High School Success at Austin ISD
Success in middle and high school requires planning and lots of hard work. Students should choose their courses carefully, plan to work hard and become involved in extracurricular activities.
AISD offers students support throughout their high school careers, and has created the Secondary Course Selection Guide to help students and their families on the path to graduation success. The SCSG contains important information on how students can be successful in middle and high school. The guide highlights Austin ISD policies, rules and regulations that apply to secondary school students. It also provides detailed information about courses available at each level.
Download the PDF guide below:
Course Catalogs
2025-26
2024-25
2023-24
Graduation Plans
Austin ISD offers three high school graduation plans.
- Foundation High School Program
- FHSP plus endorsement
- FHSP plus endorsement plus Distinguished Level of Achievement
This third plan is the prescribed graduation program for all incoming ninth graders. As part of this plan, all incoming ninth graders must declare an endorsement.
Endorsements
Endorsements consist of a related series of courses that are grouped together by interest or skill set. The five endorsements AISD offers are:
- Arts and Humanities
- Business & Industry
- STEM
- Public Services
- Multidisciplinary Studies
Please note that while all five endorsements may be offered at a campus, not all college and career pathways may be available. All students must take required English, mathematics, science and social studies courses in the year they enter high school, and they must continue those courses annually until all requirements are met.
The FHSP + Endorsement + Distinguished Level of Achievement includes a 26-credit Foundation program
- English Language Arts (4 credits)
- English I
- English II
- English III
- Advanced English
- Mathematics (4 credits)
- Social Studies (3 credits)
- World Geography or World History
- US.. History
- Government (0.5 credits)
- Economics (0.5 credits)
- Science (4 credits)
- Biology
- Advanced Science from Group A
- 2 additional Advanced Science from Group B credits
- Language other than English (2 credits)
- Physical Education (1 credit; local credit)
- Health (0.5 credits)
- Fine Arts (1 credit)
- Electives (6.5 credits)
- Selection and completion of at least one available Endorsement from the following:
- Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
- Business & Industry
- Public Services
- Arts & Humanities
- Multidisciplinary Studies
- Performance Acknowledgments that note outstanding achievement
The additional credit may be selected from one full credit or a combination of two half credits from two different courses, subject to prerequisite requirements, from the following courses:
- Algebra II
- Precalculus
- Advanced Quantitative Reasoning
- Independent Study in Mathematics
- Discrete Mathematics for Problem Solving
- Algebraic Reasoning
- Statistics
- AP Statistics
- AP Calculus AB
- AP Calculus BC
- AP Computer Science A
- IB Computer Science Higher Level
- IB Mathematical Studies Standard Level
- IB Mathematics Standard Level
- IB Mathematics Higher Level
- IB Further Mathematics Higher Level
- Engineering Mathematics
- Statistics and Business Decision Making
- Mathematics for Medical Professionals
- Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science
- College Preparatory Math*
*After completion of all Foundations math requirements
Note: If Mathematical Models with Applications was completed prior to 09/01/2015, then the course is ineligible as a fourth math credit.
One credit must be selected from the following laboratory-based courses:
- Integrated Physics and Chemistry
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Principles of Technology
TEA states an AP or IB science course in accordance with §74.11(h) of this title:
- AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based
- IB Physics
The additional credit may be selected from one full credit or a combination of two half credits, subject to prerequisite requirements, from the following laboratory-based courses:
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Aquatic Science
- Astronomy
- Earth and Space Science
- Environmental Systems
- AP Biology
- AP Chemistry
- AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based
- AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based
- AP Physics C
- AP Environmental Science
- IB Biology
- IB Chemistry
- IB Physics
- IB Environmental Systems
- Advanced Animal Science
- Advanced Plant and Soil Science
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Medical Microbiology
- Pathophysiology
- Food Science
- Forensic Science
- Biotechnology I
- Biotechnology II
- Principles of Technology*
- Scientific Research and Design
- Engineering Design and Problem Solving
- Engineering Science (PLTW POE)
*One science credit may be earned for either Principles of Technology or Physics
Rank in Class
The purpose of the district’s class rank policy is to promote rigorous academic standards and readiness for college, career, and life in a globally competitive economy. Class ranking shall be used to determine district honors and awards and will be submitted to colleges. Class rank shall be determined by descending order of students’ weighted GPAs earned in courses that satisfy the students’ graduation plans in the following curriculum categories: • English/Language Arts; • Mathematics; • Science; • Social Studies; • Languages Other than English (LOTE up to two credits).
Understanding Your Student's Class Rank
GPA Calculation Definitions:Austin ISD uses a weighted 4.0 scale. Honors-level courses are given a higher grade point value.
Cumulative GPA (Weighted 4.0 Scale)
- Includes all high school courses taken for high school credit (cumulative).
- Honors level courses receive higher grade point value.
- Reported on student’s high school transcript.
- Reported on student’s report card.
- Called Weighted GPA in Naviance.
Unweighted GPA (4.0 Scale)
- Includes all high school courses taken for high school credit (cumulative).
- Honors level courses do not receive higher grade point value.
- Not reported on student’s high school transcript or report card.
- Called Cumulative GPA in Naviance.
Rank GPA (Weighted 4.0 Scale)
- Includes high school courses in the four course areas and foreign language that meet graduation requirements. See details below.
- Honors level courses receive higher grade point value.
- Ranked GPA is used in Top 10% Calculation.
- Reported on student’s report card (except for non-ranking high schools).
- Not listed in Naviance.
Class rank is a snapshot of a fluid process of adding to and updating the high school transcript. Semester averages may change as teachers’ gradebooks are updated, dual credits are added, and outside credits are completed. Even though transcripts are updated throughout the semester, once class rank is set for the semester, it remains unchanged until the next ranking period. AISD calculates class rank for students beginning the spring of their 10th grade year. Thereafter, students are ranked after the end of each semester. Current semester data is never used to calculate rank.
For more information regarding GPA policy, Class Rank, Regulation, and Exceptions, please refer to the Board Policy Manual.
Admission and Placement of New Students
Families and students are responsible for ensuring that the enrolling campus received the high school educational records for a student who is registering. Courses will be evaluated for transfer of credit. Award of credit is based on alignment with Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills.
A student entering the district from non-accredited public, private or parochial school, including home schools, shall be placed initially at the discretion of the principal, pending assessment appropriate to the student’s grade level, validation of credits, or results of credit-by-examination tests [FD (LOCAL)]. The student or the student's shall request credit validation at the time of registration. Please check with your campus registrar for more information.
