DHS Freshman Information

Welcome to DHS!

• A welcome letter from you counselor, Mrs. Angie Guymon
• A digital copy of the information packet that was shared
• A link to the DHS Course Catalog

Mrs. Guymon's Welcome Letter

Showcase Information Packet

TEXAS GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

• 4 English credits
• 3 Math credits
• 3 Social studies credits
• 3 Science credits
• 1 PE credit fine art credit
• 2 credits in a language other than English
• 5 Electives

Denison ISD has a few additional requirements:

• 9 electives rather than 5
• Proof of Speech proficiency

To prove speech proficiency, students must take/do one of the following:

• Public Speaking
• Debate
• Theatre Arts 1 & 2
• AVID 1 & 2

GRADUATION PLAN DETAILS IN COURSE CATALOG P. 24

ENDORSEMENTS

At DISD, it is our desire for students to be high achievers! As a result we very much desire having all students complete an endorsement and a career and technology pathway. Students may earn the following endorsements:

• Arts and Humanities
• Business and Industry
• Multidisciplinary Studies
• Public Services
• Science, Technology, Engineering, and
• Math (STEM)

A detailed explanation of the courses required for an endorsement are on page 25 of our Course Catalog.

CAREER & TECH EDUCATION (CTE)

DHS is proud to offer many, many career and technology courses and pathways to our students. Career Technology (CTE) courses are available for student in many different pathways. Students can graduate from DHS fully licensed as a beautician, have multiple welding certification, and many, many other certificates that will boost their employability after high school.

Discover information about all of our CTE pathways beginning on page 78 of the Course Catalog.

TOP 10%

In accordance with Texas Education Code (TEC) 51.803, students graduating in the top 10% of his or her class is
eligible for automatic admission to any state college or university with the exception of the University of Texas at
Austin. For the University of Texas at Austin, admission is automatic for only the top 6% of a graduating class. The student must also meet ONE the following as well:

• Earn Distinguished Achievement under the Foundation High School Program OR 
• Meet ACT College Readiness Benchmarks or earn at minimum a score of 450 on reading and writing and a 530 in math on the SAT.

Colleges may still require that students provide an ACT or SAT score.

More information is located on p. 8 of our Course Catalog.

EARN DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT

• Four (4) credits in Science
• Four (4) credits in Math, including credit in Algebra II
• Completion of curriculum requirements for at least one endorsement

See page 28 of the Course Catalog

ATTENDANCE MATTERS

There is a strong correlation between attendance and academic success. In Texas, it is also state law. State law requires that students attend class at 90% of the time in order to earn credit for a class. Should a student be absent for a class more than 10% of the time, the district may NOT award credit for that class.

Even if a student earns a 99 average in a class, if they are not in attendance at 90% of the time, they will not earn credit. Students may be assigned Saturday school to “buy” back time; but isn’t it better to have your weekend and simply come to school?

At DHS the 90% means that for class period 1,2, & 6, a student must miss no more than 8 days per semester. In class that only meet every other day (3A/3B, 4A/4B, 5A/5B) students can miss only 4 days per semester before losing credit.

See page 3 in our Course Catalog for more information.

BE CCMR (College-Career-Military) READY!

• Meet criteria of 3 or greater on the AP exam
• Meet Texas Success Initiative (TSI) criteria in ELAR and Math*:
  • SAT (530 Math; 480 Reading/Writing)
  • ACT - Prior to 2/23 (23 composite with 19 in ELAR & Math _ After 2/23 (ELAR E+R=40 and Math 22, no composite)
  • TSIA2 (ELAR 945; Math 950)
  • Complete college prep Math or college prep English course
    • Can mix/match these for TSI readiness
• Complete a course for dual credit (9 hours or more in any subject OR three hours ELAR or Math)

• Earn an industry-based certification
• Graduate with complete IEP and workforce readiness

• Student must enlist in one of the branches of the Armed Forces and complete and submit the DD Form 4 in full, including all required signatures by the student and the enlistment officer

ATTENDANCE POLICY

• State law requires students to be in attendance for at least 90 percent of the days during a semester in order to receive credit for a class.
• When a student is absent from school, a doctor’s note or parent note must be provided for the absence to be excused.
• Phone calls will not be accepted as documentation for a student’s absent.
• If a student is absent three or more consecutive days, a doctor’s note will be required for the absences to be excused.
• A note signed by the student, even with the parent’s permission, will not be accepted unless the student is 18 or older or is an emancipated minor under state law

EXEMPTION POLICY

• Must be passing the class
• Exemptions cannot carry over to next semester
• Lost ticket = lost exemption
• Students in DAEP are not eligible
• Block classes require multiple exemptions
• Absences reduce exemption eligibility

• Check posted exemption lists before finals
• Submit corrections in writing before deadline
• Pick up exemption ticket with ID

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

My student does not like fine arts do they have to take it?
Yes. The state of Texas requires one fine art credit in order to earn a high school diploma. We STRONGLY recommend that this be completed during their freshman year. 1) They may find a new passion. 2) They have completed a graduation requirement.

Why is my student in a PE class?
Texas graduation guidelines require that student earn a minimum of one physical education credit for graduation. We suggest students do this during their 9th grade year.

What is the professional communications/public speaking?
Denison ISD graduation requirements include “proof of speech proficiency”. Speech proficiency is demonstrated via one of the following ways with public speaking being the most common way to do this:

• Taking and passing public speaking (professional communications)
• Taking debate
• Taking and passing two years of theatre arts
• Being in AVID for at least two years

What is a credit?
Different courses earn different amount of credits. The courses at DHS range from earning .5 credit to 2 credits per class. Each semester when a student meets attendance and academic standards with an average of 70 or higher they typically earn a half credit. To graduate from Denison High School with an endorsement, students must earn a total of 26 credits

Does attendance matter? YES!
1. State law requires that students attend a class 90% of the time. Failure to do so, most likely will result in loss of credit. Students may “buy back” by attending Saturday school. For first, second, and sixth period, students  potentially lose credit when the miss 8 times in a semester. For 3A/3B, 4A/4B, and 5A/5B student may only be absent 4 times per semester before potentially losing credit. 
2. Years of research and multiple studies show that there is a high correlation between attendance and academic success. When students are absent, they miss valuable instruction.

Can my student change their endorsement?
Yes and no. By their sophomore year, students have their endorsement set. After that point, it is difficult to complete the course work necessary to complete an endorsement. 

Are endorsements and CTE Pathways the same thing?
They are similar, but they are not exactly the same. When students complete a CTE pathway, they will earn an “industry” certificate and articulated* college credit on their journey. WE have many, many career pathways. An endorsement is more like a college major or minor. There are only five endorsements: STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), Arts and Humanities, Public Services, and Multidisciplinary Studies)
*Articulated credit…DHS has an articulation agreement with Grayson College. When students take an articulated course at DHS they must go to the registrar’s office at Grayson College and claim their articulated credit. The  courses will appear on a student’s college transcript as credit earned without ever attending the class or more importantly paying tuition for that course.