Class of 2031 �

Completing the 4 –Year Plan

2026 - 2027

NOTE: Students must graduate with the Distinguished Level of Achievement (includes successful completion of Algebra II) in order to be eligible for top 10% automatic admission at any Texas public university and also to be considered for the TEXAS Grant.

Endorsements

What is an Endorsement? Specialized areas of study that allow students to create a personalized learning plan in line with their future college or career interests and goals.

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• Endorsements require completing 26 credits, including a fourth math and fourth science credit, along with a specific sequence of electives.

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• Students may earn more than one endorsement.

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• Students and parents required to select (in writing) an endorsement area and create a 4-Year Plan.

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• There will be opportunities to review and/or modify the plan each year.

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Endorsement Plan Considerations

• What is the student’s best academic pathway for high school taking into account:
• Personal interests and talents
• Career aspirations
• Post-secondary goals

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• What are the admission requirements for the college/university they wish to attend?

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• The Endorsement(s) chosen will determine many of the high school elective choices!

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�����Students can choose from 5 Endorsement areas:

(Student Booklet – pages 10-14)

STEM

Business & Industry

Public Services

Arts & Humanities

Multidisciplinary Studies

Endorsements

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5 Endorsement Areas

• STEM – Science, Technology (including Computer Science), Engineering, and advanced Math

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• Business & Industry – Agriculture; Architecture & Construction; Arts, Audio/Video Technology & Communications; Business, Marketing & Finance; Hospitality & Tourism; Information Technology; Manufacturing; Transportation, Distribution & Logistics

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• Public Services – Education & Training; Health Science; Human Services (Cosmetology); AFJROTC

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• Arts and Humanities – Social Studies; Languages Other than English (LOTE); Fine Arts (Art, Dance, Music, & Theatre)

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• Multidisciplinary Studies – Four by Four (4 x 4); AP/DC

Provides flexibility for students with a wide range of interests and talents and includes courses from multiple content areas. It is appropriate for careers that span more than one category or that do not completely fit a specific category. Students may experience classes from all the endorsement areas to see what they may be interested in for the future.

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Within the STEM, Business & Industry, and Public Services endorsements, Programs of Study have been designed for the Career & Technology (CTE) course areas. These are course sequences that prepare students with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in their chosen career and lead to postsecondary education and training opportunities.

Programs of Study

Choosing an Endorsement & Program of Study � may seem overwhelming…

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Remember that this is a plan - there will be an opportunity to make changes each year in high school.

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Simply start by asking a few questions:

• What are my/your interests, talents, and/or career aspirations?
• What are my/your post-secondary goals?

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Explore available resources:

• District website
• Xello

������Resources on district website� www.cfisd.net�Academics�Career & Technical Education�Programs of Study� �(Includes CFISD-produced videos about each CTE area)

Explore Career Options

in Xello

• Explore
• Explore Options
• Careers/Explore Careers/Sort & Filter/Career Clusters or School Subjects

General Information about Levels

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• On-level: Choose this level if student is CURRENTLY in an on-level class of that content area. In the spring, students who have an 85 or above average in a class will have the opportunity to choose Advanced (ADV) for the following year. If they choose to do so, the 4-Year Plan and course selection will be modified at that time.
• Advanced (ADV): Choose this level only if student is CURRENTLY in an Advanced class of that content area AND have a 75 or above average in the class.
• H (Horizons): Choose “H” if student is CURRENTLY identified as and enrolled in Horizons classes (the district’s Gifted & Talented program).

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General Information about Levels

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• AP (Advanced Placement): Opportunity to receive college credit by earning a qualifying score on the AP exam given at the end of the course. Every college sets its own policy for awarding credit.
• DC (Dual Credit): Opportunity to earn both high school credit and college credit for certain high school courses. Specific entry requirements must be met before enrolling in a dual credit course.

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������Graduation Requirements

English

(4 credits required)

Select English courses & levels for �all 4 years of high school

Social Studies

Graduation Requirements

3 credits required

Hamilton Tigers take 4 Social Studies credits

9^th and/or 10^th Grade

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• Students have flexibility in determining the course & year of study (9^th/10^th grade) for the first social studies credit.

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• Students have a CHOICE from the following:
• World Geography (On-level, ADV, or H/ADV)

OR

• World History (On-level, ADV, H/ADV, AP, or H/AP)

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Note: Students may substitute AP Human Geography for World Geography but may not earn credit for both courses.

