Graduation Information

Announcements

Individual Graduation Committees

TEC §28.0258 revises the state’s assessment graduation requirements for students enrolled in the 11th or 12th grade during and after the 2014-2015 school year. A student who has failed the end-of-course (EOC) assessment graduation requirements for no more than two courses may receive a Texas high school diploma if the student has qualified to graduate by means of an individual graduation committee (IGC) determination.

Alternative Graduation Requirements for Students Who Entered High School Before 2011-2012 School Year

TEC §28.02541 allows districts to award diplomas to certain students who entered high school before the 2011-2012 school year and did not receive a diploma after failing to meet assessment requirements. Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §74.1027 details the alternative graduation requirements that an individual can meet to qualify for a diploma. 

The Highest Ranking Graduate (HRG) program provides the student graduating at the top of their high school class a tuition waiver for their freshman year of college. Each HRG recipient is responsible for presenting the tuition waiver to the college or university they choose to attend.

Tuition Waiver Process for Colleges:

1. A student from an eligible high school receives the tuition waiver from their high school.

2. The student presents the hard copy of the tuition waiver to the Texas college or university they have chosen to attend.

3. The college or university verifies the high school's eligibility by confirming the school's accreditation by its presence on one of       the following:
 

4. The college or university verifies the student's eligibility based on meeting both of the following criteria:

  • the student is ranked #1 in their high school graduating class*; and
  • the student is in possession of the tuition waiver document. **

*If the student is not ranked #1 but has the tuition waiver document, contact the high school directly to verify the student is the HRG.

**If the student does not have the tuition waiver document, the student should contact the high school directly to obtain the tuition waiver.

Note:  The Texas Education Agency (TEA) no longer verifies the Highest Ranking Graduates.

Program Authorization

Texas Education Code

Highest Ranking High School Graduates Texas Education Code §54.301 

Continued Receipt of Exemptions or Waivers Conditional §54.2001  

Eligible High Schools in Texas by the Numbers

According to Fall 2025 Campus data, number of schools serving 12th grade students:

  • 1324 Instructional public high schools
  • 366 Alternative type public high schools
  • 625 Private high schools accredited by TEPSAC
  • 18 Private high schools accredited by IALDS

 

 

This site provides information regarding the state graduation requirements. 

Overview 

In 2013, the 83rd Texas Legislature established the new Foundation High School Program as the default graduation program for all students entering high school beginning in 2014–2015. The State Board of Education adopted rules related to the new Foundation High School Program in January 2014.

Graduation Toolkit

The Texas Education Agency, in collaboration with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas Workforce Commission, developed the Graduation Toolkit to provide essential information to students, parents, and counselors about the new Foundation High School Program. The Graduation Toolkit is available for download.

Resources

The following resources provide additional information about the Foundation High School Program.

Required Forms Related to Graduation

The following required forms are provided for district use.

Direct Admission Opt-Out Form

A student may opt out of the direct admission requirements using the Direct Admission Opt-Out Form with the appropriate signature(s). 

Endorsement Opt-Out Agreement

A student may opt out of earning an endorsement by submitting the Endorsement Opt-Out Agreement with appropriate signature(s). 

Financial Aid Application Opt-Out Form

A student may opt out of the financial aid application graduation requirement by submitting the Financial Aid Application Opt-Out Form with appropriate signature(s).

Additional Forms

The Institution of Higher Education-Endorsed Course Registration Form required to register courses offered pursuant to TEC, §28.025(b-5), is available by submitting a Curriculum Request Form through the TEA Help Desk.

Instructions for completing the Highest Ranking Graduate (HRG) forms

 
 1. Determine the Highest Ranking Graduate recipient. 

  • The calculation to determine the HRG is a local control issue.
  • Each school or district should have a written policy to determine one HRG. 

 2. Download and complete the 2025-2026 HRG tuition waiver using Adobe. Please print this on your school or district letterhead. 

 3. Download and complete the 2025-2026 HRG certificate. Please print this on parchment or other quality certificate paper.

 4. Present both the tuition waiver and certificate to the Highest Ranking Graduate. (Please do not forward these documents to TEA)

Note: The HRG recipient is responsible for presenting the tuition waiver to the Texas public college or university they choose to attend. The Highest Ranking Graduate certificate is considered ceremonial and should be retained by the student.

