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Graduation Requirements

The courses within each discipline must adhere to the criteria as approved by the Texas Education Agency.

Recommended High School Program (RHSP)

  • English Language Arts: 4 Credits
  • Mathematics*2: 3 Credits
  • Science*3: 3 Credits
  • Social Studies: 4 Credits
  • Physical Education*4: 1.5 Credits
  • Health: .5 Credits
  • Speech: .5 Credits
  • Technology Applications*5: 1 Credit
  • Other Languages*6: 2 Credits
  • Fine Arts: 1 Credit
  • Social Studies/Science: 0 Credit
  • Electives*7: 3.5+ Credits
  • Total: 24 Credits

Distinguished Achievement Program (DAP)*1

  • English Language Arts: 4 Credits
  • Mathematics*2: 3 Credits
  • Science*3: 3 Credits
  • Social Studies: 4 Credits
  • Physical Education*4: 1.5 Credits
  • Health: .5 Credits
  • Speech: .5 Credits
  • Technology Applications*5: 1 Credit
  • Other Languages*6: 3 Credits
  • Fine Arts: 1 Credit
  • Social Studies/Science: 0 Credit
  • Electives*7: 2.5+ Credits
  • Total: 24 Credits

**Local credits do not count toward the 24 state credits required for graduation**

*1 The Distinguished Achievement Program (DAP) recognizes students who demonstrate levels of performance equivalent to those of college students or work done by professionals in the areas of art, science, business, industry, or community service. Students must complete the RHSP requirements with an additional foreign language credit and receive a combination of four advanced measures.

*2 Courses for the RHSP must be selected from Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and/or higher level mathematics. If Algebra I has been satisfactorily completed in grade eight, one state credit will be awarded.

*3 Courses for the RHSP must be selected from Integrated Physics/Chemestry, Biology, Chemestry, Physics, Anatomy, and/or higher-level science courses.

*4 No more than two credits in P.E. may be earned toward state graduation requirements. Students may take Marching Band, Drill Team, or two-three credit vocational programs, in place of P.E. Only the fall term of Marching Band or Drill Team may be counted toward the 1.5 credits of P.E. required for graduation. Competitive athletics may be taken for two credits. Courses beyond that may receive local credit; however, local credits do not count toward the 24 state credits required for graduation

*5 One unit of credit may be selected from the following courses to satisfy this requirement:
Technology Applications (Ch.126): Computer Science I and II, Desktop Publishing, Digital Graphics/Animation, Multimedia, Video Technology, Web Mastering, Independent Study in Technoloy Application.
Business Education (Ch.120): Business Computer Information Systems I and II, Business Computer Programming, Telecommunications and Networking, Business Image Management and Multimedia.
Technology Education: Technology Systems, Computer Applications, Communication Graphics, Computer Media and Animation Technology.

*6 Three credits of the same language are required for the DAP, but only two credits of the same language are required for the RHSP. Students who succesfully complete Level 1 of a foreign language in grade seven and Level 2 in grade eight will be awarded one state credit for foreign language. This credit will count toward the 24 credits needed for graduation.

*7 Any course taken for credit that is not required for graduation is an elective. Three and one-half or more credits for the RHSP and two and one-half credits or more for the DAP must be selected from one of three options: Option 1 includes additional higher level math, science, Option 2 includes a coherent sequence of courses for career and technology preparation, and Option 3 includes additional courses in any of the core areas.