Go beyond and take more than the basics when it comes to your high school classes.   

Most high school students in Texas will be following the  Foundation High School Program plan. An alternative high school plan can lead to more advantages. By taking the Distinguished Level of Achievement plan, which requires a few more classes than what is required for graduation, you can gain these added benefits. Ask your counselor for more information on this plan or check out the Glossary page. 

Why the Distinguished Level of Achievement plan Matters: 

• Allows you to compete for Top 10% automatic admission to any Texas Public University

• Increases your chances of getting Texas Grants to help pay for college

• Makes you a more competitive applicant to colleges 

• You're more likely to begin taking classes related to your study of interest

Take Advanced Placement Classes or Dual Credit to save money and time in College. 

Taking AP Classes and passing the AP Exam with a score of 3 or higher may help high school students to get college credit from classes they took during high school. These tests do come with a fee, but there are ways to get financial aid to pay for the exam fees. Another way of saving money and time is to take dual credit classes during high school that is offered by community colleges. Make sure to talk to your guidance counselor to find out what requirements are needed for acceptance into these classes and if they're offered in your school. 

Pass the end of the Year Exams

Here in Texas, the STAAR tests are required tests given at the end of a high school course. To earn their diploma for High School, students must pass 5 end of the year exams. These tests are usually given for English I and English II, Biology, Algebra I, and U.S. History Courses. 

Participate in Extracurricular Activities

Here are some added benefits to being involved in Extracurricular Activities: 

• Students that do extracurriculars are actually at a higher chance of making better grades. 

 Did you know? Doing activities that you enjoy helps you concentrate and develop time management skills, leading to better school performance. 

• Being involved in sports and clubs is a great way to discover and develop your talents and build friendships and your network. 

• You also learn to build skills such as time management, team building, and prioritization. Since most activities have a regular schedule, it also shows that students have taken the initiative into being involved. 

• For those that may not have a lot of work experience yet, involvement in extracurricular activities in your resume is a way for hiring managers to see the skills that you have. 

• Universities often love to see that you are involved, made a difference, and excelled in areas other than school.

When Choosing a School: Do your Research

There’s a lot of things to consider when looking at colleges to attend, but in the end, your choice in school should show what is important to you. 

Here’s a list of things you may want to look at while searching for a college: 

 Type of School, Cost, Commuting, Campus and Housing, Majors and Degrees offered, How many teachers per student,  Sports and Activities, Academic Credit, Additional Support Program, and Diversity in the student body,  and a whole lot more.

CAREER READINESS

Even as a High schoolers, it’s not too early to begin researching what jobs you may be interested in. Check out some of the links on our resource page where you can get job suggestions based on your interest as well as information on the top leaders of your field of interest. A few other topics to look at while job hunting includes the job’s annual growth rate, the number of openings in Texas, and what type of education you might need to get hired. Check out our resource page for career readiness tips. Remember, College is not the only choice for your future.