1. Understanding the New High School Graduation Plan With Endorsements
From a Titan to a Falcon
For 8th Grade Students Transitioning Into 9th Grade at Tompkins High School

2. The personal graduation plan (PGP)
The Personal Graduation Plan (PGP) is just that… It’s PERSONAL!
What are your interests?
What are your goals?
The FHSP allows flexibility and choices, so you are able to choose the course of study that best fits you!
The PGP should be tailored to YOUR interests and goals. Consider things you are good at and things that you like.
You will use the PGP to map out your course of study. Don’t worry, if you change your mind along the way, you can make changes.

3. The FHSP + Endorsement Course/credit requirements
English – 4 credits
English I, II, III, and an additional English
Math – 3 credits
Algebra I, Geometry, and an additional math
Science – 3 credits
Biology, and one course from IPC, or Chemistry, or Physics, and one additional science
Social Studies – 3 credits
US History, government (.5 credit), economics (.5 credit), and either World History or World Geography
LOTE – 2 credits
Credits must be in the same language
Fine Arts – 1 credit
Physical Education – 1 credit
Health – .5 credit (KISD requirement)
Electives – 4.5 credits, including
A communication skills component
+ Endorsement (4 additional credits)
Students are expected to earn an endorsement
in one of 5 areas. Each endorsement requires:
a 4th math credit
a 4th science credit
2 additional electives
The foundation requires 22 credits from the areas of English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Languages Other Than English, Fine Arts, PE and Electives. The endorsement is built on top of the foundation. An endorsement requires an additional 4 credits, bringing the total number of credits required to 26. .

4. Planning Your Foundation: English Language Arts
Four credits of English are required, including
English I
English II
English III
A fourth English credit
Choose an English class for each year in high school. In addition to English IV, several other courses can satisfy the fourth English credit. These courses are listed at the top of the PGP.
Courses that satisfy the additional English credit are listed at the top of the Personal Graduation Plan

5. Planning Your Foundation: MATH
The Foundation requires 3 Math credits, and a fourth Math credit is required for the FHSP + Endorsement. The credits must include
Algebra I
Geometry
A third Math credit
A fourth Math credit
Three math credits are required for the Foundation, but since the endorsement requires four, go ahead and choose a math course for each year in high school. Math courses that satisfy the third and fourth math requirements are listed at the top of the PGP. Remember that Algebra II is required for earning the distinguished level of achievement.
Courses that satisfy the additional Math credits are listed at the top of the Personal Graduation Plan

6. Planning Your Foundation: science
The Foundation requires 3 Science credits, and a fourth Science credit is required for the FHSP + Endorsement. The credits must include
Biology
IPC, or Chemistry, or Physics
A third Science credit
A fourth Science credit
The Foundation requires three science credits, but since the endorsement requires a fourth. Biology is the 9th grade course, and all students must choose one course from IPC, Chemistry or Physics. The addition science courses are listed at the top of the PGP. Remember that if you are plan to attend a 4-year college, both Chemistry AND Physics are preferred.
Courses that satisfy the additional Science credits are listed at the top of the Personal Graduation Plan

7. Planning Your Foundation: SOCIAL STUDIES
Three Social Studies credits are required, including
World Geography or World History
US History
Government (.5 credit)
Economics (.5 credit)
World Geography is the 9th grade social studies option. World History is offered to students in 10th grade. You must choose at least one of these two courses, along with US History as the 11th grade course and Government and Economics for your senior year.

8. Planning Your Foundation: LOTE ∙ physical education ∙ fine art
Additional required credits include
Two LOTE credits
Must include Level 1 and Level 2 of the same Language Other Than English
One PE credit
One Fine Art credit
Choose levels one and two of one language other than English. These courses should be taken over consecutive years. You will also need to include one PE credit, one Fine Arts credit, and one-half credit of Health.
Courses that satisfy LOTE, PE and Fine Art credits are listed at the top of the Personal Graduation Plan

9. Planning Your Foundation: electives
Five elective credits are required for the Foundation. The selections must include
Health (.5 credit)
One course that meets a communication skills component.
Electives are courses beyond those that are required, so for now, the fourth math and fourth science, and if you plan to take both World Geography and World History, these will look like they are taking up elective spaces.
Health is required by Katy ISD, and you must have a communication skills component. Courses that satisfy this component are listed at the top of the PGP.
Courses that satisfy the Communication Skills component are listed at the top of the Personal Graduation Plan

10. Planning your Foundation
Here is an example of how your PGP should look for right now. The courses should add up to a total of 22 credits. If you are planning to take any high school credit courses in junior high, those courses should be listed in the spaces under Junior High.