COURSE SELECTION
INFORMATION
The Foundation High School Program + Endorsement
Katy ISD Freshman Class of 2015 -2016
GRADE LEVEL CLASSIFICATION
Students are classified based on the year they first entered 9th grade and the number
of academic credits they have earned at the beginning of the school year.
The FHSP + Endorsement requires a total of 26 credits.
CLASS RANK
Class rank is based on the cumulative grade point average of high school credit
courses. A student’s grade point average is derived by dividing the total number of
grade points by the number of semester courses attempted.
Class rank is first officially calculated during the SPRING semester of the JUNIOR
year and is updated after each subsequent semester.
THE FOUNDATION HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM:
BASIC INFORMATION
• All FHSP students must choose an endorsement in one of 5 areas at the
time of entry into 9th grade.
• Katy ISD students are selecting the endorsement along with their course
selections.
• Students will have the opportunity to change the endorsement.
• The endorsement, and any changes, must be indicated in writing and
signed by the parent.
See 2015-2016 Course Catalog page 11
FHSP+ENDORSEMENT VS
RHSP+DAP
• FHSP+Endorsement Plan- Students who
entered High School starting the 2014 school
year and thereafter. In other words, this is
YOUR PLAN.
• RHSP+DAP- Students who entered High School
BEFORE the 2014 school year. This is NOT your
plan.
THE FOUNDATION HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM:
BASIC INFORMATION
• Beginning in 9th grade, counselors will meet individually with
students and parents to develop a Personal Graduation Plan
(PGP) outlining the student’s course of study.
• The Personal Graduation Plan (PGP) will be reviewed each
year and must be signed by the parent.
THE FHSP + ENDORSEMENT
COURSE/CREDIT REQUIREMENTS
English – 4 credits
• English I, II, III, and an additional/advanced English
Math – 3 credits
• Algebra I, Geometry, and an additional/advanced
math
Science – 3 credits
Physical Education – 1 credit
Health – .5 credit (KISD
requirement)
Electives – 4.5 credits, including
• A communication skills component
• Biology, and one course from IPC, or Chemistry,
or Physics, and an additional/advanced science
Social Studies – 3 credits
• US History, .5 credit government, .5 credit
economics, and either World History or World
Geography
LOTE (Foreign Language) – 2 credits
• Credits must be in the same language
Fine Arts – 1 credit
+ Endorsement (4 additional
credits)
Students are expected to earn an endorsement in
one of 5 areas. Each endorsement requires:
• a 4th math credit
• a 4th science credit
• 2 additional electives
See 2015-2016 Course Catalog page 10
OTHER LANGUAGES (2 YR REQUIREMENT)
• A minimum of 2 years in a foreign language is required to graduate.
• American Sign Language (ASL)- availability based on enrollment; write in
another foreign language in the “alternate selection” just in case ASL course
is not available.
• You can take 3+ years of a foreign language.
• You can graduate with more than 1 foreign language (still need a minimum
of 2 yrs in each foreign language).
• LOTE/CBE- Summer option of testing out of a language.
COURSE NOTES
• Health – Health is a Katy ISD-required graduation credit for all students(1 sem).
• Communication Skills (FHSP) – Students on the FHSP must have a
communication skills component; however, there is no separate speech credit
requirement. The communication skills component can be satisfied through
Professional Communications, Communication Applications, Debate, Oral
Interpretation, Professional Standards in Agribusiness, Teen Leadership(sem)
• , Theatre, Dual Credit Speech.
COURSE NOTES
• PE substitutions – All students must earn one PE credit. The credit may be
earned through a traditional PE or Athletics course, or one of the following
approved PE substitutions:
– fall semesters of Marching Band I and Marching Band II,
– fall semesters of Color Guard,
– Dance,
– Dance Team I,
– Cheer – 1st year (if PE credit has not already been earned), or
– NJROTC.
THE FHSP + ENDORSEMENT
STEM
SCIENCE ￭ TECHNOLOGY ￭ ENGINEERING ￭ MATH
STEM requires completion of Algebra II, Chemistry,
and Physics.
The STEM endorsement includes courses of
study related to:
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Advanced science courses; or
Advanced math courses for which Algebra II is a prerequisite; or
Computer Science / Computer Programming; or
A cross-disciplinary study of advanced math and advanced science
A STEM endorsement requires a coherent sequence of 4 credits in at least one of the
bulleted courses of study.
