General Information

Additional Information on Bellville HS Graduation Requirements and GPA & Rank can be found on subpages found by clicking on the links.

Foundation High School Program

Students entering grade 9 in the 2014-2015 school year and thereafter shall enroll in the courses necessary to complete the curriculum requirements of the Foundation High School Program AND at least one endorsement. The Foundation Plan with an Endorsement requires 26 credits to graduate. Students who have satisfied the applicable requirements of the Foundation Plan and earn an Endorsement, the Distinguished Level of Achievement, and/or a Performance Acknowledgement shall have those completions documented on the academic achievement record (AAR), also known as the high school transcript.

Endorsement Completion

In order to earn an Endorsement, a student must successfully complete the curriculum requirements consisting of a coherent sequence of courses in at least one of the following categories:

• Arts and Humanities

• Business and Industry

• Public Services

• STEM

• Multidisciplinary Studies

  • Four credits in Advanced Placement or Dual Credit Courses

  • Four credits in each of the four foundation subject areas to include English IV, Chemistry and/or Physics

For more information on how the Bellville ISD Programs of Study correspond to an Endorsement in one of the categories listed above, click here for the BISD Program of Study and Endorsement Crosswalk.

Distinguished Level of Achievement

A student may earn this designation by successfully completing the curriculum requirements for the Foundation High School Program, successfully completing the curriculum requirements for at least one Endorsement, and must successfully enroll and complete Algebra 2 as one of the four mathematics credits.

Performance Acknowledgements

A student may earn this designation for outstanding performance in several manners:

• Dual Credit

  • Successful completion of at least 12 hours of college academic courses (4 classes), earning a grade of 3.0 (B average) or higher on a scale of 4.0

• Bilingualism and Biliteracy

  • Demonstrate proficiency in two or more languages by completing all English Language Arts requirements, maintaining a minimum grade of 80 on a scale of 100

  • Complete minimum of three credits in the same language in a language other than English, maintaining a minimum grade of 80 on a scale of 100

• College Board Advanced Placement

  • Earn a score of 3 or higher on a College Board Advanced Placement examination

• PSAT / ACT / SAT

  • Earn a score on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) that qualifies the student for recognition as a commended scholar or higher by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation, or part of the National Hispanic Recognition Program, or part of the National Achievement Scholarship Program

  • Earning scores of at least 410 on the EBRW section and 520 on the mathematics section of the SAT

  • Earn a composite score on the ACT exam (without writing) of 28

Automatic College Admissions

In order to qualify for automatic college admission under the Foundation High School Program, a student must be ranked in the top 10% of the graduating class at the time of application and earn the Distinguished Level of Achievement. The only exception to this rule is in regards to the University of Texas in Austin, who will notify high schools the exact percentage that will be automatically accepted one year prior to the expected graduation date.

In order to receive a Texas high school diploma

A student must complete all the necessary credits for graduation and must satisfactorily meet all the testing requirements.

In order to walk across the stage for Bellville HS graduation

A student must complete all Bellville ISD credit requirements to graduate. Students who have not mastered all five STAAR EOC assessments will walk, but will receive a certificate of attendance. If a student has not earned all the required graduation credits, he/she will not be allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony.

Honor Graduate

For the purpose of determining honors to be conferred during graduation activities, the district shall calculate class rank once spring Dual Credit grades become available of the senior year. The average of the fourth and fifth six week grades shall be used as the semester grade for this purpose. In addition, students must meet credit requirements under the Foundation Plus Endorsement Plan or earn the distinguished level of achievement. Honor graduates will then be assigned the following title designations according to their rank in class:

• 4.0 and above Summa Cum Laude

• 3.75 – 3.99 Magna Cum Laude

• 3.50 – 3.74 Cum Laude

• 3.0 – 3.49 Honor Graduate

Valedictorian and Salutatorian

Honors given to the eligible senior students with the highest and second highest ranking, respectively. To be eligible for such recognition, a student must:

• Have been continuously enrolled in the district high school for the four semesters immediately preceding graduation

• Be graduating after exactly eight semesters of enrollment in high school.

AP (Advanced Placement)

One of several ways that students may earn college credit. Bellville High School offers several AP courses in English, mathematics, and science. Students enrolled in these courses have an opportunity to take an AP exam given in May. Scores of 3, 4, or 5 on the exam indicate the student is doing college-level work. The actual college credit awarded depends on the particular university the student attends.

Pre AP

Courses taught in the academic core areas in preparation for Advanced Placement courses. Usually offered at the freshman and/or sophomore level.

Dual Credit

One of several methods by which high school students may earn college credit. Bellville High School offers Dual Credit courses in English and Social Studies. Students in these courses are dually enrolled in both Bellville High School and Blinn College. Dual credit classes are available for Juniors and Seniors who meet additional requirements.

STAAR End-Of-Course Assessment

High school students must take and pass required courses and the end-of-course exams for those courses. The assessments are based on the state curriculum standards. The end-of-course exams are designed to ensure students are learning specific course material and are prepared to succeed.

• English I

• English II

• United States History

• Algebra I

• Biology

The purpose of the EOC assessments is to measure students’ academic performance in core high school courses and to become part of the graduation requirements beginning with the freshman class of 2011-2012 and beyond. The EOC assessments for lower-level courses must include questions to determine readiness for advanced coursework.

PSAT / NMSQT (Preliminary SAT and National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test)

Offered to students in grades 9-11. The PSAT is administered during the month of October under guidelines of College Board. It is a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT. Junior students are eligible for recognition and scholarships within the National Merit Program. Students must register in the counseling office for a slight fee, usually around $16. It also provides college information and career tools for the students to use in post-secondary plans.

Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA)

Required of all students planning to take college classes, including Dual Credit courses offered at Bellville High School to junior and senior students. Test is designed to assess college readiness in four areas: reading, writing, math, and essay composition. In order to take TSIA, a MANDATORY pre-assessment activity must be completed. Once the pre-test is completed, the student must print a certificate and present it to the testing center prior to testing.

Blinn College offers TSIA testing. The mandatory pre-assessment activity may be found on the Blinn College website (www.blinn.edu – Select “Blinn A to Z” – Look under the letter “T” for “Testing and Testing Dates” – Choose “TSIA Assessment” – Click on the button to begin the online Pre-Assessment Activity). If you have any questions regarding this test, please call Blinn College at 979-830-4196.

TSIA Exemptions

There are certain scores that can exempt students from having to participate in the Texas Success Initiative Assessment. Those exemptions are listed below:

• SAT – Mathematics Score= 530, Evidence Based Reading and Writing Language Score= 480

• ACT – Mathematics=19, English=19, Composite=23

It is highly recommended that students take either the SAT or ACT test

during the JUNIOR year of high school.

Bellville High School Code = 440575

SAT Reasoning Test

College admissions test assessing critical-thinking skills in the subjects of math, reading, and writing. Scores range in each section from 200 – 800 with a combined score totaling from 400 to 1600. It is typically taken during the junior and senior year of high school, although sophomores are certainly eligible to participate as well. Students should plan in advance when taking this test as only a few testing dates are established each school year. Registration is completed online at www.collegeboard.org.

Dates for 2019-2020 are:

• March 14 (Deadline – February 14)

• May 2 (Deadline – April 3)

• June 6 (Deadline – May 8)

Anticipated dates for 2020-2021:

• August 29, 2020

• October 3, 2020

• November 7, 2020

• December 5, 2020

• March 13, 2021

• May 8, 2021

• June 5, 2021

ACT

Another test used for college admissions. Assesses general educational development in the areas of English, Math, Reading, and Science. Writing portion is available for an extra charge, but is not required. Highest possible score is a 36. Again, students should plan in advance as only a few testing dates are available each school year. Registration is done online at www.actstudent.org

Dates for 2019-2020 are:

• February 8 (Deadline – January 10)

• April 4 (Deadline – February 28)

• June 13 (Deadline – May 8)

• July 18 (Deadline – June 19)

Dates for 2020-2021

• September 12, 2020

• October 24, 2020

• December 12, 2020

• February 6, 2021

• April 17, 2021

• June 12, 2021

• July 17, 2021

Requirements for Admission to Public Universities in Texas

Beginning with the 2007-2008 school year, House Bill 3826, 80^th Texas Legislature, added the requirement that students meet one or more of the following thresholds in order to be considered for admissions to any general academic teaching institution, including those with open enrollment policies:

• Students who entered high school in 2014-15 and after must successfully complete the Foundation plus Endorsement high school program.

• Successfully complete a curriculum that is equivalent in content and rigor to an advanced high school program at a high school that does not offer such a program.

• Satisfy the College Readiness Benchmarks on the ACT or SAT assessment.

The statute does not apply to students entering public junior and community colleges. Once admitted and credit earned at the junior college level, students may then apply and transfer to a general academic teaching institution.

Top Ten Percent Rule

Texas students who are in the top ten percent of their graduating class are guaranteed automatic admission to all state-funded universities provided they complete one of the two criteria:

• For students entering high school in 2014-2015 and after, complete the Distinguished Level of Achievement.

• Satisfy the ACT College Readiness Benchmarks in English=18, Math=22, Reading=22, Science=23, Writing=3 or higher or earn at least 480 on the EBRW and a minimum of 530 on the mathematics test of the SAT.

Students must make certain that they also submit an application to the Texas public university for admission before the institution’s deadline. This ruling applies only to admission, students are not guaranteed acceptance into their desired choice of major. Keep in mind that most students will apply to college during the fall semester of their senior year. Therefore, the ranking that will be seen when applying is determined after the second semester of the junior year, or also known as the sixth-semester ranking.

Exemption to the Top Ten Percent Rule

TEC (51.803) changes the Top Ten Percent Rule as it applies to the University of Texas at Austin ONLY. Each fall, UT-Austin must notify secondary schools of its intentions for the coming school year. For freshman admits for the Fall of 2020, UT-Austin will automatically admit students in the top 6% of their graduation class.

Click here for the BISD Program of Study and Endorsement Crosswalk

It is the policy of Bellville Independent School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex or handicap in its employment practices as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended; and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.

Bellville Independent School District will take steps to assure that lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in all education and vocational programs.

For information about your rights or grievance procedures, contact the Title IX Coordinator, Dr. Nicole Poenitzsch, and/or the Section 504 Coordinator, Dr. Megan Pape, at 518 S. Mathews, 979-865-3133.

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Bellville el Distrito Independiente de la Escuela de no discriminar por la Carrera, el color, el origen nacional, el sexo ni la desventaja en sus programas vocacionales, los servicios ni las actividades como necesario por el Título VI del Acto Civil De Derechos de 1964, como enmendado; el Título IX de las Enmiendas de la Educación de 1972; el Acto de la Discriminación por razón de edad de 1975, como enmendado; y la Sección 504 del Acto Rehabilitación de 1973, como enmendado.

Bellville el Distrito que Independiente de la Escuela tomara los pasos para asegurar esa falta de habilidades inglesas para idiomas de hablar no será una barrera a la admisión y la participación en todos programas educativos y vocacionales.

Para la información sobre sus derechos o sistemas de trámite de quejas, contacte el Titulo IX a Coordinador, Dr. Nicole Poenitzsch, y/o la Sección 504 Coordinador, Dr. Megan Pape, en 518 Mathews, 979-865-3133