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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Counselors' responses to questions..

COLLEGE APPLICATIONS

 How do I complete the information for grade 9 on the UC application?

Students do not need to list the junior high school, just Davis Senior High, because all the 9th grade classes are on our UC list. Another UC tip: only list the classes on the application which have a "P" on them, even if they are D/F grades.

Are all three classes of science, Biology, Chemistry, Zoology & Botany considered lab science?

All three of these courses are lab sciences and they qualify for the "d" subject area of a-g.

Are college courses, not needed for graduation, given a “weighted” GPA in the college application process?

Students self-report all coursework, including community college courses. UC and CSU admissions officials will calculate students’ GPA, adding weight to coursework taken outside of the school.

My daughter has been accepted to a UC but is considering taking a "gap" year. Will she have to re-apply to UC?

Yes, she will need to reapply. Be careful not to take college courses during the gap year as UC would then not consider her for freshman admission.

How do we select 7^th and 8^th grade classes on the application?

The only classes acceptable, to enter for 7^th and 8^th grade, are language other than English and math, starting with Algebra.

What is the CSIS or SSID numbers for UC/CSU applications?

The California Student Identification System or CSIS is a student ID numbers that follows them to any school. It is a 10-digit number and is NOT the same as a Social Security Number. The number is posted in the top left hand corner of the transcript under State Student ID.

I heard that a high schools API can make a difference in college admissions; two students being equal, a college will choose the student from the school with the better API score. Could Davis students be affected in this way?

Talking to colleges, they are very aware of our high API score. When evaluating a student, they consider their high school of attendance. If a student has, for example, a 3.8, but is only in the 3rd decile ranking, they would look at the school and understand that the student is in a highly competitive high school. The 3.8 may place them in the first decile at other schools. Colleges know that our students have been challenged and are well prepared for college. Colleges also tell us that they love to get our students because they know they have received an exceptional education.

Will the California Scholarship Federation or National Honor Society membership help with college admission?

The critical issue is leadership, whether part of NHS or another organization.

COLLEGE COURSES

May students take fine arts courses through community college and get credit for transfer to high school to meet the requirement?

A student may take fine art at the community college for high school credit. One semester of community college coursework equates to one year high school credit for high school graduation. Credits are only posted to the transcript if they are required for high school graduation.

If a student takes college level Biology over the summer, will that meet the high school Life Science requirement?

Yes. If the student needs the class to meet graduation requirements, we will place it on the transcript.

May students take UCD courses?

Students may take a course at UCD. The full tuition rate is charged, which is why most of our students do not take classes at UCD. It is, however, difficult matching a class time at UCD with the DSHS schedule.

Can classes be taken at ANY community college for high school credit?

Yes, classes may be taken at any community college.

May the student take just Macro Econ at the community college and Micro Econ at DSHS?

If a student is only able to take one course at SCC, he/she may take the other at DSHS as long as there is room in the class. Either one of these classes will meet the high school economics requirement.

Are all college courses the same as AP classes at the high school?

Advanced Placement classes are high school courses only. College courses are not considered AP courses, but are given the extra GPA point as are AP courses.

ENGLISH

May a junior student take Lit/Comp English in eleventh grade?

This is a senior course. Eleventh grade students may select American Literature or American Literature Honors. 

What summer school class could make for a failed English course?

DSHS summer school may offer High School English Review (not college prep) to make up English credits for graduation.

Which English class the more "rigorous" course:  English 10 GATE or English 10 Honors?

English 10 Honors is the most rigorous class.

What is the 10th grade GATE English curriculum and how does it differ from Honors 10 English? 

The English 10 Honors classes read two additional novels or plays and have longer writing assignments.

If my child is not GATE identified can she take English 10 GATE?

The English 10 GATE class is only for students who have been GATE identified.  You may contact the district office for information about GATE testing. 

Why would it be preferential to take English 10 Honors over English 10 GATE?  Neither is a weighted grade in 10th grade.

If the student is applying to competitive, highly selective private colleges, the expectation is that he/she take the most rigorous course available in each subject each year.  English 10 Honors is the most rigorous English class offered in 10th grade. 

Will a non honors English course hurt students’ chances when applying to UCs and private east coast colleges?

