SFHS Education Planning Guide

Planning is necessary to ensure desired outcomes for college and career readiness. Santa Fe High School offers a wide range of programs that prepare students for post-secondary school experiences: college, technical school, military service, full-time employment, and other areas. These plans begin in 8th grade, and it is important to continually work with Counselors throughout high school.

Outlined on the following pages are the graduation requirements for each of the state’s graduation programs (Foundation, Foundation with Endorsement, and Distinguished Level of Achievement (DLA) with Endorsement). It is the responsibility of the students and parents to ensure that all graduation requirements are met.

Course Selection

Your future interests and abilities will guide the courses you select. Students select courses in the Spring semester prior to the next school year by meeting individually with professional school counselors and discussing personal graduation plans. Students will have multiple opportunities to verify requested courses in the Spring semester. Students who do not complete the course selection process by the deadline will have their schedules pre-determined for them by their counselor. For students with disabilities, special education courses are determined by the Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) Committee. Students’ schedules MUST coincide with ARD recommendations.

Students wishing to select Advanced Placement Classes (AP) need to refer to the Advanced Placement section of the Educational Planning Guide. Students will also need to review and sign the contract. See Counselor or appendix

Course Schedule Changes

Schedule changes will not be made on the first day of school due to state attendance requirements. Schedule changes will be granted based on the following requirements. The requested change is due to graduation requirements, the change does not interfere with the student finishing a Program of Study, the correct prerequisites have already been met, and there is room in the class. Class numbers will not be overloaded due to a schedule change request. It is important for students and parents to plan well in the spring semester to ensure the student has the classes they want and need. Advanced class changes will be required to follow the schedule change timelines and expectations described in the Advanced Academic Contract.

Online College and Career Resources

Students will be given a career interest inventory during their 8th-grade and 9th-grade years. Students are advised to create a career interest profile to assist in selecting their program of study. The following links can help students complete a career interest profile and find information regarding job tasks, educational requirements, prospective salaries, and employment outlooks for hundreds of occupations:

• Career One Stop - careeronestop.org • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook - https://www.bls.gov/ooh/ 3
• Texas Career Check - texascareercheck.com
• Texas Reality Check - texasrealitycheck.com

Diplomas

The transcript, rather than the diploma, records individual accomplishments, achievements, and course completion. It also displays class rank and unweighted GPA.

Top 10 Percent Rule for College Admission

This is an Automatic Admissions rule for many, but not all, public universities in Texas, and no longer a scholarship program. You may qualify if you meet the requirements by graduating in the Top 10% of your class at a recognized public or private high school in Texas or a high school operated by the U.S. Department of Defense and be a Texas resident or eligible to pay resident tuition. This rule is often modified for The University of Texas at Austin; see UT Austin website under Admissions for the most recent information.

Description of Performance Acknowledgment & Distinguished Level of Achievement

Performance Acknowledgments and Distinguished Levels of Achievement note outstanding achievement in specific areas for students pursuing the foundations with an endorsement graduation plan. These distinctions will be included on the student’s high school transcript. A student may earn a performance acknowledgment for outstanding performance in the areas of

• Dual credit courses.  
• Bilingualism and Biliteracy.  
• College Board Advanced Placement (AP) exams.  
• PSAT, ACT, SAT, or ACT performance; or  
• Nationally or Internationally Recognized Business or Industry Certification or License 

CTE Industry-Based Certification Recommendation & Program of Study

Santa Fe HS believes that all students should graduate college and be career ready. Therefore, we require that all students earn a Program of Study connected to an Industry-based Certification. These certifications can help students obtain higher-paying jobs while they pursue their post-secondary goals. The following certifications are offered to all students based on their Program of Study:

Earning College Credit while in HS

SFISD provides multiple opportunities to acquire college credit while in high school. Credit may be obtained through College Board-approved Advanced Placement examinations, dual credit courses through the College of the Mainland or other dual credit options. In all situations, students must verify how credits will be applied to both their high school transcript and their college transcript.

