizenship, maritime heritage • Participate in: community service, drill competition, marksmanship & military training

21. AVID (Advancement via Individual Determination) • prepare for college eligibility & success • take advanced classes • counts as elective & speech credit • must take 1 Honors course • open to incoming 9th graders

22. Why take Honors/AP classes? • think, read & write critically & analytically • college success • additional grade points • possible college credit

23. Who does well in Honors/Pre-AP classes? Students who are: • Self-motivated, hard-working & who enjoy academic challenge & rigor • Capable of success with challenging material presented at a faster pace • Willing to take assignments beyond basic requirements • Able to have time to devote & still be kids!

24. Should you take Honors/Pre-AP classes? • Yes, if you currently have at least • 80 in Honors Classes • 90 in Level Classes • Honors to level & level to honors schedule changes happen only at: • Three (3) weeks • Six (6) weeks • Semester • May change your other classes

25. Is there a lot of homework? • Level classes: • Approximately 30 minutes per class every night • Honors/AP classes: • Approximately 45 minutes per class every night

26. What if I change my mind? • Change requests: • Turn in to current Counselor with parent signature. • No changes will be made after the last day of school.

27. What Comes Next? • Lots of options! • Dual Credit • International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program • Special Courses • There are many programs offered to you through HISD. Please review your High School Course Guide to begin planning what you will take in future years.