Frisco ISD endorsements explained
Frisco ISD suggests thinking of an endorsement as a major for high school students: a related set of courses grouped by interest or skill. Here's how the five endorsements work, based on the district's 2026-27 High School Academic Guide.
Unofficial guide. Course offerings vary by campus and can change. Always confirm with your school counselor and the official pages linked at the bottom.
The basics
- Every student earns at least one endorsement as part of the 26-credit graduation plan (see graduation requirements).
- Students choose a preferred endorsement during course selection between 8th and 9th grade, and can change it during course selection each year.
- All Frisco ISD students start on the Multidisciplinary endorsement, and many earn more than one just by taking courses they enjoy.
- Most endorsements take four credits in a coherent sequence. For career and technical (CTE) programs, that includes at least one level 3 or level 4 course.
- Students don't have to take every course listed in a pathway, but they must meet the prerequisites.
The five endorsements
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)
Frisco ISD's example: becoming a chemical engineer or IT systems manager, with courses in math, computer science, chemistry and physics. Ways to earn it include:
- Math: five math credits, with two math courses after Algebra II, plus Chemistry and Physics.
- Science: five science credits, with two more after Physics, plus Algebra II.
- A STEM CTE program: four courses in Engineering (Project Lead the Way), Health Science (nursing), Cybersecurity, Programming & Software, or Web Development, plus Algebra II, Chemistry and Physics.
Business & Industry
Frisco ISD's example: starting your own business, with courses in math, accounting and computer technology. Programs include accounting and finance, entrepreneurship, marketing, business management, agriculture and animal science, culinary arts, hospitality and tourism, audio/video and graphic design, IT support, and advanced journalism (yearbook, newspaper, debate).
Public Service
Frisco ISD's example: becoming a lawyer, with courses in law, sociology and psychology. Programs include health science (diagnostic and therapeutic), education and teaching, early learning, legal studies, government and public administration, law enforcement, and NJROTC (at Lebanon Trail High School).
Arts & Humanities
Frisco ISD's example: becoming an actor, musician, artist or writer. Ways to earn it include four years in one fine arts area (art, band, orchestra, choir, theatre, dance), four levels of a world language, or five social studies credits.
Multidisciplinary
For students who want a range of courses. One way to earn it is simply completing the default graduation plan, as long as it includes Algebra II, Chemistry and/or Physics, and English IV (or an AP or IB English course).
Connecting careers to courses
Some examples, using courses from Frisco ISD's Programs of Study. These are ideas to explore, not requirements.
| If you're interested in… | Endorsement | Courses to look at |
|---|---|---|
| Health care | Public Service or STEM | Medical Terminology, Health Science, Anatomy & Physiology, AP Biology |
| Engineering | STEM | PLTW Intro to Engineering Design, Principles of Engineering, AP Physics, AP Calculus |
| Computer science | STEM | Computer Science I, AP Computer Science A, Computer Science III Advanced |
| Business | Business & Industry | Survey of Business, Marketing and Finance; Accounting I and II; Entrepreneurship |
| Law and government | Public Service | Court Systems and Practices, Mock Trial, Debate, AP US Government |
| Teaching | Public Service | Survey of Education & Training, Child Development, Education & Training |
| Arts and media | Arts & Humanities | Four years of a fine art, Audio/Video Production, AP Art History, AP Music Theory |
| Not sure yet | Multidisciplinary | Try electives; FISD suggests AP Seminar, AP Human Geography, AP Psychology or AP Computer Science Principles as a first AP |
CTE Programs of Study and the CTE Center
- Every career and technical education (CTE) Program of Study leads to an endorsement.
- Texas calls a student a CTE completer after three or more courses for four or more credits in the same program, including at least one level 3 or level 4 course.
- Some advanced CTE courses are taught at the Frisco ISD CTE Center. Students stay on their home campus for everything else, and the district provides transportation to the CTE Center during the school day. Some courses need an application or qualification form, and some have course fees.
- Some CTE courses can lead to industry certifications or college credit through Collin College.
Build a plan around an interest
In My GPA Planner, answer a few questions, including what you'd like to do someday, and it builds a starting four-year plan with matching courses and the endorsement it aims for. You can change everything, and your plan stays on your device.
Open the plannerOfficial sources
- Frisco ISD 2026-27 Course Catalog and High School Academic Guide (see "Endorsement Pathways")