Transcript Planning for the College Core

High School Planning
User Names and Passwords
My MPS
www.mpsaz.org
check grades
Kuder Navigator
www.mpsaz.kuder.com
career research
MPS Connect
email
Username = __________________________
st123456
st and your ID#
123456
Password = ___________________________
ID# (unless you change it)
st123456
Username = ___________________________
st and your ID#
Password = ___________________________
123456
ID# (unless you change it)
Note lower case
Username = ___________________________
endwight0706
first initial, middle initial, last name, birth month
birth day (Ex: mnmcfly0416)
Password = ___________________________
Ed123456
first initial (capital), last initial (lower case), ID#
(Ex: Mm123456)
Graduation Requirements
In order to receive a high school diploma from
Mesa Public Schools, students must:
Complete the credit requirements for one
of the two offered diplomas:
Standard Diploma
 Scholastic Diploma

On my study guide…
1. Mesa Public Schools offers
____________________
diplomas. One is called
two
Standard
the __________________
Diploma, and the other
is called the ____________________
Diploma.
Scholastic
*Meet attendance requirements
*Meet or Exceed the Standard in all three
areas of the Arizona Instrument to
Measure Standards (AIMS) in:
Reading
 Writing
 Math

Curriculum
English
Math
Science
Social Studies
World Language
Arts
Mesa Schools Standard
Diploma I can go to
Mesa Schools Scholastic
Diploma
community college, the
military, or technical school.
I can go to a 4 year college or
university.
4
4
AZ University Entrance
4
4
4
4
Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, +
an additional math
Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, +
an advanced math
Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, +
an advanced math
3
4
3
Biology, a physical science, + 1
additional science
Biology, Chemistry, + 2 advanced
sciences
Biology, Chemistry, + 1 advanced
science
3
3
2
World History, Am. History,
Govt./Econ.
World History, Am. History,
Govt./Econ
Am. History + 1 other social
studies
0
2
2
(same language)
(same language)
1
1
1
(fine or practical)
(fine: art, music, dance, drama)
(fine)
P.E.
1
1
0
Electives
6
3
4
Total
22
22
20
no minimum GPA
3.0 +
take 2 wtd classes
3.0
Grade Point Average
AIMS
reading, writing, math
reading, writing, math
My study guide…
2. If I am planning to go straight to a four-year college or
university after high school, I need to earn the
scholastic
_________________________
Diploma.
2a. This means that my 4th math credit must be an
advanced
_____________________
math: any class that is HIGHER than
Algebra II.
2b. My 3rd and 4th science class must be
advanced
_____________________
science classes, such as Physics or a
science class with an AP (Advanced Placement) or CP (College
Prep) designation.
2c. I must earn ________
World Language credits.
2
My study guide…
2d. I must earn 1 credit in the Fine Arts: ____________________,
art
_________________,
music
_____________________,
or
dance
___________________.
drama
3.0
2e. I must keep my Grade Point Average at ___________
or
higher.
2f. I must take at least two ____________________
weighted
classes
(Honors, AP, or CP).
3. In order to graduate high school, I must ALSO pass the AIMS in
reading
the areas of ________________________,
___________________,
and ______________________.
math
writing
What are grade points and
weighted grades?
Grade points are the numeric equivalent
of letter grades
 An “A”, for instance equals 4 grade
points
 Weighted grades are worth additional
grade points
 A weighted “A” is worth 5 grade points

On my study guide…
4. A WEIGHTED grade is different from a regular grade, because I can
earn more points on my
Regular GPA: _______
A
_______
B
_______
C_______
3
1 D
4
2
Weighted GPA: _______
5
A
_______
B
4
_______
C_______
2 D
3
What is a G.P.A.?

GPA is calculated by totaling your grade
points and dividing that total by the total
number of classes you’ve taken
Total
number of
classes
taken
Total number of grade points
earned in all your classes
9th Grade Report Card
Subject
Grade
Points
Credit
English
C
2
1
Algebra
A
4
1
World History
B
3
1
Essential
Elements of
Science
B
3
1
P.E.
C
2
1
Spanish I
B
3
1
17
6
Total
G.P.A. = 2.83 (17/6)
My study guide…
5. To figure my GPA, I add up the points I’ve earned for each
grade and divide by the number of classes I’ve taken. As I
move through high school, my GPA is
cumulative
____________________,
meaning I accumulate grade points
throughout the four years.
6. Having a high GPA is important because
___________________
or other educational institutions,
colleges
including the military, often select students based on their
GPA.
What is class rank?
Class rank is a measure of how your
academic performance compares to
other students in your graduating class
 Colleges often use class rank as a factor
in college admissions and for awarding
scholarships

The College Core



Beginning with the class of 2013, Mesa Public Schools will
use our core courses, or the College Core, as the basis for
determining class rank.
Core courses fall in the categories of English, Math,
Science, World Languages, Fine Arts, and Social
Studies.
We will total the number of grade points earned in the 17
core courses and divide that number by 34. If students
take more than the minimum number of core courses, we
will take the highest grade points earned in that particular
core area.
The College Core Courses
Subject Area
Total Credits
Total Semesters
English
4
8
Math
4
8
Laboratory Science 3
6
Social Studies
3
6
World Language
2
4
Fine Arts
1
2
Total
17
34
What the College Core is not
College Core is not to be confused with a
Grade Point Average (GPA)
 GPA is calculated using the sum total of
all your grade points and dividing by the
total number of classes
 The College Core is calculated by adding
up your highest grade points in the 17
core academic areas and dividing by 34.

