last updated: 09/29/2009

Principal:  Sue McGown
16825 Spring Cypress Rd., Cypress, TX  77429
Phone: 281.213.1727 ~ Fax: 281.213.1807
School Hours:  7:25 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Principal:                                Sue McGown
Associate Principal:            Kim Sempe
Director of Instruction:       Kelly Ellis
Assistant Principals:           Kyle Cooper
                                                 Stacia Carew
                                                 Lisa Bergeron
                                                 Jimmy Williams
                                                 Andrea Lagard
                                                Chelle Rauch
Athletic Coordinator:          David Jones
Coordinating Counselor:   Donna Lester
Counselors:                          Brenda Armstrong
                                                 Robbie Condit
                                                 Debbie Robbins-Williams
                                                 Kristen Kitterman
                                                 Pam Branch
                                                 Kathy Lickteig
                                                 Karen Jacobs             

Awards & Accomplishments

• National Latin Exam – 6 gold medals, 6 silver medals, 9 magna cum laude certificates, 3 cum laude certificates.
• National Scholastic Writing Award
• Coca-Cola “Share the Dream” Essay Contest Grand Champion
• Choir – Sweepstakes at UIL, Choral competition, Best in Class, Best Overall Performance awards at Director’s Choice Festivals, Four All-State Choir Members, UIL/Ensemble competition – consistently 50-75 division medals
• UIL – 2nd Place District Academic Winners, 2nd Place Regional Academic Meet Winners
• UIL – 1st place in District Literacy Criticism Team, 1st place in Region UIL Literacy Criticism Team, 2nd place in State  - UIL Literacy Criticism Individual Student
• Baseball 2009 – Bi-District Champion
• Boys Basketball 2009 – District Champions, Regional Semi-Finalists
• Cross Country – Boys Country District Champions, Girls Country District Champions
• Football 2009 – Bi-District Champs, Regional Semi Finalists
• Golf 2009 – District Champions, Regional Qualifiers
• Power-lifting 2009 – State Competition
• Soccer Boys 2009 – District Champions
• Softball 2009 – District Champions
• Swimming 2009 – State Qualifiers
• Tennis 2009 – State Qualifier mixed doubles
• Track 2009 – Regional Qualifiers
• Wrestling 2009 – District Champions – 8 wrestlers qualified for the Regional Tournament
• Commended National Merit students: 30
• National Merit Semi-Finalists: 5
• National Achievement Semi-Finalists: 1
• National Merit Finalists: 5
• National Hispanic Recognition Finalist: 10
• 93 percent of the senior class indicated they were college bound

                           4-year Colleges:                       53 percent
                           2-year Colleges:                       40 percent
                           Military                           3 percent
                           Vocational/Tech School:             2 percent
                           Work Field:                                1 percent
                           Other:                                         1 percent

Demographics

Campus Goals

Students’ academic performance and achievement level will reflect excellence in learning and attainment of both high expectations and high standards.  100% of students will pass TAKS with a score of 2100 or higher. At least 50% will receive “commended performance” on TAKS with a score of 2400 or higher in all TAKS tested areas. 

VIPS

Beginning with courses taken between eighth and ninth grade, all high school courses including correspondence, night school, college courses taken for dual credit, credit-by-exam, and summer school, are averaged in the class rank with the exception of teacher student assistant, local credit, and courses taken under the pass/fail option. High school credit courses taken by seventh- or eighth-grade students and completed by the end of the eighth-grade year will not count in class ranking with the exceptions of Geometry, Biology, and the third or higher levels of a foreign language. (*See additional exceptions for Classes of 2011 and beyond.) Rank will be determined by grade point averages (G.P.A.) of the students. Estimated class rankings are to be determined at the end of the junior year and first semester of the senior year for the express purpose of college entrance requirements. Another ranking shall be performed at the end of the fifth six-weeks grading period to identify summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude graduates. No valedictorian or salutatorian will be officially recognized at graduation.

Honor Graduate Designation

At graduation ceremonies, graduates will be recognized in the following categories: summa cum laude (6.5 G.P.A.), magna cum laude (6.25 G.P.A.), and cum laude (6.0 G.P.A.). A final calculation of G.P.A. and class rank is determined at the end of the senior year and will be reflected on the final transcript which is sent to colleges.

Grading Scale

Grade points are allocated for a course of study based on the designation of the course as follows:

The semester grades are computed by allocating a weight of 2/7 for each six weeks' grade and 1/7 for a semester exam. A student will receive credit for each semester passed. If the course is a two-semester sequence and the student passes the second semester after having failed the first, he/she may receive the credit for both semesters if the yearly average is passing (70+).

*Beginning with the Class of 2011, four mathematics and four science courses will be included in a student's GPA calculation.  If a student takes Algebra I and/or IP&C in 8th grade and takes four math and/or four science courses in grades 9-12, the four math and/or science courses taken in high school will be included in the student's GPA.  But, if a student takes Algebra I and/or IP&C in 8th grade and only takes three math and/or three science courses in grades 9-12, the Algebra I and/or IP&C course will be included in the student's GPA calculation.  Algebra I and IP&C taken at any time will carry L-level grade points.

Graduation Requirements for the Class of 2009

Students who entered the ninth grade in the fall 2004 through fall 2006 must enroll in courses necessary to complete the Recommended High School Program or the Distinguished Achievement Program unless the student, parent, and a school counselor agree that the student should be permitted to take courses under the Minimum High School Program.   Students should study the table below which outlines requirements for the Recommended High School Program and the Minimum High School Program. Then, using the list of course descriptions that follow, students should select and register for courses.  Note that students graduating under the Recommended High School Program will need to schedule additional courses not required for the Minimum High School Program.  These courses include Algebra II, Chemistry, World Geography, foreign language (two credits), fine arts (one credit), and three state-approved electives. Counselors at each high school will furnish all other information necessary for students to complete registration.

Distinguished Achievement Program

Students desiring to earn the Distinguished Achievement Program transcript must complete the requirements for the Recommended High School Program plus one additional credit in languages other than English (foreign language) and any combination of four advanced measures selected from the following options:

Graduation Requirements for the Classes of 2011, 2012, and 2013

Students who enter the ninth grade in the fall 2007 and thereafter must enroll in courses necessary to complete the Recommended High School Program or the Distinguished Achievement Program unless the student, parent, and a school counselor agree that the student should be permitted to take courses under the Minimum High School Program. Students should study the table below which outlines requirements for the Recommended High School Program and the Minimum High School Program. Then, using the list of course descriptions that follow, students should select and register for courses.  Note that students graduating under the Recommended High School Program will need to schedule additional courses not required for the Minimum High School Program. These courses include Algebra II, Chemistry, World Geography, foreign language (two credits), fine arts (one credit), and three state-approved electives. Additionally, beginning with the Class of 2011, students must earn 26 total credits including four math and four science credits. Counselors at each high school will furnish all other information necessary for students to complete registration.

Distinguished Achievement Program

Students desiring to earn the Distinguished Achievement Program transcript must complete the requirements for the Recommended High School Program plus one additional credit in languages other than English (foreign language) and any combination of four advanced measures selected from the following options:

Note:  Math Models with Applications and AP Computer Science may not serve as math credits on the Distinguished Achievement Program (DAP). Additionally, Integrated Physics and Chemistry may not serve as a science credit on the DAP.