This is a difficult question to answer because the answer is based on different variables. It is based on students’ choice of college (highly competitive or highly selective?), the personal transcript, SAT scores, extra-curricular activities, current workload of courses, current participation in sports, clubs, etc. The answer to this question is very individualized (based on individual student's interests and goals). The answer would not be universal for all students.

FINE ARTS

What are the requirements for Studio Art AP?

Please request Studio Art requirement informational sheet.

Does the Multimedia course taken in 9th grade fulfill the prerequisite for the Drawing/Painting portfolio for the AP Art Studio class?

No, Multimedia is not a high school fine art, it is a practical art class.

Does the ceramics year long course taken in 9th grade class count for the fine arts requirement?

Yes.

My 9th grade student completed the semester Drama class. Can he enroll in Advanced Drama?

Yes, he may sign up for Drama /Advanced.

Do students need to sign up for either concert or symphonic band if they get into jazz band?

Mr. Lange recommends this and prefers this, but it is not required.  Students need to look at their overall course program and their four year plan.

Are Jazz Band and Symphonic Band separate auditions?

Yes, Jazz Band and Symphonic Band are separate auditions.

Does one year of band in 9th grade satisfy the fine arts requirement for DSHS and UC?

Yes.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Can a student take a foreign language that is not offered at DSHS, or community colleges or a private school to meet the UC/CSU requirement?

There are specific requirements to meet the foreign language requirement outside of DSHS. Please contact your counselor.

How many classes of sign language should a student take at community college to meet the UC/CSU language requirement?

Foreign language is not required for the high school diploma. Colleges count one semester at community college as one year, so a student would need to take 2 semesters of American Sign Language to meet the UC/CSU system requirement of a minimum of 2 year foreign language.  Private colleges and out of state colleges may have a different requirements. 

Will BYU Latin be acceptable for meeting the language requirement?

Latin through BYU online may not be acceptable for the UC/CSU a-g requirement, unless it is on their approved course list. 

May a student be placed in Japanese 5 AP to satisfy the 2 year foreign language requirement for UC/CSU?

If the student takes and passes Japanese 5, it would be considered as 5 years of language to UC/CSU. 

If Spanish 1A was taken in 7th grade and Spanish 1B taken in 8th and Spanish 2 taken in 9th grade, does this fulfill the minimum foreign language requirement of 2 years?

This counts as two years of foreign language. Two years is sufficient to meet the language requirement for the CSUs and for the UCs.  The more competitive schools prefer three years of foreign language. 

My 9th grader has taken half year of Spanish. Will she need to take the whole 1st year of Spanish over again, or can she take a test and take only the 2nd half?

Speak with the Spanish teacher at your junior high school. The teacher would recommend either the student take the entire year of Spanish I or is ready to proceed with Spanish 2.

Does Spanish 5 AP or Spanish 4 Honors receive the weighted grade when taken in 9th grade?

Yes, students receive weighted grades for Spanish 5 AP and Spanish 4 Honors taken in the 9th grade for the total GPA. They do not received weighted grades in the college GPA or state GPA because these GPAs are only calculated from 10th grade on.

Is it better to take 3 years of a foreign language and fewer AP classes, or 2 years of a foreign language and more AP Classes?

They are not mutually exclusive. UCs recommend a 3rd year of foreign language. AP classes are optional.

HEALTH

Does the online Health class from Woodland Community College or Sacramento City College meet the high school health requirement?

Yes, the Health courses offered online with SCC and Woodland meet our health course requirements.

Does 9^th grade Health fulfill the requirement or will she have to take it again in High School?

Yes, Health in 9th grade, which is high school, fulfills the health requirement.

Where can I get more information about online Health classes?

Each on-line school has a listing of courses they offer.  For community colleges, go to the individual site.

Is it possible to combine the Health requirement with the Practical Arts requirement in the same period, one semester of each? 

Yes, please refer to the course list for several Health-linked class offerings.

HISTORY

Is World Civ at Sac City College accepted for DSHS graduation credit? 

Yes, students must have a 2.7 cumulative GPA, be 16 years old or have completed 10th grade.  They register as an Advanced Education student and follow the instructions on the application.  The student needs one year of world civilization, which would be one college semester.

Does History 310 or 311 course at the Sac City College fulfill the Davis High graduation requirement for US History?

