Texas High School Graduation Credit Tracker (HB5 & Endorsement 2026)

Quick Value Prop: A free, mobile-friendly credit checker that validates your Texas Foundation Program status and Endorsement eligibility in seconds—no registration required.

2. Structural Content (The Ranking Drivers)

How to Use the Texas Graduation Credit Tracker

Follow these four steps to audit your Personal Graduation Plan (PGP):

1. Select Your Path: Choose between the 22-credit Foundation Program or a 26-credit Endorsement (STEM, Business, etc.).
2. Toggle Algebra II: Mark whether you have completed or are currently enrolled in Algebra II to check for “Distinguished” status.
3. Enter Your Credits: Input the number of credits you have earned for each core subject area.
4. Analyze Results: Click “Check Graduation Status” to receive your instant compliance report and gap analysis.

Key Features & Benefits

• HB5 Compliance: Automatically updated for the latest 2025-2026 Texas Education Agency (TEA) standards.
• Distinguished Level Check: Instantly see if you qualify for the Texas Top 10% automatic university admission rule.
• Endorsement Pathway Validator: Ensures your elective mix matches your specific graduation goal.
• Privacy-First Logic: All calculations happen in your browser; we never store your academic data.

3. Technical Explanation (Authority Content)

4. Comparison: The “Old Way” vs. GooExam

• Old Way: Printing out a 5-page PDF from your ISD, manually counting credits, and guessing if you meet the “Distinguished” criteria.
• GooExam Tool: An instant, interactive dashboard that does the math for you and highlights exactly what you are missing.

5. Tool Limitations & Specifications

• Input Limits: Supports up to 10 credits per subject area (ideal for repeaters or advanced students).
• Compatibility: Optimized for Chrome, Safari, and Firefox on both Desktop and Mobile.
• Output Details: Provides a real-time “Gap Analysis” showing exactly how many credits are needed in each core subject.

6. “Why Use This Tool?” (The Solution)

The Manual Struggle: Most Texas districts provide a “Personal Graduation Plan” (PGP) that is hard to read and rarely updated. One mistake in your credit count could prevent you from graduating on time or losing your “Distinguished” ranking for college.

The Instant Fix: This tracker automates the frustration. In one click, you know if you are “Graduation Ready” or “At Risk,” giving you time to adjust your schedule with your counselor.

Understanding Texas Graduation: The HB5 & Foundation Logic

Graduating in Texas isn’t just about finishing four years of school. Since the passing of House Bill 5 (HB5), the system has moved to a “Foundation + Endorsement” model. This gives you flexibility, but it also makes tracking your progress significantly more complex.

1. The Theory: Foundation vs. Endorsement

The “Foundation High School Program” is the baseline for all Texas students. It consists of 22 credits. However, simply meeting the foundation is rarely enough for students aiming for post-secondary education.

To stay competitive, most students pursue the 26-credit Endorsement Plan. Think of an endorsement as a “major” for high school. You choose a specific track—like STEM or Business—and complete a coherent sequence of courses in that field.

2. The “Distinguished Level” Advantage (Pro-Tip)

If you are aiming for a public university in Texas, you must aim for the Distinguished Level of Achievement.

Why it matters: This is the only way to be eligible for the Top 10% Automatic Admission rule. To earn this, you must:

1. Complete the Foundation Program.
2. Complete at least one Endorsement.
3. Crucially: Complete Algebra II.

Expert Tip: Many students skip Algebra II thinking it’s just “another math credit.” If you do this, you forfeit your eligibility for automatic admission to schools like UT Austin or Texas A&M. Our tracker flags this immediately to ensure you don’t make this high-stakes mistake.

3. Practical Applications: When to Audit Your Credits

• The “Sophomore Slump” Check: Use this tool at the end of 10th grade. This is when most “Endorsement Gaps” are discovered.
• The Transfer Student Audit: If you moved to Texas from another state, your transcript might not align with TEA (Texas Education Agency) categories. Use our tool to map your out-of-state credits to the Texas framework.
• Early Graduation Planning: If you want to graduate in three years, you need to verify that your 22 credits meet the exact distribution requirements.

4. Common Pitfalls: The “LOTE” Trap

A common reason students fail to graduate on time in Texas is the World Language (LOTE) requirement. You need two credits in the same language. Taking one year of Spanish and one year of French will not satisfy the 2-credit requirement. Our tool helps you see this gap before it’s too late.

5. Topic Authority & Regulatory Standards

6. Verification & Accuracy Statement

This tool’s logic is audited for the 2025-2026 academic year. We synthesize data from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and regional Education Service Centers (ESCs) to ensure your credit counts match state-wide expectations.