All these programs are more thoroughly explained in the “Dual Credit Section” of this planning guide. Students are responsible for meeting college requirements and timelines as well as SFISD requirements and timelines. We recommend students interested in earning college credit while in high school meet with their counselor early.

Credit by Exam

Credit by Exam is offered to accelerate a student’s learning or recovery of lost credit. These options can be included in planning for high school and are discussed in length in the Credit Validation section of this planning guide which is located on our website under the Curriculum & Instruction tab on our district website, and our Student Handbook.

World Language (LOTE) Substitutes The state requires that all students gain 2 credits in the same language. SFHS offers a traditional language option of Spanish. In addition to the traditional offering, students may use Computer Science courses to complete this requirement. These courses are also offered as an entire program of study. Students should plan which language they would prefer early as it will take two years to complete.

Students may also use the CLEP test, AP tests, and AAPPL test to satisfy the foreign language requirement. See your counselor and the Credit by Exam section of the district website.

Additional Requirements:

• ACT Scores: English & Math Score of 19 and a composite of 23
• SAT Scores: EBRW 480 & Math 530
• TSIA Test Scores: Math 950; ELAR 945; Essay 5
• Completion of College Bridge program in Math and ELA of 90 or higher
• Advanced Placement Examination of 3+
  • Industry-based Certification with the completion of an aligned CTE Program of Study
• 9 hours of dual credit

The College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) component measures graduates’ preparedness for college, the workforce, or the military. For more information on the CCMR component.

Community Safety Education Act 9 Title 19 of the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) § 74.39 states that for all students who entered grade 9 in the 2018-2019 school year and thereafter, a district shall provide instruction to students on proper interaction with peace officers during traffic stops and other in-person encounters.

Financial Aid Requirement In accordance with the Texas Education Code (TEC), §28.0256, beginning with students enrolled in the 12th grade during the 2021-2022 school year, each student must do one of the following to graduate:

• Complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or
• Complete and submit a Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA); or
• Submit a signed opt-out form

Early Graduation Requirements—Application required Students who meet the entire state graduation requirement in not more than 36 or 41 months can be accelerated graduates. Santa Fe High School refers to these options as Three-Year Graduation [not more than 36 months] or January graduation [not more than 41 months]. In both instances, the student will be required to earn some of the required credits alternatively [outside the normal school day or during junior high]. The cost of the alternative credit[s] is the sole financial responsibility of the student and his/her family. See the section on Alternate Credit Options for more details.

         Early Graduation Application                      

Applications can also be found in the SFHS Counselor Office.

Because early graduation takes planning, it is imperative that students meet with their counselor to declare an early graduation plan in their Sophomore year. Only applications received on time will be approved.

Three-Year Graduation Plan: A student who is considering graduation in three years must meet with his/her counselor and complete the required application in the spring of his/her sophomore year. The application must be signed by a parent/guardian. The student pursuing this option must commit to earning alternative credits and be completed 30 days prior to the end of the spring semester of the third/Junior year. In addition to the course load, students must also meet CTE Program of Study Completion and College & Career Readiness standards as set forth by the state. In order to participate in the graduation ceremony, all graduation requirements must be met by graduation day. Students who do not complete the graduation requirements before the spring graduation commencement will still be considered a graduate of that class as long as the requirements are completed by the end of the summer. Students who apply to be a three-year graduate, but do not complete the graduation 10 requirements before the start of the fourth year will be required to return to school full-time during the fourth year.

December Graduate: A student who is considering completing graduation requirements in December of his/her senior year must meet with his/her counselor and complete a required application by the spring of his/her sophomore year. The application must be signed by a parent/guardian. The student pursuing this option must commit to earning alternative credits prior to their Senior year. In addition to the course load, students must also meet CTE Program of Study Completion and College & Career Readiness standards as set forth by the state. December graduates must have all graduation requirements met by the conclusion of the fall semester of their senior year. Failure to obtain the proper credits will result in the student being enrolled in all courses for their Senior year. If the student fails to meet all of the graduation course requirements by the end of the first semester of the fourth year, they must return to a full schedule in the spring semester. December graduates will participate in commencement ceremonies in the spring, along with the rest of their graduating class.

