Important Information:
All SBISD middle school students zoned to SHS, will do a campus visit during the month of January. The students will then enroll with their prospective middle school counselors for their courses for the 9th grade year. Any further enrollment for students outside of SBISD (private, homeschool, or other) will be done at designated times. Please refer to the SBISD website or the SHS website for more information.
Additionally, Parent Nights are scheduled in January for all incoming 9th grade parents. After the start of 9th grade classes in the fall, there will be a Peer Meeting (parent meeting) Night where you can receive more information.
Please refer to the SBISD and SHS website for information needed to enroll a student. If your student is coming from another SBISD school NOT zoned to SHS, you will need to go to the currently enrolled middle school and request withdrawl paperwork. This would also be true if you are coming from another district and are moving into the SHS zone.
All incoming freshman, before the first day of classes in August, will be sent information on RUSH. This is an opportunity to get books, list of classes (not schedule), and a tour of the building by upper class students.
For the first day of classes, student are assigned a 'home room' by alpha to report to for that day and their actual schedule of classes will be given to the students.
FYI:
Their entire time at SHS will have to do with credits. In order to obtain credits, students must pass classes with 70% and be in attendance 90% of the time for that semester. In order to become a 10th grader a student must have 5.5 successfully passed credits by the end of the 9th grade year. Those credits are on the Course Selections and Course Requirements Tabs within this website.
Coming from outside SBISD (private, charter, public):
You will need to have a transcript showing any high school credit courses taken in junior high/middle school. These will be credits with a 70% or higher.
An example (not limited to): Taking Algebra I in junior high/middle school. Show passing grade of 70% or higher. Student will be placed in the next math class, Geometry.
When submitting a transcript with high school credit from junior high/middle outside of SBISD from entities such as private schools, a review of the transcript will be conducted, by the registrar Gene Rutland only, to ensure the credit meets the State of Texas requirements.
If a student attends any State of Texas public or charter school, credits typically transfer with 70% or higher. Again, a transcript review will be conducted.
Home school students will be subject to placement testing for appropriate placement.
Any and all questions about coming into SHS from outside SBISD including private, home school, or other, please contact the registrar Gene Rutland. No grade level or alpha counselor is able to provide the official awarding of credits.
Remember:
Most freshman will have a culture shock surrounding work load around the end of the 1st 6 weeks of high school. Your student will be given a planner....he/she needs to use it. Teach your child how to use a planner. This will be very important since we are on a BLOCK schedule (4 classes on one day, 4 classes on another. Better known as A Day and B Day). Please do not panic if your student has a bit of a time adjusting during their first semester. Almost all students start their second semester fully in the groove as to how classes work, how the rules at SHS work, and how to handle the course loads and etc.
The beginning of high school is an exciting time. Your child may be adjusting to a new school, making new friends and becoming more independent. But your child still needs your help and involvement. Here are some things you can do together to succeed this year.
Summer Before High School:
- Visit a college campus together. It’s a great way to get your child excited about college. Learn more about how you and your child can prepare for a campus visit.
- Get the facts about what college costs. You may be surprised at how affordable higher education can be. Start by reading Understanding College Costs.
- Show your child how to explore career ideas. He or she can make a list of interests, talents and favorite activities and start matching them with occupations. Learn more about how your child can complete a career worksheet.
- Come up with fun reading ideas. Look for magazines or newspapers your child may like and talk about the books you loved reading when you were your child’s age. If your family makes reading enjoyable, it can become a daily habit.
- Fall:
- Make sure your child meets with the school counselor. Your child should schedule a meeting to talk about college and career options and to choose the most-appropriate classes. Learn more about the high school counselor's role.
- Help your child set goals for the school year. Working toward specific goals helps your child stay motivated and focused.
- Make a plan to check in regularly about schoolwork. If you keep up with your child's tests, papers and homework assignments, you can celebrate successes and head off problems as a team. Get homework tips for your child.
- Talk about extracurricular activities. Getting involved in clubs and other groups is a great way for your child to identify interests and feel more engaged in school. Read more about the benefits of extracurriculars.
- Winter:
- Start thinking about financial aid. It’s not too early to look into types of aid that could help you cover college costs. Start by reading 7 Things You Need to Know About Financial Aid.
- Discuss next year’s classes. Make sure your child is challenging him- or herself — and taking the courses college admission officers expect to see. Learn more about the high school classes that colleges look for.
- Spring
- Help your child start a college list. Visit College Search Step-by-Step together to get tips on starting a college search and figuring out what matters most to your child when choosing a college.
- See how much you need to save for college. Use the College Savings Calculator to get an idea of where you are compared with your savings goal.
- Help your child make summer plans. Summer is a great time to explore interests and learn new skills — and colleges look for students who pursue meaningful summer activities. Find out ways your child can stay motivated this summer.
- Check out Mrs. Franklin’s Weebly: http://spartancollegecounseling.weebly.com