Yes, one semester of either History 310 or History 311 at the community college equates to one year of high school credit.

Do the DSHS AP Econ courses, taught as separate Macro and Micro units, align with the colleges?

Community colleges may or may not teach them in the same sequence.

May Psychology substitute as a semester of the Geography/Social Science requirement?

Yes, students may take any of the following classes as a substitute: Psychology IA, Psychology IB, Human Geography AP or International Relations to meet the Geography/Social Science requirement.

MATH

If you take Calculus BC AP, will this prepare you for both the Calculus AB and BC AP exams?

Yes, the BC test includes both AB and BC content.

Can a student take Intro to Analysis & Statistics AP during the same school year if she /he met prerequisites of Statistics AP?

If a student meets the prerequisites of Statistics AP (Alg 2/Trig or Alg 2 with a C grade or higher) and Intro to Analysis (Alg 2/Trig or Trig Apps and Functions with a C grade or higher) they may be taken during the same year if space is available.

Since my student has been taking high school level math since seventh grade, can she stop now? If she can't what would you recommend if she is not interested in Calculus AB?

The UC recommends 4 years of high school math, with the minimum being three years (Alg 1, Geometry, and Alg 2 or Alg 2/Trig). If your student does not want to take Calculus AB they may consider taking Statistics AP. We encourage students to continue in math every year.

If Algebra 2/Trig is completed in the 9th grade, are additional math courses needed to fulfill the high school graduation requirement or CSU/UC requirements?

Two years of math in high school are required, so the student would need one more year of math for high school graduation. The UC system recommends a 4th year of math.

ONLINE

Are online PE courses accepted and how many credits do you receive?

We accept credits from any accredited high school. Each course needs to be 5 credits.

Which counselor, Junior High or High School, should approve summer online Health at Sac City? 

Your current junior high counselor needs to approve a community college class by signing the “Advanced Education” form. All 9^th grade counselors are considered high school counselors.

Are Physical Education classes offered by BYU Independent Study accepted by DSHS? 

PE classes offered by BYU are accepted by DSHS.

FINAL EXAM FOR ONLINE COURSES:  DSHS staff does not proctor final exams. UCD extension proctors finals for a fee. Local tutoring companies are also are willing to proctor the final for a fee. Courses offered through on-line high schools may not be approved for UC/CSU a-g requirements. 

Can a student take Pre-Calc at an accredited online high school program (BYU Independent Study) during the summer to meet the prerequisites of Calculus AP?

Our math department does not recommend taking an online high school course as a prerequisite for one of our math courses. The best preparation for Calculus AB AP is our Intro to Analysis course. However, a student may take an online course from an accredited high school program and meet the prerequisite if they earn a C grade or higher. The coursework from online accredited high school programs will not be added to the DSHS transcript unless it is required for graduation.

PE

What is online PE and how do you sign up for it?

Online PE is a course offered through online high schools. You contact the school directly to sign up. Send DSHS an official copy of the transcript when completed with credits and grades. We do not recommend any online schools since we offer PE during the school year for free.

Are college PE courses accepted?

We accept any course from an accredited college that is needed for high school graduation.  However, most college PE courses are 1 unit, which will not equate to 5 credits (1semester) of high school PE.

Can you request 1st period free and take PE 7^th?

You cannot specify which period you take PE. 

Can students fulfill their PE requirement over the summer through Davis Independent Study?

We do not offer independent study for PE. 

How can students doing extensive PE outside of school be excused from the second year of PE required in high school?

They cannot be excused. Two years of PE classes is a state requirement.

PRACTICAL ARTS

Does Intro to Computers and Multi-Media satisfy the DSHS practical arts requirement of 1 semester to graduate?

Yes either class will satisfy the 5 credit practical art requirement.

If a student takes ROP Biotech without the internship component, does it fulfill the practical arts requirement?

Yes

REGISTRATION               

What do we do if we need to change a class in our 9^th grade student's schedule if they already selected course requests?

Change forms are available at your junior high school. Contact your 9^th grade counselor and turn in the change form to your 9^th grade counselor who will then send it to our office.

What does registration include and can it all be done on the first day of school?

