Procedure for Course Selection
Students in grades 9-11 should use the Curriculum Guide to outline or revise a four year plan in accordance with graduation requirements and to select courses for the 2010-2011 school year which fit this plan.
Students should:
- Review the Curriculum Guide, paying special attention to the Course Sequence page.
- Consult with parents, teachers, and counselor to select courses.
- Complete worksheet
with guidance counselor, being sure to select at least 7 credits. - Complete elective course request form.
NOTE: Included in the curriculum guide are complete listings of courses by department. Course descriptions provide an overview of each course offered. They also identify the amount of credit earned by successfully completing the course. Prerequisites state expectations for those courses requiring previously mastered skills and content.
Scheduling
Students should be careful and thorough in their selection of courses. The process of selecting courses involves the consideration of many issues. Parent/student requests for placement are considered in the scheduling process, but the final decision involves all elements in a placement decision, including standardized test scores, teacher recommendations, and prerequisites for particular courses. All students are expected to continue in and complete the courses selected.
Within the high school's block schedule, scheduling is determined for the entire year. Students are required to take a minimum of 7 credits each year. If a student fails a course during the first semester, there is no guarantee that the same course can be taken again during the second semester of the same school year.
There are times when a change in a student's schedule is necessary; however, this can only be accomplished within the confines of classroom space, graduation requirements, appropriate course level, and scheduling considerations.
Each student is required to request the proper number of elective credits as described on the "Elective Course Request Form" contained within this website.
The master schedule is like a jigsaw puzzle; sometimes the pieces fit and sometimes they do not. Some combinations of courses simply will not work. Students should talk with their counselor and be prepared to be flexible if contacted about a course conflict.
It is important to understand that the master schedule and teacher assignments change from year to year; therefore, students should avoid making decisions about their future schedule based upon the current master schedule.
It is unlikely that a student will have success in a course if he or she earns a "D" in a prerequisite course. This performance trend is especially true in mathematics, world language, and other sequential "skill subjects."
Effective for the graduating class of 2011:
Students who do not meet proficiency standards of the 11th grade mathematics PSSA must enroll in a specified math course in their senior year and must achieve an average of no less than 75% in that course.
Students who do not meet proficiency standards of their 11th grade reading or writing PSSA must achieve an average of no less than 75% in the required senior year of English.
Students who do not meet proficiency standards of the 11th grade math PSSA and who attend the Eastern Center for Arts and Technology must meet the mathematics standards for their program at ECAT.
Courses taken at the Eastern Center for Arts & Technology in Willow Grove are considered part of the high school program. Four credit courses are primarily offered to 11th and 12th grade students and are recommended as a two year sequence for students, except for Allied Health which is now a one year program. Tenth grade students are also eligible for certain programs. Thirteen different classes are available. A co-op work program that incorporates on-site experiences into classroom learning is available to second year vocational students. See "Eastern Center for Arts and Technology" for further information and course descriptions.