The magic number of credits needed for graduation is 26... but the 26 credits must be from specific areas as explained below. Students may take courses as Honors, AP, or Dual; however, other restrictions, prerequisites, or requirements may apply. This worksheet may help if you are a visual person, and then see the links above to be prepared for the visit with your counselor to take care of business!
English - 4 credits: English 1, English 2, English 3, and a 4th English credit (some restrictions apply to the selection of the 4th English course/credit, please check the "class of... link" above and visit with your counselor)
Math - 4 credits: Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, and a 4th math (some restrictions apply to the selection of the 4th math course/credit, please check the "class of... link" above and visit with your counselor)
Science - 4 credits: Biology, at least one lab course (IPC, Chemistry, Physics), and two additional sciences. Identify course and college prerequisites.
Social Studies - 4 credits: World Geo, World History, US History, Government, Economics (all courses required)
Speech - .5 credit: ProfComm, CommApp (may be earned concurrently through other courses such as Debate or AVID - please see your counselor)
Foreign Language - 2 credits (in the same language): Language Other Than English (LOTE) such as Spanish, Latin, German, or American Sign Language
Fine Arts - 1 credit: choir, orchestra, band, theatre, art, or dance (cannot count as both fine arts and PE in the same year)
Physical Education - 1 credit: dance (one year), JROTC (one year), cheerleading (one year), marching band (Fall of two years only), athletics, PE
Electives - 5.5 credits: courses from the selected endorsement and those taken which do not "count" in one of the above graduation requirements
End of Course (EOCs), otherwise known as state assessments or STAAR tests, are shown above in bold. Please go to the Texas Assessment Management System to find the student's testing scores/information. For released tests and answer keys from the Texas Education Agency, please go here.
Prior to entering the 9th grade, students work with school counselors to self-select what is called an endorsement to guide their course selections during high school. Endorsements are "built" to support the individual interests of the student and foster their career development in that interest. The Texas Education Agency recognizes this graduation type as the Foundation High School Program with Endorsement.
Multidisciplinary Endorsement - four credits by taking advanced courses from a prescribed list of courses; four credits in dual/AP/IB courses from core, Languages Other Than English, and fine arts; four credits in the four core to include English IV (AP/IB) and Chemistry and/or Physics - Algebra 2 only required for Distinguished. *All students should have at least this endorsement when graduating on the Foundation with Endorsement Program.
Arts & Humanities Endorsement - four credits as described in 74.13 to include two credits from two different languages, four credits from one language, four credits from art, or music, or dance, or theatre, or English Language Arts (not to include the four core ELA graduation requirements).
Business & Industry Endorsement - a coherent sequence of at least two credits with one advanced Career and Technical Education (CTE) course and the final course from 74.13 (2) (A) (i)-(xi) for a total of four or more credits.
STEM Endorsement - via Science by completing a total of five credits: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and two additional sciences from 74.13 (e)(6); via four credits in Technology; via four credits in Engineering; via Math by completing a total of five credits in which two of the math credits beyond Alg 2 have a prerequisite of Alg 2 (Financial Math and Math Mods are not sufficient to meet this requirement); four credits in Computer Science.
Public Service Endorsement - four credits as described in 74.13 (f)(3)-(4) in a field such as: Education and Training, Government/Administration, Law, Health Science, or Human Services.
Go to this ECISD CTE link to learn more information about these courses.
Want to know about the possible occupations in a field, earning potential, annual openings? Go to the TEA Programs At-A-Glance now!
Even more information can be found by going to the section of links found at the bottom - courtesy of Texas Workforce Commission.
Career Hotline 1-800-822-PLAN (7526)