COURSE SELECTION & �FOUR-YEAR PLANNING

for the 2026-2027 school year

Introductions

New Courses and Offerings

General Information

Course Information

Updating Your Four-Year Plan

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THE PLAN FOR TODAY

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Westlake Counseling Department

Carmine Castaldo

A - B and

X - Z

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Caty

Broderick

C - F

Kristen

Williamson

G - Ki

Tara Postma

Kj-M

Westlake Counseling

Department

Mariam Yaghi

N-R

Kyle Haenisch

S-V

Lisa Saunders

W + Lead Counselor

NEW COURSES FOR 2026-2027

EANES ISD ACADEMY for ACCELERATION

• Geometry
• Math Models
• Health
• Economics (only required through the class of 2029)
• US Government
• US History
• Principles of Health Science
• PE

• Registration opens in late February and will close in late April.

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• Cost is $300 per semester.
• Courses will be remote, except for PE. Testing will also be in person.
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• Session 1: May 26-June 18
• Session 2: July 6-July 23

Courses Available

Registration Information

Courses offered through the Eanes Academy for Acceleration are not eligible to be taken through correspondence.

More information will be sent out via email from the school district.

Once your career plan is updated, please enter 3 alternate elective choices into this Google form.

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Alternate Elective Choices

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**New: Selecting Alternate Electives

GENERAL INFORMATION

Graduation Requirements

GPA, Class Rank, Top 10% Law

Earning Credits Outside of Westlake

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OTHER GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

CPR training

• Health taken in class in Eanes ISD
• Child Development
• CERT: Disaster Response
• Principles of Health Science
• Other options will be offered for students who do not take these courses

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Speech Proficiency

• Embedded into English 4

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Interaction with Peace Officer training

• Embedded in 12th grade social studies courses

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Completion of Free Application for Federal Student Aide (FAFSA)/TASFA

• Need-based or merit aid, work-study opportunities, loans
• FAFSA usually opens in December of 12th grade
• Opting-out is an option; opt-out form is required.

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End of Course Exams-Algebra 1, English 1, English 2, Biology, US History

• A reduced graduation plan that allows eligible students to graduate early with a distinguished level of achievement.

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• Potential for scholarship money at public Texas colleges through the Texas First Scholarship Program

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• More information can be found here.

GPA, Class Rank, and the Top 10% Law

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Texas seniors ranked in the top 10% are automatically admitted to all Texas public colleges.

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• Exception: The University of Texas at Austin is currently only automatically admitting the top 5% of each graduating class. This number may change from year to year.

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• Note: Being in the top 10% or top 5% is only ONE way to get into a Texas public college or university; it is not the ONLY way.

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Westlake High School is a non-ranking high school.

• Per state law, we do rank students in the top 10% for the purpose of automatic admission to Texas public colleges. No other students are ranked.

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GPA, Class Rank, and the Top 10% Law

Rank is determined by student’s grade point average (GPA).

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Grade Point Average (GPA)

• Calculated by averaging each semester grade earned in a class taken at Westlake High School
• Reported on a 100 point scale

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When GPA is calculated:

• Some courses are weighted
• AP courses receive 10 bonus points
• Honors courses receive 5 bonus points
• Weighted courses are bolded on the course number listing
• Course weights are subject to change.

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Courses excluded from GPA Calculations

• Summer school and Academy for Acceleration credits
• High school credits earned in middle school
• Correspondence courses
• ACC courses not taken at Westlake
• Credit Recovery courses
• PE waivers
• Pass/Fail credits

GPA, Class Rank, and the Top 10% Law

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Eanes ISD requires all students to have at least 5 unweighted credits between 9th and 12th grade.

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• 3 unweighted credits must be complete by end of 11th grade

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• These unweighted credits must be included in GPA, so they need to be classes in your schedule at Westlake.

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• Unweighted courses are not bolded and italicized on the course number listing.

Earning Credits Outside of Westlake

Eanes ISD Summer school←website will be updated around Spring break

• Credit Recovery

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*New* Eanes ISD Academy for Acceleration

• Course offered through the Eanes Summer Academy are not eligible to be taken through correspondence.

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Online Correspondence Courses

• Allowable programs: Texas Tech K-12 or University of Texas High School
• Maximum of 2 credits allowed through correspondence
• Course offered through the Eanes Summer Academy are not eligible to be taken through correspondence.