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�Select course(s) and level(s)�

9^th and/or 10^th Grade - World Geography or World History

11^th Grade

• US History is REQUIRED

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12^th Grade

• Government (.5 credit)
• Personal Financial Literacy (.5 credit)
• BOTH are REQUIRED

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GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

MATH

4 credits required

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REQUIREMENTS �

• Algebra I – 8^th or 9^th Grade (required of all students); on-level credit regardless of when taken
• Geometry (On-level, ADV, or H/ADV)
• An additional math course
• + 1 additional advanced math course

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• All STEM endorsements must take Algebra II
• Algebra II must be taken to earn the Distinguished Level of Achievement and be eligible for automatic college admission or certain financial aid
• Accounting II ADV (52213) or Robotics II ADV (84893) may count as a math credit

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�OPTIONS FOR A STUDENT TAKING �8^TH GRADE MATH THIS YEAR�(PAGE 6)

�OPTIONS FOR A STUDENT TAKING � ALGEBRA I THIS YEAR

(PAGE 6)

Graduation Requirements

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SCIENCE

4 credits required

Requirements

4 Science credits required for any endorsement

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• 9^th Grade - Biology (On-level, ADV, or H/ADV)
• 10^th Grade - IPC, Chemistry, or Physics

(or AP Physics I if completed or concurrent enrollment in Algebra II)

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• An additional science course +1 additional advanced science course

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• All STEM endorsements - must take Biology, Chemistry, & Physics (or AP Physics I)
• Multidisciplinary Studies – Option 1 – 4 x 4 – must have Biology + Chemistry and/or Physics (or AP Physics I)

9^th Grade

All students must take Biology

• On-level - 31123
• ADV - 31083
• H/ADV - 31093

10th Grade

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Choose from the following:

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• IPC (On-level) - 30523

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• Chemistry (On-level – 32123, ADV - 32213, or H/ADV - 32263)

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• Physics (On-level - 33123, ADV - 33213, or H/ADV - 33263)

or AP Physics I – 37453; H/AP – 37463; DC – 37553; H/DC – 37563

(if completed or concurrent enrollment in Algebra II)

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Note: Students who do not take Chemistry may meet the high school graduation requirements but this does not position them for career and college readiness.

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11th Grade

and/or

12th Grade

Science

See Student Booklet - Page 7

Other Required �Courses for Graduation� �

• PACE
• LOTE / Foreign Language

PACE: Personal, Academic, and Career Exploration

• Required in 9^th grade
• .5 credit (one semester)
• Not available to take in Summer School
• State required speech TEKS are embedded in this class
• State required instruction in CPR is provided in this class

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When making your 9^th grade course selections, choose one of the following .5 credit (1 semester) courses to pair with PACE:

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LOTE/Foreign Language

2 credits of the same foreign language required

• Spanish
• French
• German
• Latin
• Chinese (Mandarin) (availability varies by campus)
• American Sign Language (Cy-Ridge & Langham Creek only)
• Computer Programming

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Other Required �Courses for Graduation� �

• Fine Arts
• Physical Education

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Fine Arts

• 1 credit required
• 2 sequential semesters of the same course

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• Course I may be taken in 9^th, 10^th, 11^th, or 12^th
• Band I and Orchestra I require playing experience

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• Classes include:
• Art
• Music
• Theater
• Dance
• Floral Design
• 10^th grade - requires prerequisite or concurrent enrollment in Principles of Ag
• 11^th & 12^th grade – any student may take this course without Principles of Ag

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Art

• Art I can be taken in any grade 9th – 12th
• Art classes are selected based on a specific area of focus

Art I, II, III, IV

• Drawing/Painting
• Ceramics/Sculpture
• Photography
• Digital Art & Media

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AP

• Art Drawing
• Art 2-D Design
• Art 3-D Design
• Art Photography
• Digital Art & Media
• Art History

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Music�Band or Band/Color Guard

Band I, II, III, IV

Students new to the CFISD Band program should have playing experience

or

Band I-CG, II-CG, III-CG, IV-CG (Color Guard)

*Band I or Band I-Color Guard will provide the student with the required graduation credit in Fine Arts. Completion of Band II or Band II-CG will meet the graduation requirement in P.E.

