The Independent Study Mentorship Program (ISM) is a challenging course that is offered at Frisco ISD High Schools. This program is for the academically gifted and high achieving student that are juniors and seniors. It receives weighted credit (5.5 points)

The students who want to take ISM have to go through a selection and application process and are chosen to participate in this rigorous elective. Students select careers or topic of study, and the ISM teacher helps the student narrow down and focus this topic of study. Students conduct informational interviews with professionals in this chosen field and from this process, they carefully choose a mentor with whom they will work with for the rest of the year (usually the second semester). 

The ISM teacher guides and helps the students with this important interview and mentor selection process. This course includes intense research, original idea generation, original product design, and written analysis of research. Furthermore, the ISM teacher works with the students on professionalism, time management, effective oral and written communication, interpersonal skills, interviewing, resume writing, and goal setting to help prepare these students for success in their mentorship experience and their life after high school. The ISM teacher follows each student's progress closely, communicates often with mentors, and make sure that each student stays task committed.