“Our mission is to know every student by name and need.” To Students and Families: This Academic Guide & Course Catalog has been developed to provide important information for students. It will assist students and families in making wise, informed decisions concerning programs and course choices throughout your high school years. The goal of Frisco Independent School District is to prepare students as thoroughly as possible for the next phase of their lives. This guide contains important information to help direct the student in making informed decisions throughout high school: ■ Section I: Academic Guide contains information on grade classifications, graduation programs, class rank, academic programming, transcripts, and other academic topics. ■ Section II: Course Catalog lists the courses that our high schools generally make available to students. However, it should be noted that not all of the courses listed are offered every year at every high school. Sufficient numbers of student requests for specific courses, staffing, and other factors impact whether or not a course is scheduled. All course offerings are subject to change. Please refer to the counseling office at your respective high school for more detailed information during the course selection process. Your school counselors and other campus staff provide invaluable insight and guidance in your decision-making processes. The Academic Guide is a general reference guide only and should not be considered comprehensive. Please be aware that it is not a complete statement of all policies, procedures, or rules that may be applicable in a given circumstance. If you or your child have questions about any of the material in this handbook, please contact your campus Administration. ■ Frisco Independent School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex or disability in providing education or providing access to benefits of education services, activities, and programs, including career and technology programs, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. ■ The Texas Education Agency and the Texas State Board of Education often update information, especially in the areas of assessment, accountability, and graduation plans. The information in this guide is accurate as of the time it went to print. This document is updated as information becomes available. This guide is intended as a reference and does not replace policy. Any extenuating circumstances are determined at the discretion of the principal. Table of Contents Click any item on the table of contents to navigate to it Section I: Academic Guide 8 Graduation Programs and Requirements 9 Foundation High School Program and Endorsements 9 Distinguished Level of Achievement (DLA) (26 credits) 9 Foundation High School Program + Endorsement (26 credits) 10 Foundation High School Program (FHSP) (25 credits) 10 Early Graduation 10 Endorsement Pathways 11 ARTS & HUMANITIES ENDORSEMENT 11 BUSINESS & INDUSTRY ENDORSEMENT 12 MULTIDISCIPLINARY ENDORSEMENT 14 PUBLIC SERVICE ENDORSEMENT 14 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) ENDORSEMENT 15 Graduation Program Worksheet 17 Grading & Grade Point Average 18 Weighted GPA 18 GPA for Rank Excluded Courses 18 Optional GPA Exclusions (starting with the class of 2021) 19 Course Grade Weights 20 Valedictorian and Salutatorian Requirements 22 Honor Graduates 22 Transfer Students 22 Transfer Grades - Transcripts from within the United States 22 Transfer Grades - Transcripts from outside the United States 22 Credit for World Languages 23 Grading System 23 UIL Academic Eligibility 24 High School 24 Middle School 24 Philosophy of Assessment and Grading 25 Student Information 25 Classification of Students 25 Frisco ISD Academic Guide & Course Catalog Revised 1/8/2020 RETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 Minimum Course Enrollment 25 STAAR End of Course Exams (EOCs) 25 Career and Technical Education 27 Mission & Purpose of Career and Technical Education 27 The Career & Technical Education Center (CTEC) 27 CTE Courses and Dual and Articulated College Credit 27 CTE Courses and Science Credit 28 CTE Courses and Fine Arts Credit 28 CTE Courses and Math Credit 28 CTE Courses and Health Credit 28 Estimated Fees/Cost Associated with CTE Courses 29 Dual Credit Courses 31 General Information Regarding Dual Credit 31 List of Colllin College Dual Credit Courses Available (non-CTE courses) 32 Alternative Methods for Earning Credit 33 Distance Learning & Correspondence for Original Credit 33 Credit Recovery 34 Credit Through Testing 35 GENERAL INFORMATION 37 Changing Class Schedules 37 Community Service Program 37 Course Enrollment - Grade Level Requirements and Prerequisites 38 Late Arrival or Early Release 38 Special Education 38 College Information 39 Official