BUSINESS & INDUSTRY
The Business & Industry endorsement requires completion of 4 or
more Career and Technology Education (CTE), including 2 courses in
the same career cluster, selected from:
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Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources
Architecture & Construction
Arts, Audio/Visual Technology & Communications
Business
Finance
Hospitality & Tourism
Information Technology
Manufacturing
Marketing
Transportation, Distribution & Logistics
PUBLIC SERVICES
The Public Services endorsement requires completion of credits
in at least one career cluster, selected from:
• Education & Training
• Government & Public Administration
• Health Science
• Human Services
• Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security
• JROTC (Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps)
ARTS & HUMANITIES
• The Arts & Humanities endorsement may be earned through
completion of at least one of the following:
• Four English elective credits related to literature; or
• Five Social Studies credits; or
• Four levels in the same language in a Language Other than English; or
• Two levels/credits of one language in a Language Other than English and two
levels/credits of a second language in a Language Other than English; or
• A progressive sequence of four credits, selected from one or two Fine Arts
disciplines, including Art, Dance, Music, and Theatre; or
• Four English elective credits: English IV, Independent Study in English,
Literary Genres, Creative Writing, Research & Technical Writing,
Humanities, or AP English Literature & Composition.
MULTIDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
The Multidisciplinary Studies endorsement requires completion
of at least one of the following:
• Four additional/advanced credits, from within one endorsement area or from various
endorsement areas, that prepare the student to either
o successfully enter postsecondary education without the need for remediation; or
o successfully enter the workforce.
• Four credits in each: English Language Arts (must include a traditional English IV), Math,
Science (must include Chemistry and/or Physics), and Social Studies; or
• Four AP, International Baccalaureate (transfer students only; not offered in KISD) or
dual credit courses, selected from English Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies,
Fine Arts and/or LOTE.
THINKING AHEAD:
DISTINGUISHED LEVEL OF ACHIEVEMENT (DLA)
A Distinguished Level of Achievement (DLA) may be earned through successful
completion of:
• All requirements for the Foundation High School Program, plus
• The requirements of at least one endorsement, including
• Algebra II among the four required math credits, and
• A fourth science credit
A student must graduate with a Distinguished Level of Achievement (DLA) to be
considered for the Top 10% and eligibility for automatic admission to a Texas public
college or university.
See 2015-2016 Course Catalog, page 10, under “Recognitions”
THINKING AHEAD:
PERFORMANCE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Performance Acknowledgements may be earned in one or more of the following
categories:
• AP test score of 3 or above;
• IB test score of 4 or above (transfer students only as the International Baccalaureate
program is not available in Katy ISD);
• Qualifying PSAT score based on the 11th grade test;
• SAT combined critical reading and math score of 1250 or above;
• ACT composite score of 28 or above;
• College course with a final grade of A or B (3.0 or above);
• Bilingualism and biliteracy; and
• Earning a nationally or internationally recognized business or industry
certification or license.
See 2015-2016 Course Catalog, page 10, under “Recognitions”
CHOOSING COURSES FOR THE
FRESHMAN YEAR
• Choose an endorsement,
• Selections must include one course from each of the
following
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•
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• English,
• Math,
• Science (Biology)
Students are required to take either World Geography
(a 9th grade option) or World History (taught at 10th
grade level) Please note that some colleges prefer 4
year of Social Studies.
Choose courses selected from other areas to
complete the seven class periods
If one course marked (sem) is selected, a second (sem)
course is also required.
CHOOSING COURSES FOR THE
FRESHMAN YEAR
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Warning! If you are taking any high school credit
courses this year, the same course must not be
chosen for next year.
If you are in athletics, choose only one athletics
program on the course selection sheet.
Band requires special consideration:
• If you are in band but not in athletics, select the
band option that gives fall PE credit and spring
Fine Arts credit;
• If you are in both athletics and band, select the
band option for the full year Fine Arts credit.
CHOOSING COURSES FOR THE
FRESHMAN YEAR
• Review the course catalog when making course
selections.
– Pay special attention to “Selecting Courses for
the Next School Year” on page 26, including
the “Schedule Changes” information
• List alternate choices in the spaces provided.
• Discuss your endorsement choice and course
selections with your counselor!
• Turn in the course selection sheet as instructed
by your campus.
COURSE VERIFICATIONS FOR THE
FRESHMAN YEAR
• You will receive a course verification sheet later in
the spring.
– The course verification sheet lists course
selections and endorsement for 2015 – 2016.
– The selected endorsement appears as an
additional course
• Review all selections for accuracy.
• Make any necessary changes on the verification
sheet.
• List alternate choices in the order of preference.
• Turn in the course verification sheet as instructed
by your current campus.
COURSE VERIFICATIONS
AND SCHEDULE CHANGES
Now is the time to discuss course options with parents, teachers, and school
counselors. Based on the input received, students may request a change in course
selections for the following year until the conclusion of the spring semester. After
course verification, requests for schedule changes will be honored for a limited
number of reasons such as:
1. Error in scheduling on part of school, such as data entry error;
2. Student failure in a prerequisite course;
3. Change in program (athletics, fine arts, etc.);
4. Level changes as recommended by teachers and school counselor with
parental knowledge and principal approval;
5. Student did not meet standard on the STAAR/EOC, or did not meet standard
on the benchmark test.
See 2015-2016 Course Catalog, page 26, under “Schedule Changes”
FINAL NOTES
http://www.katyisd.org/Documents/2015-2016%20Course%20Catalog.pdf