Download free Acrobat Reader

 

Students who graduate with a grade point average in the top of their high school graduating class may be eligible for certain privileges when applying to college.

Announcement

The 86th Texas Legislature, 2019, passed House Bill (HB) 539, which amended Texas Education Code §51.803. The bill extends eligibility for college admission to a student who graduated as the valedictorian of the student's high school graduating class in one of the two school years preceding the academic year for which the student is applying. The commissioner's rules will be updated to reflect this change. Although this requirement is not yet reflected in commissioner rule, the change to statute is in effect.

Dissemination of Information 

In accordance with Texas Education Code (TEC), §28.026, each high school in the school district must post appropriate signs regarding automatic college admission as outlined under the Uniform Admission Policy (TEC, §51.803). District staff must post signs in each

  • counselor's office,
  • principal's office, and
  • administrative building.

To assist in the dissemination of this information, the school district must  

  • require that each high school counselor and class advisor receive a detailed explanation of the substance of the Uniform Admission Policy;
  • provide each student, at the time the student first registers for one or more classes required for high school graduation, with a written notification of the substance of the Uniform Admission Policy; and
  • require that each high school counselor and senior class advisor explain to eligible students the substance of the Uniform Admission Policy.

Notification of Eligibility

In accordance with TEC, §28.026, and Texas Administrative Code (TAC), §61.1201, school districts are required to provide written notification of eligibility for automatic college admission under the Uniform Admission Policy (TEC §51.803) to students before the 14th day after the last day of the fall semester. Districts are required to notify

  • each eligible senior,
  • each junior with a grade point average in the top ten percent, and
  • the student’s parent or guardian.  

Laws and Rules

The following links provide information about the laws and rules for automatic college admission:

  • TEC §51.803, Automatic Admission: All Institutions
  • TEC §28.026, Notice of Requirements for Automatic College Admission and Financial Aid
  • TAC §61.1201, Notification of Automatic College Admission

Resources

The following resources provide additional information about automatic college admission: 

This site provides information about Texas high school graduation requirements. Information about individual graduation committees and alternative graduation requirements for students who entered high school before the 2011-2012 school year can be found on the Individual Graduation Committees webpage.

Announcements

Senate Bill 1888 (87th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2021), establishes the Texas First Early High School Completion Program to allow public high school students who demonstrate early readiness for college to graduate early from high school and earn a scholarship for one or two semesters at certain Texas universities. Information regarding the program is provided on the Texas First Early High School Completion Program webpage.

Financial Aid Application Graduation Requirement

In 2019, the 86th Texas Legislature established a new financial aid application graduation requirement. 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.

Additional information regarding the financial aid application graduation requirement is provided on the Financial Aid Requirement webpage.

House Bill 5: Foundation High School Program

The new Foundation High School Program became the default graduation program for all students entering ninth grade beginning with the 2014-2015 school year. Additional information about the Foundation High School Program is provided on the House Bill 5: Foundation High School Program webpage.

Senate Bill 30: Community Safety Education Act

Senate Bill (SB) 30, also known as The Community Safety Education Act, requires the State Board of Education (SBOE) to adopt rules to include the instruction developed under TEC, §28.012, in one or more courses in the required curriculum for students in grades 9-12. The SBOE adopted a new rule in Title 19 of the Texas Administrative Code (TAC), §74.39, Requirements for Instruction on Proper Interaction with Peace Officers,

that became effective August 27, 2018. This rule requires school districts and charter schools to provide instruction to students in grades 9-12 on proper interaction with peace officers during traffic stops and other in-person encounters.

Graduation Programs

Students who entered high school before the 2014-2015 school year have the option to graduate under the Foundation High School Program or the existing Minimum High School Program (MHSP), Recommended High School Program (RHSP), or Distinguished Achievement Program (DAP). Information on all graduation programs are available by request through the Curriculum Help Desk.

The following resources provide additional information related to state graduation:

Official State Board of Education Administrative Rules Regarding Graduation Requirements  

The State Board of Education (SBOE) has authority over graduation requirements for Texas public school students. To access SBOE rules on graduation, select from the following:

For information on high school graduation requirements for students who entered high school before 2007-2008, please contact the Curriculum Help Desk.

Resources