Course Placement, Selection, & 8th Grade Admission Timeline

This webpage will help your family navigate and understand the transition from one year to the next as you select courses for the upcoming school year. The information on this webpage is rolled to the next school year each summer. 

This timeline shows the general sequence and timing of processes which is subject to adjust year to year.

Month

Event

December
  • Standardized test results are received and used to determine the level of core class students are placed in for the next school year in accordance with the new Illinois Accelerated Placement Law.

  • VHHS Department Chairs meet with 8th grade middle school teachers and finalize course placements.

  • VHHS teachers submit course placements for students in preparation for course selection for all students grades 8-11.

January

  • 8th Grade Orientation with Activity Fair will be held at VHHS.

  • 8th grade course request worksheets are mailed to the student’s home address 1/10.

  • 8th graders develop an academic plan and submit a course request worksheet by February 9th.

  • Counselor/student course selection meetings for 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th graders. 

  • 11th grade students: individual appointments with counselors between 1/11-2/9.

  • 10th grade students:  counselor appointments during English on 1/24 & 1/25.

  • 9th grade students: counselor appointments during PE/Health on 1/16 & 1/17.

  • 8th grade students:  optional counselor appointments in person on 1/31 & virtually 2/7.  Appointments can be made beginning 1/22 by calling 847-932-2002.

  • Choice Zone Declarations are due for 8th grade families who reside in the choice zone on 1/22.

February

  • Optional 8th grade counselor course selection meetings continue on 2/7.

  • Additional course selection meetings for Spanish and Russian speaking families at H73. Monday, February 5th from 6:30-7:30.

  • All final course request worksheets are due to VHHS by 2/9.

  • Black out period for course request changes begin 2/10 through 5/22.

March
  • Course selection data is compiled and prepared for the administration.
  • VHHS and D128 administration review course selection data and make sectioning and staffing decisions.
  • With Board approval the VHHS administration begins to build the master schedule based on the initial course selection data.
  • Early communication for Summer School.

April
  • Counselors meet with students whose courses were cancelled due to lack of enrollment and help them choose alternative courses. Course selection decisions are now limited to what is available.
  • Begin limited discretionary schedule changes. Course selection decisions are limited to what is available.
  • Continue to build the master schedule. A computer is used to run simulations to find the most effective schedule that will maximize the highest percentage of students being placed into the courses they selected.
  • SAT school day test administered to all Juniors

May
  • Finalize master schedule in mid-May.
  • Counselors meet with students to resolve schedule conflicts/irresolvables. Students who have a large number of singleton or doubleton courses (courses that have only one or two sections) are at the greatest risk for having schedule conflicts.

  • Course change requests from students will reopen 5/22. Students should contact their counselor if they would like to make a change.

  • Course selection decisions are limited to what is available.

June
  • Counselors finish schedule conflicts/ irresolvables and begin to balance sections.
  • Students and parents may verify cumulative course selection decisions for the upcoming school year via PowerSchool.
  • After graduation, VHHS main office begins summer hours the week of June 5th --- M-Th 7:30-4:00. School is closed Fridays.
  • Begin the 2024-2025 school registration process on June 3, 2024. The steps for students to complete registration: 1) Online registration to verify your child's demographic data and complete other pertinent information 2) Pay basic school fees and other optional items, 3) Families asked to provide residency documents should follow the instructions included under Proof of Residency, 4) Medical and IHSA documents are submitted to VHHS.
  • A counselor is on duty at scheduled times in June (call for availability) to process limited discretionary schedule changes and register new students. Course selection decisions are limited to what is available. Schedule changes get more difficult to do.
  • Finalize registration process during the last week of June.
  • Annual student registration deadline is Thursday, June 27th.
  • Summer School Session 1 (6/3/24-6/27/24)

July
  • VHHS continues summer hours --- M-Th 7:30-4:00. School is closed Fridays.  The office will be closed on July 4th.

  • Counselors are on duty at scheduled times in July to process limited discretionary schedule changes and register new students. Call 847-932-2002  for availability. Course selection decisions are limited to what is available.

  • Counselors and data processing balance course sections.
  • Chromebook  pick up is tentatively scheduled for July 31, 2024 for freshmen and new transfer students only. Specific instructions will be emailed to all families in July.
  • On July 31, 2024 families who have completed online registration and paid the basic school fee will be able to pick up their school ID and parking sticker if purchased .

August
  • August 6, 2024 (Tentative Date):  9th Grade orientation for incoming freshman and new transfer students
  • Schedules will be available online in PowerSchool beginning August 6th. 
  • All counselors are available by appointment the week prior to the beginning of school to process last minute discretionary schedule changes and register new students.  Limited discretionary schedule changes will not be considered after August 5, 2024.
  • End summer hours on August 2nd. Main office is open M-F with regular hours of operation.
  • The first day of class is August 12, 2024 for all students.

  • Fall Athletic teams begin practice on August 12, 2024. A current student health form or IHSA health form is required for athletic participation.
September

  • PSAT 8/9 administered to all 8th grade students at Hawthorn Middle Schools North/South.
October

  • Pre-registration begins for the  incoming freshman Class of 2029.
November
  • Process of data collection for placements.

  • 8th grade parents (Class of 2029)  are sent instructions to set up their Parent PowerSchool account.