High School Graduation
Requirements
First time 9th-grade students
in 2014-2015 and thereafter
© North East Independent School District, 2014
Graduation Requirements for
Students First Enrolled in grade 9 in
2014-2015 and thereafter
• State Board of Education approved the
graduation requirements on Jan. 31, 2014
• To graduate, students must:
– Satisfy testing requirements
– Satisfy academic program requirements
– Demonstrate proficiency in specified
communication skills (determined by
local school district)
© North East Independent School District, 2014
Testing Requirements:
End-of-Course (EOC) Exams
• First time ninth-grade students entering
high school in 2011-2012 and thereafter
must pass five exams to graduate:
– English I
– English II
– Biology
– Algebra I
– U.S. History
© North East Independent School District, 2014
Graduation Requirements for
Students First Enrolled in grade 9 in
2014-2015 and thereafter
• Foundation High School Program with
options for:
– Endorsements
– Distinguished Level of Achievement
– Performance Acknowledgements
© North East Independent School District, 2014
Graduation Requirements for Students
Entering High School in 2014-2015 and thereafter
Required for
consideration for
automatic
• Multidisciplinary
admission to Texas
Studies
public universities
• STEM
• Business &
Industry
• Public Services
• Arts &
Humanities
Foundation High
School Program
22 credits
Required for
graduation along
with passing 5 EOC
exams
Foundation High School Program
English Language Arts (4 credits)
• English I
• English II
• English III
• Advanced English Course
Mathematics (3 credits)
• Algebra I
• Geometry
• Advanced Mathematics Course
Physical Education (1 credit)
• P.E. Courses or
• Approved P.E. substitutions
Social
Studies
(3 credits)
English
Language
Arts
(4 credits)
Mathematics
Science
(3
credits)
(3
credits)
Physical
Education
(1
credit)
Than
English
Fine
ArtsGeography
(1Other
credit)
Languages
Other Than English (2 credits)
••Languages
World
or
World
Electives
(5
credits)
English
I
Algebra
Biology
I or • Two credits in the same language*
•(2P.E.
Courses
credits)
• Two credits in computer programming
• History
0.5
Health
English
II
•• IPC,
Geometry
Chemistry,
orlanguages*
Physics
Approved
P.E.
substitutions
Two
credits
in
the
same selected from Computer
•• U.S.
History
Science I, II and III
III Science
• English
Advanced
Mathematics
Course
Course
language*
• Approved
substitutions
•
U.S.
Government
(0.5
credit)
• Advanced English
Course
Science (3 credits)
Fine Arts
(1 credit)
•• Two
credits(0.5
in computer
• Biology
Economics
credit)
• IPC, Chemistry, or Physics
programming languages*
• Advanced Science Course
Social Studies (3 credits) selected from Computer
Electives (5 credits)
• World Geography or World History
• 0.5 Health
Science I, II and III
• U.S. History
• U.S. Government (0.5 credit)
• Economics (0.5 credit)• Approved substitutions
Total:
22
Credits
Total: 22 credits
*At this time, foreign languages are preferred by colleges/universities.
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SAMPLE -- 9TH GRADE COURSE SELECTIONS
Credit
1 English I
1.0
2 Algebra I or Geometry
1.0
3 Biology
1.0
4 World Geography or World History
1.0
5 Language Other Than English
1.0
6 Fine Arts, P.E./P.E. Substitute, Elective
1.0
7
Endorsement Course/Elective (See “Freshman Options for
Endorsements”)
1.0
7
Foundation with an Endorsement
• Students may earn an endorsement by
successfully completing:
– curriculum requirements for the
endorsement;
– four credits in math;
– four credits in science; and
– two additional elective credits
• Foundation High School Program +
Endorsement = 26 credits
© North East Independent School District, 2014
Foundation High School Program With Endorsement(s)
English Language Arts (4 credits)
• English I
• English II
• English III
• Advanced English Course
Mathematics (4 credits)
• Algebra I
• Geometry
• 2 Advanced Mathematics Course
Physical Education (1 credit)
• P.E. Courses or
• Approved P.E. substitutions
Mathematics
(4 credits)
Science (4 credits)
Languages Other Than English (2 credits)
(7I credits)
••Electives
Algebra
• Two credits in the same language*
Biology
• Two credits in computer programming
• 0.5
Health
Geometry
languages* selected
from Computer
• IPC or Advanced Science
Course
Science I, II and III
•• 2
Advanced
Mathematics
2 Advanced Science
Courses
• Approved
substitutions
Course
Fine Arts (1 credit)
Science (4 credits)
• Biology
• IPC, Chemistry, or Physics
• 2 Advanced Science Courses
Social Studies (3 credits)
• World Geography or World History
• U.S. History
• U.S. Government (0.5 credit)
• Economics (0.5 credit)
Electives (7 credits)
• 0.5 Health
Total: 26 Credits
Total: 26 credits with the completion of at least one endorsement
All endorsements require specific courses in these eight areas, and the number of required credits
may change by endorsement area.