Once a student completes graduation requirements and officially graduates, the student is no longer considered an active student of Santa Fe ISD as of the graduation date. As a result, the student is not eligible to attend or participate in Santa Fe High School or Santa Fe ISD events in a student capacity after early graduation. The only exception to this policy is participation in the Graduation/Commencement Ceremony held in May, which early graduates are permitted to attend.

Activities Early Graduates Are Not Eligible to Participate In After early graduation, students may not participate in or attend the following activities as students, including but not limited to:

• Prom
• Senior Picnic or Sunset
• Senior Trips
• Senior Field Day or Senior Smack Down
• Panoramic Picture if it falls after graduation
• Senior Awards or Recognition Events
• CTE Certification Cord Ceremony
• Senior Serve
• Powder Puff
• Senior Walk
• Senior Check Out and Senior Grad Practice
• Athletic events or practices
• Pep rallies
• School dances
• Any on-campus or off-campus school-sponsored events restricted to enrolled students This policy ensures consistency with district enrollment status and supervision requirements. Families are encouraged to carefully consider these expectations when making decisions about early graduation.

Admission & Placement of New Students Students enrolling will have a counselor evaluate their transfer for credit. Awarding credit is based on alignment with Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills. A student entering the district from non-accredited public, private, or parochial schools, 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 LEGAL/LOCAL) . Students or parents should request credit validation at the time of registration. Please check with the campus registrar or counselor for more information.

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)

The following will NOT be calculated in the weighted or unweighted GPA:

• Correspondence courses [Texas Tech and UT online courses]
• Credit by examination
• Summer school courses
• Online courses
• Credit recovery
• Credits from non-accredited institutions
• Local credits
• Alternative physical education activities
• Any other means beyond the school day

Classification of Credits Students must earn the required number of credits to be classified at the next grade level. Students will be promoted or retained at the beginning of each school year. A fourth-year student who is classified as a junior will be reclassified after the first semester if he/she has the required number of credits to be classified as a senior. This allows students to participate in senior-level activities up to and including graduation if all of the state mandated requirements are met.

Grade Points Each semester course has a designated grade point level [GPA level] used to determine rank in class and grade point average [EIC Local]. Courses are designated as Advanced Placement [AP], Advanced [ADV], Dual Credit, or Regular courses. In order to achieve a maximum GPA of 6.0, grade points are weighted as follows:

 Grade points are awarded for the semester the grade was earned in each state-approved credit course. All semester grades earned by a student in high school are included in the non-weighted grade point average. However, only core subjects will be counted in the weighted GPA and class rank. These courses are listed below. Grades for courses in which credit was earned outside the regular school day or outside the regular school year shall not be included in the computation of a student’s GPA. Therefore, local credit classes and grades earned through alternate credit options [for example: summer school, correspondence courses, credit by exams] are not awarded grade points and are not included in grade point averaging or rank.

When calculating the student’s grade point average, the semester grade is used to determine the number of grade points awarded for each course. Grade points earned in courses taken in grades 8-12 are used to determine rank in the graduating class.

Courses that will be included in the weighted GPA and therefore class rank:

• All English, Math, Science, and History Courses
• All LOTE
• All AP Courses
• Dual Credit courses that have been cross walked to SF High School courses that receive a weighted GPA. Please see the yearly SFHS Crosswalk for Dual Credit and Collegiate HS courses.

Valedictorian/Salutatorian The valedictorian and salutatorian shall be the eligible students with the highest and second highest ranking, respectively. To be eligible for such recognition, a student must:

1. Have been continuously enrolled in Santa Fe High School for the four regular semesters immediately preceding graduation.

2. Be graduating after exactly eight semesters of enrollment in high school.

3. Have completed the foundation high school program with the Distinguished Level of Achievement.

The Highest-Ranking Graduate program provides a tuition waiver for the student graduating at the top of their high school class for their freshman year of college. The program is described in Texas Education Code §54.301

Honor Graduates (Class of 2026, 2027, & 2028) Honor graduates for the graduating class is determined in the student’s senior year at the completion of the first nine weeks of the second semester. To qualify as an honor graduate, students must meet the following requirements:

• On-track for completing the Foundation High School Plan with two endorsements and a Distinguished Level of Achievement.
• A weighted GPA of 3.7 or higher.
• On-track for completing the requirements for graduation in exactly eight semesters. 16
• Attended Santa Fe High School for the four semesters immediately preceding graduation.
• Not assigned DAEP or JJAEP during the two semesters preceding graduation.