Registration includes turning in the emergency form, paying fees for the student body card, taking ID picture and picking up the schedule of classes, which lists the room numbers and teacher names and yes, it may be completed the first day of school.

If a student is away at camp, can the parent pick up the class schedule in his place?

No, parents may not pick up the schedule. We need the student here to take the ID picture.

What happens if a student is away on vacation during registration in August?

If a student cannot be here for registration, they may complete registration the first day of school. This is when the student picture is taken and the student is given his/her schedule.

Do seniors get preference in electives?

Seniors get preference and are loaded first into the computer. Juniors are loaded secondly and sophomores are loaded third.

SCIENCE

Does a student have to take science in 10th grade?

Science is not required, but is encouraged.  If a student completed Biology in 9th grade and plans to take Chemistry in 11th grade and Physics in 12th grade, he/she may still meet the UC/CSU requirements.

If a student is taking Biology in 9^th grade, does he have to take Chemistry in 10th grade?

Biology is the traditional science path leading to chemistry, but students may take another life science prior to taking Chemistry.

Does the biology class taken in 9^th grade fulfill the life science requirement?

Yes, Biology meets the one year life science requirement for high school graduation and for the UC/CSU system.  The two years lab science requirement for the CSUs/UCs is at least two of the three core disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics. CSU wants at least one year of physical science and one year of biological science.   UC recommends a 3rd year of science.  The high school graduation requirement is one year of life science and one year of physical science.

If my student takes Integrated Ag Biology instead of Biology in 9th grade, will he still be eligible to take all other higher level Biology like AP Biology?

Yes, Integrated Agricultural Biology, a "d" requirement Biology, is on the UC/CSU a-g list.

Do Chemistry and Chemistry in the Community prepare students equally well for other science classes such as AP Chemistry, AP Biology or ROP Biotechnology?

[Wayne Raymond] Chemistry is, probably, a slightly better preparation for AP Chem, but ChemComm might be slightly better preparation for Biotechnology. Either of the two chemistry courses is adequate preparation for any one of the three mentioned.

Do prerequisite requirements mean that a student who got a C in Algebra in 8^th grade can not take Chemistry? 

The prerequisites are the recommendations of the departments, based on their experience of teaching students the subject matter.  If a student took Algebra in 8th grade, I am assuming he/she took Geometry in 9th grade and is moving on to either Algebra II or Algebra II/Trig in 10th grade.  For Chemistry, the teachers feel that students who have either completed Algebra 2 or are taking Algebra 2/Trig concurrently are better able to comprehend the Chemistry concepts taught.  This student may do better in Chem/Comm or may want to wait to take Chemistry after completing Alg. 2.

Do many students take Chem AP or Physics AP without taking basic Physics or Chemistry first?  

No, this is extremely unusual. The students who opt to do this have strong math skills.

Does this mean they need to take Chemistry or Chemistry in the Community before they take AP Chemistry?

This is a recommendation, but not a requirement.

If you take and pass Chemistry as a sophomore, can you subsequently take Chemistry AP?

Yes.

If a student takes Chemistry during the summer, does he still have to take a science class in the fall?

No, only if he wants to.

Is it recommended to take first Physics or Honor Physics and then Physics AP?

Course selection is based on individual student preferences, interests and math levels. Prerequisites for Physics are:  Algebra I and Geometry with a B or better and approval of current mathematics teacher.  Completion of Trigonometry is highly recommended or concurrent enrollment in Calculus.  Prerequisites for Physics Honors are: A grade of B or better in both Algebra 2 and Trigonometry. Prerequisites for Physics AP are:  Grade of B or better in both Algebra II and Trigonometry. Students should consider their overall course load when making selections.

TESTING

Please explain the Early Assessment Placement (EAP) for CSUs.

This test is for Junior's only. It is the writing portion of the assessment. If you take the EAP then you must take the STAR. There are a few questions tied to the STAR that are connected with the EAP. Both of those scores together create the assessment score. If you pass the EAP, then you may not need to take certain placement tests when entering the CSU system. There is no fee to take this test. Just let the testing coordinator know you want to take the test.

Naturally there is some concern about doing STAR makeup exams the same week as AP testing. Does DSHS have some flexibility in that regard or are the test makeup dates mandated?

