Austin Independent School District : Secondary School Information Guide

The Austin Independent School District Secondary School Information Guide for Grades 6-12 contains useful information about the policies, rules and regulations that affect students during their middle and high school years. But more importantly, the Guide provides the information students will need as they select courses and plan for college and careers.

Below, you have the option to download the complete SSIG as one complete document or each section individually.

PDF Section I: General Information for Secondary School Students and Parents

Success in Secondary School

Academic and Career Planning in AISD
Parents Can Help
High School Transcripts
Extracurricular Activities and University Interscholastic League (UIL)
Suspension of Eligibility for Extracurricular Activities

Taking Responsibility

Personal Conduct
Non-curriculum related groups
Closed Campus
Care of Building, Furniture and Equipment
Care of Textbooks
Personal Possessions at School
Smoking and Other Illegal Drugs
School Bus Behavior
Compulsory Attendance Law
Warning Notices/ Parent Notification Regarding Unexcused Absences
Information Regarding Notices to Parents Due to Excessive Absences
Denied Credit Due to Excessive Absences: Secondary Students
Restoring Denied Credit Due to Excessive Absences: Secondary Students
Attendance Requirement/ Drivers License
Absences for Extracurricular Activities

Achieving Success

Grading System
Report Cards and Progress Reports
AISD Grading Scales
Calculating Grade Point Averages
Course Credit
Advanced Academic Weighted Grades
Honor Roll Status

Middle School GPA
High School GPA

Pass/Fail Courses
Standardized Testing
Graduation Ceremonies
Middle School Grade Promotion
High School Grade Level Classification
Grade Classification
Early Graduates
Classification of Students Entering from Outside the District (Grade Level Placement)
Transfer of Course Credits and Grades
Transfer of Credit from Non- accredited Institutions and Home School Programs
Transfer of High School Credit from Newly Accredited Institution
Letter Grades
Alternative Promotion

Making Changes

Course Change Procedures
Course Corrections
Transfers to Other Schools
NCLB Options & Diversity Choice to Other Schools

Advanced Academic Courses and Programs

Pre-Advanced Placement Courses (Pre- AP)
Advanced Placement (AP) Courses
Weighted Grade Points for Advanced Academic Courses
ACC-AISD Connection
Dual Credit Courses
Career and Technical College Articulated Courses
International Baccalaureate Program
Magnet Programs
Gifted and Talented (G/T) Program

Special Schools and Programs

Gonzalo Garza Independence High School
DELTA Program (Diversified Education Through Leadership, Technology, Academics)
Virtual School Program (VSP)

Services for Students with Special Needs

English as a Second Language (ESL)
Participation of LEP/ELL Students in TAKS
Students with Disabilities-Section 504
Students with Dyslexia and Related Disorders
Special Education

PDF Section II: Middle School Information and Course Descriptions

Middle Level Educational Mission: Our Loftiest Aspirations

Middle Level Educational Strategies

Curriculum-at-a-Glance
Preparing Your Schedule
National Honor Society for Middle School
Standards for National Junior Honor Society
Middle School Required Course Descriptions
Middle School Electives

PDF Section III: High School Information and Graduation Requirements

College and Career Pathways and Majors
Graduation Programs

Minimum High School Program with modifications
Recommended High School Program
Distinguished High School Program
Recommended (4x4) High School Program
Distinguished (4x4) High School Program
Graduation Requirements for Students Receiving Special Education Services
Required Exit Level Tests for Graduates of 2009
Semester and Final Examinations
Early Graduation
High school courses taken in middle school
Correspondence courses

Credit by Examination (CBE) General Guidelines

Credit by exam with prior instruction
Credit by exam without prior instruction
Dual credit
Tech Prep and Credit - in - Escrow
Summer school
Alternative course credit

Academic Recognition

Honor Roll System
National Honor Society
Standards for National Honor Society at High School
Rank in Class

High Education Information

Top 10% of Graduating Class
Early Graduation Tuition Credit
Graduating Class of 2010 and Thereafter
Texas Tuition and Fee Exemptions
Toward Excellence, Access and Success (TEXAS) Grant Program
Non-citizen In-state Tuition
College Preparation and College Testing Information
Pre-College Entrance Tests

ACT
SAT
THEA
Content-based Tests
Advanced Placement Exams

PDF Section III: High School Course Descriptions

English Language Arts

English for Speakers of Other Languages
Locally Developed English Courses Serving Students with Disabilities
Language Arts Electives
Locally Developed Language Arts Elective Courses Serving Students with Disabilities
Speech/ Debate
Locally Developed Speech and Debate Courses Serving Students with Disabilities
Journalism

Mathematics

Locally Developed Math Courses Serving Students with Disabilities

Science

Locally Developed Science Courses Serving Students with Disabilities

Health Education

Locally Developed Health Education Courses Serving Students with Disabilities

Computer Science and Technology Applications

Locally Developed Technology Application Courses Serving Students with Disabilities

Social Studies and Economics

Special Topics in Social Studies
Locally Developed Social Studies Courses Serving Students with Disabilities

Physical Education

Locally Developed Physical Education Courses Serving Students with Disabilities
Physical Education Substitutions

Physical Education Equivalent Activities
Physical Education Waiver Activities

Fine Arts

Art
Theatre
Instrumental Music
Choral Music
General Music
Dance
Locally Developed Fine Arts Courses Serving Students with Disabilities

Languages Other Than English

American Sign Language
Locally Developed Other Language Courses Serving Students with Disabilities
Other Locally Developed Courses Serving Students with Disabilities
Locally Developed Elective Courses Serving Students with Disabilities
Miscellaneous Courses

PDF Section III: Career and Technical Education (CTE) Course Descriptions

Agricultural Science and Technology Majors
Business Education Majors
Health Science Technology Majors
Family and Consumer Sciences Majors
Technology Related Majors
Marketing Majors
Trade and Industrial Majors

Transportation Majors
Electrical / Electronics Majors

Communications and Media Majors
Personal and Protective Service Majors
Building Construction / Maintenance Majors
Career Orientation
Military Science
Additional Career Related Courses
Technology Applications Graduation Credit Courses

PDF Appendices

Appendix A - Grading Scale
Appendix B - AISD Approved Dual Credit Courses for Austin Community College
Appendix C - TAKS Instructional Objectives
Appendix D - Advanced Academic Courses Receiving Weighted Grade Points
Appendix E - CTE Courses that Satisfy the Physical Education Graduation Requirement
Appendix F - Articulated Courses and Six-Year Plans
Appendix G - AISD High School Listing
Appendix H - AISD Middle School Listing

PDF Index