A ROADMAP TO

Destination 2: Understanding Endorsements and Pathways

GISD Personal Graduation Lessons

GRADUATION

Lesson #2

QUICK RECAP: A PERSONAL GRADUATION PLAN (PGP) IS……

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• A flexible plan you create in 8th grade that allows you to map out all of the classes you need to take in order for you to graduate high school.

Objectives

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• Understand High School Endorsements and Pathways
• Identify a Program of Study
• Review and Reflect on High School Graduation Requirements

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Introduction on Endorsements:

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WHAT IS AN ENDORSEMENT?

Endorsements are a related series of courses that are grouped together by interest or skill set. It is very similar to a college major, or a career strand, providing students with in-depth knowledge of a subject area. Students earn an endorsement by completing the curriculum requirements for the endorsement.

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HOW MANY ENDORSEMENTS ARE THERE?

Students can choose from FIVE endorsements.

Click Me!

EXPLORING STATIONS

Business & Industry

Public Service

STEM

Arts & Humanities

PGP

Eduthings

PASSPORT ACTIVITY (1):

1. Students will each have a printed passport or one to complete on a Google Slide.
2. Students will be placed in small groups based on number of students and station stops (4).
3. After students are assigned a number they will travel to each station to identify:

a. a pathway they are interested in

b. a possible career

c. a course they will need to take their 9th grade year.

PASSPORT ACTIVITY (2):

4. While students travel ensure there is a timer going so students know when to rotate.

5. After all students have rotated have them answer the final question on their passport: What endorsement/pathway are you most interested in?

6. Finally, have students all gather back to review and reflect on High School 101 information.

GISD PGP PASSPORT

Personal Information

HIGH SCHOOL 101 - REVIEW

Review the following about high school information:

• Graduation Requirements
• Transcripts
• Grade Point Average (GPA) & Class Rank

WHAT CLASSES DO I NEED TO

TAKE TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL?

26 credits of the following classes:

• 4 English credits
• 4 Math credits
• 4 Science credits
• 3 Social Studies/History credits
• 2 LOTE (Language other than English) credits of the same language
• 1 Fine Art credit
• 1 Physical Education (PE) credit
• 1/2 Health Credit (GISD requirement)
• 6 1/2 Elective Credits (these credits will include your endorsement classes)

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You can graduate with more than 26 credits!

• 1 year of a class = 1 credit
• 1/2 year (semester) of a class = .5 credits

TRANSCRIPT

A high school transcript is basically a record of your academic accomplishments in high school. Schools and jobs will ask you for it! It will show…..

- all the high school credit classes you took and when

- the grade for each class (how your GPA is calculated)

- your endorsement

- weighted & unweighted GPA

- class size

- top 10% if applicable

- quartile (1st quarter, 2nd quarter, 3rd quarter, 4th quarter)

- AND MORE!

Click the icon for an example of a GISD transcript

GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA) & CLASS RANK

Three different grade point averages (GPAs) are recorded on a

Georgetown ISD student’s official transcript:

1. Cumulative, unweighted 4.0 GPA

2. Cumulative, unweighted 100 point GPA

3. Weighted rank GPA

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CLASS RANK indicates where you stand academically in relation

to the students in your class. Your grades in English, Math, Science,

Social Studies and Foreign Language are used to calculate your

weighted ranking GPA.

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Your GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA) is the sum of all your HS course grades divided by the total number of credits.

Click on the

icon to see how the 3 GISD GPAs are calculated

(2nd slide).

TRAVEL TIPS FOR SUCCESS

• The courses you take, the activities you participate in, and the way you choose to conduct yourself have a huge impact on the options you will have available to you upon graduation.

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• Endorsement pathways are intended to give students the opportunity to take a concentration of related courses in high school to help them be prepared for post-secondary education and careers.

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• Endorsements can be changed if you change your mind during high school. You will need to meet with your high school counselor to make a change.

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THANK YOU!

Do you have any questions or anything you’d like to share?

Let’s discuss them together!

GISD Personal Graduation Lessons

Lesson #2