Honor Graduates (Beginning with the Class of 2029) Honor graduates for the graduating class are determined in the student’s senior year at the completion of the first nine weeks of the second semester. The district shall recognize as an honor graduate each student who has

• Earned a class ranking in the top 15 percent.
• Been enrolled in the district for the four semesters immediately preceding graduation; and
• Not been assigned DAEP, CAP or JJAEP during the two semesters preceding graduation.

Class Rank Class ranking will be determined by using the 6.0 weighted grade point scale. Class ranking is determined by assigning weighted grade points to the semester grade of each state approved credit course on the student’s transcript within the core curriculum. All semester grades earned by a student in high school and grades transferred from an accredited high school are included in the class ranking. Local credit classes and grades earned through alternate credit options [for example: summer school, correspondence courses, credit by exams] are not awarded grade points and are not included in the class ranking. In case of ties in ranking, those students who are tied should be given the same ranking, one position below the next highest student. The student next directly below those tied should be given a rank determined by the total number of students whose average exceeds his.

Official class ranking is determined for the first time at the completion of the freshman year. It will be determined again at the end of the sophomore and junior years. For seniors, class ranking will be determined at the end of the first semester and again at the completion to the first nine weeks of the second semester [using the nine-week average in each applicable course]. The ranking determined at the completion of their first nine weeks of the second semester will be the final rank, determine graduation honors, and be recorded on the academic achievement record [transcript].

Credit Validation

Credit Validation from Accredited and Non-Accredited Schools Unless otherwise documented, courses transferred from other accredited school districts shall be considered regular classes. Transferred letter grades shall be converted to numerical grades according to the scale on page. Grades earned through dual credit reported as a letter grade from the college will be converted using the table below.

High school students who transfer from a non-accredited public, private, or parochial school, including home school and foreign schools may validate credits, which apply toward graduation. Note: These courses will appear on the transcript but will not be included in the GPA calculation. A grade of “P” [passing] will be awarded for each non accredited semester course upon validation. Students may not receive credit for home school courses taken concurrently while enrolled at a Santa Fe ISD school. In order to validate the credits, the student must choose one of the two options below and provide a transcript as well as a course syllabus for each course completed:

1. Pass exams selected by taking Credit by Examination through one of the approved entities, with a score of at least 70. Credit by Examination will be awarded in each individual subject area per semester [1/2] credit. The cost of the examination[s] is the student/parent’s responsibility. All Credit by Examination courses must be approved by a school administrator or counselor. A secondary student assessed by Credit by Examination will be given adequate time to prepare for the test, particularly if multiple subject examinations are required. Students should consult their counselor for more information regarding Credit-by-Examination for credit validation, district testing dates, etc.

2. Meet District and State curriculum requirements by successfully completing two [2] semesters of coursework according to the chart and requirements below:

Credit will be awarded upon validation of successful completion of the district sequential course with a grade of 70 or better. The sequential course is taken in a district school. Courses that are not offered by a district school will not be considered for validation purposes.

In courses that do not appear on the chart, students must use option one above. If a student chooses option two above and is not successful, he/she may still choose option one. Exception: Successful completion of the second semester of a district full-year course can be used to validate the first semester of the same full-year course.

NOTE: The guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete published by the NCAA states that “Courses completed through Credit by Exam may not be used” to meet core-course requirements.

Alternative Credit Options Santa Fe High School provides students with alternative methods of earning credit to complete graduation requirements. These alternative methods include summer school, correspondence courses, Credit by Examinations for Remediation, and Credit-by Examination for Acceleration.

