Graduation Plan
House Bill 5 changed the graduation plans for students entering 9th grade in the 2014-15 school year. Students are expected to complete credits for a Foundation Program and incorporate additional credits toward at least one endorsement.
THE BASICS
The Foundation Program is a base plan consisting of 22 credits. Students then select from five endorsements (and will have a minimum of 26 credits): Multidisciplinary Studies, STEM, Business and Industry, Public Service, and Arts and Humanities and complete credits to satisfy individual endorsement criteria. It is possible for students to graduate with more than one endorsement. Distinguished level of achievement can be attained by completing four years of study in each of the core subjects (including Algebra 2), in addition to completing requirements for one endorsement. Further distinctions in the form of performance acknowledgements will be added to the student's final transcript. Performance acknowledgements include:
Score of 3 or above on an AP test
Commended Scholar or higher on the PSAT
SAT score of at least 1310
Composite score of 28 on ACT
12 hours of college credit with a 3.0 (80) or higher
Bilingualism and biliteracy
Obtaining certifications or credentials
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN AT WESTLAKE?
At Westlake, students will default to what we are calling the Foundation Program + Multidisciplinary Endorsement with the Distinguished Level of Achievement. Now that's a mouthful! Since 98% of our students traditionally enroll in some type of college upon graduating high school, our goal is to ensure that Westlake graduates continue to stand out in the competitive college application process. We are confident that, by completing this program, students will be prepared for continued success in college. Students are invited to complete coursework for additional endorsements as their interests allow; only one endorsement is required under this plan. Endorsements are not a factor in the college application process as they are unique to Texas public high school graduates and colleges admit students from public and private schools across the nation and the world.
Graduation Plan
Endorsements
Additionally, students must pass STAAR End-of-Course (EOC) exams in English 1, English 2, Algebra 1, Biology, and US History. Exams are taken the year the student is enrolled in the course.
Texas First Early High School Completion Program
The Texas First Early High School Completion program allows eligible students who demonstrate college readiness by meeting specific criteria to graduate early with a distinguished level of achievement. Students who apply to and are admitted to a Texas public college or university are eligible for the Texas First Scholarship Program, which awards scholarship credit equivalent to one semester or one year of the TEXAS Grant, depending on how early the student graduates.
CRITERIA:
Earn 22 credits
Have a minimum final weighted GPA of 3.0 (an 80 on a Westlake transcript)
Complete FAFSA or TAFSA (Opting-out is not allowed under this program.)
Pass the English 1 or English 2, Algebra, and Biology End-of-Course (EOC) exams
Have a qualifying score in the 80th percentile on ACT, SAT, PSAT, or TSIA2 –OR– be ranked in the top 10% of the student’s original graduating class
Demonstrate mastery in the four core subjects and a world language. Mastery is determined by:
A grade of C or better in a dual credit course
Meeting college readiness standards through standardized assessments (see table)
CONSIDERATIONS:
Admission to any college or to a specific major within a college is not guaranteed under this program. [Students who have completed their junior year and are in the top 10% of their class are eligible for automatic admission to a Texas public university, but not to a specific major. This percentage may vary for the University of Texas - Austin.]
The flexibility in credits afforded by this program may not allow a student to be competitive in college admissions. For students graduating under the Texas First Early Completion Program, it is important that high school course selection meet the admission requirements of the desired college/university. It is our recommendation that students interested in the program still complete the 26 credit Foundation Plan + Endorsement with distinguished level of achievement (our standard graduation plan) in order to be more competitive in the admission process across a wider range of colleges and universities.
Meeting the course mastery requirements in all five subjects may require enrollment in AP or dual credit courses or passing a CLEP or FLATS exam.
Students who graduate early may not re-enroll at any public high school, even if they do not gain a desirable college admission decision.