GLOSSARY

List of Terms

Source: TeaTexas

  •  Course Credit - credit that is given when students complete a high school course. One semester of a subject usually equals ½ of a credit. 

  •  Foundation High School Program - the Required plan to graduate in Texas with a High School Diploma. It usually requires 4 English Credits, 3 Math Credits, 3 Science Credits, 3 Social Studies Credits, 2 Language credits, 1 Physical education credit, 1 Fine Arts credit, 5 credits. The Foundation High School Program requires 22 credits. 

  •  Distinguished Level of Achievement- the Alternative Graduation plan which requires a few more classes than what is required for graduation, but has more benefits. The Distinguished Level of Achievement  plan which requires about 26 course credits. It includes more math and science courses: Total of 4 Math Credits, 4 Science Credits and the completion of a endorsement in your area of interest.

  • Endorsements- subjects that are grouped by student’s interest or skills within 5 Areas: Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM), Business and Industry, Public Service, Arts and Humanities and Multidisciplinary Studies

  • STEM- Any class that involves Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics 

  • Advance Placement (AP Classes)- Advanced Placement classes also known in short as AP classes are High School classes that were designed by the College Board to show that a student is capable of completing college-level school work. These help students get college credit during high school but they must take an Advanced Placement exam to qualify. AP exams happen in May and are scored from 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest. Most colleges will give college credit to classes where students have scored a 3 or better. For more information, talk to your school’s guidance counselor. 

  • Dual Credit Classes- These are  classes usually offered by local colleges which give students both college credit and High School Credit after they are completed.  They are another way of saving money and time for college while students are still in school. 

  • STAAR Test - 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. 

  •  Extracurricular activities- These are activities that are not part of a school’s requirements.  These could include playing on the sports team, being part of a club such as writing articles for the school newspaper, or playing an instrument in the school band or orchestra. 

  • House Bill 5- (HB) 5- was approved in January 2014 replaced the Minimum High School Program (MHSP), The Recommended High School Program (RHSP), and the Distinguished Achievement Program (DAP) with the Foundation High School Program starting with the 2014-2015 school year. 

  • ACT- The ACT is an entrance exam that is used by most college admission committees to decide which students are accepted. It consists of multiple choice exams and is used to check for a student’s college readiness and how they compare with other applicants. There are 4 sections plus a writing section that is optional. 

  • SAT- This multiple choice test is another exam that most colleges require as part of their admission process. It includes 2 sections including Math Evidence-Based Reading and an optional Essay Section.

College Terms

Source: CollegeBoard

  • Tuition and Fees- Tuition is the payment for getting the education but remember that there are other fees that you might have to pay for such as enrollment fees, or student service fees

  • Room and Board- This is student’s housing such as dorm rooms and the meals that come with it

  • Sticker Price vs Net Price: Sticker prices are usually listed on college websites on how much students will have to pay. Things such as grants and scholarships can help lower this amount, meaning students actually can pay less. How much a student ends up paying is called the Net Price. 

  • Expected Family Contribution (EFC)- This information, which you provide when you fill out financial aid forms (FAFSA),  is commonly used by the school or by the government to decide how much financial aid your child can receive.

  • Major- This is the subject that your child will focus on for their bachelor’s

  • Extracurricular- These include groups, hobbies, sports, volunteer work, or part-time jobs your child might enjoy doing

  • Bachelor’s Degree- certification a student will get when they have completed around 40 college courses. Full-time students usually take 4 years to complete this, but this can vary.