*At this time, foreign languages are preferred by colleges/universities.
9
Types of Endorsements
• Multidisciplinary Studies
• STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and
Math)
• Business and Industry
• Public Services
• Arts and Humanities
• Each endorsement includes a complete list of
courses that students can choose from to fulfill
endorsement requirements
– NEISD will offer courses under all endorsements,
but specific course offerings may vary from school
to school
© North East Independent School District, 2014
Distinguished Level of
Achievement
• Students may earn a distinguished level of
achievement by successfully completing:
– four credits in math, which must include Algebra II;
– four credits in science;
– remaining requirements of the Foundation High
School Program; and
– requirements of at least one endorsement
• Distinguished Level of Achievement = 26 credits
• Students must earn Distinguished Level of
Achievement to be eligible for Top 10%
Automatic Admission
© North East Independent School District, 2014
Foundation High School Program
Distinguished Level of Achievement
English Language Arts (4 credits)
• English I
• English II
• English III
• Advanced English Course
Physical Education (1 credit)
• P.E. Courses or
• Approved P.E. substitutions
Mathematics (4 credits)
Mathematics (4 credits)
Languages Other Than English (2 credits)
• Algebra I
• Algebra I
• Two credits in the same language*
• Geometry
• Two credits in computer programming
• Geometry
• Algebra II
languages* selected from Computer
• Advanced Mathematics
Course
Science I, II and III
• Algebra
II
• Approved substitutions
Science (4 credits)
Fine Arts (1 credit)
• Advanced Mathematics
Course
•
•
•
Biology
IPC, Chemistry, or Physics
2 Advanced Science Courses
Social Studies (3 credits)
• World Geography or World History
• U.S. History
• U.S. Government (0.5 credit)
• Economics (0.5 credit)
Electives (7 credits)
• 0.5 Health
Total: 26 credits including the completion of one endorsement
All endorsements require specific courses in these eight areas, and the number of required credits
may change by endorsement area.
12
*At this time, foreign languages are preferred by colleges/universities.
Graduation Requirements for Students
Entering High School in 2014-2015 and thereafter
Expectation for
all incoming 9thgrade students
Foundation High
School Program
22 credits
Performance Acknowledgements
• Dual credit: 12+ hours with grades of 80
or higher
• Bilingualism and biliteracy (specific
requirements apply)
• AP Exam (score of 3 or higher)
• PSAT, Aspire, SAT, or the ACT (based on
specific cut points)
• Business or industry certification or
license (based on exam performance)
© North East Independent School District, 2014
Next Steps for Students and Parents
Complete choice slips for ninth-grade classes
SAMPLE -- 9TH GRADE COURSE SELECTIONS
Credit
1 English I
1.0
2 Algebra I or Geometry
1.0
3 Biology
1.0
4 World Geography or World History
1.0
5 Language Other Than English
1.0
6 Fine Arts, P.E./P.E. Substitute, Elective
1.0
7
Endorsement Course/Elective (See “Freshman Options for
Endorsements”)
1.015
For More Information
• Refer to the Four Year Plan Sample and
Freshman Options for Endorsements
document
• Submit your question(s) to be included
in a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
document
• Contact your counselor
• Visit www.neisd.net/staar for a more
detailed video and updates
© North East Independent School District, 2014
16
Congratulations and
Welcome to High School
© North East Independent School District, 2014
17