There is one graduation plan approved by the State of Texas and Wylie Independent School District. The State of Texas Foundation High School Program requires a total of 22 credits. Additionally, upon entering grade 9, each student will select one or more endorsement areas for an additional 4 credits. In Wylie ISD, every student is expected to earn 26 credits and graduate on the Foundation High School Program with an endorsement.

Note: Admission to a college or university is not based on the graduation but on the requirements for the particular college or university. College or university admission may also be based on grade point average, class rank, scores on college entrance exams, involvement in school and community activities, and/or other criteria deemed relevant by the university admission policy.

ENDORSEMENTS

STATE ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS  

STATE OF TEXAS ASSESSMENT OF ACADEMIC READINESS (STAAR)

Beginning with students who first enroll in ninth grade in the 2011-12 school year, the State of Texas will replace the TAKS testing requirement with State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness End of Course (STAAR EOC) testing.  Students must pass five STAAR EOC assessments to graduate from high school:

• Algebra I
• Biology
• English I
• English II
• U.S. History

EARLY GRADUATES

With credit requirements for graduation, it is rarely possible for a student to graduate in three years. In extenuating circumstances students wishing to graduate early must request permission from the campus administrator and consult with the counselor. Students who graduate early will follow the graduation plan for the year they entered high school but will be ranked with the graduating class.  Students in Wylie ISD will not graduate early on the minimum/foundation only graduation plan.  

COURSES THAT FULFILL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

AWARDING CREDIT

Beginning in the Fall of 2009 for all students:

1. Students will receive credit at the end of each semester for each course regardless if the course is a semester course or a full year course (comprised of two semesters.) For full year courses, the two semester course averages can be averaged together to earn the full credit (1.0) under the following procedures:
1. The two semesters are averaged together
   

   AND

2. The average of the two semester courses is 70% or greater.

   Sample One:
   Fall semester: English I (a) grade earned — 67%
   Spring semester: English I (b) grade earned — 75%
   Student will earn a 1.0 credit for English 1

2. A student may attend summer school immediately following the academic year and re-take a semester of the full year course with permission of the principal and his/her designee. If the semester grade for the summer school class and the corresponding course grade for the semester taken during the school year is 70% when averaged, the student will receive the full credit for both semesters.

   Sample Two:
   Fall semester 2009: English I (a) grade earned — 67%
   Spring semester 2010: English I (b) grade earned — 66%
   Student takes English I (b) in summer school in summer 2010, and earns a 78%.
   Student will earn a 1.0 credit for English 1. (average of English I (a) grade earned - 67% and English I (b) 78% from summer school for an average of 72.5%)

3. Students who take semester one in a Pre-Advanced Placement or Advanced Placement course and the second semester of the same course in regular setting will earn the credit and the appropriate GPA ranking points, if applicable, per each semester.

   Sample Three:
   Fall Semester: Pre Advanced Placement Biology I — Advanced grade points earned to correspond with the student’s grade
   Spring Semester: Biology I — Regular grade points earned to correspond with the student’s grade

DISTINGUISHED LEVEL OF ACHIEVEMENT*

Students may earn a distinguished level of achievement by successfully completing the curriculum requirements for the Foundation High School Program and the curriculum requirements for at least one endorsement required by the Texas Education Code (TEC), §28.025(b-15), including four credits in science and four credit is mathematics to include Algebra II.

*Distinguished level of achievement is necessary to be eligible for the top 10% automatic college admission outlined in TEC §51.803.

PERFORMANCE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Students may earn performance acknowledgements on their diploma and transcript for outstanding performance in dual credit courses, in bilingualism and biliteracy, on a College Board Advanced Placement test or International Baccalaureate examination, on the PSAT, the ACT-PLAN, the SAT, the ACT, or for earning a nationally or internationally recognized business or industry certification or license. Please consult your counselor for more information about the required coursework and scores necessary to receive a performance acknowledgement.

STUDENT CLASSIFICATION

Students will be classified according to the number of credits earned:

• Freshmen: 0 to 5.5 credits earned
• Sophomore: 6.0 to 11.5 credits earned
• Junior: 12.0 to 17.5 credits earned
• Senior: 18.0 or more credits earned

STUDENT COURSE LOAD

Requirements for course enrollment are:

•  9th Grade - All students must be on campus seven academic periods per day

•  10th Grade - All students must be on campus seven academic periods per day

•  11th Grade – Students qualify for a release period if they have: 
  • Attended high school for at least 3 years
  • Met requirements for Biology, Algebra, ELA I, and ELA II EOC tests (Met standard or ARD exempt)
  • Completed at least 14 credits by August
    
    
• 12th Grade – Students qualify for a release period if they have met the above criteria, as well as:
  • Completed at least 20 credits by August
    
    
• 12th Grade – Students qualify for 2 release periods if they have met the above criteria, as well as:
  • Completed at least 21 credits by August
    
    
• All students must take the required coursework to be considered a full-time student. Off-Campus PE classes do not count towards full-time student status.  Students must be in class with an instructor at least 4 hours daily to be considered a full-time student.