The Texas High-School Curriculum + CBE Map: Which Courses You Can Skip and How Acceleration Actually Works
Most Texas parents don't see the full picture of their child's high-school graduation requirements until junior year — when it's too late to accelerate. This page is the one-stop reference we wish every family had access to from 8th grade onward: the four-year graduation grid, every subject Credit by Exam (CBE) can grant credit for, and the concrete acceleration paths these unlock.
Everything below is grounded in Texas Education Code (TEC) Chapter 28, Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §74.24, and the Foundation High School Program (FHSP). Specific district policies may differ — that's flagged where it matters.
1. The Texas graduation grid (Foundation HSP + Endorsement)
Texas replaced its old "minimum / recommended / distinguished" graduation plans with the Foundation High School Program in 2014. Most college-bound students earn the Foundation + Endorsement diploma (26 credits). Distinguished Level of Achievement (DLA) on top adds Algebra 2 plus an additional advanced math, and is the threshold for automatic admission to Texas public universities via the Top 10% Rule.
| Subject area | Foundation (22 cr) | + Endorsement (26 cr) | + DLA |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 4 (Eng I–IV) | 4 | 4 |
| Math | 3 (Algebra I + 2) | 4 | 4 (incl. Algebra II + advanced) |
| Science | 3 (Biology + 2) | 4 | 4 |
| Social Studies | 3 (US Hist, US Gov 0.5, Econ 0.5, + 1) | 3 | 3 |
| Lang. Other than English (LOTE) | 2 (same language) | 2 | 2 |
| Fine Arts | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| PE | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Electives + Endorsement courses | 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Total | 22 | 26 | 26+ |
The five Endorsement pathways are: STEM, Business & Industry, Public Services, Arts & Humanities, Multidisciplinary Studies. Each requires 4 specialty credits in that pathway.
2. The typical 4-year grade-by-grade grid (college-bound, STEM-leaning)
| Subject | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Math | Algebra I | Geometry | Algebra II | Pre-Cal / AP Stats |
| Science | Biology | Chemistry | Physics or AP Bio/Chem | AP Science |
| Social Studies | World Geography | World History | US History (or AP) | Gov 0.5 + Econ 0.5 |
| English | English I | English II | English III / AP Lang | English IV / AP Lit |
| LOTE | Lang I | Lang II | (optional III) | (optional AP) |
If a student takes Algebra I in 8th grade (common with acceleration tracks), the math row shifts left by one year — Geometry in 9th, Pre-Cal in 11th, AP Calculus AB or BC by 12th. CBE makes the same shift possible for students who didn't get an 8th-grade Algebra I slot.
3. Which subjects can earn credit by exam?
Under TAC §74.24, Texas districts must offer Credit by Examination for "any course in the required curriculum." UTHS specifically offers CBEs for the high-school STAAR end-of-course (EOC) subjects (Algebra I, Biology, English I, English II, US History) — the exact subjects most parents are looking to accelerate or recover credit for. In practice, the subjects with the most established CBE infrastructure (district internal exams and/or UT High School external CBE) are:
| Area | CBE-eligible subjects (typical) | We offer practice |
|---|---|---|
| Math | Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Pre-Calculus | All 4 ✓ |
| Science | Biology, Chemistry, Physics, IPC, Earth & Space Science | Bio + Chem ✓ |
| Social Studies | World Geography, World History, US History, US Government, Economics | US History ✓ |
| English | English I, II, III, IV (CBE possible but less common in practice) | — |
| LOTE | Spanish I, II, III; French I, II; sometimes others | — |
| Other | Health, some PE substitutions, some Fine Arts (district-dependent) | — |
UT High School (uths.utexas.edu) maintains a public catalog. Grades 3–12 can take exams at home with Proctorio remote proctoring; K-2 exams are paper-only and on-site. Districts may also use internal CBE exams — check your campus.
4. The two passing thresholds — which one applies?
- Acceleration CBE — the student has not taken the course. Under TEC §28.023, the passing standard is 80%. Districts are required to offer this twice per year and cannot refuse the exam itself.
- CBE with prior instruction (credit recovery) — the student took the course but didn't earn credit. Under TAC §74.24, the standard is 70%.
- District overrides — some districts apply 80% to both categories. Frisco ISD is the well-known example. Always confirm with your counselor; see our parent script guide.
