The Mesquite ISD

Graduation Plan
For students entering high school in
2014 and beyond

Foundation Plan with Endorsements

myFuture
My Path to Graduation and Beyond

The Mesquite ISD

Graduation
Plan
For Students
Entering High School
In 2014 and Beyond

The Foundation Program

24 credits
4 credits in English
3 credits in Math
3 credits in Science
3 credits in Social Studies
2 credits in LOTE
1 credit in PE
1 credit in Fine Arts
1 credit in Technology
.5 credit in Health
.5 credit in Speech
5 credits in electives

Endorsements
Students entering 9th grade must indicate their
endorsement in writing.

Students may change their endorsement area at any

time.
Students may graduate without an endorsement if
after the students sophomore year, a parent or
guardian gives written permission after meeting with a
school counselor to hear the benefits of the
endorsement program.

Endorsements
Minimum of 26 Credits
STEM (science, technology, engineering, math)
Business and Industry

Public Service
Arts and Humanities
Multidisciplinary
All endorsements require Algebra 2 and English IV.

Which Endorsement should I

Choose?
You should choose an endorsement that focuses on

courses and career paths that might interest you or where

you have a natural talent or strength.
Examples of STEM Career Paths:
Engineering, Meteorology, Atmospheric and Space

Scientist, Forensic Science Technician, Oceanographer,

Video Game Designer, Aerospace Engineer(think NASA)
and Geographer just to name a few

Which Endorsement should I

Choose?
Examples of career paths in Business and

Industry:
Architects, Construction Managers, Foreman
and Workers, Business Management,
Accountant, Chef, Restaurant Manager/Owner,
Hotel Management, Travel Agent, Computer
Programmer, Network Specialist, Website
Designer, Advertising, Welding, Automotive
Mechanic and Collision Repair

Which Endorsement should I

Choose?
Examples of Public Services Career

Paths:
Medical Professions, Teachers,
Counselors, Hair Stylist, Manicurist,
EMT and Police Officer

Which Endorsement should I

Choose?
Examples of Arts and Humanities Career

Paths:
Musicians, Band Directors, English
Teachers, Writers, Artists, Designers,
Dancers, Actors/Actresses, Singers and
Song Writers, Historians, History
Teachers, Sociologists and Psychologists

Coherent Sequence
Each Coherent Sequence is 4-5 credits depending on the

area.
A Coherent Sequence is a set of classes taken in a specific

order:
Example: In the STEM Endorsement you could take a

coherent sequence of CTE courses:

Engineering, Design and Presentation 1 (1 credit)

Engineering, Design and Presentation 2( 2 credits)

Engineering Math (1 credit)

Coherent Sequence
Students can also take a sequence of upper level academic

courses:

Example: In the STEM Endorsement you could

take a coherent sequence of Math or Science

Courses: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, AP
Physics and AP Chemistry
Example: Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, PreCalculus and AP Calculus

Choosing Classes
As you begin considering which endorsement you will

choose:
Look in your course description guide
Look at all of the career clusters in the CTE Section
Look at the advanced core academic classes

Make a list of the classes that fall under the endorsements

that interest you and learn more about those classes

The Endorsement Program

Minimum 26 credits
4 credits in English including English IV
4 credits in Math including Algebra 2
4 credits in Science
3 credits in Social Studies
2 credits in LOTE (language other than English)
1 credit in PE
1 credit in Fine Arts
1 credit in Technology
.5 credit in Health
.5 credit in Speech
5 credits in electives or Endorsement areas

STEM
Completion of the FHSP including Algebra 2,
chemistry, physics
A coherent sequence of courses for 4 credits in one
of the following:
CTE
Combination: a coherent sequence of 3 or more credits
from one or two of the disciplines within the STEM
endorsement
*Principles of Technology can be taken in place of Physics

5 total credits in Math or Science

Math Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2 and 2 additional

courses for which Algebra 2 is a prerequisite
Science 5 total Credits including Chemistry and Physics

Business and Industry

Completion of the FHSP including Algebra 2, plus one
advanced math and one advanced science
Completion of one or more of the following:
4 or more credits in CTE
4 English elective credits
A coherent sequence of 4 credits from the
disciplines within the endorsement

Business and Industry

CTE Career Clusters
Architecture and Construction
Arts, Audio/Video Technology and Communication
Business Management and Administration
Finance
Hospitality and Tourism
Information Technology
Manufacturing
Marketing
Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics

Public Service Endorsement

Completion of the FHSP including Algebra 2, plus one
advanced math and one advanced science
Completion of one or more of the following:
4 or more credits in CTE
Education and Training
Human Services
Law, Public Safety, Corrections, Security
Health Science
4 courses in JROTC

Arts and Humanities

Completion of the FHSP - plus a fourth math credit
and science credit:

Algebra II must be included in the 4 math credits

The fourth science credit must be an advanced science
course

The fourth science may be substituted with a course

(with written parent permission) in:
English Language Arts
LOTE
Fine Arts
Social Studies

Arts and Humanities

One of the following:
5 Social Studies credits
4 levels of the same LOTE
2 levels of LOTE plus two levels of another LOTE
4 credits in Fine Arts
4 ELA elective credits from an approved list

Multidisciplinary
Completion of the FHSP including Algebra 2, plus one
advanced math and one advanced science
Completion of one of the following:
4 advanced courses, from an approved list, that
prepare a student to enter the workforce or
postsecondary education without remediation
4 advanced credits in each of the 4 core subject areas
that include English IV, chemistry, and/or physics
4 AP or dual credit classes from ELA, math, science,
social studies, economics, LOTE or Fine Arts

Distinguished Level of
Achievement
Successful completion of the Foundation Program
Successful completion of one or more endorsements

Successful completion of 4 math credits (including

Algebra 2)
Successful completion of 4 science credits.
*A student must earn distinguished level of achievement to be
eligible for top 10% automatic admission to a Texas university.

Performance Acknowledgments
Dual Credit
12 hours of college classes with a grade point
average of 3.0 or higher or
An associate degree while in high school

Performance Acknowledgments
Bilingualism and Bi-literacy
Complete ELA requirements with an 80 or
above and one of the following:
3 credits in the same LOTE (80+ grade)
Level 4 or above in LOTE (80+ grade)
AP score of 3 or more in a LOTE class
*If student is an English Language Learner(ELL)must be exited
from bilingual or ESL program and must have scored advanced high
on TELPAS

Performance Acknowledgments
PSAT, SAT, ACT
PSAT: commended or higher or in the National
Hispanic Recognition Program or National
Achievement Scholarship Program
SAT: 1250 combined reading/math
ACT: 28 combined score or college readiness
benchmark score on 2 or 4 ACT subject tests

Performance Acknowledgments
Advanced Placement
Earn a 3 or better on an AP test

Performance Acknowledgments
Business or Industry
Certificate/License
Performance on an exam sufficient to obtain a
nationally recognized business certificate or a
government-required credential to practice a
profession

The Mesquite ISD

Graduation
Plan

myFuture