Graduation Distinction

ADT Graduation Distinction
In addition to meeting all of the requirements for the Texas Recommended diploma set by the state of Texas, Academy for Design and Technology students are asked to complete additional requirements in order to meet the mission and graduate profile of the academy. Students must complete the following in order to earn the Academy Endorsement.
  • Completion of a CTE Pathway or 3 credits in any of the electives: 
    • Business & Industry Electives 
    • STEM Endorsed Electives (esp. Engineering, robotics, coding) 
    • Shared School electives (like Engineering at Anderson, Cosmetology or Floral at Navarro) 
    • Visual Arts electives  
    • Theater Tech 
  • 80 Techsploration Points (service hours & design and technology experiences); additional honors awarded to 120+ points.
  • Senior Seminar Experience (capstone service project, academy - focused internship)
Course of Study
​Students undertake a minimum of 11 pre-Advanced Placement and 5 Advanced Placement core courses throughout the four years in the Academy for Design and Technology, with many students exceeding these limits. Core courses within Academy are taught via an interdisciplinary team instructional method and feature project-based assessment. 
9th Grade:
  • Academy-based English I (grade level or advanced)
  • Academy-based World Geography (grade level or advanced)
  • Academy-based Biology (grade level or advanced)
  • Mathematics (course will depend on middle school math credits earned)
  • Elective 1: World Language 1 (may be a different course level based on middle school courses)
  • Elective 2: Fine Art (recommended in 9th grade, but course may be taken later)
  • Elective 3: Physical Education (some other electives count for PE credit)
  • Elective 4: Recommendation: Start CTE pathway

10th Grade:
  • Academy-based English II (grade level or advanced)
  • Academy-based World History (grade level or Advanced Placement)
  • Academy-based Chemistry (grade level or advanced)
  • Mathematics (course will depend on middle school math credits earned)
  • Elective 1: World Language 2 (may be a different course level based on middle school courses)
  • Elective 2: Recommended -- continue CTE Pathway
  • Elective 3: ________________________
  • Elective 4: ________________________

11th Grade:
  • English III: Blended with students from all academies (grade level, ACC Dual Credit, UT OnRamps Dual Enrollment, or AP Lang)
  • U.S. History: Blended with students from all academies (grade level, ACC Dual Credit, UT OnRamps, Advanced Placement)
  • Science: Physics (recommended, but other options available)
  • Mathematics (course will depend prerequisites already completed)
  • Elective 1: World Language 3 (may be a different course level based on middle school courses)
  • Elective 2: Recommended -- continue CTE pathway
  • Elective 3: ________________________
  • Elective 4: ________________________

12th Grade:
  • English IV: Blended with students from all academies (grade level, ACC Dual Credit, or AP Lit)
  • 1 semester Government/1 semester Economics (high school and college credit options)
  • Science: Choose from: AP Environmental Science, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics, Aquatic Science, Astronomy, etc.
  • Mathematics (course will depend prerequisites already completed)
  • Elective 1: World Language 4 OR Globally-focused elective
  • Elective 2: Recommended -- continue CTE pathway
  • Elective 3: Senior Seminar Experience (1 semester Capstone Project or Internship)
  • Elective 4: ________________________
Electives Required for all graduates:
  • 2 credits of World Language
  • 1 credit of Fine Arts
    • One design focused elective may also count as this Fine Arts requirement
  • 1 credit of Physical Education
  • .5 credit of Health (this can be taken in the summer or online)
Certificate of Endorsement
Students who complete all of the requirements above will receive upon graduation an Academy for Design and Technology endorsement certificate, verifying that they completed the Academy course of study.
Certificate of Participation
Students who are missing some of the requirements for the full endorsement, e.g. did not complete a Capstone Project, did not complete the Academy for Design and Technology course of study, or did not meet the community service requirement, are eligible to receive a certificate of participation.