5. Five concrete acceleration paths
Path A — Reach AP Calculus by 11th grade
Goal: take AP Calculus AB or BC as a junior, free up senior year for a second AP math (Stats / Multivariable / Linear Algebra dual credit).
- 8th grade (or summer before 9th): pass Algebra I CBE (80% threshold).
- 9th: take Geometry as a freshman.
- 10th: Algebra II.
- 11th: Pre-Calculus or AP Calculus AB (some students dual-track).
- 12th: AP Calculus BC or AP Statistics.
This is the most-requested acceleration path on our platform. It's also the highest-stakes — one weak link (e.g., shaky Algebra II) cascades into junior-year Calc.
Path B — "I'm an 8th grader who already knows Algebra I"
Goal: skip a redundant 9th-grade Algebra I class.
- Spring of 8th grade: take a full-length Algebra I practice exam. Score 85%+ → proceed.
- Late spring / summer: register for the §28.023 district CBE for Algebra I.
- 9th grade: enroll directly in Geometry.
This is the cleanest case for CBE — the family is using it to certify what's already true, not to learn new material.
Path C — Free up senior year for two AP courses
Goal: schedule two non-overlapping APs senior year by clearing US History a year early.
- 10th or 11th summer: pass US History CBE.
- 11th: take AP US History instead (it counts as a different course in most districts) or use the freed slot for a different academic course.
- 12th: AP Government + AP Economics + an additional AP elective.
Check your district's specific policy — some treat CBE-credited US History as fulfilling the requirement, so AP US History becomes an elective.
Path D — STEM endorsement pickup without overloading
Goal: complete the 4th math and 4th science required for STEM endorsement without dropping electives.
- Summer before 11th: pass Algebra II CBE (if it wasn't part of the 10th-grade schedule).
- 11th: Pre-Calculus + Chemistry or Physics.
- 12th: AP Calculus + AP Bio/Chem/Physics.
Path E — Recovery without summer school
Goal: regain credit for a failed semester without a summer-school enrollment.
- Right after the failed semester: register for the §74.24 (70% threshold) CBE for the course.
- Pass → credit added to transcript with no GPA impact in most districts.
This path is the one most parents don't know about. Useful when scheduling conflicts caused the failure in the first place.
6. What CBE won't fix
- The senior year "rigor gap" colleges look at. Skipping junior English doesn't make a transcript stronger — colleges expect 4 years of English with rising rigor.
- LOTE proficiency in the eyes of selective colleges. Passing a Spanish I CBE doesn't substitute for the 3–4 years of language many selective schools expect. CBE is a credit mechanism, not a proficiency demonstration.
- AP scores. A CBE is a state-level credit instrument. AP courses still require the actual AP exam to earn college credit.
- Texas Top 10% Rule eligibility. Class rank is based on GPA, which CBE doesn't affect. Plan rigor based on grade outcomes, not CBE shortcuts.
7. Quick "where do I start?" answer by grade
- 7th–8th grade: If your child is strong in math, the single highest-leverage CBE is Algebra I. It opens the door to AP Calculus by senior or junior year. Use our decision tree to confirm fit.
- 9th grade: Algebra I or Geometry CBE are the typical options. Use the summer between 9th and 10th — sophomore year is the best balance of capacity + readiness.
- 10th grade: Consider US History CBE in the spring to free junior or senior year for APs.
- 11th grade: Diminishing returns — by junior year, most acceleration windows have closed. Focus on AP courses and AP exam scores instead.
- 12th grade: CBE rarely makes sense; the senior schedule is set.
If you'd like help preparing
We offer practice for the 7 most commonly requested Texas CBE subjects (4 math + Biology + Chemistry + US History). 20 free sample questions per subject, no signup; full-length timed mocks are $19.99 / 6 months per subject (currently 33% off the $29.99 list price).
This guide is for general information only and is not legal or educational advice. The Foundation High School Program requirements, Endorsement options, Distinguished Level of Achievement criteria, Credit by Examination policies, and individual district passing thresholds are set by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and individual school districts and can change — always confirm specifics with your school counselor, the TEA, or your district's policy handbook. Texas CBE™ is an independent practice platform; it is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the Texas Education Agency, UT High School, Texas Tech University ISD, the College Board, or any school district, and it does not administer any exam or grant academic credit.