GISD Graduation Requirements - Distinguished Achievement

Distinguished Achievement Program

Part One

Complete the requirements for the State Recommended Program with the following change:

  • Three years of a language other than English are required; reducing the elective requirements to 2.5 credits.

Part Two

Complete four "advanced measures: which demonstrate student performance at the college or professional level from the five options below. All requirements must be completed by graduation.

  1. A score of three or above on a College Board Advanced Placement (AP) examination
    (can have 1-4 measures from this category).

  2. A score of four or above on an International Baccalaureate (IB) examination
    (can have 1-4 measures from this category).

  3. A grade of 3.0 or higher on courses that count for college credit, including tech prep programs. Students are limited to one advanced measure from this category (unless courses are part of an approved magnet program), and credit will be given only for courses not available on campus as an Advanced Placement course.

  4. Original research/project
    (limit of one measure)
    Examples of original research/projects include the International Baccalaureate extended essay and science projects produced through the honors section of Scientific Research and Design. A list of acceptable options will be available through the counselor's office. Students must be enrolled in an approved course or under the supervision of a teacher to complete an advanced measure in this category. External evaluations of the project must be maintained in the student's Distinguished Achievement Program file.

  5. A score on the PSAT that qualifies a student for recognition as a Commended Scholar or higher by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation; as part of the National Hispanic Recognition Program of the College Board; or as part of the National Achievement Scholarship Program. The PSAT score may count as only one advanced measure regardless of the number of honors received by the student.

To pursue the Distinguished Achievement Program, students must notify their counselor no later than the beginning of the semester in which they plan to graduate. Students are responsible for providing their counselor with documentation of completion of the four advanced measures, even if this documentation is received after graduation (in the case of AP or IB scores). Students must obtain approval PRIOR to pursuing credits for college courses or original research/projects.