Transcripts 39 Automatic Admission in Texas: ”Top 10% Program” (Excluding University of Texas at Austin*) 39 TSI 39 TEXAS Grant 40 FAFSA 40 ACT and SAT 40 PSAT/NMSQT 40 Free SAT and ACT Prep: 40 Advanced Placement and Gifted and Talented 41 AP® Exam Dates 41 Frisco ISD Academic Guide & Course Catalog Revised 1/8/2020 RETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 PRE-AP and Advanced Placement Program 41 Pre-AP and AP® courses offered at FISD High Schools*: 42 Gifted and Talented Services 42 International Baccalaureate (IB) 42 Additional Student Fees by Course 43 Section 2: Course Catalog 44 Using the Course Catalog: 45 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Credit Options 45 Prerequisites and Grade Levels 45 Committee Recommendation Courses 45 English Language Arts Courses 46 1st English Credit Options 46 2nd English Credit Options 47 3rd English Credit Options 48 4th English Credit Options 49 Collin College Dual Credit English Credit Options (3rd and 4th English Credit) 50 English Electives and Support Courses for English Skills 51 Debate and Competitive Speech Courses 52 Journalism and Broadcast Courses 53 Mathematics Courses 56 1st Math Credit Options (8th grade Math Prerequisite) 57 2nd Math Credit Options (Algebra I Prerequisite) 57 3rd Math Credit Options 58 4th Math Credit and Beyond Options (including Collin College Dual Credit Math Options) 58 Algebra II Prerequisite 59 Advanced Math Course Options 60 Math Supplemental Course 61 Science Courses 62 1st Science Credit Courses 62 2nd Science Credit Courses 62 3rd Science Credit Courses (Most Commonly) 63 4th Science Credits and Additional Science Electives 63 Science + CTE Credit Courses 63 AP Science Courses 65 Collin College Dual Credit Science Courses 66 Frisco ISD Academic Guide & Course Catalog Revised 1/8/2020 RETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS 5 Other Science Electives 67 Social Studies Courses 69 1st Social Studies Credit Options 69 2nd Social Studies Credit Options 69 3rd Social Studies Credit Options 70 4th Social Studies Credit Options 71 Social Studies Electives 73 Advanced Placement Social Studies Electives 73 Collin College Dual Credit Social Studies Electives 73 Other Social Studies Electives 74 AP Capstone Program 75 Fine Arts Courses 76 Art 76 Music 79 Theatre Arts 80 Dance 82 World Languages 84 Health and Physical Education Courses 88 PE Credit 88 PE Credit 1/2 credit 88 PE Credit - 1.0 89 Health and Athletic Trainer Courses 90 Other Elective Courses 91 Independent Study and Mentorship Program 93 Competitive Sports Information 94 Transition Courses 94 Career & Technical Education Course Offerings 98 PROGRAMS OF STUDY IN CTE 98 Agriculture, Food & Natural Sciences 101 Animal Science 101 Floral Design / Landscape 103 Agriculture Mechanics 104 Architecture & Construction 106 Arts, A/V Technology & Communication 107 Animation 107 Frisco ISD Academic Guide & Course Catalog Revised 1/8/2020 RETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS 6 Audio & Video Production 109 Graphic Design & Illustration 109 Fashion Design 111 Business, Management & Administration 111 Education & Training 112 Finance 114 Government & Public Administration 116 Health Science 117 Medical Terminology - (1 credit) 117 Hospitality and Tourism 120 Human Services 122 Information Technology 123 Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security 127 Manufacturing 127 Marketing, Sales & Services 128 Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics 131 Dual Credit CTE through Collin College 133 Health Science Collin College Dual Credit Program 133 Health Science Online Concurrent Credit Courses (Collin College) 135 Collin College Dual Credit Electives 137 Options for Speech and Technology Credit 138 Speech Credit 138 Technology Credit 138 Frisco ISD Academic Guide & Course Catalog Revised 1/8/2020 RETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS 7 Section I: Academic Guide Frisco ISD Academic Guide & Course Catalog Revised 1/8/2020 RETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS 8 Graduation Programs and Requirements Foundation High School Program and Endorsements House Bill 5 was signed into law in the summer of 2013 and applies to all students entering high school during the 2014-15 school year and thereafter. House Bill 5 established a single graduation program, the Foundation High School Program (FHSP). Students will also have the opportunity to build on the FHSP by earning Endorsements, Performance Acknowledgements, and a Distinguished Level of Achievement. Students will need to declare their preferred endorsement area, in writing, by the beginning of their 9th grade year. Students have opportunities to change endorsement areas during the time of course selection every year; see counselor for