My study guide…
class
rank
7. My __________________
___________________
is
determined by the College Core, and it tells me how high my
grades are in relation to other students in my graduating class.
8. Class Rank is important because some colleges and
universities admit students based on class rank, and some
______________________
are awarded to students with a
scholarships
high class rank.
9. Only my academic classes (English, math, social studies,
science, world language), and fine art classes will be used to
determine my ____________________
_______________.
core
college
Calculating your College Core
*34
Total number of grade points earned
in the 17 College Core classes
*In calculating the College Core, the divisor is always held at 34. Thus,
students who do not take all of the College Core courses (e.g., a student
earning a standard diploma) will always have a lower College Core than a
student who took all of the College Core courses.)
When and where



Your College Core will first appear on your high school
transcript at the completion of your junior year
At the completion of your junior year, we will be dividing by
28, because by this time the maximum number of College
Core courses you could have completed is 14
At the completion of the junior year, those students who
have taken the most rigorous schedule of advanced
courses and earned the most grade points will have the
highest College Cores
The importance of planning


Those students who have taken the most
rigorous schedule of college preparatory
courses and earned the most grade points will
have the highest College Core and will be
ranked highest in their graduating class.
Those students who do not take College Core
courses or have fewer grade points will have
lower College Cores and will be ranked lower in
their graduating class.
My study guide…
rigorous
10. If I take more ______________________
(harder)
classes, I will have a higher College Core because I can
earn more points for weighted classes.
Set your plans in motion




Decide what you want to do after you graduate
from high school
Decide what classes you’ll need to take to get
you where you want to be
Take as many advanced or college preparatory
classes as you can
Earn the most grade points you possibly can by
earning the best grades you can
Service Learning




Earn the Graduation Honor for Excellence in Service
Learning by working 150 hours for a non-profit
organization between 9th and 12th grades
See Mrs. Bodine during 4th quarter this year to get an
application.
Once your application is approved, you will receive a
time card to keep track of your hours over the
summer.
Next fall, you will turn in your time card to the Service
Learning coach at Red Mtn. H.S.
My study guide…
11. I can earn the Honor for Excellence in Service Learning by
doing at least ___________
hours of community service
150
between _________
and _________
12th grades.
9th
12. Mrs. ___________________
is the Service Learning
Bodine
coach at Shepherd. I will need to get an application and a time
card from her next _____________,
before school is out, if I
spring
want to do community service over the summer. I will need to
turn in my time card next fall to the Service Learning Coach at
__________________________________.
Red Mountain H.S.
Kuder Career Navigator
www.mpsaz.kuder.com
 user name: st + ID number
(ex: st111111)
password: ID number (no st)

My study guide…
13. I can review my career awareness survey and research
careers by going to this website:
________________________________.
My user name is
www.mpsaz.kuder.com
St + ID number (Ex: st123456)
__________________________
and my password is
____________________.
ID
number (Ex: 123456)
14. My four year plan will help me determine which
_________________
I want to take in high school.
classes
8th grade timeline
October 14 -18: ACT Explore Exam
December: receive Explore results and determine how
they impact plans for high school and beyond
January: Create 4-year plan on Kuder Navigator
February: High School registration
April: AIMS
May: Choices unit with counselors
AZ High Honors Tuition Scholarship
The Arizona Board of Regents High Honors Tuition Scholarship (AIMS
Scholarship) is a university academic merit scholarship
administered by the Arizona Department of Education on behalf of
the Arizona Board of Regents.
Qualified students who graduate from high school in 2013 and
beyond will receive a 25% in-state university tuition scholarship.
Part 1 (Course Competency)

Students must complete all 16 Core Competency Courses by graduation with a B*
or better in each unit of credit awarded or receive an acceptable score on the
Advance Placement (AP) test or a 4 on the International Baccalaureate (IB) test
for that subject area.

The 16 Core Competency Courses as defined by the Arizona Board of Regents
Tri-University Admission requirements are: 4 units English; 4 units Math; 3
units Lab Science; 2 units Social Science; 2 units Foreign Language; and 1 unit
Fine Arts.

* A "C" in a weighted course in any credit bearing unit of a core course does not
convert to a "B". The grade is as reflected on the student's transcript.

- If a student receives a "C" in a core course he/she must complete one of the
following options to remain eligible:
Retake the unit of credit and receive a "B" or better
Take an additional unit of credit in that subject matter and receive a “B” or
better
Receive an Acceptable Score (See Table 1) on the Advance Placement (AP) Test
or a 4 on the International Baccalaureate (IB) test for that subject area



Part 2 (GPA/Class Rank)Students must
meet at least ONE of the following
academic requirements:
Option 1 - GPA: A CORE GPA of 3.50 IN THE 16
CORE COMPETENCY COURSES on an un-weighted
4.00 scale.
Option 2 - Class Rank: Student is in the top 5% of
high school graduating class upon graduation.
Part 3 (AIMS Exams)Students must
meet the following assessment
options:

Option 1: EXCEED Standards on all 3 of the AIMS Exams
(Reading, Writing, and Math) by the end of junior year. The
AIMS Science exam does not count as one of the 3 AIMS
exams, for purposes of this scholarship.

Option 2: EXCEED Standards on 2 of the AIMS HS Exams
(Reading, Writing, and Math) and MEET Standards on 1 of the
AIMS HS Exams by the end of their junior year. Additionally,
student would need to receive a minimum score of 3 on any two
Advanced Placement tests or a minimum score of 4 on any two
International Baccalaureate exams. AP/IB exams may be taken
during the senior year. For additional information, see FAQ #12.
Part 4 (SAT1/ACT)

Students must meet at least one of the following admissions test
options and submit scores to the university they apply to

Option 1: At least a 28 on the ACT test

Option 2: At least a 1300 on the SAT1 test (critical
reading & math, excluding essay)