Senior Launchpad Slides
The Lone Star Series
SENIOR
LAUNCHPAD
Tactical Planning for Life After 12th Grade
OBJECTIVE: TEXAS READINESS 2026
The 5-Year Scan
Mental Simulation: Initiated
"It is March 2031. Where is your home base, what 'mission' are you working on daily, and what victory did you just celebrate?"
Target Details
- Geographic location?
- Primary income source?
- Personal happiness level?
05:00
Countdown Started
Mission Unlocked
Texas Foundation + Endorsement Program
26 CREDITS
CORE STACK
- English 4.0
- Mathematics 4.0*
- Science 4.0*
- Social Studies 3.0
*Distinguished Level Requirement
THE MIX
- LOTE (Foreign Lang): 2.0
- Fine Arts: 1.0
- Physical Education: 1.0
- Electives: 7.0
PRO TIP:
Double-check your speech credit. Most Texas schools require a local speech component!
Endorsements
STEM
Business & Ind.
Public Services
Arts & Hum.
Multidisciplinary
The Gatekeepers
Testing & Readiness Benchmarks
EOC
STAAR Mastery
English I/II
Algebra I
Biology
U.S. History
Requirement
Must pass all five to cross the stage. Failed one? Sign up for June/December retests immediately.
TSIA2 Benchmarks
The "College Ready" Key. Skip remedial courses by hitting these numbers:
ELAR 945+
Mathematics 950+
SAT Exemption
480 Read / 530 Math
ACT Exemption
23 Composite
College Bound
Navigating the Texas Application
ApplyTexas
The "Gold Standard" for every TX public school from UT Austin to your local Community College.
UT A&M TTU UH UNT
Texas Power Tip
The Automatic Admission Rule:
In the top 10% of your class? You are GUARANTEED admission to most TX public universities (top 6% for UT Austin).
! The Critical Checklist
The TREx Transcript
Official digital sent by registrar.
Topic A Essay
The "Tell us about yourself" story.
LORs (Letters)
Ask teachers 3 weeks in advance!
Nov 1st Deadline
The PRIORITY cutoff for scholarship aid.
$
$
Fund the Mission
Graduation Requirement Alert!
FAFSA
Federal Student Aid
For U.S. Citizens. Grants (free money), Work-Study, and low-interest loans.
Texas Law
Submission is MANDATORY for 2026 graduates.
TASFA
Texas State Aid
For non-citizens who are Texas residents. Unlocks state-level grants like TEXAS Grant or TEG.
Submission
Done via Paper/Online per college. Check with Financial Aid Office.
The $1.5 Billion Fact
"Last year, over $1.5 billion in Pell Grants went unclaimed because students simply didn't finish their FAFSA. Don't let your share stay in DC."
Tactical Advantage
Enlistment & Officer Pathways
The ASVAB Mission
It's not just a test; it's your career architect. Your AFQT score dictates your "Job Basket."
GT Score
General Tech
ST Score
Skilled Tech
Texas Bases
Fort Cavazos • Lackland AFB • NAS Corpus Christi
Post-9/11 GI Bill
100% Tuition + Monthly Housing Stipend.
VA Home Loans
0% Down payment on your first home.
Hazlewood Act
BONUS: Extra TX-only tuition hours!
The Economic Engine
Workforce Entry & Trade Power
TX High-Growth Sectors
⚡
Energy 2.0
Oil/Gas + Wind/Solar Techs ($60k+ avg)
💻
Advanced Mfg
Semi-conductors & Tesla-style fab
🛠️
Skilled Trades
HVAC, Welding, Logistics ($55k+ starting)
The "Texas Triangle" Strategy
90% of Texas job growth happens in the Dallas-Houston-San Antonio triangle. If you are entering the workforce, target these hubs for maximum earning power.
Next Step:
- WorkInTexas.com profile
- TSTC Enrollment (Technical College)
- LinkedIn "Senior Networking"
The Professional Toolkit
Resume Power
- » No "Objective" - use a "Summary"
- » Use hard numbers (e.g. "Served 50+ guests")
- » One page. Zero typos. PDF only.
The Pitch
- » 30-second "Elevator Pitch" ready
- » Dress for the job you want + 1 level
- » Eye contact is a non-negotiable
Interview Secret
THE STAR METHOD
S
Situation
Describe the context
T
Task
Explain the challenge
A
Action
What did YOU actually do?
R
Result
What was the win?
The Final Countdown
Critical Milestones (No Extensions)
FALL
- 🎯 College Apps (ApplyTX)
- 🎯 FAFSA Mandatory Opens
- 🎯 SAT/ACT Final Try
- 🎯 Rec Letter Requests
WINTER
- 🎯 Scholarship Grind (10+)
- 🎯 Housing Deposits
- 🎯 Final STAAR Retakes
- 🎯 Resume Review
SPRING
- 🎯 Decision Day (May 1)
- 🎯 Final Transcripts
- 🎯 MEPS / Physicals
- 🎯 Job Interviews
LAUNCH
- 🚀 STAGE CROSSING
- 🚀 Orientation Week
- 🚀 Basic Training Start
- 🚀 Workforce Onboarding
Mission Status:
READY
WARNING
Offers can be Rescinded
A college acceptance, a military enlistment contract, or a job offer is CONDITIONAL. Final grades, behavioral incidents, or social media red flags can cancel your launch.
