In addition to the core subjects—English, Math, Science, and Social Studies—students have access to a wide variety of electives and extracurricular activities. These electives offer a great opportunity for Middle and High School students to explore different areas of interest and gain early exposure to potential college majors. For instance, students can explore subjects like Journalism, playing an instrument, or participate in STEM programs such as Robotics.

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In a typical school year, students earn 7 credits, with 4 allocated to core subjects and 3 reserved for electives. Electives can be purely interest-based, such as art or theater, or they can be used to deepen knowledge in a specific field.

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For instance, students interested in majoring in Political Science, Economics, or Law can use their electives to take advanced Social Studies courses. Over four years of high school, core Social Studies credits may include Geography, World History, U.S. History, and U.S. Government, while electives can provide opportunities to study subjects like Macro/Microeconomics, Psychology, or Humanities.

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Electives offer students a chance to explore personal interests while also engaging in more advanced coursework. Tip: Keep an eye out for unique elective options, such as Agriculture or Animal Science, which provide insight into specialized fields like veterinary science.

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Regarding graduation requirements for Middle or High School, some electives are mandatory, while others are chosen based on personal interests. It’s important to note that mandatory electives can vary by both school district and state laws. For example, in Texas, 2 credits in computer science can count towards mandatory World Language credit requirement, but this may not apply in other states. Students planning to apply to colleges outside of Texas should keep this in mind.

 

Essential electives to consider include World Languages, P.E., and Speech/Communication. To learn more about various electives, check out the menu options on this site, or email me at eduNavigatorTx@gmail.com if you have any questions or need more information about specific electives.