FAQs for HS 4-Year Plan
4 Year Plan FAQ
The 4-Year Planning process takes place in the fall semester. Students will work with their parents/guardians to review the 4-Year Plan process and complete the 4-Year Plan. Keep in mind that this is only a plan and courses can be amended each year. Please review our FAQs for the most often-asked questions. If you still have questions, you can fill out the form at the bottom of this page.
When do students select courses (register) for the following year?
Counselors meet with students in February/March to assist with course selection of required and elective courses. Students have until the last day of school to make adjustments to what they’ve chosen for the following year. 9th graders continue to work on their 4-year plans in PACE. The classes added to their 4-year plans for 10th grade become their registration for 10th grade.
My student already submitted a 4-year plan, do we still have to register for 9th grade?
Yes, all 8th grade students will submit a 4-year plan (in November) and will also submit a 9th grade registration sheet (in March). The 4-year plan is a plan or guide to help navigate the four years of high school. Your course selections can change from your initial plan. As long as the student meets the high school graduation requirements and has at least one endorsement, they can revise the courses each year. Your student will work with the high school counselor to stay on track to meet graduation requirements.
Do students earn EXTRA grade points for advanced level classes?
Yes, one extra grade point for letter grade. (see page 16 of the Course Offerings and Description Booklet). Grading Scale CFISD uses a weighted 6.0 grading scale. Grade points are allocated for a course of study based on the designation of the course as indicated in the chart below.
| Grade | K, AP, and HORIZONS Levels | L-Level (on-level) | Below Level Adaptive Behavior, ICS-M, NAC, Resource | Life Skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A (90-100) | 7 grade points | 6 grade points | 5 grade points | 4 grade points |
| B (80-89) | 6 grade points | 5 grade points | 4 grade points | 3 grade points |
| C (75-79) | 5 grade points | 4 grade points | 3 grade points | 2 grade points |
| C- (70-74) | 4 grade points | 3 grade points | 2 grade points | 1 grade point |
| F (below 70) | 0 grade points | 0 grade points | 0 grade points | 0 grade points |
What is a transcript?
A permanent academic record obtained from the registrar’s office seen by colleges, employers, etc. that houses the student’s semester grades, GPA (grade point average), class rank and state test scores (EOC).
Will the high school courses taken in middle school count in the high school GPA?
No, high school courses taken in middle school are not counted in the high school GPA. There are two exceptions to this rule:
- Art I (Fine Arts credit) IS COUNTED in the high school GPA.
- Algebra I will be counted in the high school GPA if the student does not take four (4) additional math courses in high school. If the student takes four additional math courses, then the Algebra I grade is not calculated in the high school GPA.
What is the difference between Dual Credit (D/C) and Advanced Placement (AP)?
Dual Credit (D/C) allows students who meet specified criteria to earn both high school credit and college credit for specific high school courses. Students earn high school and college credits at the same time. Please see your high school counselor for dual credit eligibility requirements and course availability.
Advanced Placement (AP) courses, which prepare students to take College Board exams to earn college credit, are available for students who desire to participate in a rigorous, challenging curriculum. To earn college credit at most universities, students must score a 3 or better on the AP exam. See your desired university's AP acceptance policy for exact details.
What is the Schedule Change Policy?
Changes can be made during the first 10 days of a semester for the following reasons: student does not meet prerequisite(s), student does not meet grade requirements, student already has credit for the course, student is placed in an inappropriate level, student has not met requirements for an advanced course. NOTE: No Elective Changes in August.
What are the grade classification standards and criteria for promotion?
9th Promotion from Middle School
10th 1 year of attendance and 5 credits, including English I and Algebra I
11th 2 years of attendance and 11 credits
12th 3 years of attendance and 17 credits
Students MUST pass BOTH semesters of English I and Algebra I to be promoted to sophomore.
What are the State Mandated Testing Requirements for high school?
STAAR End-of-Course (EOC) assessments:
ENGLISH I ENGLISH II ALGEBRA I BIOLOGY U.S. HISTORY
- Move-in students from home school, private school, or out-of-state public-school settings with a transcripted EOC course will NOT be required to test in that subject
- Retest opportunities to achieve passing are offered in December, spring, or summer.
- Passing EOC assessments is a graduation requirement.
Are there courses that can be taken as Pass/Fail?
Students in grades eleven and twelve are eligible to earn up to two credits on a pass/fail basis, one as a junior and one as a senior. Any student who wishes to take courses in addition to the 26 required for graduation with the Foundation + Endorsement High School Program or the 22 credits required to accomplish the Foundation High School Program may take such courses on a pass/fail basis. Only certain courses, as designated by district policy, can be taken as pass/fail.
The student must declare intent to take such a course on a pass/fail basis within the first 10 days of the semester. Students who have a grade average of 70 or above in such courses shall be awarded credit. Rather than a numerical grade, a “P” will be recorded on the transcript. Conversely, an “F” will be recorded on the transcripts of students who earn a numerical average of less than 70. These courses shall be excluded in the computation of grade point averages. The purpose of the option is to encourage students to take advanced courses in addition to the total number of credits required for graduation. Students must meet eligibility requirements, including grade level and grades earned in previous courses, and receive approval from parents, counselor, and instructor. Because requirements and courses approved for pass/fail may change from year to year, students should consult with their counselor and/or content-area teacher prior to registration to determine their eligibility to participate in the pass/fail program. Students who take a course under the pass/fail option must complete all assigned work and take the TEKS/ benchmark exam and final exam of the course unless they are exempt from the final exam due to the current exemption policy. The student’s academic performance in a pass/fail course will affect his/her eligibility to participate in extracurricular activities.
What is College Academy?
The College Academy housed at each high school campus is a district-wide program for students interested in fulfilling their ‘Foundation and Graduation Endorsement’ requirements while simultaneously completing an Associate degree. This course of study includes dual credit courses offered by Cypress Fairbanks ISD in partnership with Lone Star College CyFair and focuses on preparing students with the skills and knowledge to complete a 2-year degree or apply coursework to a 4-year college or university.
Qualified students will be invited to apply for this program in the spring. More information can be found on the district website College and Career Readiness.
What is STEM Academy for ARC?
The CFISD STEM Academy for Automation, Robotics, & Computer Science (ARC) will provide students a rigorous educational experience focused on the growing fields of automation, robotics and computer science. Students will have access to courses and equipment that are unique to this academy.
This is a four-year program/commitment. Students will be expected to spend a minimum of 2 days per week after school designing, building, and/or modifying robots to compete in contests such as FIRST Robotics.
* The ARC Academy is housed Cypress Springs High School. Students who apply and are accepted will be placed on a transfer to Cypress Springs High School.*
More information regarding the program and qualifications can be found on our district website by clicking STEM for ARC.
Still have a question regarding your student's plan?
Submit a question via the following Google Form and we will respond as soon as possible.
Click on the link below.
Submit a question to the counseling office
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