Grade PreK

ELA and Math – Creative Curriculum, Standards

Grades K-2

ELA – American Reading Company (ARC), Standards

Math – Jump Math(CES), Zearn, Standards

Science – PhD Science, Standards

Social Studies – Studies Weekly, Standards

Grades 3 – 5

ELA – LDOE ELA Guidebooks, Standards

Math – Zearn, Standards, Jump Math (Choudrant Elementary), Standards

Science – PhD Science, Standards

Social Studies – LDOE Scope and Sequence, Standards

Grades 6 – 8

ELA – LDOE ELA Guidebooks, Standards

Math – Jump Math (CES, CHS,), Zearn (IAL, RJHS, SHS), Standards

Science – Open SciEd, Standards

Social Studies – LDOE Scope and Sequence, Standards

Grades 9 – 12

ELA – LDOE ELA Guidebooks, Standards

Math – Envision (Algebra I and II), Standards, Geometry Common Core (Geometry), Standards

Science – iHub (Biology), Standards

Social Studies – LDOE Scope and Sequence (US History), Standards

• Graduation Pathways

• Advanced Placement

• CLEP

• Dual Enrollment

• TOPS University Diploma Requirements

• High School and Career and College Readiness Data

• All Things Jump Start

• Jump Start TOPS Tech Career Diploma Requirements

Not every student’s academic journey will look quite the same, and the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) is one of several state education agencies that gives students the option to select the graduation pathway that best fits their needs, interests, and future plans. Students can choose to pursue a pathway designed to lead them straight to workplace success or a pathway that leads them to postsecondary education, or both. And, schools receive the same accountability credit no matter which pathway students choose. In this article, we’ll explore those pathways, the benefits and successes of each, and a few changes you can expect in the future.

The Jump Start pathway focuses on career and technical education (CTE), requiring students to earn an industry-based credential as a part of the graduation requirements. The program launched in 2014 and has really taken off since then. According to the LDOE, “Prior to Jump Start, fewer than two percent of students graduated with a Career Diploma. Today, more than one in five students graduate with a Career Diploma.” Additionally, the number of industry-based credentials garnered by Louisiana students has jumped from 17,885 to 90,000 in the past seven years.

The college preparation pathway has historically been the more traditional path for students to take toward graduation. Students who complete this path should graduate prepared for college and will receive a TOPS University Diploma, also known as a college diploma. In addition to the rigorous course requirements, the LDOE also provides multiple opportunities for students to earn college credit while still in high school, which saves students time and money and increases the likelihood of college graduation. These programs include Advanced Placement® (AP®), International Baccalaureate® (IB®), College Level Examination Program® (CLEP®), and dual enrollment.