PARENT'S CORNER
Parents of high school students face an onslaught of decisions that will have major impacts on their family's future. There are many common questions all parents have in common. At Harleton High School, we are committed to helping you answer any questions you may have. We will be in constant communication with you concerning your students needs, to be successful at Harleton High Shcool and in pursuing their post graduation plans. We will work with you to develop a plan for your student to gain the necessary skills to attain their post graduation goals. If you have any questions concerning your student or you need help with college planning, testing, or scholarships, please contact us. We are here for you and your student.
I AM A COLLEGE PARENT, NOW WHAT?
MY STUDENT IS A FRESHMEN, WHAT SHOULD I DO NOW?
dEVELOP A PLAN WITH YOUR FRESHMEN FOR THEIR FUTURE.
One thing is certain, your freshmen will be a senior before you know it. High school can be overwhelming, especially the 9th grade year. This is why it is so important students and parents develop a plan for their Harleton High School career.
Tips for success
1. Attend the summer meeting with administration
2. Treat high school like a college major.
3. Help your student explore course offerings that align to their interest.
4. Work for senior year now. Don't wait, it will be to late.
5. Get involved with your students school activities. If it is important to you, it will be important to them.
6. If you have questions, ask. We are here to help.
tHE RACE FOR TOP 10% AND COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE STARTS NOW.
We can not stress enough the importance of earning a top 10% ranking at Harleton High School. If your student does not making the top 10%, it will not keep them from achieving post graduation goals. However, it can and will affect where they go to achieve those goals. College admission processes are constantly getting more stringent due to the number of applicants applying. If your student has interest in attending a premier college like Texas or Texas A&M, they need to work for it now.
A few recommendations
1. Take honors course if possible.
2. Strive for a 90 or above in every class.
3. Achieve a college ready tag, and take dual credit courses.
STUDENT INVOLVEMENT IN CLUBS OR EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES LEADS TO STUDENT SUCCESS
Studies show that one of the biggest factors affecting high school students success is participation in clubs or extracurricular activities. Adults and students alike, need to feel apart of something. High school students can feel completely isolated in the midst of the entire student body. Every student will not be a star athlete, a first chair in the band, or actor on the stage, but there is a connection available for every student at Harleton High School. Urge your student to participate in something the high school offers, in a role that suits their interest and skill.
ACT , SAT, AND TSI TESTING? DUAL CREDIT? HELP!!!
COLLEGE READINESS tESTING, IS A MUST FOR YOUR STUDENT
If your student wants to attend a 4 university straight out of high school, they will have to take either the ACT or SAT. At a glance, the two tests aren't that different. Both the ACT and SAT are nationally recognized standardized tests and common admission requirements for US schools. Catering primarily to high school juniors and seniors, each test measures students’ proficiency in various critical skill areas — such as problem solving and reading comprehension — that are necessary for college success. So what test should your student take? Research indicates that southern students tend to perform better on the ACT. With that said, it really is personal preference on what test to take.
DUAL CREDIT OFFERS MANY BENEFITS FOR STUDENT AND PARENTS
In today's economy, students will need some sort of post graduation certificate to attain high paying positions. There are exceptions to the above statement, but not many. In Texas, the dual credit program is arranged to allow students to gain college credits while completing high school courses. This can provide huge benefits to our students. We have listed some of the main benefits below.
1. Dual credit college hours are much cheaper than on campus college hours.
2. At Harleton High School, dual credit courses are weighted like honors courses
3. Earning college hours in high school, will shorten the length of time needed to complete a degree. Faster completion = less money.
4. Students have a transition from high school to college. This is proven to increase college completion.
WHAT IS COLLEGE READINESS
The State of Texas has set specific guidelines for all Texas students that are intend to produce "College and Career Ready" students. There are various ways a student can earn the college ready classification. The state uses scores from the STAAR, ACT, SAT, and TSI test. If the student meets a predetermined score, they will be considered college ready. It is very important to gain this certification before graduation. If a student enrolls in college without meeting the college ready standards, they will have to take 0 credit courses in College Algebra (0301) and English (0301) . Those courses cost the same as for credit courses, but do not count towards completion of a degree program. Translation, your student will spend unnecessary money and take longer to complete their degree program.