CCMR Graduation Requirements

Read a Graduation Haiku

How to Graduate College, Career, and Military Ready

College Ready

To be considered college-ready students must meet at least ONE of the criteria below.

Meet the TSIA college ready scores for both ELAR and Mathematics, or be exempt from TSIA using qualifying SAT or ACT scores.
- TSIA Score Requirements
  - Math - 950
  - ELAR - 945
  - Essay - 5
- SAT Score Requirements
  - Reading & Writing - 480
  - Math - 630
- ACT Score Requirements
  - Before Feb. 15, 2023
    - English - 19
    - Math - 19
    - Composite - 23
  - After Feb. 15, 2023
    - English & Reading Combined - 40
    - Math - 22
Earn 3 hours of dual credit in English or Mathematics.
Earn 9 hours of dual credit in any combination of subjects.
Score a 3 or better on one or more Advanced Placement Exams.
Qualify for college credit in an OnRamps course.
Earn an Associate's Degree.

Career Ready

For 2023 Graduates:

To be considered career-ready students must meet at least ONE of the criteria below.

Earn a qualifying Industry-based certification
Have an IEP, and graduate with Workforce Readiness
Receive Special Education Services, and graduate on an advanced graduation plan
Earn a Level I or Level II certificate.

For 2024 Graduates:

To be considered career-ready students must meet at least ONE of the critera below.

Earn a qualifying Industry-based certification, and be a CTE Porgram Completer by earning 4 or more credits in three or more classes in the same program of study.
Have and IEP, and graduate with Workforce Readiness
Recieve Special Education Services, and graduate on an advanced degree plan

For 2025 Graduates and Beyond:

To be considered career-ready students must meet the TSIA requirements in college readiness above AND meet at least ONE of the critera below.

Earn a qualifying Industry-based certification, and be a CTE Porgram Completer by earning 4 or more credits in three or more classes in the same program of study.
Have and IEP, and graduate with Workforce Readiness
Recieve Special Education Services, and graduate on an advanced degree plan

CCMR Honor Cords (Show the world you are READY!)

Walk across the stage and show the world you are ready! NISD students can earn one of three CCMR Honor Cords.

Cardinal Cord - Meet the requirements in one of the CCMR categories above.

Cardinal & Platinum Cord - Meet the TSIA college-ready requirements and ONE Career or Military criteria requirement.

Cardinal, Platinum, and Gold Cord - Meet the TSIA college-ready requirements, one Career Ready requirement, and the Military Ready requirements.

CCMR Honor Cords will be delivered to campuses by April 17. If you do not receive an honor cord and believe you should, please complete THIS FORM to request a review of your qualifications. All review requests must be submitted no later than May 15.

CCMR Tracker

FAFSA/TASFA/Opt-Out Requirements

Starting with the 2021-2022 school year, all high school seniors must submit a financial aid application to graduate. That's right; it is a State of Texas high school graduation requirement.

The good news is that it is one of the easiest graduation requirements.

Review the resources below to help you complete this process with ease.

FAFSA Tools [For Students Who Have a Social Security Number]

GoingMerry - GoingMerry provides a simple, user-friendly platform to walk you through completing the FAFSA step-by-step. GoingMerry is a safe and secure way to submit your FAFSA and provides the bonus of helping you identify scholarships that are right for you. GoingMerry is also available as you complete FAFSA while you are attending college. Additional support for using GoingMerry is available in the FAQs below.

StudentAid.Gov - We recommend using GoingMerry as a safe and secure way to complete and submit your FAFSA. However, you may submit your FAFSA directly to the federal government's site on your own instead of using GoingMerry. If you choose this option, you MUST log in to your GoingMerry account and enter your EFC (expected family contribution) to record that you have met the graduation requirement.

TASFA Tools [For Students Who Do Not Have a Social Security Number]

This section does not apply to you if you have a social security number.

If you are a Texas resident and DO NOT have a social security number, you are not eligible to submit a FAFSA. However, Texas still has financial aid available for you. You should complete the TASFA application and submit it directly to your college or university. The TASFA form and instructions are available to download in English and Spanish. Once you have submitted your TASFA and received your EFC (expected family contribution), you MUST log in to your GoingMerry account and enter your EFC to record that you have met this graduation requirement.

TASFA Instructions in English (PDF)

TASFA Instructions in Spanish (PDF)

Opt-Out Tools [For Students Who Are Not Completing the FAFSA or TASFA]

Even if you are not planning to go to college or know you will not be eligible for federal or state financial aid, we still encourage you to submit the FAFSA or TASFA. Colleges use this information to provide access to work-study programs, grants, and college-based financial aid. In addition, we know that plans often change as graduation draws near, and having a submitted form gives you a safety net in case your goals turn toward going.

If you are sure that you do not plan to attend college, you may complete the opt-out form below and submit it to your counselor. Please note that this form requires your signature and your parent or guardian's signature if you are under 18.

Opting Out

A student may opt out of the financial aid application graduation requirement if:

a parent or guardian submits a signed form;
the student is 18 years of age or older and submits a signed form; or
a school counselor authorizes the student to decline to complete and submit the application for a good cause.