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Dual credit through ACC

• Specific courses may be taken for both high school and college credit tuition-free

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Credit-by-Exam (CBE)

• For acceleration
• must be completed prior to the first day of school the student would normally take the class
• passing standard is a 90
• For credit recovery
• passing standard is a 70

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PE Waivers

Course Selection

How Many Classes Should I Choose?

Sophomores need 7 classes plus lunch

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Juniors need at least 6 classes plus lunch

• May have one off period
• No off periods during 2^nd
• No off periods back-to-back with lunch

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Seniors need at least 5 classes plus lunch

• May have two off periods (not necessarily recommended)
• No off periods during 2^nd
• No off periods back-to-back with lunch

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GRADE LEVEL vs HONORS vs AP

Pace of instruction

Depth of study

Volume of homework

Reading

Writing

Level of teacher guidance

Expectation of organization, maturity and self-direction

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Differences

AP classes potentially build stronger critical thinking and writing skills

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College-level courses and expectations

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Possibility to earn college credit by earning 3+ on an AP Exam (1-5 scale)

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Passing standard and credit awarded is determined by each college.

AP Courses

Balance is Important

There is no magic number of Honors or AP courses you should take

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• Make authentic choices
• Pursue your interests or potential interests

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• Consider other activities you prioritize
• Family, religious, social activities
• Extra-curricular activities
• Time to rest and relax

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• Consult with parents and current teachers on the appropriate level course for you

Prerequisites, Grade Level Restrictions, and Fees

All Found in the Course Catalog

You can not sign up for a class if you haven’t met the prerequisite or aren’t in the appropriate grade level.

• Ex. To be in Kinesiology, you must have taken and passed Principles of Health Science
• Ex. Business Incubator is for 11^th graders only

View these restrictions for each course you want to take by looking it up in the course catalog.

Course fees can also be found in the course catalog.

ENGLISH course sequence

FRESHMEN (9^th grade)

English 1 or English 1 Honors

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SOPHOMORES (10^th grade)

English 2 or English 2 Honors

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JUNIORS (11^th grade)

English 3 or Dual Credit English 3 or English 3 AP

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SENIORS (12^th grade)

English 4 or English 4 AP

ENGLISH course sequence

New Course: Dual Credit English 3 taught at WHS

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• TSI Eligibility required (more info to come to those that register for the course)

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• Taught on our campus by a WHS teacher with ACC credentials
• High school and college credit earned by the grade you make in the class

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• High school grade does count in GPA as an unweighted course
• You are starting a college transcript-not optional, earning credit for ENGL 1301 and 1302

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• Credit transfers to Texas public colleges/universities; beyond that it’s up to the school

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MATH course sequence

Algebra 1*

Geometry *

Math Models (optional)

Algebra 2 *

PreCalculus ** and/or Statistics ** or OnRamps Statistics^

Calculus ** Statistics 2 (Beyond AP Statistics)

Multivariable Calc.

& Linear Algebra

* Honors option available

** AP option available

^College credit possible and optional.

MATH course sequence

New Course–UT OnRamps Statistics, 12th grade only

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• $149 fee for the course
• Taught on our campus by a high school teacher collaborating with a UT Professor

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• Will earn a high school grade and a college grade (separate grades)
• High school grade counts in GPA as an unweighted course
• Can earn 3 college credits through UT for MATH 1342
• Option to claim college grade/credit and create a college transcript

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ACCELERATION IN MATH

In short, it is not recommended for students to accelerate math instruction online through credit by exam or correspondence courses.

• Taking your math courses at Westlake will best prepare you for future math courses in both high school and college.

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For current 8th and 9th graders:

• Students who did not take Algebra 1 in 8^th grade can take Alg 1 in 9th grade (Honors strongly recommended) and then co-enroll in Geometry & Algebra 2 if they successfully completed Algebra 1H with a 90+.
• The math department recommends both courses be taken at the Honors level.
• Expect a high volume of math homework.