Music�Choir

Choir I, II, III, IV

Choir I can be taken in any grade 9^th – 12^th

Music�Orchestra

Orchestra I, II, III, IV

Orchestra I can be taken in any grade 9^th – 12^th

Students new to the CFISD Orchestra program should have playing experience

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Theatre

Theatre Arts I, II, III, IV

• Acting / Performance

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Technical Theatre I, II, III, IV

• Set design/Lighting/Props/Costumes

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Theatre Production I, II, III, IV

• Production process as it relates to acting & technical theatre; Teacher approval required

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Dance Team

Dance I (Fine Arts) , Dance Team II, III, IV

• Development of skills, training and performing at events and competitions on the Dance Team (tryouts required)
• Dance I (FA) will provide the student with the required graduation credit in Fine Arts.
• Completion of Dance Team II (PE substitute) will meet the graduation requirement in P.E.

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Dance

Dance I (Fine Arts), Dance II (PE), III, IV

• Development of skills in a variety of dance techniques
• Dance I (FA) will provide the student with the required graduation credit in Fine Arts.
• Completion of Dance II (PE) will meet the graduation requirement in P.E.

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Physical Education�(or PE substitution)

• 1 credit required
• Can be taken in 9^th, 10^th, 11^th, or 12^th grade
• May earn a maximum of 2 credits in PE towards graduation
• May earn up to 4 credits of PE in Athletics or PE Substitutes towards graduations
• PE Substitutes
• Air Force JROTC
• Band I & Band II
• Cheerleading I & II
• Dance Team I or II
• Band/Color Guard I & II

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Let’s Review

&

Complete the

4-Year Plan!

Endorsements

&

Programs of Study

�����Students can choose from 5 Endorsement areas:

(Student Booklet – pages 10-14)

STEM

Business & Industry

Public Services

Arts & Humanities

Multidisciplinary Studies

Endorsements

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Programs of Study

Use to fill in electives

College

Credit

academics>college and career readiness>college and career readiness

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https://www.cfisd.net/Page/1802

College Academy: Associates Degree in Science (pros and cons). Apply in the spring

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Dual Credit: Offered for 11th and 12th graders. It’s a partnership between Lone Star College and CFISD. Parents pay a fraction of the price for the same class at college

1. Select your Endorsement(s) (example: Business & Industry / Ag, Food & Natural Resources)
2. Choose an Option or Program of Study (example: Ag1 – Animal Science)
3. Use the list of courses provided to make your selections for each year
4. Add these courses to your 4-Year Plan

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Now…

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Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources

Endorsement: Business & Industry

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Complete & Check Your 4-Year Plan

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• my.cfisd.net, search XELLO
• Add in your core classes
• Add semester course to take with PACE, LOTE, Fine Arts, & PE requirements
• Add Endorsement/Program of Study courses & course #’s as electives

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On, ADV, H

Add if haven’t taken yet

World Geo/Hist

7 Credits each grade level

Add electives

Sports/PE

Sports/PE

Add electives

1 semester courses page 15

1 sea1

Math 12

4 core subjects each grade level

.5 Credit to match Pace

• Health
• Professional Communications
• Teen Leadworthy
• Touch System Data Entry (did you already take it at Hamilton?)
• Photojournalism (must own digital camera)
• Lifetime Nutrition and Wellness (Must have already taken Prin of HS or HT)
• Creative and Imaginative Writing
• World Area Studies ADV

Page 15 in orange Course booklet

Advanced Level Student Example

On Level Student Example

Tips

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• Anything with V is virtual (Do Not Use)
• Do not put Extra Credit 9
• Scroll to left to see high school credits in middle school
• Close out of each section to return to course planner
• Use Search for electives
• Do not hit submit
• AP/DC count more than Adv on GPA
• Use book to help fill in electives
• Must have 1 semester elective to match PACE
• 4 Year Plan Resource
• GPA Game? Move your fine art and/or PE to 12th grade year
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Xello Family (Parent Portal)

What’s next?

• Complete the 4 Year Plan with your child before winter break (Mrs. Nomura will meet individually. She will enter endorsements in Xello)
• September 28
• Cy Fair Course Showcase and Parent Meeting
• November 12
• Cy Creek and Cy Fair counselors visit Hamilton MS during Science class
• November 18
• Cy Creek Course Showcase and Parent Meeting
• April 2027
• Course Verification in HAC

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Questions?

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Counselors are available to answer simple questions, but please use the QR code below for complex questions