FINISH THE MISSION STRONG.
Mission Debrief
"The future belongs to those who prepare for it today."
Counselor Check
Transcript Audit
Target Deadlines
End of Briefing
Senior Readiness Roadmap Worksheet
Official Mission Log
SENIOR LAUNCHPAD
TACTICAL ROADMAP • CLASS OF 2026
Candidate:
Launch Date:
The 5-Year Scan
Projected Home Base & Mission Status
Encrypted Reflection Area
26
MISSION INTEL
English Stack (4.0)
Math Stack (4.0)
Science Stack (4.0)
Soc. Studies (3.0)
STAAR Gatekeepers (All 5)
LAUNCH TARGET
College Sector
Military Sector
Workforce Sector
Primary Objective Name:
TACTICAL ACTION ITEMS
Critical Deadlines
OCT 1:
NOV 1:
MAY 1:
Asset Requirements
Financial Aid Status (FAFSA/TASFA):
Test Score Targets (TSIA2/ASVAB):
THE STAR PITCH
Draft your "Value Asset" story here. What is one time you solved a mission-critical problem?
S
T
A
R
30-Day Launch Sequence
T-Minus 30 Days
T-Minus 15 Days
LAUNCH (Day 0)
Sector: Texas High School Graduation Mission Status: In Progress
Senior Launchpad Teacher Guide
Facilitator Briefing
MISSION CONTROL
SENIOR LAUNCHPAD INSTRUCTIONAL GUIDE
Session Type:
TACTICAL BRIEFING
Mission Objectives
01. INTEL
Clear the fog around Texas-specific graduation laws (HB 3, FAFSA mandates).
02. TRAJECTORY
Present 3 viable paths with localized economic data (Texas Triangle).
03. ARSENAL
Equip students with the STAR method and a tactical 30-day timeline.
04. LAUNCH
Identify individual barriers and provide direct next-step actions.
Deployment Prep
- Mission Slides (Loaded)
- Roadmap Worksheets
- 30m Countdown Timer
- Counselor Contact Info
Mission Sequence
0-8
Minutes
Segment Alpha: Scoping the Future (Slides 1-2)
"Welcome to Launchpad. This isn't a lecture; it's a mission briefing for your adult life."
Focus on the 5-Year Scan. Use the music/timer on the slide to create urgency. When debriefing, look for "Mission Diversity"—highlight that some will be in dorms, some in barracks, and some on job sites.
8-15
Minutes
Segment Bravo: Gatekeeper Intel (Slides 3-4)
The goal here is Reality Verification.
• Credits: Students often lose track of their "Mix" (Fine Arts/Speech).
• STAAR: Be direct about the 5 Gatekeepers. Remind them of the December retest window.
• TSIA2: Explain that "College Ready" means "Money Saved" (skipping non-credit remedial classes).
15-25
Minutes
Segment Gamma: Trajectory Selection (Slides 5-11)
College Sector
Highlight Texas Law: FAFSA isn't optional for grad. Mention the 10% rule.
Military Sector
Emphasis on Hazlewood Act—a massive TX-specific benefit for veterans.
Workforce Sector
The Texas Triangle. Data-driven career targeting (Energy, Tech, Mfg).
The STAR Method (Slide 9):
Have students draft one STAR story on their worksheet. This is their primary weapon in interviews.
Counter-Measure Briefing
Resistance Point
"I'm top of my class, I'm already in."
Counter-Measure
Remind them of Slide 11 (Warning). One bad social media post or a dip in AP Calculus grades can lead to a rescinded offer. "Acceptance is conditional until you have the degree in hand."
Senior Mission Intel Worksheet
Confidential: Mission Log
LAUNCH INTEL
Texas Senior Readiness Guide
CANDIDATE:
DATE:
01 SLIDE INTEL: THE DATA
1. How many total credits are required for the Texas Foundation + Endorsement program?
2. List the 5 STAAR EOC exams you must pass to graduate:
3. True/False: FAFSA/TASFA submission is a graduation requirement in Texas.
TRUE
FALSE
4. What is the "Automatic Admission" rule for Texas seniors?
5. Name the 3 cities that form the "Texas Triangle" where 90% of job growth happens:
02 PERSONAL TRAJECTORY: THE PATH
Select your primary post-secondary target:
4-YEAR COLLEGE
2-YEAR / TECH
MILITARY
WORKFORCE
Specific Goal (Major, Job, or Branch):
Immediate Next Step (Next 7 Days):
03 TOOLKIT CHECK: THE STAR METHOD
Recall the STAR method from Slide 9. Briefly outline a story from your experience (work, sports, or school) that demonstrates your value.
SITUATION
TASK
ACTION
RESULT
Launch Intel Log • Sector: TX Senior Readiness Finish the mission strong.