SCIENCE course sequence

FRESHMEN (9^th grade)

• Biology or Biology Honors

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SOPHOMORES (10^th grade)

• Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC)
• Chemistry or Chemistry Honors (must have completed Geometry for Honors Chem)
• Physics 1 (not AP) (must be in or have completed Algebra 2)

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JUNIORS (11^th grade)

• Physics, AP Physics 1, or AP Physics 1 and 2 combined

-or-

• Any other science you have met the prerequisites for

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SENIORS (12^th grade)

• Any other science you have met the prerequisites for

Other Grade Level and Honors Science Courses

**Other prerequisites may apply. See course catalog**

AP (and beyond) Science Courses

**Other prerequisites may apply. See course catalog**

SOCIAL STUDIES course sequence

FRESHMEN (9^th grade)

• World Geography or AP Human Geography

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SOPHOMORES (10^th grade)

• World History or AP World History

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JUNIORS (11^th grade)

• US History or AP US History

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SENIORS (12^th grade)

• Government or AP Government AND
• Through the class of 2029: Economics, Personal Financial Literacy + Economics, AP Macro Economics, or AP Micro Economics
• Class of 2030 and beyond: Personal Financial Literacy

WORLD LANGUAGES

required: 2 credits in same language

• American Sign Language (ASL) 1-4
• (not all colleges will consider this a language for admission)
• ASLcollege.com lets you search by state
• Chinese 1-6
• French 1-6
• Latin 1-6
• Spanish 1-6

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HEALTH and PE

Health (½ credit required)

• Health Education class
• Can substitute Principles of Health Science (1 credit)

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PE (1 credit required)

• Yoga/Fitness and Wellness
• Personal Fitness/Team and Individual Activities
• Rec and Outdoor Pursuits (one semester only)
• Athletics
• Marching Band / Color Guard
• Dance for PE credit
• PE waiver (application process; can repeat for up to four credits)

FINE ARTS-1 credit required

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Art 1: Foundations of Draw/Paint

Art 1: Foundations of Sculpture/Ceramics

Art 1: Art and Media Communication

AP Art History

3D Modeling and Animation (Digital Graphics 3)

Beginning Guitar

Band

Color Guard

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Choose any course listed under Performing Arts or Visual Arts on course card.

Applied Music

AP Music Theory

Theater

Technical Theater

Choir

Orchestra/Harp Ensemble

Dance/Hyline/Star Steppers

ELECTIVES: 5.5 credits required

Anything you take beyond a graduation requirement is an elective.

Examples-

• Band 2, 3, 4
• Spanish 3, 4
• Volleyball 2, 3, 4
• a 5th course in a core subject

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Use the course number listing and the course catalog (online) to explore the vast array of options available.

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Keep in mind, you can take each class only one time. You may not repeat a course that you have already earned credit for.

Principles of Health Science

Kinesiology 1*

Kinesiology 2* (application required)

Anatomy and Physiology

Theory of Health Science* (application required)

CERT: Disaster Response

Advanced CERT: Disaster Response 2

Medical Terminology

Health Science Clinicals (2-period course; application required)*

Practicum (Pharmacy) (2-period course; application required)*

Practicum (Phlebotomy) (2 period course; application required)*

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HEALTH SCIENCE

*You are required to have taken Principles of Health Science before you can take these classes.

• Computer Science Principles AP
• Computer Science A AP
• Computer Science 2
• Computer Science 3
• Independent Study in Computer Science
• **New** AP Cybersecurity

COMPUTER SCIENCE/INFO TECH

Principles of Applied Engineering OR

Invention & Innovation: First Focus

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Robotics 1 (Robotics Engineering)

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Robotics 2 and 3

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Engineering

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3D CAD

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Biotechnology

ENGINEERING

Digital Graphics & Animation 1

Digital Graphics & Animation 2

3D Modeling & Animation (DG3)*

Video Game Design

Video Production for Social Media

Film Production

Advanced Film Production

Advanced Film Portfolio

Practicum in Film Production

Architecture and Interior Design

Fashion Design

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*This is the only course from this list that fulfills the Fine Arts credit.

