Melissa High School
2023-2024 Academic Planning Guide

In accordance with TEC § 28.02121, Melissa ISD encourages students to actively plan for the future. The knowledge base and work habits developed over the course of high school lay the foundation for the successful pursuit of postsecondary success. While every student’s journey is unique, our beliefs, mission, and graduate profile shape our academic advising expectations. We believe that the following expectations will provide the most secure base for navigating the changing world of work.

1. Melissa ISD believes that all students need to be college, career, and/or military ready. As encouraged in TEC § 28.002 (g), we expect students to continue in core courses each year of high school even if all minimum state graduation requirements have been met. Moreover, we have an expectation for students to complete courses such as Algebra II, Physics, and English IV so that they will meet a broader selection of college and university admission requirements and will have better preparation for success once postsecondary studies have begun.

2. Students should select courses with their interests, abilities, outside commitments, and personal goals in mind. While varied interests and program participation can be stimulating, students should reflect on the amount of time that is necessary to perform successfully in multiple strands of advanced coursework, extracurricular involvement, volunteer work, and other activities. Strong attention to advance planning will help students set goals, make decisions, balance priorities and maximize the benefit of their high school experiences.

3. Melissa ISD supports several options for students to engage in academic challenges and rigorous learning experiences, including:

   • the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma programme;

   • dual credit courses to experience a college-level curriculum;

   • a sequence of Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses to explore careers and seek certifications and licensure as available;

   • four (4) or more years of a language other than English to prepare for a global workplace; and

   • multiple years of excellent programming in areas such as fine arts, computer science, and athletics.

Each academic year, counselors will work with students to complete a course request card, otherwise known as a Personal Graduation Plan (PGP). This document will assist the student and parent/guardian in goal-setting, indicating desired courses, and selecting alternate courses.

• If the student’s first-choice course selection is unavailable or if schedule conflicts occur, then alternative course selections will be used.

• Course selections should consider graduation requirements, student abilities and interests, and desired college and career outcomes.

• Please be aware of the course selection card due dates, application deadlines, and other registration deadlines. 

Students will have the opportunity to verify their course selections and request changes to their daily schedule for the upcoming school year. Schedule change requests must be submitted by the deadline and will always be subject to course availability. Requests to exit from Advanced courses (Tier II) into grade-level academic courses (Tier I) are subject to the Advanced Weighted Course Agreement.

Requests for schedule changes after the deadline can be initiated ONLY during the first five (5) days of each semester, and are limited to when the student:

• has failed a required course and must make room to repeat the necessary course;

• is erroneously enrolled in a specific course for which they have already earned credit;

• is a senior and needs to drop a course in order to enroll in a course needed for graduation; and/or

• has not completed the necessary prerequisite course to proceed in the enrolled course.