High SchoolCourseCatalog & Planning Guide 2019 2019 – National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalists, 2018 Commended, and Achievement Scholars 1 High School Course Catalog & Planning Guide table of contents Superintendent’s Message .........................................................................................................................4 A Closer Look into the High School Curriculum .....................................................................................5 Campus Contacts ........................................................................................................................................6 Instructional Contacts ................................................................................................................................7 Planning Your High School Program ........................................................................................................8 A. General Information Denton ISD Graduation Programs ....................................................................................................................... 10 Grade Point Average Calculation ......................................................................................................................... 11 Class Loads ......................................................................................................................................................18 Schedule Changes ............................................................................................................................................. 18 Grade Classification ........................................................................................................................................... 18 Counseling Services .......................................................................................................................................... 18 Resources Available in Counseling Center ........................................................................................................... 19 Credit by Exam with Prior Instruction ....................................................................................................................20 TSI Assessment .................................................................................................................................................. 20 STAAR ...................................................................................................................................................................... 21 NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Academic Eligibility...................................................................... ..22 B. Optional Programs Credit by Exam without Prior Instruction ............................................................................................................. 24 Gifted / Talented Program (EXPO) ......................................................................................................................24 Advanced Coursework (Honors and AP) ............................................................................................................ 25 Dual Credit ...................................................................................................................................................... 29 Concurrent Enrollment...................................................................................................................................... 31 Correspondence Courses ................................................................................................................................. 31 PSAT, SAT, ACT Information.............................................................................................................................. 32 National Merit Scholarship Information ............................................................................................................... 33 International Baccalaureate Diploma Programming ............................................................................................. 35 C. Course Descriptions Core Academic Disciplines ............................................................................................................................ 40 English Language Arts / Speech / Debate / Journalism ................................................................................... 41 Mathematics / Computer Science ................................................................................................................. 49 Science ..................................................................................................................................................... 58 Social Studies / Psychology / Sociology ........................................................................................................ 68 World Languages .......................................................................................................................................... 76 French....................................................................................................................................................... 76 German ..................................................................................................................................................... 78 Latin .......................................................................................................................................................... 79 Spanish ..................................................................................................................................................... 81 American Sign Language ............................................................................................................................ 83 2 Fine Arts ........................................................................................................................................................ 85 Art ............................................................................................................................................................. 85 Theatre Arts ............................................................................................................................................... 88 Dance ....................................................................................................................................................... 90 Band ......................................................................................................................................................... 92 Orchestra .................................................................................................................................................. 94 Choir .........................................................................................................................................................95 P.E. / Athletics / Health ...................................................................................................................................97 P.E. .....................................................................................................................................................................................98 Athletics .................................................................................................................................................... 99 Health ....................................................................................................................................................... 99 Air Force Junior R.O.T.C. ....................................................................................................................................... 100 D. Career and Technical Education Career Planning ......................................................................................................................................... 103 Facts Everyone Should Know ...................................................................................................................... 104 Advanced Technology Complex Information. ................................................................................................ 105 Academic Credit for CTE............................................................................................................................. 105 Student Leadership Organization. (Clubs). ..................................................................................................... 106 Middle School Courses ................................................................................................................................ 107 Career Planning and Development. ..............................................................................................108 Preparing Today’s Student............................................................................................................................109 Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. ..................................................................................................... 110 Architecture and Construction. ...................................................................................................................... 114 Arts, Audiovisual Technology and Communication. ......................................................................................... 117 Animation. .........................................................................................................................................