Counseling Office

Vocabulary for High School Planning

PGP - Personal Graduation Plan or PGP is a 4-year plan of high school courses that meets graduation requirements and personal goals, is approved by parents and reviewed every year in high school.

Credit - Earned when the student passes a course with a grade of 70 or higher.

1 semester = 0.5 credits

2 semesters = 1 credit

Cohort - The year a student is expected to graduate from high school, according to the date they enter 9th grade.

Grade level - Is determined by the number of credits earned.

9th grade: 0-5.5 credits

10th grade: 6-11.5 credits

11th grade: 12-18.5 credits

12th grade: 19+ credits

Endorsement - Sequence of courses that allow students to develop expertise in an area. Each 8th grade student will select one:

• STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics)
• Business and Industry
• Public Service
• Arts and Humanities
• Multidisciplinary Studies

End of Course Exam (EOC) - STAAR test required by the state for graduation: Algebra1, Biology, English 1, English 2, and US History.

ECHS - Early College High School or ECHS, affords students the opportunity to earn an associate degree free of charge by the time they graduate with a high school diploma. Located at Dallas College. Students need to apply.

CCMR indicators - College, Career and Military Readiness, or CCMR indicators include achievements such as benchmark scores on tests like the SAT, college courses taken in high school and industry certifications and licenses. They show colleges and employers that students show readiness for the next step after graduation.

UT OnRamps - Dual enrollment program facilitated by a high school teacher certified by OnRamps, as well as a university professor. Students can receive a high school and university credit for the course. They have the option to reject the university credit.

Dual Credit - Courses in which students receive both high school and college credit. Students must follow college guidelines for course completion, grading and course drop rates.

Advanced Placement (AP) - Allows student to take rigorous college level courses while still in high school from a high school teacher. Students can participate in the AP exam and colleges have criteria for AP exam scores that can count towards course credit.

Career and Technical Education (CTE)

Career Cluster - Career and Technical Education or CTE, Career Clusters, is a group of programs that share commonalities such as similar skills or knowledge.

Program of Study - A Career Cluster can be divided into Programs of Study. A sequence of classes that are tailored to develop expertise in a career area, with opportunities for internships.

Academy - Highly specialized and rigorous programs that require a higher level of commitment and require students to apply.

Printable High School Planning vocabulary 

PGP = Personal Graduation Plan (High School Planning)
2025-26 Dates for 8^th grade students

High school Planning webinar for parents
Oct 8, 2025 from 6-6:30pm

• Link to join webinar in English 
• Link to join webinar in Spanish

   
Webinar about the PGP process and timeline for 8^th grade parents

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Field Trips to visit High Schools during the school day by 8^th grade students

Nov 10 to 14, 2025 - 8^th grade student Field Trip to all 5 CFB high schools during the school day

High School Preview Nights from 5:30-7pm

Newman Smith High School: Wed Nov 19 – 2335 N. Josey Ln. Carrollton
Ranchview High School: Thu Nov 20 – 8401 Valley ranch Pkwy E., Irving
R.L. Turner High School: Mon Dec 1 - 1600 S.Josey Ln. Carrollton
Creekview High School: Wed Dec 3 – 3201 Old Denton Rd, Carrollton

ECHS Preview Saturdays from 9-11am
Early College High School: Sat Nov 8 or Sat Dec 6 (choose one) – 3939 Valley View Ln, Farmers Branch
Parents are encouraged to attend any preview night or Saturday at any high school that offers programs of interest to their student.

High School Pre-Planning Survey

Nov 14 to 21, 2025 - 8th grade students select their top high school program during the school day.   

Career and Technical education or CTE Webinar for Parents

Dec 2 – 6-6:30pm – Virtual presentation in English and Spanish for 8^th grade parents about CTE options in CFBISD.

Virtual PGP Parent Q&A

Dec 5, 2025 - 1:00-2:00pm - We invite parents with questions on the PGP process to join the virtual Q&A with Counseling Department staff. English and Spanish. 

Personal Graduation Plan or PGP completion and 9^th grade course selection for 8^th grade students

Starts Dec 8 and closes Feb 20, 2026. Each 8^th grade student will meet with a counselor to create their 4-year high school plan.

PGP Parent Night (choose one) 

Jan 28 and Feb 3, 2026 - 5:30-7:30pm - 1820 Pearl St., Carrollton ESDC Building B - Parents are invited to complete the PGP with their student and a counselor. Sign-up will be available in December.

Printable PGP Timeline (English & Spanish) 

Erin Felker (6th Grade) felkere@cfbisd.edu 972-968-4403

Charlene Stansberry (7th Grade) stansberryc@cfbisd.edu 972-968-4404

Raechel Campbell (8th Grade) campbellra@cfbisd.edu 972-968-4426

*Counselors move with their grade level each year. Raechel Campbell will be the 6th grade counselor for the 2025-2026 school year. 

 

Current bell schedule for 2024-2025 (could change for 2025-26)

1st period 8:10 - 8:57

Advisory 9:00 - 9:39

2nd period 9:42 - 10:29

3rd period 10:32 - 11:19

6th grade lunch 11:22 - 11:52

4th period 11:56 - 1:00

5th period 1:03 - 1:50

6th period 1:53 - 2:40

7th period 2:43 - 3:30

 

ELAR (LEAP, AL, Honors, on-level, fundamentals)

Writing (LEAP, AL, Honors, on-level)

Math (LEAP, Honors, on-level, fundamentals)

Science (LEAP, Honors, on-level)

Social Studies (LEAP, AL, Honors, on-level, Dual)

*AL = Advanced Learner

 

Fine Arts:  Orchestra, Band, Choir, Art/Theatre, Dance

PE electives:  Karate, PE, Dance, Pre-athletics

Other:  AVID (application required), Dual Spanish