Grace Preparatory Academy of New Braunfels
High School Graduation Pathways
GPA-NB minimum graduation requirements exceed the Foundation High School Program diploma requirements for Texas public schools as specified by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the Texas State Board of Education. They also meet the TEA Distinguished Level of Achievement.
At GPA-NB we require all graduates with a Grace Preparatory Academy of New Braunfels diploma to complete Algebra II and a high school pathway endorsement. All graduation pathways with an endorsement require a minimum of 26 high school course credits.
GPA Academic Honors Achievement - To graduate with Academic Honors at GPA-NB, we require the following requirements be met. These requirements exceed all TEA Foundation High School Program diploma requirements, as well as the TEA Distinguished Level of Achievement requirements. GPA Academic Honors Achievement is truly above and beyond.
3rd Year of Foreign Language
Completion of PreCalculus
9 Weighted Courses (Credits)
100% Passing on First Try of a Course
complete one Endorsement
GPA-NB offers 5 endorsement pathways. The endorsements are areas of study, and students may choose one or two endorsement pathways for their GPA-NB diplomas. Students are not committed to a college major by choosing a high school endorsement. Think of this as a chance to explore and focus on an interest.
Following are two ways to plan your high school courses. The first shows all five endorsements side-by-side organized by year. The second shows all five endorsements side-by-side organized by course subject. Please use all of these checklists as a way to plan and track your progress through high school.
Below are general descriptions of each endorsement and their individual pathway planning checklist.
Multidisciplinary studies
This is the standard GPA-NB endorsement. It is a great preparation for college by requiring four years of each core subject of English, math, science, and social studies. A Multidisciplinary Studies endorsement provides a well rounded high school career without the rigor of Calculus and Physics. The majority of high school students will earn this graduation pathway on their diploma.
STEM Math
Students with a strength in math and that are interested in careers involving math such as engineering, teaching, or software development can gain an advantage by completing all core math offered from Algebra I to Calculus. This means five math credits in high school. To avoid having to double up in math classes during sophomore or junior year, Algebra I can be completed for high school credit during 8th grade in middle school.
STEM Science
If you enjoy science, plan on entering a healthcare field, or want to take part in research, this pathway might be for you. Five science credits are required for this pathway. All five courses must happen during the high school years of 9th - 12th grade. Students are expected to take two science classes during their sophomore or junior year. Middle school science classes do not qualify for high school credit.
Arts & Humanities
This pathway is for students that enjoy to focus on English and art, music, theater, and/or dance. The courses required for math and science can be less rigorous than the other pathways. In math, students can take Math Models during their sophomore year before entering Algebra II. In science, students can take Introductory Physics and Chemistry (IPC) as freshmen and ease into the required sciences. This pathway requires the four core English credits and four Fine Arts credits.
Religious Studies
This pathway is for students going into ministry or attending a Bible college. If you are planning on attending a state or public college, you should pick one of the other pathways. Like the Arts & Humanities pathway, this endorsement can be less rigorous in the math and science requirements. In math, students can take Math Models during their sophomore year before entering Algebra II. In science, students can take Introductory Physics and Chemistry (IPC) as freshmen and ease into the required sciences. Four years of Bible credits are required. GPA-NB offers a different Bible class every year to satisfy this pathway.
