Freshman

High School Terminology 101: A Quick Guide to Terms You Will Hear at LHHS

• Advisory - a class period during the day in which students can get valuable core content focused tutoring based on their individual needs each grading cycle.

• AP Course -  Advanced Placement courses are classes that are much more in depth with the teaching and topics learned than none AP classes.  AP courses offer students the opportunity to participate in College Board AP exams offered in May of each year. Once the course is authorized, colleges and universities recognize a score on the AP exam as the equivalent level of work in the corresponding college course. Credit and/or advanced placement is granted by colleges and universities based on the student's exam performance.  To encourage participation in these courses, ten (10) quality points will be added to a passing semester raw grade for use in calculating GPA and class rank. 

• Class Rank - a method of determining how students from each grade measure and compare to each other in terms of grades and academic achievements. Your ranking is calculated by comparing your GPA to your classmates' in the same grade. 

• Core Classes - Four class subjects required by all students.  English, science, math, & social studies.

• Credit - awarded for successful completion of a course.

• Credit Recovery - a course to help those students that did not pass a course the first time around, earn back that credit through online coursework.

• CTE - Career & technology education.  These elective classes are career focused and allow students to earn real industry certifications & more while in high school!  Find additional information HERE.  View the CTE information video HERE.

• Dual Credit Class- a class that earns both high school credit & college credit at the same time.

  • Dual Credit courses will carry ten (10) quality points upon successful completion of the course. 

• Edgenuity - an online program used by students to recover a class credit not earned previously.

• Electives - Optional classes that will vary based on what degree plan/pathway your child has chosen.

• Endorsements - these are optional add-on graduation requirements for students.  An endorsement consists of courses that are grouped together by interest or occupational skill. They provide students with in-depth knowledge of a subject area or a high-wage, high-skill, and in-demand occupation. 

  • There are 5 endorsement areas in RISD:

    • Arts & Humanities

    • Business & Industry

    • Multidisciplinary

    • Public Services

    • STEM

  • NOTE, if a student chooses NOT to graduate with an endorsement "specialty", that student will graduate on the Foundations Graduation Plan (22 credits)

• EOC - End-of-Course-Exam.  State-mandated tests given during the final weeks of a high school course. There are five EOC exams required to earn a diploma from a Texas public high school. The five exams are given when a student completes English I and II, Biology, Algebra I, and U.S. History. 

• GPA - grade point average

• GPA Calculation -calculated by dividing the total amount of grade points earned by the total amount of courses attempted. Your grade point average may range from 0.0 to a 4.0.  Use the online calculator HERE to calculate your GPA

• Grade Scale 

  • 100-90.....................A/4.0

  • 89-80........................B/3.0

  • 79-70..........................C/2.0

  • Below 70..................F/0.0

• On Ramps Courses - work through a dual-enrollment model with LHHS & the University of Texas at Austin. Students can earn UT Austin credit from a UT faculty member and high school credit from their local teacher. Credit from the University of Texas at Austin is earned through the University Extension (UEX) within the Texas Extended Campus. OnRamps core curriculum courses are guaranteed to transfer to any public institution in Texas. OnRamps courses do not require admission to the university are are tuition-free to LHHS students. 

  • Students will receive two separate grades, one for the college grade and one for the high school grade.

  • Eligible for ten (10) quality points to be added to their RISD GPA upon successful completion of the course. 

• Pathways - Another fancy term for the old term "graduation plan".  It is a plan for what classes and in what order your child will take them each year in high school.

• Pre-AP Courses - Pre-AP courses are offered in language arts, social studies, Languages other than English (LOTE), art, mathematics, and science.  To encourage participation in these Pre-AP classes, five (5) quality points are added to a passing semester raw grade for use in calculating GPA and class rank. 

• P-Tech - Pathways in Technology Early College High School.  Additional info HERE.

• Quality Points - Quality points are also added for use in qualifying and maintaining the status of students for school organizations that require a specific GPA. These points represent what might have been earned in the less-rigorous academic course. 

  • AP Courses – 10 points 

  • On Ramps Courses – 10 points

  • Dual Credit Articulated – 10 points

  • Dual Credit Non-Articulated Courses – 5 points

  • Pre-AP Courses – 5 points 

  • Honors Courses – 5 points