The following options are available for students wishing to receive alternative credits:

College of the Mainland [COM] http://www.com.edu/

Texas Virtual School Network http://www.txvsn.org/

Region IV Online Learning http://www.esc4.net/onlinelearning4students

Any TEA Approved online virtual credit option—Check with your counselor

College credit may also be earned through concurrent enrollment with any of these options. The parent/student is financially responsible for all alternative credit. Accelerated courses cannot be taken through Santa Fe High School’s Credit Recovery program. Student-athletes who take online coursework may not meet core course requirements for NCAA eligibility. An audit of the course modules and the amount of time spent on each module may be subject to review by the NCAA Eligibility Center.

Credit By Examination Students interested in this option should visit with a counselor. Additional information can be obtained through the Curriculum and Instruction Department. The students have two options with Credit by Exam, with or without prior instruction. These two options are outlined below. However, the SFISD School Board has approved the following examinations for high school credit:

• Advanced Placement examinations.
• CLEP examinations.
• The University of Texas at Austin Credit by Exam.
• Texas Tech University Credit by Exam.
• ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL) Please see your counselor or the Curriculum and Instruction department for more information and guidance.

With Prior Instruction: Credit by Examination is available through the institutions listed above. A student may earn up to two credits [2.0] through credit by exam. Exceptions may be made by the appropriate counselor and/or administrator. A student is eligible to take a credit by exam if he/she has had prior instruction in the course but did not receive credit [for failure of course or denial of credit because of attendance]. Counselor and parent/guardian approval are required. The student and parent/guardian are responsible for the cost associated with taking credit by exam. Grades earned on exams [regardless of what the grade is] will be posted on the student’s academic achievement record [transcript] and are not computed in grade point averaging or class rank.

The student must meet with the counselor prior to ordering the exam. It is the student’s responsibility to set up an appointment with the counselor to take the exam at least six weeks before graduation.

Without Prior Instruction: Students are permitted to take a Credit by Examination for Acceleration for an academic course for which the students have had no prior instruction provided the exams are available from the institutions listed above. Examinations are administered in four testing windows throughout the year as determined by the district. [Refer to district website for specific dates]. Students should see their counselor to get more information and to register to ensure compliance with registration deadlines and test dates. Students must score an 80 or above in order to “place out of”/earn credit for a course. Grades of 80 or above earned on a Credit by Exam will be posted on the student’s academic achievement grade record [transcript] and are not computed in grade point 20 averaging or class rank. Students taking a credit by exam for a STAAR EOC course will be exempt from the test if they meet the above criteria.

Individual testing: Students may have the opportunity throughout the year to take a Credit by Examination without prior instruction at their own expense. A student may not take a Credit by Examination for a course on which he/she is currently enrolled or has received instruction. The results of the Credit by Examination must be received by the student’s counselor prior to the deadline for schedule change procedures. NOTE: The Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete published by the NCAA states that “Courses completed through Credit by Exam may not be used” to meet core course requirements. Please refer to the NCAA website for further information at: http://www.ncaapublications.com/productdownloads/CBSA.pdf

Summer School Santa Fe High School offers summer school in Santa Fe ISD. Students may earn remedial credit to meet graduation requirements. All summer school courses are offered/taught through a computer-based instructional program. Courses taken must earn a grade of 70 or higher to receive credit. Summer school courses do not earn grade points and do not count toward class rank. There is no semester average in summer school courses. Each semester grade earned stands alone no matter what grade is earned. Counselor approval is required prior to summer school registration. Registration for June summer school is typically held the week after the conclusion of the spring semester. Enrollment is limited to current Santa Fe ISD students. Attendance is required until the student completes the course with a grade of 70 or higher. Once a student begins a summer school course/session, no refunds will be granted. Regular school year discipline policy and dress code are in effect and expected to be followed during summer school. Payment for summer school programs is the responsibility of the parent/student. Students who receive Free/Reduced lunch may qualify for a reduction in fees. Credits earned in summer school will not be awarded until the summer school fees are paid in full.

