About DSHS

Located in Hays County, approximately 15 miles west of Austin, Dripping Springs is often referred to as the “Gateway to the Texas Hill Country.”  Rolling hills and beautiful rock bottom creeks, abundant wildlife and majestic views make up our Hill Country town with a population of about  1,330 people.

Dripping Springs High School is  a comprehensive public high school consisting of grades  9, 10, 11, and 12.  The enrollment is approximately 1,196 students. From the graduating class of 2003, approximately 82% of  the students are attending either a  two-year or  four-year post- secondary institution.

Dripping Springs  High School is fully accredited by the Texas Education Agency and is rated as an Exemplary High School by the Texas Education Agency on the Academic  Excellence Indicator System.

Statistical Profile:

SAT I
Number Tested 163
Mean Verbal Scores: DSHS: 1075 Texas: 993 National: 1026

ACT
Number Tested 88
Mean Composite Scores: 22.8

Advanced Placement
Number of exams taken: 140
Number of exams given: 262
Percent scoring 3 or higher: 75.5%

Curriculum:

Dripping Springs High School’s curriculum is varied and extensive.    The class schedule consists of a traditional  seven  period schedule.  The school year  is  broken down into  six  6-week  grading periods, 3 of  which comprise each semester.

Advanced Placement courses are offered  in:

• American Government
• Biology                                                              
• Calculus                                  
• Chemistry                                                            
• Computer Science                                              
• Computer Science-Java                                 
• English Language & Comp.                   
• English Literature & Comp.                         
• Environmental Science                                    
• Physics B  
• Spanish                                                         

Pre-AP courses are offered in:

• Algebra I
• Algebra II
• Art I
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Computer Science
• English I & II
• Spanish

Grading System and Class Rank:

All grades are recorded numerically.  The lowest passing grade is 70.  For students entering high school prior to the beginning of the 2001-2002 school year, the GPA is based on a 5.0 point weighted scale.  All Advanced Placement courses receive a  +1.0 weight when averaged into the GPA.  All Pre-Advanced Placement courses receive a +0.5 weight.  For students entering high school after the beginning of the 2001-2002 school year, the GPA is based on a 100 point weighted scale.  All Advanced Placement courses receive a +15 point weight when averaging the GPA.  All Pre-AP courses receive a +10 point weight.  These weights do not appear on the course grades recorded on the transcript but are averaged into a student’s GPA.  Final ranking for seniors is computed at the end of the fifth six-weeks period.

Post-Secondary Education:

Students in Texas have the option of graduating with one of three types of diplomas:  Minimum High School, Recommended High School, or Distinguished Achievement Program.   Criteria for the Recommended Plan is shown below.  Information on the alternate plans is available in the guidance office.

Recommended High School Plan:

Senior Portfolio:

Dripping Springs High School was the first in Texas to implement a portfolio program for the purpose of measuring student success and preparation for real world endeavors.

Dripping Springs High School’s “Pride in Portfolio” program has built a new way to make its students ready for the post-high school world.

Each spring, before graduation, every senior presents a portfolio to a panel of educators, community members, parents and professionals for assessment. 

The standards on which the portfolio is assessed cover the following domains:

• Personal 
• Interpersonal standards 
• Thinking and problem solving 
• Communication 
• Employment literacy 
• Technology literacy
• Making connections

Edited by Andy S. 05/05/04