Transcript 3 - Mesa Public Schools

High School Planning
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

*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
3
3
Biology, a physical science, + 1
additional science
Biology, Chemistry, + 1 advanced
science
Biology, Chemistry, + 1 advanced
science
3
3
2
World History, Am. History,
Govt./Econ.
World History, Am. History,
Govt./Econ
World History, Am. History,
Govt./Econ
0
2
2
(same language)
(same language)
1
1
1
(fine or practical)
(fine)
(fine)
P.E.
1
1
0
Electives
6
4
4
Total
22
22
20
no minimum GPA
3.0 +
3.0
Grade Point Average
AIMS
reading, writing, math
reading, writing, math
take at least 2 weighted
courses
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

What is a G.P.A.?
Grade Point Average (G.P.A.) is a
numerical average of all the grades
you’ve earned for all the classes you’ve
taken in high school
 GPA is calculated by totaling your grade
points and dividing that total by the total
number of classes you’ve taken

Calculating your GPA
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 Studies 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)
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,
Natural/Physical Science, World Languages, and Social
Science.
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 Science
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.

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
34, so the College Core will look low, at first.

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.
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.
Kuder Career Navigator
www.mpsaz.kuder.com
 user name: st + ID number
(ex: st111111)
password: shepherd (no capitals)

Graduation Make It Happen
This is a booklet with LOADS of information about
*graduation requirements
*ACT/SAT
*the state Education/Career Action Plan (ECAP)
Follow these links to the online booklet:
www.mpsaz.org
Departments (bottom right)
Student Support Services/Guidance and Counseling
Secondary Counseling
left hand menu: Graduation/Post-Graduation
2011-12 Graduation Make It Happen
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 unweighted 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)
8th grade timeline
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September26 - 30: Kuder Navigator begin four-year plan
for high school (one day per English teacher)
October 17 - 21: finish four-year plans (one day per
English teacher)
October 24 – 28: ACT Explore Exam
Jan.-Feb.: Explore results and high school registration
April 16 – 20: AIMS
May: Choices unit with counselors