Credit Recovery Santa Fe High School offers a computer-assisted credit recovery program for students that are lacking in credits. Through this program high school students may earn credits in classes that they have taken and failed. Credit Recovery Courses are not allowed for Initial Credit. Students who are interested in utilizing this option to recover credit should speak with his/her counselor. Counselors will review student transcripts to determine student eligibility in this program. Not all subjects are available in this computer-assisted format. Credit recovery courses taken as a graduation requirement will count toward academic UIL “No Pass/No Play” and maintain the same eligibility calendar provided by SFISD. All courses in progress will receive a “P” for passing or “F” for failing on each progress report and report card to indicate current progress and serve as notification from provider/teacher. These classes are typically limited to 10th – 12th graders who are behind in credits, unless there is an extenuating need determined by the student’s counselor. Student athletes who take credit recovery will not meet core course requirements for NCAA eligibility. For more information regarding student athletes and NCAA eligibility, please visit: https://www.ncaapublications.com/ . Accommodations for students with disabilities will follow the students’ IEP or 504 service plans when applicable.

Indian Success Academy Located in the Alternative Learning Center Santa Fe ISD’s Alternative Learning Center offers a credit recovery High School called Indian Success Academy. This Alternative High School is available for those students who need a non-traditional high school setting. With the approval of the ISA committee, Santa Fe HS students can be enrolled in this non-traditional high school and utilize ISA to recover credits and/or gain original credit.

Interested students should speak with their counselor. There is an application process. Counselors will be required to complete a transcript evaluation prior to the committee's decision. Items reviewed include but are not limited to cohort status, number of credits behind the cohort, student age, attendance, retention, and at-risk indicators. Other factors are taken into consideration, as there is limited space at ISA.

Santa Fe ISD, in conjunction with the College of the Mainland and other collegiate institutions, provide students with the opportunity to take dual credit courses. Dual credit courses are college courses that Santa Fe High School students may take to earn college hours and high school credit. Santa Fe ISD offers a 3 leveled program to help meet student needs and help them achieve their goals. Each of the 3 programs available will help students earn their high school diploma and get as close to “Core Complete” as they would like.

Students should know that dual credit courses provide advanced academic instruction beyond or in greater depth than the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills [TEKS]. Santa Fe High School will grant approval to a student to take a dual credit course if the student has completed his/her freshman year has enough credits to be classified as a sophomore and maintains a GPA of 3.0 or higher on their high school transcript and has passed the TSIA2 component necessary as the pre-qualification for the class. Students will be allowed to take courses without passing both the math and the reading. For example, if a student passes the reading portion but must retake the math, the student will be able to pursue English and History courses. Once the student passes math, they can take science and math dual credit. SFHS approval does not guarantee a student will be allowed to enroll in the college course, as the student must also meet the college’s standard admission requirements and minimum testing requirements.

Core Complete Every college and university is required by law (TAC Ch. Q, Subchapter 2, §61.822) to adopt a “core curriculum.” If a student successfully completes the core curriculum at the College of the Mainland or in conjunction with another institution, that block of courses may be transferred to any other institution of higher education and must be substituted for the receiving institution's core curriculum. A student shall receive academic credit for each of the courses transferred and may not be required to take additional core curriculum courses at the receiving institution unless the board has approved a larger core curriculum at the institution. This alleviates the problem of individual classes taken at COM or other institutions not transferring to upper-level universities.

College Courses and High School Credits Students in Dual Credit courses will need to review the Santa Fe ISD Dual Credit Crosswalk each year to determine which course will be counted toward their GPA and which will only count in unweighted GPA. All Dual Credit courses will show on the student's college and 23 high school transcript. For more information, please see the Dual Credit Crosswalk and your high school Counselor.

Level 1: Traditional Dual Credit This program sets a schedule that can begin in a student’s sophomore year. The students take 2 classes each semester and all courses are located at Santa Fe High School. Students will be required to enroll in at least TWO dual credit courses per semester. Traditionally, students take these courses on Monday/Wednesday and Tuesday/Thursday and professors offer office hours on Friday.

