Preparing for �High School

Class of 2029

NISD �High Schools

8^th graders attend one of four high schools depending on zoning or academy acceptance.

Creating Your Personal Graduation Plan (PGP): Begins with the Foundation High School Program.

Your PGP

Graduation Requirements

This chart and other information regarding high school academic planning is located on the district website:

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High School Academic Planning

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Potential High School Credits Fulfilled in Middle School

• Algebra I Honors (1.0 credit)

Fulfills Algebra I requirement for graduation

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• Art I (1.0 credit)

Fulfills fine art requirement for graduation

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• Digital Art and Animation (1.0 credit)

Fulfills fine art requirement for graduation

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• Fundamentals of Computer Science (1.0 credit)

• Geometry Honors (1.0 credit)

Fulfills Geometry requirement for graduation

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• Personal Development and Relationships (.5 elective credit)

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• Lifetime Nutrition and Wellness (.5 elective credit

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• Medical Terminology (1.0 elective credit)

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• Principles of Applied Engineering (1.0 elective credit)

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• Principles of Human Services (1.0 elective credit)

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• Professional Communications (.5 credit)

Fulfills speech requirement for graduation

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• Robotics I (1.0 elective credit)

• Spanish I Honors (1.0 credit)

Fulfills a LOTE requirement for graduation

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Benefits of Advanced Courses

College admissions: Colleges look for students who have completed rigorous coursework (Honors, Honors/GT, AP, and Dual Credit)

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While in high school, students will have the opportunity to earn college credit through AP courses and Dual Credit courses.

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Students with higher level courses are generally more prepared for college level work and more likely than their peers to complete a college degree on time.

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Earning College Credit

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Dual Credit

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• Offered through a partner community college and students may only take approved courses. (See APG for list of courses)
• Could be face to face or online - one teacher.
• The grade earned at the college is the grade earned for the high school class. Must be a C or higher for high school credit.
• Accepted at all Texas public universities. Privates and out of state will need to be verified.

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Advanced Placement (AP)

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• No fee to take the course.
• Student registers for the test at the end of the course for a reasonable fee.
• Solid option for good test takers.
• Accepted nationwide.
• Credit is not attached to the grade in the class.
• Need a score of a 3 or higher on the AP exam.

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Dual Enrollment/OnRamps

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• Offered through Univ of Texas and taught by both college and high school teacher.
• Two grades - one for college and one for high school. (Can be very different)
• Students may deny credit without penalty.
• Great option for trying out a college class!

*All college credits are subject to the receiving school’s policies and chosen major. We cannot guarantee how it will be applied! See NISD’s College and Career Readiness page for more info!

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NISD English Course Sequence: Four Credits

*Denotes that the course requires an End of Course Test (STAAR)

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**See Online or Off-campus Dual Credit Opportunities in the Academic Planning Guide

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Depending on the student’s graduation plan and endorsement, a student may satisfy the fourth English credit by completing other approved English courses.

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NISD Math Course Sequence: Four Credits

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*Denotes that the course requires an End of Course Test (STAAR)

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**See Online or Off-campus Dual Credit Opportunities in the Academic Planning Guide

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***This course is not an advanced math and does not meet NCAA eligibility for student-athletes.

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A student may not receive credit for the same course twice. If a student successfully completed Algebra I Honors in middle school, then he/she must register for the next math course, Geometry.

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NISD Math Course Sequence continued…

Advanced Math Courses:

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• Algebraic Reasoning***
• Algebra II, Honors Algebra II, Honors/GT Algebra II, or OnRamps College Algebra
• Advanced Quantitative Reasoning (AQR)
• Precalculus, AP Precalculus, or OnRamps Precalculus
• OnRamps Statistics (HS Independent Study credit)
• AP Calculus AB
• AP Calculus BC
• Multivariable Calculus
• AP Statistics
• Dual credit courses

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***Course does not meet NCAA eligibility for student-athletes.

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Specific Examples of Math Sequences

9^th Grade

10^th Grade

11^th Grade

12^th Grade

NISD Science Course Sequence: Four Credits

*Denotes that the course requires an End of Course Test (STAAR)

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NISD Science Course Sequence

Advanced Science Courses:

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• Chemistry or Honors Chemistry
• Honors Physics
• Astronomy
• Environmental Systems
• Advanced Animal Science
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Forensic Science
• Scientific Research and Design
• AP Biology
• AP Chemistry
• AP Physics 1
• AP Physics C: Mechanics
• AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism
• AP Environmental Science
• Dual credit courses

NISD Social Studies Course Sequence: Three Credits

*Denotes that the course requires an End of Course Test (STAAR)

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**See Online or Off-campus Dual Credit Opportunities in the Academic Planning Guide

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Students are highly encouraged to complete FOUR credits in social studies. Four credits in social studies are required for the multidisciplinary endorsement.

