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Choosing High School Courses
In January and February, your student will work with their teachers and counselors to choose courses for the next school year. It may feel early, but student course selection is the first step to planning the school year! Student choices make the world go 'round! It is important that students consider course choices with families and teachers. Course choices can be found in each school's course catalog found on the school website under Academics > Course Catalog.
8th to 9th Grade Orientation and Course Selection
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Parents of current 8th grade students - click here
Orientation will take place in large groups at the middle schools. High school counselors will come to middle schools and discuss elective opportunities, 9th grade classes, course catalog, and distribute information. The majority of the time during this session is spent helping students draft their course choices. All students will be asked to choose 8 courses plus 2 elective alternates in case their top choice is full. Students will leave this session with a clear understanding of the decisions they need to make with their guardians before they meet one-on-one with a high school counselor for Course Selection.
High School Orientation Dates:
- Morning, February 24th - Buffet, King Science
- Afternoon, February 24th - Bryan MS, Lewis & Clark
- Morning, February 25th - Norris, Morton
- Afternoon, February 25th - Hale, Marrs
- Morning, February 26th - Beveridge, Davis
- Afternoon, February 26th - Bluestem, McMillan
- Afternoon, February 27th - Monroe
Between Orientation and Course Selection, sit down with your student and review the information they received. Consider their core classes, elective choices, and elective alternates. There may be information about activities, athletics, and summer opportunities. Students may have paperwork needing your signature or input. Make sure they take all required paperwork back to school with them for their Course Selection meeting.
Course selection will take place one-on-one with a high school counselor at the middle schools. High school counselors will come to middle schools and meet with each student to finalize course choices. The majority of the time during this session is spent reviewing courses chosen by the student and family with guidance from the Academic Information Form. Students will leave this session having finalized their 8 courses plus 2 elective alternates.
High School Course Selection Dates:
- February 27th - King Science, Hale, Marrs
- February 28th - Buffett, Bryan MS
- March 3rd - Lewis & Clark, McMillan
- March 4th - Beveridge, Davis
- March 5th - Morton, Bluestem
- March 10th - Monroe, Norris
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Graduation Requirements
For the full list of graduation requirements, please see page: https://www.ops.org/Page/1641
Below is an example of a student's 4-year high school schedule.
Sample 4-Year Schedule
Interests, Passions, and Exploration
In addition to graduation requirements, students also have the opportunity to pick elective classes. Picking electives can help your child discover new interests or reinforce favorites. Electives aren't just about getting credits – they're a chance for your child to dive into things they're curious about or passionate about. Encourage them to explore a mix of subjects, from arts to technology, and find what clicks. Choosing classes that excite them not only makes high school more enjoyable but also helps them grow personally. Taking a series of three academy or pathway courses allows students to deeply experience a variety of classes and experiences. Explore elective options in the school's course catalog found at the school website under Academics > Course Catalog.
Advanced Academics
Our schools have a variety of AP, Honors, Dual Enrollment, and other Advanced Academic options (IB, Cambridge, Early College). Options will vary based on staffing and programs. Some of these will provide both high school and college credit. Planning these can be a big decision! Help your child figure it out by considering what they love, how much time they can commit, and their academic goals. These classes can be awesome for diving deeper into a subject and even earning college credit. But, it's important to find the right balance. Make sure your child talks to teachers, counselors, and maybe even friends who have taken these classes to get the scoop. The key is to choose what feels right for them, making learning exciting and enjoyable while still keeping a healthy balance in their life.
Choices, Changes, and Schedule Conflicts
Once all students have selected classes for the next school year, school leaders will start planning the school schedule. Based on student requests and staffing, school leaders figure out which classes will be offered and when.
Following spring course selection, students can adjust courses based on conflicts in their schedules. After school administrators set the school schedule, course changes are only allowed under the following circumstances:
- If a course was completed during Next Level Learning in the Summer.
- If the student must repeat a course that was failed during the previous school year.
- If there is a schedule conflict that cannot be adjusted without dropping or changing a course.
- If a student needs to meet graduation requirements.
Opportunities Abound!
In addition to classes offered by their school, students can also apply for special programs. If accepted, students would leave school to attend classes with these programs:
- Metropolitan Community College Career Academy Programs
- OPS Career Center
- UNMC High School Alliance
- Zoo Academy
Some schools have community partners that offer programming during and after school. Review October's Community Program Opportunities Newsletter for more information (some of these programs may have completed their recruitment).
Leadership Potential
Students who are still looking for their fit in high school should consider getting involved in our highly engaging programs that allow students to connect in and outside of class. These programs include:
- Band, Orchestra, Music
- U.S. Army JROTC – "To motivate young people to be better citizens" (usarmyjrotc.com)
- Journalism (Yearbook and Newspaper)
For additional questions, contact your child's assigned school counselor. They can meet with you or your child, answer your questions, and connect you with resources.
- Benson High School Counseling Department
- Bryan High School Counseling Department
- Buena Vista High School Counseling Department
- Burke High School Counseling Department
- Central High School Counseling Department
- North High School Counseling Department
- Northwest High School Counseling Department
- South High School Counseling Department
- Westview High School Counseling Department
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How Do I Know My Student's Progress?
- To check your student's progress toward meeting graduation requirements, click the Graduation Progress button on their main page in Campus Portal. Then choose Open Academic Plan Progress Report.
- In the Academic Plan Progress Report Options, change Report Type to Detail. Then click the checkboxes next to: Credit Type Details, Course Requirement Details, and Compound Requirement Details. Click Generate Report.
- Details for each subject area and class show on the report. Red scores are failing grades and may need to be repeated. Orange scores are courses in progress.
- When looking at the report, it is important to pay attention to the ER column. ER stands for EARNED! This is how to see the student's EARNED credits. The "total" column shows PLANNED credits.
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How Does My Student Submit Course Choices?
Students submit course choices using Infinite Campus Portal. Some schools also have a paper registration worksheet to help with planning and communication.
- All students can access their personal Academic Plan by logging into Campus Portal. Click the Graduation Progress button on their main page in Campus Portal. Then choose Go to Academic Plan. Click Proceed. You will see all four years of high school divided up into sections by subject area.
- The course selections a student made during a previous meeting with the assigned counselor will show in Campus Portal. Starting in January, students will update course selections for the 2024-2025 school year.
- Use course numbers or course names from your school's course catalog. For yearlong classes, make sure to enter both first and second semester.
- Course choices will be finalized and locked in a one-on-one meeting with the assigned counselor.
- The plan is accessible on Infinite Campus and course selections can be viewed through March 8. After March 8, it will not necessarily be up-to-date until finalized.
- Schedules for 1st semester are finalized during the summer and can be viewed on Campus Portal right before school starts.