High School

Parent Tips

  • High school is a chance for students to grow socially, emotionally and academically
  • Encourage your child to take classes specifically designed to help your student move toward their career goal
  • Have conversations with your child’s counselor to ensure they are taking the right classes
  • Helping them stay focused on their long-term goals during their high school years is paramount to their success
  • Positive reinforcement and support go a long way
  • Look to local resources such as College OPTIONS for information on applications, grants, scholarships & more

Academic Resources

Khan Academy: Khan Academy offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom. We tackle math, science, computer programming, history, art history, economics, and more. Provides 24/7 access to tutoring on all subjects, prescribed practice for the SAT by linking their PSAT score.

GeoGebra: A free, downloadable program that graphs functions and relations, draws geometric figures dynamically, and allows students to explore mathematical relationships. Suggested for middle school and high school students, particularly students taking Algebra, Trigonometry, and Calculus.

HippoCampus.org: Multimedia tutorials to help students succeed in Algebra as well as higher math subjects like Calculus. Geared towards high school math students.

Math.com: Short lessons geared to parents for Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, and Geometry.

SAT Question of the Day: A daily SAT question in either math or English. Perfect for high school student thinking about college.

 

A-G Curriculum

The big deal about “A to G”

In order to be eligible to attend any school in the University of California (UC) or the California State University (CSU) systems as a freshman, students must take certain classes in high school. These classes are known as the “A to G Subjects”:

A. 2 Years History/Social Science

B. 4 Years English

C. 3 Years Math (UC expects 4 yrs)

D. 2 Years Laboratory Science (UC expects 3 yrs)

E. 2 Years Foreign Language (UC expects 3 yrs)

F. 1 Year Visual/Performing Arts

G. 1 Year CP Elective

 

Why Should You Take Math Sr. Year

Implementing the Common Core Standards will require all students in Shasta County to take an Integrated Math course in 9th Grade, 10th Grade, and 11th Grade. At the end of 11th Grade, all students will be required to take a comprehensive assessment incorporating what they have learned over the last three years. This sequence of Integrated Math courses will meet the standards for the high school diploma and satisfy the college entrance expectations (known as A-G in California) that are required for students wishing to attend a four-year public university in California.

The transition to Common Core and introduction of the Integrated Math Pathway will lead to many exciting opportunities for math instruction and enrichment in your child’s senior year of high school.

Common Core math pathways will prepare students for Pre-Calculus, Advanced Placement Statistics, AP Calculus or a dual enrolled community college course in their senior year.

Why take math in the senior year?

  1. Time and Money – Students who do not take a math course in their senior year are significantly more likely to need a remedial course upon entrance into college. A remedial course in college will cost you money (for the course and books) and time (for each additional semester required). If your student successfully completes AP Statistics, AP Calculus and/or dual enrolled math courses in high school, they can earn credits toward their college degree.
  2. College Admissions – If your child is planning to go to college, it is important to maintain focus in the last year of high school. College admissions offices check to make sure students are maintaining rigorous courses through high school graduation. Taking senior math courses can increase students opportunities for scholarship application.
  3. Enrichment – Senior level courses will ensure that your student’s math skills stay strong while exposing them to a variety of different career options. These courses also make math relevant for students and can lead to increased understanding of math and its uses in every day life.

College & Career Exploration

CCareer planning resources are part of a comprehensive school counseling program designed to guide students through a successful transition from school to viable postsecondary options and to develop the career self-management skills necessary for life-long career success.

College Options: College OPTIONS is a Reach Higher Shasta Partner and is located in Redding.  They work alongside high school counselors to provide free programs and services to strengthen the college and career readiness culture in the North State, and help students of all ages and their families make informed decisions about post-high school educational opportunities.  Their goal is to assist students with making a plan for their future and help them take the right steps to make it happen.

Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) Career Exploration Program External link opens in new window or tab.
The ASVAB Career Exploration Program is intended for use with students in the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grades, as well as students in postsecondary schools. The Program provides tools, including the test battery and interest inventory, developed by the Department of Defense to help high school and postsecondary students across the nation learn more about career exploration and planning.

California Career Center External link opens in new window or tab.
The California Career Center is a career and college exploration and planning portal for middle and high school students.

California Career Resource Network (CalCRN) External link opens in new window or tab.
CalCRN provides career development resources and training to school counselors, teachers, administrators and college access partners. 

California CareerZone External link opens in new window or tab.
California CareerZone is an exploration and planning resource designed especially for students. Job seekers, educators, and counselors will also benefit from the wealth of information on 900+ occupations from the U. S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Information Network (O*Net) database.

California Colleges External link opens in new window or tab.
CaliforniaColleges.edu is a great resource for Students and Parents. It is a one-stop site for discovering interests, finding colleges, careers, or training to help you reach your goals. Parents, this site allows you to support your student and also find money to pay for their path after high school. 

CareerOneStop External link opens in new window or tab.
CareerOneStop is an integrated suite of national Web sites that help businesses, job seekers, students, and workforce professionals find employment and career resources. CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, includes three core products:

Employability Skills Framework External link opens in new window or tab.
The Employability Skills Framework is a one-stop resource for information and tools to inform the instruction and assessment of employability skills.

National Research Center for Career and Technical Education External link opens in new window or tab.
Features a list of professional development speaker series, resources, exemplary and promising programs, publications, and live chats with experts.

P21: Partnership for 21st Century Learning External link opens in new window or tab.
P21’s mission is to serve as a catalyst for 21st century learning to build collaborative partnerships among education, business, community, and government leaders so that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in a world where change is constant and learning never stops.

Pathways to Prosperity Network External link opens in new window or tab.
The Pathways to Prosperity Network, a collaboration of states, Jobs for the Future, and the Pathways to Prosperity Project at Harvard Graduate School of Education, seeks to ensure that many more youth complete high school and attain a postsecondary credential with currency in the labor market.

Standards for Career Ready Practice (PDF)
Standards for Career Ready Practice describe the fundamental knowledge and skills that students need to prepare for transition to postsecondary education, career training, or the workforce.