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NISD Social Studies Course Sequence: Three Credits

*Denotes that the course requires an End of Course Test (STAAR)

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**See Online or Off-campus Dual Credit Opportunities in the Academic Planning Guide

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Students are highly encouraged to complete FOUR credits in social studies. Four credits in social studies are required for the multidisciplinary endorsement.

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NISD Language Other Than English (LOTE) Course Sequence

Students must complete two credits of the same Language Other Than English (LOTE).

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A student who successfully completes Spanish I Honors in middle school should register for Spanish II or Spanish II Honors for 9^th grade.

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Spanish for Spanish Speakers requires an oral and written fluency test.

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*When considering a language other than English (LOTE) for college admission, please confirm your LOTE choice with your potential college/university. Not all colleges/universities accept American Sign Language or Computer Science to fulfill world language requirements.

NISD Physical Education Options: One Credit Required

• Athletics – Students will select the specified sport and not a generic athletics class. If a student participates in more than one sport, choose the sport that occurs first in the school year.

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• Band, Color Guard, or Drill Team – provides 1.0 fine art credit (full year) AND .5 PE credit (fall only); completing two years of one of these activities will provide 1.0 PE credit. Students can earn a maximum of 1.0 PE credit through these activities.

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• Musical Theatre I - provides 1.0 PE credit. Student must choose this course as a fine art OR a PE credit upon registration. A PE substitution code will be indicated on the transcript.

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• Technical Theatre II - provides 1.0 PE credit. Student must choose this course as a fine art OR a PE credit upon registration. A PE substitution code will be indicated on the transcript.

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• Cheerleading I – provides 1.0 PE credit for the first year; subsequent years are local credits and do not count toward state graduation credits.

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• Dance I – provides 1.0 fine art credit and 1.0 PE credit (Lifetime Fitness and Wellness Pursuits). Athletes who take Dance I cannot be awarded additional PE credit.

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• Football Athletic Trainer – All start by being enrolled in Football. Subsequent years will be Sports Medicine I, II, and III.

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• PE courses

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NISD Athletic Options

• Baseball (B)

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• Basketball (B,G)

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• Cross Country (B,G)

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• Diving (B,G)

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• Football (B)

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• Golf (B, G)

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• Soccer (B, G)

• Softball (G)

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• Swimming (B,G)

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• Tennis (B,G)

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• Track (B,G)

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• Volleyball (G)

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• Wrestling (B,G)

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B = Boys

G = Girls

Available Physical Education Courses

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02

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Lifetime Fitness and Wellness Pursuits

(1.0 credit)

Skill Based Lifetime Activities

(1.0 credit)

Lifetime Recreation and Outdoor Pursuits (1.0 credit)

Fine Arts: One Credit Required

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• Art I
• Band I (includes Color Guard/Winter Guard)
• Choir I
• Dance I or Drill Team I (Drill Team is by audition only
• Digital Art and Animation (Grades 7-8 only)
• Floral Design (Grades 10-12 only)
• AP Music Theory – Must read and write basic music notation and have basic skills in voice or instrument; to be taken concurrently with Band, Choir, Orchestra.
• Orchestra
• Theatre I
• Technical Theatre I
• Theatre Production I (Grades 10-12, 9th by director approval only)
• Musical Theatre I (Grades 10-12)

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Endorsements: Another Piece of the Puzzle

What is an Endorsement?

A coherent sequence of electives in a specific area of interest. These electives may be taken through an academy or through a specified Program of Study (POS). There are FIVE endorsements:

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• Arts and Humanities
• Business and Industry
• Multidisciplinary Studies*
• Public Services
• STEM

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*NISD counselors monitor students for the Multidisciplinary option if another endorsement is not selected/met.