Level 2: Santa Fe High School Dual Credit Academy SFISD students wanting to earn more than two dual credit courses a semester or who would like to pursue an associate degree while attending high school will need to apply to our SFHS Dual Credit Academy. This academy would allow our SFISD students to earn additional dual credit classes and an associate degree while still attending SFHS. Students can continue to participate in their extracurricular activities, STUCO events, and UIL. During the application process, students meet with our SFISD/COM college advisor and develop a degree plan. Once approved, SFISD counselors and members of the Dual Credit Academy committee will then work with the students’ schedule to allow for multiple dual credit opportunities. These opportunities might include attending COM or other partnered collegiate institutions, utilizing OnRamp dual credit options, attending COM dual credit classes located at another school, or enrolling in online dual credit opportunities. Students would be able to earn an associate degree while still attending classes at SFHS. This plan would be individualized to the student and therefore must be completed by the application deadlines. No late applications will be accepted.

Level 3: Collegiate High School at College of the Mainland CHS students can enroll as both full-time college students at COM and remain enrolled at SFHS. Students and parents should strongly consider that students entering this program will be considered college students and expected to perform accordingly. High school procedures will not be followed in the college classes and college instructors follow their own grading and attendance procedures. Progress reports and other parent notifications will not be sent home from college classes. Students must be mature enough to motivate themselves to be successful in an adult environment.

Students interested in CHS will first apply to the SFHS Dual Credit Academy.

     Dual Credit Academy and CHS Application 

If the student’s degree plan cannot be met within the Academy, the student will be allowed to apply for CHS at COM.

Students who attend Collegiate High School must follow the Santa Fe ISD Crosswalk located on our website to ensure correct credit transfers and GPA calculations. College of the Mainland’s Crosswalk does not work with the SFISD GPA calculations. Students enrolling in CHS in the 2026-2027 school year will be required to pay for the administration fee for Collegiate High School. This fee was $2700 per year in the 2024-2025 school year. As soon as SFISD is notified of the fee for the 2026-2027 school year, we will notify applicants.

All CHS requirements must be met before the application deadline. Please note that students must apply first through the SFHS Dual Credit Academy.

CHS Rubric: The committee will use the following criteria in making application decisions.

• Pass TSIA Math and TSIA Reading
• Weighted GPA of 3.5
• Attendance
• Discipline
• Previous Dual Credit Classes taken
• Previous AP Classes taken

Student Obligation and Commitment: Once admitted to CHS, SFISD requires that students continue to maintain a high level of achievement. If for any reason a student fails to meet these requirements, they can and may be required to return to the campus. The following will require a committee review and may require the student to return to Santa Fe High School:

• Students do not maintain passing grades.
• Student drops more than one class.
• Students fall below the state-required attendance rule of 90% attendance.
• Student receives a discipline infraction at COM or while attending SFISD activities that could result in removal to DAEP, CAP, or JJAEP.

Students enrolled in CHS will be required to take the STAAR EOC assessments at Santa Fe High School and adhere to all campus, district, and state testing requirements and procedures.

Santa Fe ISD believes all students deserve an opportunity to participate in rigorous and academically challenging courses and programs. The course content of AP courses is defined by the College Board and designed to prepare students for the College Board AP exams. AP exams are administered during the second semester on dates determined by the College Board and students are expected to take the AP exam for each AP course in which he/she is enrolled. By law, all Texas colleges and universities must award college credit to a student who receives a 3 or higher on a College Board AP exam and successfully completes the associated course. Test registration for the exam is required by the College Board. Contact the AP testing coordinator for testing deadlines and fees. Santa Fe High School offers the following College Board Advanced Placement classes:

Courses offered for the 2026-2027 School Year: Courses are not guaranteed. The school must assess the number of students requesting the class in the Spring semester before determining if it will be officially implemented in the fall. Students who request a class that is then not offered in the fall will be contacted by counselors.

Students requesting to take Advanced and AP courses must sign the AP Parent/Student Contract form below. This contract outlines schedule requests, timelines, student expectations, and testing requirements as well as the support needed from parents.

Advanced Academics Agreement

Students who plan to take an advanced or advanced placement (AP) class for must turn in an advanced academics agreement to their counselor in the student center. Students without a signed agreement will be placed in on-level courses for the upcoming school year.

