Choose Your Senior High School Track Wisely

Grade 10 Completers may choose from four Senior High School (SHS) tracks, namely; 
• Academic Track, 
• Technical-Vocational and Livelihood Track, 
• Sports Track, 
• Arts and Design Track

Your 2 years in senior high school will actually prepare you for the following four possible exits after graduation. 
1. Employment, 
2. Entrepreneurship, 
3. Higher Education, 
4. Middle Skills Development

For those who are planning to pursue Higher Education (Bachelor's Degree), choosing the right SHS track will prepare you to your planned Bachelor's Degree in college.

Some of the subjects in SHS sound like college courses but they are meant for high school students. These subjects will prepare you to learn more advanced skills in college, if you decide to go. They will also develop skills you will need if you want to work right after high
school.

To help you properly choose your SHS Track the following table shows the Bachelor's Degree aligned to a particular SHS Track.

ACADEMIC TRACK

A. SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING & MATHEMATICS (STEM)

Leading Bachelor's Degree for STEM

B. ACCOUNTANCY & BUSINESS MANAGEMENT (ABM)

Leading Bachelor's Degree for ABM

C. HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES (HUMSS)

Leading Bachelor's Degree for HUMSS

D. GENERAL ACADEMIC STRAND (GAS)

After graduation you qualify for any academic course.

References:

SHS Student Primer. An Introductory Guide to SHS. deped.gov.ph/sites/default/files/SHS%20Student%20Primer_Colored%20HiRes.pdf

K to 12 Senior High School Basics

Adapted from DepEd Order No. 41, s. 2015

1. How many years are added to High School because of the Senior
High School Program?

• Answer: two years

2. What are you called when you finished Grade 10 but does not want to
enroll in SHS?

• Answer: Grade 10 completer

3. What are the four exits after finishing SHS?

• Answer: Employment, Entrepreneurship, Higher Education,
Middle Skills Development

4. How much does it cost to enroll in SHS in public schools?

• Answer: none because it’s free

5. Who automatically gets a Voucher for enrolling in a private or non-
DepEd Senior High School?

• Answer: all Grade 10 completers from public schools and all
Grade 10 completers in private high schools who are Education
Service Contracting (ESC) grantees

6. What are the four SHS tracks you can choose from?

• Answer: Academic Track, Technical-Vocational and Livelihood
Track, Sports Track, Arts and Design Track

7. What are the four strands under the Academic Track?

• Answer: Accountancy, Business and Management strand;
Humanities and Social Sciences strand; Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics strand; and General Academic
strand

8. What are the four strands under the TVL Track.

• Answer: Agri-Fishery Arts strand; Home Economics strand;
Industrial Arts strand; and Information and Communications
Technology strand

9. Why is SHS mandatory for all Filipino learners?

• Answer: it is a law that has been signed by the President of the
Philippines

10. What is TESDA’s role in the TVL Track?

• Answer: TVL courses offered may or may not have a National
Certificate (NC) equivalent from the Technical Education and
Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Reference: 
Appendix A. Questions and Answers, "K to 12 Ready Ka na Ba?" Activity. DepEd Order No. 41, s. 2015. Senior High School Career Guidance Program and Early Registration. Career Guidance Program (Teacher's Guide) p28.