9th-11th Grade Course Selection Support

December: Prepare for Course Selection/Requests:

During December, 9th-11th grade families should consider the following academic planning priorities:

Step 1: Review your student's PSAT scores & Accelerated Placement Act
Step 2: Understand the Accelerated Placement Act's impact on your individual student's core academic placements. Locate your student's academic placements in PowerSchool.
- Watch Video 1: Introduction & APA
- Watch Video 2: How to Find Course Placements
Step 3: Explore the curriculum guide and begin considering elective options for next year.
- Click Here for Important Resources (or see below):
  - District 128 Curriculum Guide
    - Includes information regarding NCAA requirements, District 128 graduation requirements, and post-secondary planning resources.
  - School Counselor Advice
  - Watch Video 3: Important Info to Consider When Selecting Courses (From School Counselors)
  - Several other details can be found in the December Newsletter.

January: Course Selection/Request Form Ready For Counselor Appointment

We encourage families to spend time prior to their student's counselor course selection appointment discussing their student's academic plan. We encourage parents/guardians to meet with their student and assess this school year & current courses, discuss student's passions/interests/strengths & weaknesses and then to consider courses for next school year relative to your student's individual post-secondary goals and career interests. Fill out the course selection request form together. Additionally, this form has a space for a parent/guardian signature and also has the option for Accelerated Placement opt out in each core department.

Resources include:

Overview page of all course selection resources
- Department Course Level Differences
- Out of Class Time Calculator (use to estimate time outside of class per day)
- Parent/Guardian Education Video Series (See Video 3, Video 4, Video 5)

Course Selection Consideration

What should students consider when selecting courses & developing an academic plan?

We highly encourage each family to review our school counselor's advice prior to selecting courses for next school year. Important considerations include:
Balance: How can your student create an academic plan and an extracurricular plan (athletics, clubs, fine arts activities and work) while maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle
Choices: Which elective courses (Applied Tech, Business, Family/ Consumer Sciences, Art, Music & World Languages) is your student planning to take? What combination of elective, on-level/ college prep and accelerated courses feels right for my student? Which course should they focus on because it is an area of interest or connects to their post high school goals?
Advanced Classes & Level: What level of academic rigor is the student prepared for? Are they ready for advanced classes? Which accelerated courses would you consider as a "good stretch"? Which accelerated course would you consider a "stretch too far"? How many accelerated courses (honors, Advanced Placement, capstone or dual credit) should your student take, if any? How much is it OK to struggle?
It may be difficult for students to change levels over the summer or during the school year. While a process for level changes exists, each student's situation will be individually considered and available space in other courses will be important for level change requests. The family, school counselor, department chair, and school administration are all included in this process and each student's individual needs and circumstances are factors in the decision. Please be thoughful now and think through course selection choices.

Course Selection Dates

11th grade students: individual appointments with counselors between 1/11 - 2/9. Juniors should book individual counselor appointments.

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.