Burleson High School: Endorsements & Pathways
Credits
Students will take 7 classes each year and are able to earn up to 7 credits.
Classification
Freshman = 0 - 6
Sophomore = 6 - 12
Junior = 12 - 19
Senior = 19 - 26 +
Total Required Credits to Graduate = 26 +
Graduation Requirements - Foundations + Endorsement
English = 4 years
Math = 4 years
Science = 4 years
Social Studies = 3 years
Fine Art = 1 year (Art, Choir, Dance, Theater, Technical Theater)
PE/Athletics/ROTC/Band/Color Guard/Drill Team = 1 year (the first two years of Band, Color Guard, Drill Team)
Foreign Language = the same course for 2 consecutive years
Electives = 5 + years
Pathway Courses
Principles/Introductory Course - 9th Grade
Elective Course from Pathway (meeting pre-requisites)- 10th - 11th
Practicum Course - two or more credits taken in 12th grade
BISD Course Description Guide/Classes Offered
2022-23 BISD High School Course Guide - Google Docs
Understanding Endorsements & Pathways
Endorsements - The state of Texas recognizes 5 Endorsements for students to choose: STEM, Business & Industry, Public Service, Arts & Humanities, & Multi-Disciplinary Studies. Each Endorsement has Pathways, or courses of study, that they can take that falls under one of the 5 listed.
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math - Pathways offered in BISD for this Endorsement are listed below)
In addition to completion of Algebra II, chemistry, and physics. A coherent sequence or series of courses selected from one of the following:
• Mathematics
• Science
• Engineering
Business & Industry (Pathways offered in BISD for this Endorsement are listed below)
A coherent sequence or series of courses selected from one of the following:
• CTE courses with a final course from the Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources; Architecture & Construction; Audio/Video, Technology & Communications; Business Management, Administration, Marketing, & Finance; Hospitality & Tourism (Culinary); Transportation Distribution & Logistics (Automotives)
• The following English electives: Public Speaking, Debate, Newspaper and Yearbook
Public Service (Pathways offered in BISD for this Endorsement are listed below)
A coherent sequence or series of courses selected from one of the following:
• CTE courses with a final course from the Education & Training; Health Science, Human Services (Cosmetology); or Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security
• JROTC
Arts & Humanities (Pathways offered in BISD for this Endorsement are listed below)
A coherent sequence or series of courses selected from one of the following:
• Social studies
• The same language in Languages Other Than English
• Two levels in each of two languages in Languages Other Than English
• American Sign Language (ASL)
• Courses from one or two categories (art, dance, music, and theater) in fine arts
• English electives that are not part of Business and Industry
Multi-Disciplinary (Pathways offered in BISD for this Endorsement are listed below)
A coherent sequence or series of courses selected from one of the following
• Four advanced courses that prepare a student to enter the workforce successfully or postsecondary education without remediation from within one endorsement area or among endorsement areas that are not in a coherent sequence
• Four credits in each of the four foundation subject areas to include English IV and Chemistry and/or Physics
• Four credits in AP, IB, or dual credit selected from English, mathematics, science, social Studies, Economics, Languages other than English, or Fine Arts
BISD - CTE Page
Career & Technical Education / Career & Technical Education (CTE) (burlesonisd.net)
How to Select & Sign Off on Endorsements & Pathways
Directions for Students:
Step 1: Log in to Student Access.
Step 2: Select the Endorsement tab on the left side of the screen.
Step 3: Select "Declare an Endorsement".
Step 4: A pop-up window will display where you will select an Endorsement. Students who are undecided should select "Multidisciplinary."
Step 5: Check the "I Agree" button.
Step 6: Click "Save".
Step 7: Notify your Parent/Guardian that you have completed Endorsement selection.
Directions for Parents/Guardians:
Step 1: Parent/Guardian will log into Family Access.
Step 2: Select student who will be entering 9th grade.
Step 3: Select the Endorsement tab on the left side of the screen.
Step 4: Select sign next to "Guardian Signature is Required".
Step 5: Read the information and check the "I Agree" button.
Step 6: Click "Submit Signature".
How to Select Courses in Xello
Go to Course Planner.
Focus on one grade level at a time, starting with 9th grade.
Click on the arrow next to Foundation High School Plan with Endorsement and choose your Endorsement & Pathway. This will allow you to select the correct CTE course for each grade level as you select/click 1st (9th gr), 2nd (10th gr), 3rd (11th gr), and 4th (12th gr) Endorsement Electives. This will automatically add your CTE courses to your graduation plan by grade level.
In the course planner section, you will notice that the core classes are loaded with a plus sign for all grade levels. Start at grade 9 and click "add English" to begin. You will select the class for each core subject and push "add". You will continue to do this for Math & Science. If you don't see an add button for Social Studies, select "Add Elective". Next, type in the class you are looking for (ex. World would pull up World History and World Geography). Make sure to add it to your course planner.
Add your Foreign Language (LOTE) based on the level you would be beginning (Spanish 1, ASL 1, or Spanish 2 if you took Spanish 1 in 8th grade).
Add your PE course or Fine Arts.
Other courses that count as a PE credit: Athletics (A&B), Band, Color Guard, and ROTC can count as your PE credit.
Fine Art Options: Art, Theater, Technical Theater, Choir, Band, Drill Team, Dance, Color Guard
If you need to remove a course, click on it and push remove. If it's an elective course, you would need to click "Show Courses" and it will take you to the courses selected to remove.
You can add any other elective courses by clicking on "Add Elective". This includes courses like AVID, Fine Arts (Theater, Choir, Dance, Art), Debate, etc.
Make sure to add two "Alternate" courses for each grade level.
Videos/Examples
(3) Introduction to Course Planner - YouTube
Deadline for Students to Select 9th Gr. Courses/Complete 4 Year Plans: February 12, 2026
Deadline for Students to Declare Endosements in Skyward: April 1, 2026
Deadline for Parents to Sign Endorsements: May 1, 2026
Helpful Information: Texas Education Agency (TEA)
Contact Information & Questions
Alpha House Counselor (Last Names A-D), Amy Neal: amy.neal@bisdmail.net
Kappa House Counselor (Last Names E-K), Tisha Harrison: tisha.harrison@bisdmail.net
Sigma House Counselor (Last Names L-Ri), Debbie McDonald.: deborah.mcdonald@bisdmail.net
Omega House Counselor (Last Names Ro-Z), Christi Rogers.: christi.rogers@bisdmail.net
Counseling Secretary: Terri Gault: teresa.gault@bisdmail.net
Website: