Tuesday, February 11th: Presentations with students during wellness classes/Athletics

Tuesday, February 11th:  Choice Sheets mailed to Student RRISD email accounts @ 4pm

Thursday, February 13th : Virtual Parent Q and A for Rising Rattlers from 9:00 am to 10:00 am.

Friday, Feburary  21st: Choice Sheets are Due!

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For students attending PRMS in the Spring Semester of 2025, the electronic choice sheet will be sent directly to student accounts.

(For a full course descriptions , please see the RRISD Middle School Course Catalog)

Eighth grade students are automatically registered for:

Language Arts                           Science                             Mathematics*                

*Students will be automatically enrolled in a math course based on the course they completed in 7th grade

Eighth grade students will select a social studies course:

                                                       US History     or        Advanced US History

Advanced U.S. History is open to all incoming 8th graders who would like to take an advanced academic course, in order to be prepared for the academic rigors of AP Human Geography in their ninth grade year. Students who enroll in this course must be strong readers and writers; strong organization skills are essential for success. This course requires a considerable amount of primary source readings, timed and untimed essay writing, and advanced projects. 

Eighth grade students will choose three electives and two alternates from the list of options below:

Band  (First year band students will need to select the band option and then contact the band director for further instructions) 

Choir                                                  

Dance  

Leadership - Development of problem solving skills, speaking skills, and team work skills

News Media Production - This course combines technology applications skills with broadcasting skills

Orchestra     (First year orchestra students will need to select the orchestra option and then contact the orchestra director for further instructions) 

Partners in PE / Peer Mentor - In this course 8th grade students will mentor and work with special needs students        

Technology Applications - Web development, Java Scripting, & Emerging Technologies                      Theatre Arts

Yearbook

Art Middle School- Art for students who have not previously taken an Art class during middle school

Partners in Art (Art Teacher Aide)- In this course students will assist the art teacher working with special needs students

French 1B- Successful Completion of French 1A required as a prerequisite  and earns 1 high school foreign language credit

French 2-    Successful Completion of French 1A and 1B required as a prerequisite and earns the 2nd high school foreign language credit

Spanish 1B- Successful Completion of Spanish 1A required as a prerequisite and earns 1 high school foreign language credit

Spanish 2- Successful Completion of Spanish 1A and 1B required as a prerequisite and earns the 2nd high school foreign language credit

Art I - (HS Fine Arts credit) - (art fee required) (prerequisite:  art MS1 or teacher approval )

Business Information Management -   (High School elective credit / Articulated ACC credit) – Microsoft Office products

Fundamentals of Computer Science-  (High School elective credit) - Introduction to Computer Science

Gateway to Technology-   (High School elective credit) (fee required)  Hands on Pre-engineering

Advanced African American  or Mexican American Ethnic Studies- (High School Social Studies credit)  This course develops an understanding of the historical roots of African American or Mexican American cultures, especially as it pertains to social, economic, and political interactions within the broader context of United States history.  (This course cannot be taken in lieu of the required middle school Texas History or US History)

Digital Design & Media Production-   (High School elective credit) Hands on experience working with a variety of media tools to design multimedia projects.

Physical Education Elective Options:

Students are NOT required to take a PE course in 8th grade, however if a student chooses to take a PE course they may only choose one PE class as one of their three electives.

Boys’ Athletics*  (Football, Basketball, & Track) * Athletics Physical Required to Participate in this Class 

All students in Boys' Athletics in the Fall will participate in Football.  Please contact the Counselor for information regarding alternative options.

Girls’ Athletics*   (Volleyball, Basketball, & Track)     * Athletics Physical Required to Participate in this Class     

Physical Education (PE)

*Families needing assistance with fees for courses can contact the counseling office.

Important Notes – Please Read Carefully:

The state requires academic interventions for students who demonstrate a need for additional academic assistance. In order to maximize student achievement, students in need of assistance will be re-assigned to an academic intervention class in lieu of an elective. While every attempt will be made to honor students’ elective requests, budget and enrollment considerations may affect course availability and offerings. Change of mind requests will not be permitted after June 1, 2025. A student who does not choose alternates will have alternates selected by his/her counselor. Elective courses are subject to change or cancellation. By signing below, we commit that these are the courses we request to be scheduled for the 2025-2026 academic year. We understand that school resources will be allocated based on these choices.

Master schedules and teacher hiring are based on student requests; therefore, only schedule change requests based upon the list below will be considered:

A. Student has already completed the course in which he/she is currently scheduled.

B. Student does not have the prerequisite(s) for a class listed on his/her schedule.

C. Student has previously failed a course with the same teacher.

D. Student has been dismissed from a program where approval must be granted for placement.

E. Student does not have a full schedule.

F. Data entry error (no lunch, class listed twice, free period, etc.) has occurred.

G. Student needs an intervention course for state required STAAR expectations.

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Q: How many classes do 8th grade students take?

A: Students have 8 classes.  For 8th grade, students take Math, Science, Language Arts, US History (Social Studies), advisory and 3 elective courses.

Q: How many electives do 8th grade students have?

A: 8th grade students have 3 elective choices.

Q: Is PE required for 8th grade students?

A: No, wellness is not required for 8th grade students.  If a student selects a wellness course, it will count as 1 of their 3 electives.

Q: Do Advanced African American or Mexican American Ethnic Studies replace US History?

A: No, for 8th grade students these courses are elective options.  

Q: Can 8th grade students begin taking a Language Other Than English (LOTE) course?

A: Students cannot start a LOTE course in 8th grade as students are unable to complete the second part of the Level 1 course before going to high school.  Students who have not started a language course during middle school can begin fulfilling their LOTE graduation requirement in high school.

Q: Does my student need to begin taking High School credit classes while at Middle School?

A: The middle school years are a time where students should explore their interests and take classes related to areas they feel drawn towards.  These passions and interests may later develop into their future careers as they grow to know more about the topic.  Similarly, they may choose something that they want to learn more about to see if it is of interest to them.  If one of these areas is offered as a high school credit, that is a opportunity we are happy for students to provide.  There is more than enough time to take high school credit courses in high school.  Exploring and developing deeper interests is a key part of development during the middle school years.  

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Pearson Ranch Principal  Monica Collins     monica_collins@roundrockisd.org 

8th Grade Assistant Principal Madelyn Winnek   madelyn_winnek@roundrockisd.org

8th Grade Counselor A-L and 504 Coordinator Shelby Crownover shelby_crownover@roundrockisd.org

6th Grade Counselor M-Z and 504 Coordinator Brandi Cantu       brandi_cantu@roundrockisd.org

Special Education Department Chair Jana Cobb         jana_cobb@roundrockisd.org

Nurse Kathryn Kinder kathryn_kinder@roundrockisd.org

Registrar Alyssa Vinci alyssa_vinci@roundrockisd.org

Head Band Director Anne Leo anne_leo@roundrockisd.org

Orchestra Director Clarissa Lopez clarissa_lopez@roundrockisd.org

Choir Director Lisa Brown lisa_brown@roundrockisd.org

PE Department Chair   Brittany Zamora brittany_zamora@roundrockisd.org

Girls' Athletics   Brittany Zamora brittany_zamora@roundrockisd.org

Boys' Athletics Glen Murphy glen_murphy@roundrockisd.org

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ATHLETICS

Physicals are required yearly for ALL athletes.

Each student athlete MUST have all Round Rock ISD forms completed and submitted on the campus prior to participation in RRISD Athletic activities including off-season athletic periods. The forms may be printed from the link below, except for the required Emergency Medical Care Card which must be picked up from your campus Athletic Department.

RRISD Athletic Physical Forms

TATHLETICS

Physicals are required yearly for ALL athletes.

Each student athlete MUST have all Round Rock ISD forms completed and submitted on the campus prior to participation in RRISD Athletic activities including off-season athletic periods. The forms may be printed from the link below, except for the required Emergency Medical Care Card which must be picked up from your campus Athletic Department.

RRISD Athletic Physical Forms

The Off-Campus Physical Education (OCPE) Program permits students in grades 6-12 to earn credits that meet the District and State Physical Education requirements.

The program permits students in grades 6-12 to earn half (.5) credit of Physical Education per semester for a maximum of one (1.0) credit per year.

Students in grades 6-12 may qualify as either Category 1 or Category 2. Category 1 requires a minimum of 15 hours per school week with an approved agency, as well as release time from school. Category 2 requires a minimum of five (5) hours per school week, with no release time.

Students who qualify for Category 1 will have their off campus PE listed as their last class of the day.  Parents will need to make arrangements to have their child picked up from school early in order to attend their off campus PE class.  Students do not get an additional elective during the day to replace their PE class.  Pearson Ranch cannot supervise students on campus during their off campus PE class.

RRISD Off Campus PE Information and Required Forms

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