HPS Student and Parent Handbook 2019-2020

A student’s Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated by dividing the
total amount of grade points earned by the total amount of credit
hours attempted. All semester grades for courses attempted will
count toward a student’s GPA.
Course Weight
Grade
Range
Letter
Grade
Advanced
Placement
(AP)/Dual
Credit (DC)
Pre-AP
On-Level
Course
A 90 - 100+ 5.0 4.5 4.0
B 80 - 89 4.0 3.5 3.0
C 75 - 79 3.0 2.5 2.0
D 70 - 74 2.0 1.5 1.0
F Below 70 0.0 0.0 0.0
Awarding Credit
Students earn one-half credit per semester and one credit per year
for successful completion of a course. Courses vary from one to
two semesters in length.
Credit Recovery
A high School student who fails one semester and passes the other
semester of a two-semester course, the student will earn one
whole credit if the average is a 70 or above for both semesters
combined.
Otherwise, to receive credit in a core course, the student must
utilize credit recovery to obtain a passing grade for any semester
failed.
Credit recovery options include retaking the class, taking a
correspondence course test, or receiving credit by examination
with prior instruction.
Project Lead the Way (PLTW) courses will be weighted as AP/ DC
level course for certified campuses and other PLTW courses will be
considered as a Pre-AP level.
College Days (High School)
High school students who meet the following criteria will be
allowed to have two excused days of absence for a college visit
during their junior year and two excused days of absence for a
college visit during their senior year:
The student must have passed the required parts of the State
mandated test for the previous year.
The student must be on track to graduate on time.
The student must be classified as a junior or senior based
upon credits earned.
The student must be passing all coursework.
The student must have no truancy or other attendance
problems.
Students must submit a written request to the school office at
least two days prior to the day requested for a college visit so that
eligibility criteria for an excused day of absence can be verified and
approval granted prior to the student participating in a college
visit. Approval will not be granted for a college visit on a day when
major exams are scheduled, and no partial days will be approved.
State Programs Supporting Students
Parents should be aware of the TEXAS Grant program, which
awards financial assistance to students in need who are interested
in pursuing a college education. Funds can be used to pay for
tuition and fees. To be eligible, a student must have completed the
Recommended High School or Distinguished Academic
Achievement Program, enrolled in a non-profit public college or
university in Texas within 16 months of graduation, and has
accumulated no more than 30 semester credit hours (excluding
those earned for dual or concurrent courses or awarded for credit
by examination. For more information, consult a counselor or the
“College for All Texans” website at www.collegefortexans.com.
Top 10% Automatic Admission
Texas public colleges or universities must automatically admit a
student if he or she graduated with a GPA in the top 10% of his or
her graduating class, waits no longer than two years after
graduating to apply for admission, and satisfied other criteria
provided by the Texas Education Code. For more information,
please check with your high school counselor or an admissions
officer at the college or university you would like to attend.
Note
Colleges may limit the number of first-time freshmen eligible for
admission due to enrollment caps. Although it is currently not a
condition for admission under this program, it is advisable for
high-achieving, college bound students to plan to graduate under
the Recommended High School Program.
Texas Educational Opportunity Grant (TEOG)
This program provides grant money for eligible students to attend
public community colleges, public technical colleges, or certain
public state colleges in Texas. To be eligible, an applicant must be
a Texas resident, show financial need, enroll in the first thirty
hours in college, and have not been convicted of a felony or a
crime involving a controlled substance. Certain other
requirements may apply. For more information, consult a
counselor or the “College for All Texans” website at
www.collegefortexans.com.
Other Texas Financial Aid Programs
56 | Revised in July 2019