ARTS / AUDIO VIDEO

Principles of Business, Marketing & Finance

Foundations of Business Communication and Technologies

Virtual Business

Business Law

Advertising

Accounting

**New** Principles of Real Estate

**New** AP Business and Personal

Finance

BUSINESS, MARKETING, FINANCE

Food Prep & Nutrition

Epicure Academy: Culinary Arts

Child Development

Teen Teaching I and II

(application required)

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HOSPITALITY & HUMAN SERVICES

Independent Study in English 1: AP Seminar

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Independent Study in English 2: AP Research

Creative Writing

Yearbook, Newspaper

Editorial Leadership

Photojournalism

Literary Magazine

Debate

Oral Interpretation

Public Speaking

OTHER ELECTIVES

AP European History

AP Comparative Government

History of Rock and Roll

AP Psychology

Psychology and Sociology

Model UN

Mentorship

Business Incubator (11^th grade only)

Business Accelerator (12^th grade only)

Peer Assistance for Students with Disabilities (application required, one semester only)

DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU!

TWO TOOLS TO FIND BALANCE

Time Management Form

Hours of Homework/Week Chart

FOUR-YEAR PLAN

Update your 4-year-plan (Career Plan) in Skyward. You will need an electronic device.

We will pull your course requests for next year from the Career Plan.

UPDATING OR BUILDING YOUR 4-YEAR-PLAN IN SKYWARD

Login to your Family Access account through the internet, not the app

At the top right click “View Full Screen” (so you can see all years)

On the left, select Career Plan

This is Skyward’s term for a Four-Year-Plan

UPDATING OR BUILDING YOUR 4-YEAR-PLAN IN SKYWARD

On the far right, you will see “Graduation Requirements.”

Items in red are missing from your four-year plan (Career Plan), which means you need to add them (or make a plan for when/where to take them).

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Please talk to your counselor if you think something doesn’t look right on this list. Email is best so we can look into the issue before we reply.

UPDATING OR BUILDING YOUR 4-YEAR-PLAN IN SKYWARD

Take a look at the courses you’ve taken in the past.

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Is anything missing?

• -Summer school
• -Correspondence
• -Dual credit

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If so, let your counselor know.

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UPDATING OR BUILDING YOUR 4-YEAR-PLAN IN SKYWARD

Look over the classes you have in your career plan for next year and beyond.

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You can change the grade level you take a course OR delete it completely by clicking the pencil/paper icon on that course.

Select “Remove Curriculum”

to delete

Select “Edit Grade Level”

to move your selection

to a different year

UPDATING OR BUILDING YOUR 4-YEAR-PLAN IN SKYWARD

Add courses for future years by clicking the + Add Curriculum button.

UPDATING OR BUILDING YOUR 4-YEAR-PLAN IN SKYWARD

Type the course number or keyword in the search bar on the lower right, select the course you’d like, then click “save.”

Be sure “no filter” is selected

LET’S PRACTICE … ADD LUNCH

1. Type either LU996 or the word lunch in the search box.

2. Select it and click Save.

UPDATING OR BUILDING YOUR 4-YEAR-PLAN IN SKYWARD

Continue to edit/add courses into all remaining years of high school to complete the four-year-plan.

• You will be able to make changes to this every year.

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Review your plan with your parents.

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Enter 3 alternate elective choices into this Google form:

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Alternate Elective Choices

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Signing off on your Career Plan

When you are sure it is final, sign off on it electronically.

• Click the tiny “Sign” link next to your name near the top left.

Ask your parent to log into their Skyward account and sign as well.

These signatures are required by State law.

Click here,

check the box that you agree

If you change your Career Plan after signing it, both you and your parent will need to re-sign it.

FRESHMEN & SOPHOMORES:

ALL STUDENTS:

Counselors will be meeting with you briefly through your English classes over the next few weeks to review your Career Plan and answer questions you may have.

We are here to help! If you need additional support, please reach out to your counselor. We are happy to meet with you.

JUNIORS:

If you need help or have questions, please don’t hesitate to ask us.

• Send an email
• Come by during lunch
• Come by before or after school

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We will be reviewing your course selections very carefully prior to your senior year starting!

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DEADLINE

You must have your entire Career Plan complete by

Friday, February 20, 2026.

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Your schedule for next year will be built

based on the courses you list for next year.

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Don’t forget to sign and

have your parent sign

from their own Skyward account.

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Additional Resources

Counseling website has extensive information and links to resources – ACC, correspondence courses, VOE, PE waivers, presentations, graduation requirements, and course selection

Counseling > Resources>Course Selection