Santa Fe High School provides educational and related services to eligible students in the least restrictive environment, ensuring students with disabilities have the opportunity to participate in educational programs and activities with students without disabilities to the appropriate extent. If a student has or is suspected of having a disability and requires specialized services, parents, teachers, administrators, or any district employee should contact a campus counselor for information concerning the special education referral process.

The school district curriculum enables each student with disabilities to acquire knowledge and skills commensurate with the student’s needs and abilities. These skills are developed with the support of special education accommodations, modifications or instruction and related services, as determined by the admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee for any course to enable students to access and make progress with the general curriculum.

Section 504 Services Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (Amended Act 2008) are non-discrimination statutes enforced by the U.S. Congress. The purpose of which is to prohibit discrimination and to ensure that students with disabilities are given a free appropriate public education (FAPE) which provides educational opportunities and benefits equal to those provided to other students. An eligible student under Section 504 is a student who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits them in one or more major life activities such as learning, self-care, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, reading, concentrating, breathing, working, and performing manual tasks. See the Section 504 Guides on our Website for more information about eligibility and services.

Special Programs in SFISD

Homebound Program The Homebound Program provides home-based instructional services for students confined to home or a hospital for medical reasons. A student qualifies for Homebound Services if for medical reasons he/she is expected to be confined at home or hospital bedside for a minimum of four weeks and has a medical condition documented by a physician licensed to practice in the United States. If you have questions about the Homebound Program, contact your student’s school counselor.

Gifted & Talented SFHS offers many advanced options for students identified as Gifted and Talented. Identified GT students must enroll in one or more advanced-level courses in the area(s) for which they are GT-identified. Advanced-level course options include Advanced, Advanced Placement (AP), Advanced-level CTE courses, and Fine Arts classes. Parents of GT students are highly encouraged to meet with a counselor to plan their HS course track to meet their unique educational needs.

English Language Arts

Fine Arts Eligibility:

Extra-Curricular and UIL Participation: All courses including, Fine Arts and Athletics, that require after-school participation fall within the “no pass/no play” rule. Directors, teachers, and coaches will follow the district UIL grade reporting timelines. The following exemptions exist for some classes. Please check the syllabus or discuss it with the teacher for any clarification.

• A student enrolled in a course requiring the demonstration of mastery of skills in a public performance, may participate.
• The requirement is stated in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills of the course.
• State-approved UIL State-approved music course that participates in UIL concert & Sight-Reading Evaluation. The students may participate in the UIL evaluation only.

Art Courses

Theater Courses

Dance Courses

Band Courses

Choir Courses

Career and Technical Education Courses that can count as a Fine Arts credit

Elective Courses

Athletics

• Upon request of the coach, every effort will be made to change a student’s schedule who is a multi-sport athlete and is moving from one sport to another, if the second sport begins within the same semester. There may be occasions that will not allow this transition based on conflicts within the schedule. If a conflict occurs, this will be communicated through the coach involved in the event.
• Athletic classes are available as a substitute for Physical Education. Students shall not be enrolled in more than one Athletic/PE class. Students are enrolled after receiving approval from the coach of the athletic activity.
• If you plan to enroll in any Division I or Division II college or university, please ask the Athletics Department for more information.

Athletic teams that do not have an athletic period built into the school day but do meet after school are listed below. Participation in these teams will not award any course credit.

General Electives

The curriculum of Career and Technical Education courses is designed to help ALL students achieve excellence by preparing them for secondary and postsecondary opportunities, career preparation and advancement, meaningful work, and active citizenship. The Career and Technical Education courses are now classified according to Career Clusters, linking what students learn in school with the knowledge and skills they need for success in college and careers.

Please view the Career and Technical Education Program of Study Guide to discover the program of study options your student may choose from.

SFISD does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs or activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies: Title IX Coordinator, Rachel Harris, at 409-925 9010.

Student progress in their chosen Program of Study will be taken into consideration before allowing changes to their pathway and/or granting schedule changes.

Due to popularity and a high number of requests with limited availability, some CTE courses/programs may require an application. For the full Program of Study Guide, please visit our District or Campus Website