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Arts and Humanities�Endorsement

See the NISD Endorsement Guide for additional details

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Arts and Humanities Options:

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• Additional social studies credits – Complete five social studies credits

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• Fine Arts – Complete four fine arts credits from one or two disciplines in the fine arts

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• World Language (4) – Complete four levels of the same language in a language other than English

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• World Language (2+2) – Complete two levels of the same language in a language other than English and two levels of a different language in a language other than English

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• Additional English credits – Complete four English credits from specified list

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Business and Industry�Endorsement

See NISD’s Career and Technical Education Guide for additional details

Business and Industry Options:

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Complete a CTE Program of Study (POS) Programs of Study available include:

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• Accounting and Financial Services
• Advanced Manufacturing and Machinery Mechanics
• Animal Science
• Applied Agricultural Engineering
• Architectural Design
• Business Management
• Cosmetology
• Culinary Arts (Academy only)
• Design and Multimedia Arts
• Digital Communications
• Engineering (STEM Academy only)
• Entrepreneurship (Academy only)
• Plant Science
• Programming and Software Development

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Business and Industry Endorsement

See NISD’s Career and Technical Education Guide for additional details

Business and Industry Options

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Complete a CTE Program of Study (POS) continued:

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• Aviation (Flight)*
• Aviation Maintenance*
• Drone (Unmanned Flight)*

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*Aviation and Aeronautics Academy only

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Complete a Business and Industry – English option:

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• Debate
• Newspaper

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Multidisciplinary Endorsement

See the NISD Endorsement Guide for Additional Details

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Multidisciplinary Options:

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• Additional core classes* – Complete four credits in each area: English, math, science, and social studies. *Completed courses must include English IV and for science, Chemistry and/or Physics.

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• AP and/or Dual Credit – Complete four credits in Advanced Placement (AP) or dual credit from English, math, science, social studies, economics, languages other than English, or fine arts

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• Advanced CTE Courses – Complete four advanced CTE courses from within one endorsement or among multiple endorsements.

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Public Service�Endorsement

See NISD’s Career and Technical Education Guide for additional details

Public Service Options:

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Complete a CTE Program of Study (POS) Programs of Study available include:

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• Biomedical Science (Academy only)
• Early Learning
• Family and Community Services
• Health Sciences
• Teaching and Training

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Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)�Endorsement

See NISD Endorsement Guide & the CTE Guide for additional details

STEM Options require the completion of Algebra II, Chemistry, Physics and one of the following options:

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STEM Math – Complete two additional advanced math credits

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STEM Science – Complete two additional advanced science credits

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STEM Math/Science - Complete one additional math credit in which Alg II is a prerequisite and one additional advanced science credit

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Complete a CTE Program of Study (POS) Programs of Study available include:

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• Advanced Manufacturing and Machinery Mechanics
• Biomedical Sciences

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Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)�Endorsement

See NISD’s Career and Technical Education Guide for additional details

STEM Options require the completion of Algebra II, Chemistry, Physics and one of the following options:

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Complete a CTE Program of Study (POS) continued:

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• Engineering (Academy only)
• Programming and Software Development

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Distinguished Level of Achievement

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02

03

Must meet all Foundation High School Program requirements

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Must meet the requirements for an Endorsement

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Must meet the requirement of completing Algebra II as one of the advanced math courses

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Examples of math sequences:

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Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and PreCalculus

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Algebra I, Geometry, Algebraic Reasoning, and Algebra II

Performance Acknowledgements

Students may earn performance acknowledgements for outstanding performance in the following areas:

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• Dual credit courses

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• Bilingualism and bi-literacy

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• AP testing

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• ACT, PSAT, or SAT

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• Earning a nationally or internationally recognized business or industry certification or license

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See the NISD High School Academic Planning Guide for details regarding

Performance Acknowledgements.

Thinking Ahead: Automatic College Admission

Students who rank in the top 10%* of their graduating class are eligible for automatic admission to any public university in Texas.

To be eligible for this automatic admission, students must complete the Distinguished Level of Achievement.

*UT Austin – top 5% currently

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Thinking Ahead: How is class rank determined?

Class rank includes grades earned in courses under the following subject matters:

• English
• Math
• Science
• Social studies
• Languages other than English

Only the Grade Point Average (GPA) used to determine class rank is calculated on a weighted scale.

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who rank in the top 10%* of their graduating class are elgible for automatic admission to any public university in Texas.

To be eligible for this automatic admission, students must complete the Distinguished Level of Achievement.

*UT Austin – top 6% currently

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Dr. Jamie Farber�NISD Director of Guidance and Counseling

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Shana Jackson

Guidance and Counseling Coordinator

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As you plan ahead, do not hesitate to ask questions! Your NISD school counselors are here for you.

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