Leadership Prep School's graduates are empowered to take purposeful action as they confidently enter their post-secondary future. They posses the skills needed to collaborate, innovate, and critically think, impacting their community through a life of positive leadership. In addition to the information below, please see the career exploration and internship graduation requirements.

Beginning with the graduating class of 2025, in addition to the credit requirements of the Foundation High School Program, Leadership Prep School students must complete the following to receive a high school diploma:

1. 60 Accumulated Hours of Career Shadowing and/or Internship Hours. After their 9th grade year, students may apply for the internship program. In 11th and 12th grade, eligible students may use their Career and Technical Education (CTE) Practicum hours to satisfy this requirement.

• 8th grade year - 8 career shadowing hours required
• 9th grade year - 10 career shadowing hours required
• 10th grade year - 12 career shadowing or internship hours required
• 11th grade year - 15 career shadowing, internship, or CTE Practicum hours required
• 12th grade year - 15 career shadowing, internship, or CTE Practicum hours required

2. A Senior Capstone Project must be completed during each student’s 12th grade year. This will include a senior portfolio and oral presentation.

Transfer students shall complete the requirements for the grade level they begin at LPS and each grade level thereafter.

In 2019, House Bill 3 introduced a new graduation requirement for Texas students that requires all seniors to submit either a financial aid application or an official  opt-out form in order to  graduate. 

LPS Counseling Department and the Coordinator for College Readiness have put together several online resources to support seniors and their families through the process of completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA).

The federal government sets aside $135 billion (with a B!) each year to give students as college financial aid. In fact, the average student gets about $15,000 in federal and state financial aid. (This is a combination of grants, work-study, and loans.)

What does your family have to do to get access to financial aid? Fill out the FAFSA form. This is the #1 most important thing your family can do, to get money for college. 

In the past, students have sometimes struggled with the government version of the FAFSA. That’s why this year we’ve partnered with Going Merry to offer you their version of the form, known as: “FAFSA Made Easier.” 

• • This FAFSA Made Easier form is completely FREE for you to use. 

  • This FAFSA Made Easier form replaces the government version. (You do not need to fill it out on the government website, only on Going Merry.)

  • Going Merry has strict security protocols, including encryption of all information and safe storage of your personal data. They do NOT sell your data to third parties. 

To access Going Merry’s FAFSA Made Easier: 

1. Sign up for Going Merry here (if you don’t already have an account).

2. Make sure you list our school as your high school, to get the FAFSA product free. 

3. Then go to the FAFSA Made Easier page and begin filling out the form! 

If you have any issues, you can consult their FAFSA Knowledge Base, contact me, or email the Going Merry team of financial aid advisors at financialaid@goingmerry.com. 

*Note - Your citizenship status does not impact your eligibility for financial aid. Your financial aid eligibility does not impact your senior graduation. We just need you to fill out the FAFSA or fill out the opt-out form.