DC/ACT/SAT Information
Dual Credit:
Pampa High School offers dual credit classes to students in grades 9-12 through Clarendon College. Students must do the following steps below in order to take dual credit classes.
Enroll in dual credit classes with counselors at PHS. Registering for classes at PHS does not automatically register you for classes at Clarendon. Students must fill out the online application and fill out the required registration forms.
Take and pass the TSI (Texas Success Initiative). This is a college entrance exam that students must pass before they can take classes at Clarendon. They must pass reading, writing and math depending on what classes they have enrolled for. The TSI does not need to be taken if the student is registering for welding or cosmetology classes. Due to Covid 19, students will still be able to register for classes without taking the TSI this year. Students will be required to take the TSI sometime during the fall semester. We will also offer a TSI boot camp and testing days during the summer.
Apply online for dual credit on Clarendon College website. This must only be done the first time students take dual credit. Students will not have to fill out the online application again. www.clarendoncollege.edu/
Students will then fill out the registration forms with the PHS Counselors. Mrs. Stark will send these forms to Clarendon College along with a transcript and TSI scores. The registration forms will need to be filled out each semester. Due to Covid 19 , registration forms were filled out by the counseling office this year. Students will not need to fill these out for the fall semester.
Dual Credit courses cost around $150 per semester for online classes. If the class is a Science class with a lab, then it will cost around $550 each semester. Students can earn 3 hours for a regular class and 4 hours for a class that includes a lab. Welding and Cosmetology classes will cost more. Students who take Cosmetology will be required to purchase a kit. This kit cost around $1200. For exact prices please contact Clarendon College at 806-874-4849.
Students will earn high school credit and college credit if they pass the course. Dual credit classes are weighted on a 5.0 scale.
The Pampa Foundation does pay the tuition for students who qualify for free/reduced lunches. The Pampa Foundation will not pay for books, cosmetology kit, or other supplemental materials. Please fill out the form on the link below if you think you may be eligible for free/reduced lunches. Child Nutrition Link
Payment must be made each semester. Parents or students can make payment online or in person at the Pampa campus. PHS will not accept payment for dual credit classes. A reminder will be sent home that payment is due.
If a student fails a dual credit class with Clarendon, then they will fail the class with PHS. This failing grade will go on their transcript and will be calculated into their GPA. They will be required to take that class again the following year in order to earn the credit back. A student will also not be allowed to take another dual credit course until they pass the course they failed. Parents please make sure you are checking with your students to make sure they are passing their classes.
We have had many students earn their Associate's Degree before graduating high school. In order for a student to earn their Associate's Degree they must complete 62 hours. Students will not be able to earn their Associate's Degree by only taking dual credit classes through the high school. A student must also take classes during the summer or mini sessions. An advisor at Clarendon College can help your student come up with a plan to graduate with an Associate's Degree.
Please pay attention to all the dates regarding start date, payment, and drop date. These dates are all available on their website.
For more questions about dual credit, please reach out to your School Counselor at PHS, or contact Clarendon College. We would be happy to answer all your questions.
Advanced Placement:
Class is weighted on a 5.0 scale.
Class is free to take and the school pays for the test if the teacher has approved them to take the test. If the teacher has not approved them to take the test, the student can choose to take it but will be responsible for paying for the test.
Students will take an AP test at the end of the year per teacher approval and could earn college credit if they make a 3, 4, or 5 on the test.
The college the student attends will award credit based on their score. College credit is not always guaranteed.
TSI:
The TSI Assessment (TSIA) is part of the Texas Success Initiative program designed to help your college or university determine if you are ready for college-level course work in the areas of reading, writing, and mathematics. If you are an incoming college student in Texas, you are required to take the TSI Assessment - unless you are already exempt - to determine your readiness for college-level work. Based on how you perform, you may either be enrolled in a college-level course and/or be placed in the appropriate developmental course or intervention to improve your skills and prepare you for success in college-level courses. For more information, visit College for all Texans at the link below.
PSAT:
The Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a multiple choice test that measures skills that are important for success in college- critical reading, math problem solving and writing. The test is also the qualifier for the National Merit Scholarship. This exam is given to 10th and 11th graders who are enrolled in PAP, AP, or dual credit courses.
Pre-ACT:
This exam is given during the 10th grade year to all students.
Early practice for the ACT test with flexible test administration dates – test on your schedule
PreACT score and predicted ACT score ranges align to the ACT 1–36 scale
Students may opt to share their informationwith colleges and scholarship agencies
ACT Interest Inventory results provide students with a personalized view of interests with college and career alignment
Valuable results provide actionable insights to help educators, parents and students make important decisions for the future
Rapid reporting turnaround within 2-4 weeks of receipt of answer documents allows for early and effective planning to ensure students can attain the future and career success they envision
ACT/SAT:
The ACT and SAT are college entrance exams that students must take in order to be accepted into a 4 year private or public university. If a student is planning on attending a community college, this exam is not required. The TSI is still required at a community college. PHS offers the ACT in October, February, April, and June. The SAT is offered on our campus in August and December. Below are the links to the 2020-2021 testing dates for ACT and SAT. You will also be able to register for the exams on these links. You can also receive one ACT and SAT fee waiver per school year if you qualify for free/reduced lunches. Please fill out the form on the link below if you think you may be eligible for free/reduced lunches.
https://pampaisd.net/index.php?pageID=534692_3
SAT:
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register/dates-deadlines
ACT:
http://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/registration.html
ASVAB Exam:
This exam is used by the military as an entrance test, but, more importantly, the test is also a tool for the students. The ASVAB allows the students to analyze their own abilities and strengths in order to plan their educational and occupational futures. The results will help the students to learn more about themselves and the world of employment while pointing them toward future jobs in line with their interests and skills. Parents can choose to restrict the results from being released to the military. Letters explaining the ASVAB test were sent to the address on file and can be returned with a parent’s signature to keep the student’s scores from being released. However, even if the military receives the data, the student is under no obligation to join any branch of the military! Seniors are encouraged to do their best work on the ASVAB in order to gain accurate direction for their future. After approximately two to three weeks, an ASVAB representative will meet with the seniors to explain the testing results and help them understand how to use the data to plan their future.
Other Resources:
PHS Counseling Page: https://www.pampaisd.net/page/PHS%20Counselor
Big Future: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/
Graduation Toolkit: https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/16Grad-toolkit-web.pdf
Explore Careers: https://www.careeronestop.org/Videos/CareerVideos/career-videos.aspx
College For All Texans: http://www.collegeforalltexans.com/
11th Grade Checklist: https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/CollegePlanning/media/pdf/BigFuture-College-Planning-Calendar-Juniors.pdf
12th Grade Checklist: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-started/for-parents/parent-action-plan-12th-grade
Financial Aid: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/financial-aid
Scholarship Search: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search
Please contact your School Counselor for more information about college and career planning. We are happy to assist you!