The STAR dates are mandated to us by the California Department of Education. The CollegeBoard mandates that the AP exams must be given May 1 to May 12. We are always impressed with how cooperative our students are during this stressful time.

Does the DSHS administration encourage teachers to give adequate consideration to college bound students who are taking STAR tests, SAT's and AP's all in the space of a week or two?

Teachers are fully aware of the testing dates and try to coordinate their instruction so that classes run smoothly. Teachers are supportive of students throughout the testing process.

Is a student penalized if both the SAT and ACT are sent to a colleges?

There is no penalty. Colleges will accept either test, usually whichever is highest.

Are students excused for CAHSEE testing absences?

Teachers may mark students absent who were not in class. They will be cleared once the rosters of students present/absent at the tests are delivered to the attendance office.

Now that the University of California no longer considers National Merit finalist status as an asset, is it still worthwhile for juniors to take the PSAT?

Several private colleges are still giving financial rewards to National Merit Scholars. It is worthwhile for juniors to take the Preliminary SAT (PSAT) if they want practice in preparing for the SAT. It provides the students with an opportunity to experience what the SAT Reasoning test is like (hopefully relieving some anxiety about the test). Students receive a printout in December of their scores indicating their areas of strengths and weaknesses.

Should sophomores take the PSAT and when is it?

The PSAT is given to juniors in October once a year. The juniors are given first priority to take the PSAT. If there are left over tests, we allow sophomores to register. Sophomores may take the SAT whenever they want. Most of our students wait until their junior year to take the SAT's.

Is there an alternate date for the PSAT?

The PSAT is only offered once per year and priority is given to Junior students. Juniors will receive notification in the mail about how and where to register. When a Junior student is unable to take the PSAT due to a conflict such as religious or sporting event, arrangements may be made to take the test at another site the previous Wednesday on a space available basis. Students will need to contact alternate sites for space availability.

Does DSHS offer SAT prep class during school year or summer?

The “Naviance” program has SAT test preps. SAT prep classes are offered through Davis Adult School and there are prep books available for loan in our Library. “

What is AP?

AP stands for Advanced Placement. It is a program of the CollegeBoard.

Do students have to report the results of AP exams to colleges?

AP scores are not automatically sent to colleges nor are they sent with SAT scores. Students may select one college to have scores sent at no additional charge and are not obliged to report AP scores to colleges.

If the student takes a college course rather than the DSHS AP course, is there any reason to take the AP test in that subject?

No, the student has already received college credit since he took the course at a community college.

Should we send test scores to private colleges? Kids wrote their scores on the common app, and sending scores can be pricey.

Students should have official scores sent by either CollegeBoard and/or ACT The first 4 score reports are free and should be requested when they register for testing. Colleges need official score reports, and yes, it can get pricey.

TRANSCRIPT

Can we get an explanation of what the "total GPA", the "state GPA", and the "college GPA"?

State GPA is unweighted and based on courses from grades 10-12 excluding P.E.

Total GPA is based on all subjects taken in grades 9-12 and is weighted.

College GPA is calculated on a-g college preparatory courses in grades 10-12 and is weighted.

The GPA for the college application is only as of the end of a student's junior year, correct?

Yes, the "College GPA" used by UC/CSU is from college prep coursework taken in grades 10 and 11.

When colleges talk about average GPA of their freshman class, what is that GPA?

When the UCs/CSUs request the average GPAs of the freshman class, they are talking about the college GPA, which is weighted. Out of state and private schools calculate differently, based on their own course requirements for admission and whether or not they look at weighted or unweighted grades.

Does DSHS use GPAs for anything?

Students need a 2.0 GPA to be eligible for sports. Cheerleaders and dance team members need a 2.0 GPA in order to participate. We also have range of scholarships from our community. Some do not require a GPA, others range from 2.0 on up.

The report card seems to have only one GPA mentioned. Which one is it?

The report card list Total GPA for that semester only.

Does the "P" listed after some classes mean that it is a college prep class?

Yes.

May a student repeat an AP class they took in 9th grade, so that it will show up on their high school transcript?

The student should only repeat the class if he/she received a D or F grade and yes, the repeated class, along with the first class, would show on their transcript.

What if the course you take at a college is not a HS graduation requirement, but is a prerequisite for a higher level DSHS course?

