1. Guide to selecting 9th grade Endorsement/Strand courses
For the school year

2. NISD GRADUATION PROGRAM WITH ENDORSEMENT
DISCIPLINE CREDITS
English 4
Math 4
Science 4
Soc.Studies 4*
Languages Other than English (L.O.T.E) 2
DISCIPLINE CREDITS
Physical Education/ PE Equivalent
Fine Arts 1
Communication Applications .5
Health .5
Electives 6

3. 9th Grade Course Selection
9th graders will only select 7 classes for their Freshman year.
Students must choose an ENDORSEMENT and a STRAND
An ENDORSEMENT is an area of focus designed to have a positive influence on future college and career plans The 5 ENDORSEMENTS are:
Arts and Humanities
Business and Industry
Public Service
STEM (science, technology, engineering, math)
Multidisciplinary

4. ARTS AND HUMANITIES Includes courses directly related to…
*social studies
*world languages (LOTE)
*English language arts
*fine arts (Art, Band, Choir, Dance, Orchestra, Theatre)

5. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY Includes courses directly related to …
*business management & administration
*information technology
*architecture & construction
*arts, audio/visual technology, & communications
*hospitality & tourism
*accounting, finance, marketing
*transportation, distribution, & logistics
*automotive technology
*agricultural, food, & natural resources
*manufacturing
*journalism or debate
*technology applications

6. PUBLIC SERVICE Includes courses directly related to… *health sciences
*human services (including cosmetology at Taft, Holmes & Jay)
*education & training
*JROTC
*law, public safety, corrections & security
(Brandeis only)

7. STEM Includes courses directly related to… *science
*technology (including computer science) *engineering
*math
*ALL STEM students must take Algebra II, Chemistry, and Physics

8. MULTIDISCIPLINARY *Four by Four (4x4) OR *AP and Dual *Combination
4 credits English including English IV
4 Math credits
4 Science credits
4 Social Studies credits OR
*AP and Dual
4 credits in Advanced Placement classes or Dual Credit selected from English, math, science, social studies, economics, LOTE, or fine arts
*Combination
Students take four advanced courses that prepare them to enter the workforce or postsecondary ed without remediation from within one endorsement area or among endorsement areas not in a coherent sequence.

9. Filling out the high school 4 Year Planning Guide - 7 classes
9th Grade - all students will take their 4 core subjects. You select if you want regular or pre Advance Placement.
English 1 (reg or preAP)
Math (Algebra 1 or Geometry)
Biology (reg or preAP)
World Geography (reg or preAP)
The last 3 courses are up to you! Make sure you select classes from the graduation requirements.

10. Last 3 courses
5. Endorsement Elective If you know your Endorsement, select the first level course from the STRAND you are following. (ex: Principles of Human Services or Principles of Business, Marketing & Finance, etc.)
6. PE/Equivalent
7.LOTE (Language other than English) OR Fine Arts
***If you are STEM or Multidisciplinary Endorsement, choose all 3 above to complete your 9th grade classes***

11. NISD High School Course Catalog
A description of all courses can be found in the NISD high school course catalog.
Visit,
Click on Quick Links
Select High School Course Catalog (English or Spanish version)

12. 4 Year Planning Guides - Parent Signature
The 4 year color sheet REQUIRES parent signature and must be returned to 8th grade ELA Teachers.
Please make sure your child has: Circled their Endorsement Written the Strand (from reverse side) Planned out the coherent sequence of classes for each year (9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th)

13. Additional Graduation Requirements
If your 8th grader will complete or has completed high school credit courses at Briscoe, be sure to fill in the chart at the bottom of the 4 year planning guide, with the course title and year completed.
EX: Algebra 1, Spanish 1 and/or Spanish 2, HS Art

14. Online Registration / ”Career Planner”
Once students have returned the 4 yr planning guide with parent signature, th graders will input their 9th grade course selection into the Career Planner on-line registration program, with the assistance of the Briscoe Counselors, in February.
Lastly, high school counselors will send home a copy of the 9th grade course selection for final parent review and opportunity to request changes.

15. Mrs. Navin, D - M Mrs. Clarke, N - Z
QUESTIONS???
Contact your student’s counselor for questions or assistance:
Mrs. Barrera, A - C
Mrs. Navin, D - M
Mrs. Clarke, N - Z