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:


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

graduation_plan_2018_.pdf

Endorsements

2024-2025 Endorsements At-a-Glance.pdf

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:


CONSIDERATIONS: