Click here to go to the Student Handbook, which contains the following:

Academic Information

• DCS Courses and Descriptions
• Adding and Dropping Courses
• Student Course Load
• Grades
• Class Standing (Are you a junior or a senior?)
• Graduation Requirements
• Student Records
• Statewide Testing
• Probation and Nonattendance

Rights and Responsibilities
Rights

• Equal Eduational Opportunities
• Right of Expression
• Right to Privacy
• Protection from Harrassment
• Grievance Procedure

Responsibilities

• Respect
• Academic Honesty
• Statewide Testing

General Information

• School Calendar
• Contact Information
• Student Records
• Academic Policy Committee

• 4 credits - Language Arts (English I, English II)
• 3 credits - Mathematics (Algebra)
• 3 credits - Science (Biology)
• 3 credits - Social Studies (U.S. History)
• 2 credits - Physical Education
• 1 credit - Physical Health/Healthful Living (.5 credits each)
• 1 credit - Fine Arts or Foreign Language
• 1 credit - Computer Technology
• 3 credits - Electives

In addition to earning credit in these classes (passing with a D or better), students are required to complete all three sections of the High School Graduation Qualifying Exam.    Students may take this test in the spring of their sophomore year and continuing until they pass.

Students enrolled in grades 6, 7, or 8 will be required to complete one unit (two semesters) of study in: English, Math, Science, Social Studies, and at least one elective to advance to the next grade level. 

 Students will be required to participate in the state-mandated assessment program.   Test dates for the 2008-2009 school year are October 14th-16th (HSGQE Retest Only) and April 7th-10th (HSGQE and SBA's). 

Grades 3-10:  Students will take the State Benchmark Assessment (SBA) for their grade level in the spring.  Test dates for the 2007-2008 school year are April 7th, 8th,9th, and 10th, 2009. 

Grade 10:  Students in grade 10 will need to take the combined SBA/High School Graduation Qualifying Exam (HSGQE) in the spring.  Test dates for the 2008-2009 school year are April 7th, 8th,9th, and 10th, 2009 

Grades 11-12:  Students who have not passed all three sections of the HSGQE may test in the the fall (October 2nd,3rd, and 4th, 2008) and/ or the spring (April 7th, 8th, 9th, 2009).  Students MUST pass all three sections of the HSGQE in order to receive a high school diploma endorsed by the State of Alaska . 

November 4, 2004

April 12, 2005

November 14, 2005

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• Civil War
• Excel Ideas
• Paris

Career Planning

• Career Voyages:  http://www.careervoyages.gov/students-main.cfm Information on paying for school, choosing a career, getting a good job, etc.
  • Career Clusters: http://www.careervoyages.gov/students-careerclusters.cfm discusses descriptions of jobs by category
  • Links for Students:  http://www.careervoyages.gov/students-links.cfm links to interest assessments, career options, schools, and jobs.
• Mapping Your Future:  http://www.mapping-your-future.org/ information on student loans, selecting a school, choosing a career
• My Future:  http://www.myfuture.com/ focuses on military careers but has information on resumes, interviewing, and other job skills
• Career Planner:  http://www.careerplanner.com/Career-Test-Career-Search/Career-Test-for-Highschool-Students.cfm has links to information on different kinds of careers and latest career trends
• Monta Vista High School :  http://www.mvhs.fuhsd.org/careercenter/  excellent webpage from Monta Vista High School in California; dedicated to helping students find career and college information.  It contains links to colleges, how to choose a college, college majors, and admissions advice.  (It’s what we wish this page looked like!!)

Military CareersU.S. Military Recruiting http://usmilitaryrecruiting.com/ - has links to all four branches of the U.S. military (scroll to the bottom of the recruiting for links to the Coast Guard)

• U.S. Air Force www.airforce.com
• U.S. Army www.army.com
• U.S. Coast Guard www.gocoastguard.com
• U.S. Marines  www.marines.com
• U.S. Navy www.navy.com

College Testing

• ACT http://www.actstudent.org/index.html gives information on the ACT (aptitude test required by some colleges for entrance)
• SAT http://www.collegeboard.com/?student gives information on the SAT(aptitude test required by some colleges for entrance)

Preparing for and Choosing a College

• College is Possible:  http://collegeispossible.org/   Includes advice on “Preparing for College,” “Paying for College” and “The Right College.”  Scroll down to the Resources (links on the left side of the page)
• ACT College Page:  http://www.c3apply.org/c3_frameset.html?student  links on searching for and applying for a college; includes Virtual College Tours
• SAT College Page:  http://www.collegeboard.com/splash information on over 3,500 schools
• College Search:  http://www.nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cool/ Government-sponsored college search engine;  search by geographic region, state, program, or type of school

Scholarships and Financial Aid

• AlaskAdvantage Programs:  http://alaskaadvantage.state.ak.us/  financial aid for students attending school in Alaska
• College Scholarships:  http://www.college-scholarships.com/100college.htm searches financial aid web pages

• FAFSA:  http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ This form is required by all schools offering financial aid.  This is your first step in applying for scholarships and other forms of financial aid.
• FinAid!  http://www.finaid.org/  information on scholarships, military aid, free  scholarship search; check out the Student page.

Also be sure to check out the Financial Aid Office of whichever school you plan to attend.

Post-Secondary Schools in Alaska
Colleges and Universities

• University of Alaska, Fairbanks http://www.uaf.edu/
• University of Alaska, Anchorage http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/
• University of Alaska, Southeast http://www.uas.alaska.edu/
• Sheldon Jackson (located in Sitka) http://www.sheldonjackson.edu
• Alaska Pacific University (located in Anchorage)  http://www.alaskapacific.edu/
• Alaska Bible College(located in Glenallen) http://www.akbible.edu/

Vocational (please notify lindsay.pinkelman@dcsmail.com if you know of other vocational schools in Alaska)

• Alaska Technology Learning Center (AKTLC) http://www.aktlc.com/programs.htm – programs in Computers and Construction. 
• Alaska Vocational Technical Center (AVTEC)  http://www.avtec.alaska.edu/ - programs in Culinary Arts, Nursing, Business and Office, Information Technology, Applied Technologies (welding, automotive, electrical, etc.), and Maritime Training.
• Ninestar Enterprises http://www.ninestar.com/ – provides employment services, as well as training  in Computers (Basic Computer Skills, MS Word, Excel, etc.) and work-related skills.
• Project Education Post-Secondary School(located in Galena) – programs in Aviation, Automoative, Cosmetology and Culinary Arts http://postsec.galenaalaska.org/