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Counselors

Welcome to the DeBakey Counselor's Webpage!

  Information about Course Selection for Class of 2030

With over 20 years of experience, your students' academic counselor is thrilled to help your student select courses, track graduation requirements, and set goals. High school is an important time of year for students; therefore, we encourage self-advocacy. It is also important for students to read their emails daily and stay informed about announcements, assignments, and deadlines. We also ask for parent support in helping students adhere to deadlines and take accountability for their learning and responsibilities. 

Ms. Bess is here to support students' social and emotional needs; however, there are limits to what school counselors do. School counselors are not therapists and do not provide ongoing therapy. When ongoing therapy is needed, Ms. Bess will provide a referral to outside mental health agencies or provide the parent/guardian with community resources. Most importantly, Ms. Bess asks that parents support their child's mental health at home. 

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Ms. Natasha Simon, MBA, M.Ed. & CSC

Counselor for Last Names: A - L

Natasha.Simon@houstonisd.org

A woman with dark hair and glasses smiles at the camera, wearing a leopard-print cardigan over a black shirt, against a dark blue background.

Ms. Claudia Arizmendy, M.Ed. & CSC

Counselor for Last Names: M - Z

Carizmen@houstonisd.org

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Ms. Natasha Bess, M.Ed. & CSC

Social Emotional Counselor

Natasha.Bess@houstonisd.org

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  1. I took a high school credit course in middle school. Will that class be calculated into my high school grade point average (GPA)?
    No, your GPA begins your freshman year at DeBakey.

 

  1. I took Biology in middle school. Do I still have to take Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC)?
    Yes, you do. Remember, you need five science credits to graduate from DeBakey.

 

  1. Is CO-ED PE required?
    Yes.

 

  1. I took AP Spanish in middle school. Do I have to take a foreign language?
    You will need to provide your counselor with your AP scores of 3 or higher.

 

  1. Can I take PE or Fine Arts later?
    All freshmen need to complete the requirement by the end of their sophomore year.

 

  1. Can I take summer school to get a head?
    No.

 

  1. Can I play sports at my zoned school?
    We do not recommend freshmen participating in a sport due to DeBakey’s rigorous curriculum; however, once you are accepted, see your counselor.

 

  1. Can I take a class over if I do not like the grade earned?
    No, if credit was awarded. Yes, if you failed the class and did not receive credit. 

 

  1. Is DeBakey a Dual Credit/Early College Campus?
    No, we are a speciality school; however, other high schools in the district offer these programs. 

 

  1. Do I have to take Health Science for all four years of high school?
    Yes, it is a DeBakey requirement.

 

  1. Can I take classes outside of DeBakey or take Credit by Exam (CBE)?
    No, all coursework is completed on the DeBakey campus with DeBakey teachers.

 

  1. What foreign language courses are offered at DeBakey? We only offer Spanish.
    All students must complete three years of the same foreign language.

 

  1. Can I take an AP Foreign Language exam if I am a native speaker and test out of foreign language at DeBakey?
    No, all students are required to sit in the foreign language class until all three credit requirements are met.

 

  1. My student participates in a sport outside of school. Does DeBakey allow off campus PE?
    No. We do not grant off periods or free periods for off campus PE approved by HISD. At DeBakey, students are required to maintain a full course load, which consists of eight credits each year, from the beginning of their freshman year to the end of their senior year.

 

  1. When can I start earning volunteer hours that are needed for graduation?
    Please see the “People to Know” slide for important people to contact.


 

PLEASE NOTE - STUDENTS FOLLOW A COURSE SEQUENCE FOR ALL COURSES

MATH - Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra 2, AP PreCalculus, & AP Math (Calculus AB, Calculus BC or Statistics)


SCIENCE - Integrated Physics & Chemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Physics & AP Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics I or Physics II)