Opt-Out Form in English (PDF)

Opt-Out Form en Espanol (PDF)

Please bring your completed Opt-Out form to your counselor so they can document that you have selected the opt-out option in your graduation records.

FAQs

Why are we required to do this? (FAFSA or TASFA the Legalese)

FAFSA or TAFSA Financial Aid Requirement for Graduation

In accordance with Texas Education Code (TEC), §28.0256, beginning with students enrolled in 12th grade during the 2021-2022 school year, each student must do one of the following in order to graduate:

Complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA);
Complete and submit a Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA); or
Submit a signed opt-out form.

Laws and Rules

In 2019, the 86th Texas Legislature established the a requirement for Texas students to complete a financial aid application (or formally opt-out) to graduate. The State Board of Education (SBOE) adopted rules related to the new requirement in January 2021.

Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter B. Graduation Requirements (effective August 1, 2021)

House Bill (HB) 3 required the commissioner to adopt rules as necessary to implement the requirement. These rules were drafted in consultation with a statewide advisory committee and were published in October 2021.

Chapter 74. Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter BB. Commissioner's Rules Concerning High School Graduation

Where can I get help with my FAFSA?

Is Going Merry Secure?

How do I log in to Going Merry?

Students received a first-time log-in email from Going Merry. If they haven't received their email or inadvertently deleted it, they can send an email to support@goingmerry.com and include their school name, student email address, and their name. Students can also see their counselor or CCMR specialist or email CCR@nisdtx.org for help retrieving their password. This will allow Going Merry to assist them in recovering their account.

Where can I watch the Going Merry videos?

The FAFSA opened on October 1, but Going Merry says I cannot submit it until October 10. Is this correct?

Because Going Merry is a 3rd-Party tool, there is a slight delay in the connection to the federal aid site. However, this ten-day difference will not impact your aid eligibility. We feel like the benefit of the tool outweighs the delay in submission. However, if you prefer not to wait, you can submit the FAFSA earlier by completing it on the federal aid website.

Remember, if you choose to complete it on the federal site, we still need you to enter your EFC in Going Merry once you get it. This is how we can document that you have met the graduation requirement.

I have specific question about parts of FAFSA. Where can I find help?

My parents want to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) to connect their financial information to FAFSA. Going Merry requires that they enter it manually. Why?

We do recommend everyone uses the DRT, but Going Merry provides it at the end. Here's why:

The DRT can hinder completion for students because it sometimes does not connect right away. This leads to many students forgetting to return and complete their applications.
Entering the information vs. utilizing the DRT takes around the same amount of time to upload and review. Going Merry makes the questions easier to understand and navigate, so most students and parents can quickly get through the finance sections.
Parents often feel more comfortable knowing what is being collected. If a student or parent gets stuck, they should reach out to support@goingmerry.com and have one of their FAFSA Experts review the issue.

I am new to Northwest ISD, and my campus does not have a Going Merry password for me. How do I get an account?

Great news! Since Going Merry is free, you can go ahead and set up your own account.

Go to www.GoingMerry.com
Click on "Sign Up" in the top right corner.
Make sure to indicate that you are a student and choose "Sign up by email."
Once you have created your account, simply connect your account to your high school campus. To view step-by-step instructions for connecting your account, CLICK HERE. Don't worry. It's easier than sending an email.

I have asked Going Merry support to help me reset my password. How long will it take to hear back from them?

I still need help with Going Merry. Who can I see?

TexasFirstDiploma.png

The Texas First Diploma is designed to keep Texas’ best and brightest on a direct track to a postsecondary pathway here in our great state. Texas’ top students can accelerate their path to college and earn up to a year in scholarship dollars to attend select Texas institutions.

If you have questions about or need assistance with the Texas First Diploma, please contact College and Career Readiness at CCR@NISDTX.org, and we will help direct your questions to the appropriate people.

Benefits of the Texas First Diploma

The Texas First Diploma is a high school graduation program in Texas that provides several benefits to students who complete it. Here are some of the benefits of earning a Texas First Diploma:

College Readiness: One of the primary benefits of the Texas First Diploma is that it helps students prepare for college. The diploma requires students to take more rigorous coursework, such as advanced math and science classes, which helps prepare them for the academic challenges they will face in college.
Competitive Advantage: Earning a Texas First Diploma sets students apart from their peers and gives them a competitive advantage in the job market. Employers often view the diploma as a sign of a student's dedication and academic achievement, which can make them more attractive candidates for jobs.
Financial Assistance: Students who earn a Texas First Diploma may be eligible for financial assistance when they attend college. Many colleges and universities offer scholarships and grants to students who have demonstrated academic excellence, and the diploma can help students qualify for these awards.
Greater Flexibility: The Texas First Diploma offers students greater flexibility in their academic choices. Students who earn the diploma can choose from a variety of classes in different subject areas, which allows them to tailor their education to their interests and career goals.
Career Readiness: The Texas First Diploma also prepares students for the workforce. By taking courses in areas such as business, technology, and career and technical education, students gain the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the job market.

Overall, the Texas First Diploma offers numerous benefits to students who complete the program. It prepares them for college and the workforce, sets them apart from their peers, and provides them with greater flexibility in their academic choices.

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