The Board of Trustees on Tuesday approved the 2022-23 Education Planning Guides for middle and high school students as they prepare to select courses for the next school year and plan their paths toward graduation. 

“The EPG is a resource that allows our community and stakeholders a clear understanding of the many options available to our students,” said Diaka Melendez, executive director of Curriculum and Instruction. “By having a comprehensive guide, a family can truly map out a student’s path entering sixth grade until graduation.”

The guides are published each year and include important updates for families on a range of topics, including graduation requirements, Advanced Placement (AP) and dual credit options, Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes, exams and testing, grading and class rankings, credit recovery, sports and academic eligibility, and the college admissions process.

They also feature a “Planning for the Future” section that contains yearly checklists to help students make the most of their education and ensure that they are college and career ready when graduation day arrives.

Students will begin the course selection process in January and will need to complete all their course selections by February 14.

“One of the things I love about what we do here in Spring is we start even at a middle school level, getting them geared up and towards the path that works best for them,” said Board President Justine Durant, during the Board’s Work Session on Thursday, Jan. 6. “Not only does (the guide) tell you what that path is — it even tells you the type of salary that you can earn in that career.”

Of note for the 2022-2023 school year is the addition of the Westfield Barbering Program, which launched in the 2019-2020 school year as a cohort of 14 students. Students take part in a four-year program, which centers around a trio of year-long courses. Once those students have completed the required amount of hours and received their barbering license, they can participate in career prep programs their senior year, allowing them to attend classes and work professionally as a fully licensed barber through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

High school students seeking to earn dual credit through the district’s partnership with Lone Star College will also find it easier to determine how those college classes align with district classes in terms of credits earned. 

Both Education Planning Guides are designed to serve as easy-to-read course catalogs that align to the types of course catalogs that students will see when they attend college.

“This is the most phenomenal Education Planning Guide I’ve ever seen,” said Trustee Dr. Deborah Jensen. “And for clarity and to show how these courses actually prepare for a career and what the career entails and the job prospects, it’s absolutely wonderful.”