Graduation Requirements, Secondary Program Options and Planning Guide

Graduation Requirements • Secondary Program Options Planning Guide for PAISD Students, Grades 6 – 12

The Course Selection Catalog for the Middle School and High School were combined in order to give a broad view of the secondary program. The information provided in this publication is designed to assist students and parents in planning and making choices for the student’s high school career. Based on graduation requirements and preliminary post high school plans, a personalized graduation plan is developed with a team effort by the student, parents, and the school. Students and parents may review this graduation plan by contacting the appropriate Counselor below:

Memorial High School Campuses

Memorial High School

3501 Staff Sergeant Lucian Adams Dr. Port Arthur, TX 77642 Phone 409.984.4000 Fax: 409.985.3376

CTE (Stilwell) Technical Center

3501 Staff Sergeant. Lucian Adams Dr. Port Arthur, TX 77642 Phone: 409.984.4750 Fax: 409.983.2204

Wilson Early College

1500 Lakeshore Dr. Port Arthur, TX 77640 Phone: 409.984.8961 Fax: 409.984.8978

Memorial 9th Grade Academy

3505 Staff Sergeant Lucian Adams Dr. Port Arthur, TX 77642 Phone: 409.984.4900 Fax: 409.736.0267

Jefferson Middle

2200 Jefferson Dr. Port Arthur, TX 77642 Phone: 409.984.4860 Fax: 409.960.6057

Alternative Campus

PAAC Grades 6 -12 1030 Dunbar Ave. Port Arthur, TX 77640 Phone Number: 409.984.8650 Fax: 409.984.9753

Middle School Campuses

Lincoln Middle

1023 Abe Lincoln Ave Port Arthur, TX 77640 Phone: 409.984.8700 Fax: 409.982.2847

Course Selection Process Developing the Class Schedule for Elementary/Secondary Students

Counselors meet with students during the Fall/Spring semester to determine course selections for the following year. With the assistance of counselors, students have the opportunity to choose their own classes as well as electives, and they have the opportunity to verify those choices and make corrections several times before the start of the new school year.

Counselors will provide information about the Course Selection Process, graduation plans, and class choices, through classroom guidance. Students will be given a Course Selection Catalog. Students will be given the due dates and instructions for completing course selections with a request for signatures of parents as a sign of approval. Parents will have the opportunity to attend scheduled parent information meetings and student orientations as students participate in the course selection process. Counselors will also see each student individually regarding course selections. In addition, each student will be provided verification of course requests along with a deadline for change requests. Students are reminded that some course offerings are tentative and dependent upon sufficient enrollment. It is very important that students provide alternate course choices for elective courses on the registration/course selection form.

Students and parents will have as an option, the opportunity to go on-line to complete the course selection process.

***Important Reminder: Course Selection is a very important process upon which the Master Schedule is built, teachers are hired, and classroom assignments made. Students are requested to make their selections with seriousness in mind.

***If a chosen class is not conducive in a student’s schedule, the alternate selections will be used by counselors, and if students fail to provide the required alternate selections, counselors will use their judgment in scheduling the student.

When a student selects a course, it is assumed that the student is eligible and prepared for the course by having passed the prerequisite. However, if a student fails a course(s), the student should plan to make up the course during summer school.

Students should contact their counselor and or teacher if there is a concern about having failed a course and attending summer school.

If a particular course requires the teacher’s approval, students are responsible for obtaining that approval prior to submitting course requests.

After the development of the Master Schedule, schedule changes will only be made (unless the campus Principal approves the schedule change) for the following reasons:

• A student is placed in a course in error. • A student fails a required course making a schedule adjustment necessary for graduation. • Additional credit was earned making a schedule adjustment necessary. • The student has a schedule that is not educationally defensible; i.e., does not have the pre-requisites or not having courses needed for graduation. • Change is needed as a result of a student being elected or administratively assigned to or taken out of a program within the school; i.e., band, athletics, work program, or other classes requiring instructor approval. • Change is needed to enable a student to graduate in the particular year. • Class sizes must be balanced. • Courses are cancelled.

Level Changes

Research shows that students who take challenging courses in high school are more likely to enroll in and complete college degree programs. Students are encouraged to choose academic rigor over GPA when making choices about classes.

Before requesting approval from a campus administrator to move from an advanced course to a lower level course (English I Honors to English I, for example), a student should demonstrate effort to meet academic standards of the course, seek assistance by attending tutorials, participate in class, and ensure conferences, via phone or in person have occurred between the teacher, parent, and student.