You would need to send the transcript to DSHS, so we can make sure the prerequisite was completed. Again, it would only be placed on the transcript if needed to meet high school graduation.

How do we know which courses are weighted? 

Weighted courses are AP or Honors (except English 10 honors).

Please explain: "Maximum of 8 extra points allowed for approved honors courses. A maximum of 2 of these units can be completed in 10th grade."

These points are for minimum eligibility for admission to a CSU/UC. Different campuses use different grade point averages to determine admission. This includes AP and honors courses (English 10 Honors does not earn an extra grade point because it is a sophomore level class). This does not limit the number of AP/honors courses that may be taken. Units are equal to credits. Students earn 5 credits for a semester class. (One unit equals one class, which for us is 5 credits.)

Should transcripts for college classes be sent directly from Sac City to various Colleges?

When students apply to private colleges, we recommend having transcripts sent directly from Sac City to each college. Students should not send any transcripts to CSU or UC campuses unless the transcripts are specifically requested. Students should enter all college classes on their CSU or UC applications.

Do colleges see the entire 9^th grade transcript, including citizenship grades?

The 9^th grade courses and grades are put on the DSHS transcript, so yes, colleges see the 9th grade year. We do not have citizenship grades on the DSHS transcript.

If you sent a college transcript to the high school, do you also send transcripts to colleges?

Yes.

Is it true we don't send high school transcripts to any UCs or CSUs?

Do not send high school transcripts to any UC/CSU now. In rare cases, a campus will ask for a transcript or other supplemental information as part of their random verification process.

When will final transcripts be sent to colleges?

Transcripts are ready after all grades are submitted and about the time report cards are mailed, a couple of weeks after the end of the school year. Counselors come back for two days near the end of June to make sure all transcripts are in order. The registrar sends the final transcript. Colleges understand the high school end-or-year process, and this is the timeline we use every year. We will not be taking any to the post office separately for express or priority mail. They will all go first class in the addressed envelopes and with one stamp provided by students.

GENERAL

What is the minimum number of classes a student must take?

Sophomores must take 6 district classes and Juniors/Senior 5 district classes.

What does CSF stands for?

The California Scholarship Federation requires that each member rejoins every semester based on the grades received the previous semester. To be a life member you must have 4 semesters of membership, one of which must be based on grades received in the senior year. All of these semesters must be semester grades received at the high school.

Is a student’s academic counselor and college admission counselor the same person?

Yes, your student's counselor at DSHS covers academic, career/college, and social/emotional counseling.

Does DSHS have an IB program?

No, DSHS does not have an IB program.

Is community service a graduation requirement?

DSHS does not have a community service requirement for graduation.

Does DSHS participate in the Eligibility in the Local Context (ELC)?

Yes. Juniors and parents sign a form, as part of the fall registration packet, authorizing release of information. We submit, at UC's request, approximately, the top 12% of junior transcripts based on college GPAs, at the end of the junior year. UC analyzes these, determines eligibility, and notifies students.

Can year-long classes be dropped at the end of first semester and a new one-semester class taken in second semester? Will the student get credit for the first semester?

Yes, a year long class can be dropped and a new semester class can be added at that time, if a semester class is available. And yes, the student will receive credit for the first semester.

Do college visits occur each year to provide information about their programs? Are the informational sessions only available to junior and seniors?

College visits are a listed in Naviance. Most colleges on the list do come every year, but not all. Visits are mainly for juniors and seniors, but sophomores may come. Students should check with their teacher for permission to miss class.

Are absences for out of town, college visits excused absences?

When a student is visiting a college for any reason, the parent needs to contact the Vice Principal’s office prior to the visit by written notice, to excuse the absence.

Is there free tutoring at DSHS?

Yes, our Academic Center provides free tutoring everyday. Please call x147 for more information.

What is the procedure for replacing lost student ID cards?

Students go to the receptionist to check lost and found in the Administration Building. If it is not there, then the student needs to go to the library and pay, $5.00 for a new ID card.

What are the two different peer tutor programs?

The Academic Center peer tutors are trained to tutor in classrooms, under the supervision of a teacher, or the Academic Center. Elementary peer tutors work with North Davis Elementary School teachers under the supervision of the principal. Both classes receive elective credits.