A student must meet the following requirements to receive a high school diploma from the district:

• Achieve passing scores on certain end-of-course (EOC) assessments or approved substitute assessments, unless specifically waived as permitted by state law
• Complete the required number of credits established by the state and any additional credits required by the district
• Complete any locally required courses in addition to the courses mandated by the state
• Demonstrate proficiency, as determined by the district, in the specific communication skills required by the State Board of Education (SBOE)
• Complete and submit a free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) or a Texas application for state financial aid (TASFA)

Students are required, with limited exceptions and regardless of graduation program, to perform satisfactorily on the following EOC assessments:

• English I
• English II
• Algebra I 
• Biology 
• U.S. History 

A student who does not achieve a sufficient score will have opportunities to retake an assessment. 

State law allows a student to meet EOC requirements by substituting satisfactory performance on approved national standardized assessments or on the state-developed assessment used for entrance into Texas public universities. [See the school counselor for more information on the state testing requirements for graduation.]

If a student fails to perform satisfactorily on an EOC assessment, the district will provide remediation in the applicable content area. This may require the student’s participation outside normal school operating times.

In limited circumstances, a student who fails to demonstrate proficiency on up to two of the required assessments may still be eligible to graduate if an individual graduation committee, formed in accordance with state law, unanimously determines that the student is eligible to graduate.

Every Texas public school student will graduate under the foundation graduation program. The foundation graduation program features endorsements, which are paths of interest that include:

• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) 
• Business and Industry 
• Public Service 
• Arts and Humanities 
• Multidisciplinary Studies

Endorsements earned by a student will be noted on the student’s transcript. 

A student can complete the foundation graduation program with a “distinguished level of achievement,” which reflects the completion of at least one endorsement and Algebra II as one of the required advanced mathematics credits.

A student graduating under the foundation graduation program can also earn performance acknowledgments on his or her transcript. Performance acknowledgments are available for outstanding performance in bilingualism and biliteracy, in a dual credit course, on an AP or IB examination, on certain national college preparatory and readiness or college entrance examinations, or for earning a license or certificate recognized at the state, national, or international level. The school counselor can provide more information about these acknowledgments.

A student is not required to complete an Algebra II course to graduate under the foundation graduation program, and the district will annually notify a student’s parent of this fact. However, not taking Algebra II will make a student ineligible for automatic admission to four-year public universities and colleges in Texas and for certain financial aid and grants while attending those institutions. 

The foundation graduation program requires completion of the following credits:

Additional considerations apply in some course areas, including:

• Mathematics: To obtain the distinguished level of achievement under the foundation graduation program, a student must complete an endorsement and take Algebra II as one of the 4 mathematics credits. A student’s completion of the distinguished level of achievement is a requirement to be considered for automatic admission to a Texas four-year college or university and will be included on a student’s transcript.
• Physical education: A student who is unable to participate in physical activity due to a disability or illness may be able to substitute a course in English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, or another locally determined credit-bearing course for the required credit of physical education. This determination will be made by the student’s ARD committee, Section 504 committee, or other campus committee, as applicable.
• Languages other than English: Students are required to earn 2 credits in the same language other than English to graduate. Any student may substitute computer programming languages for these credits. 
• A student may satisfy one of the 2 required credits by successfully completing in elementary school a dual language immersion program or a course in American Sign Language. 
• In limited circumstances, a student may be able to substitute this requirement with other courses, as determined by a district committee authorized by law to make these decisions for the student.

A student must specify upon entering grade 9 which endorsement he or she wishes to pursue.

Before graduating from high school, each student must complete and submit an application for financial aid for post-secondary education. Students must complete and submit either a free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) or a Texas application for state financial aid (TASFA).

The district will have a FAFSA night in the summer before school begins to help families fill out the application. Baird ISD has also partnered with RootEd to provide a higher education counselor to work with senior students and their families to complete the application during the school year. 

A student is not required to complete and submit a FAFSA or TASFA if:

• The student’s parent submits a form provided by the district indicating that the parent authorizes the student to opt out;
• A student who is 18 years of age or older or a legally independent minor submits a form provided by the district indicating that the student opts out; or
• A school counselor authorizes the student to opt out for good cause.

Please contact the school counselor for more information.

To confirm that a student has completed and submitted a TASFA, the student must submit one of the following: 

• A screenshot that includes the processed date field of the FAFSA ApplyTexas Counselor Suite
• Notification, such as a copy of an email, from the United States Department of Education verifying completion of the FAFSA
• A copy or screenshot of the FAFSA acknowledgment page
• A screenshot of the TASFA submission acknowledgment page (from those institutions that offer an electronic form)
• An acknowledgment receipt from an institution of higher education (IHE)
• A copy of a financial aid award letter from an IHE

A personal graduation plan will be developed for each high school student. 

The district encourages all students to pursue a personal graduation plan that includes the completion of at least one endorsement and to graduate with the distinguished level of achievement. Attainment of the distinguished level of achievement is a requirement for a student to be considered for automatic admission to a public four-year college or university in Texas, depending on his or her rank in class. 

The school will review personal graduation plan options with each student entering grade 9 and his or her parent. Before the end of grade 9, a student and his or her parent will be required to sign off on a personal graduation plan that promotes college and workforce readiness, promotes career placement and advancement, and facilitates the transition from secondary to postsecondary education. 

The student’s personal graduation plan will outline an appropriate course sequence based on the student’s choice of endorsement.