Hello, HSAP parents of incoming high school students. Course planning is underway for incoming 2024/2025 AHS freshman students. In the coming weeks, course planning for incoming 2024/2025 sophomore-seniors will be occurring.
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Here are some important considerations as you plan for your student's high school years:
1) WHAT IS DUAL ENROLLMENT?
Understand what dual enrollment is by viewing this slideshow (see slides 1-3, 9-10 which pertain to high school dual enrollment).
2) DIPLOMA FROM AHS:
Dual enrolling in high school will likely mean your student will not receive an AHS diploma. Only completing the graduation requirements found on page 5 of the AHS Course Planning book will ensure a high school diploma. However, this does not impact your student's ability to get into college.
GRADUATION:
There is a parent-organized graduation ceremony for Ames area homeschool graduates each spring. This event is not sponsored by HSAP but you can read more about it here.
3) INTEREST PROFILER
8th graders at AMS have completed what is called a Career Cluster Inventory on a program all ACSD student have access to called Naviance. It's a tool which your student will use throughout their high school years to order transcripts, explore colleges and scholarships, etc. For 8th grade students, it is used for exploring interests and careers and subsequently can be used as a tool to help in 4-year high school planning. We would like all HSAP 8th grade students, regardless of whether students will be full-time HSAP, dual enrolled or full-time AHS, to complete the Career Interest Profile by December 5 (SEE STEP 1 BELOW).
4) COMPLETING A 4 YEAR PLAN:
A 4-year plan is beneficial for students whether homeschooling full-time, dual enrolling, or attending AHS full-time. Find a template here. Not sure where to begin, if your student is considering college, see what the 3 IOWA REGENT schools are requiring here.
A recommendation is to start by making sure those required classes for college admission are included in the 4-year plan. Those classes can be taken at AHS, DMACC (online, dual-credit (DMACC courses offered at AHS), HSAP, or home. Keep in mind, it's important to consider whether the course needs to be accredited or not. Just because it's on the Regent Plan, does not mean it needs to be accredited for the university to honor it on the homeschool transcript.
For HSAP high school level courses, we offer mathematics up to Geometry (24/25 school year, only Algebra will be offered), Science Lab, Writing, and Art.
5) HOW MANY CLASSES CAN MY STUDENT DUAL ENROLL FOR BEFORE BEING CONSIDERED FULL-TIME AT AHS?
A student may dual enroll for up to one less than the maximum course offerings of the school day, which amounts to 7 AHS courses (NOTE: This is a legislative change as of the fall of 2024), or the equivalent of if considering DMACC and ISU coursework (see dual enrollment slideshow).
6) THE AHS SCHEDULE
Please consider the AHS Schedule structure when considering dual enrollment, you can find it here.
8th GRADE STEPS
STEP 1: COMPLETE THE CAREER CLUSTER INVENTORY on NAVIANCE (for 8th grade students). If any student is not in 8th grade and would like to complete this, please email Sonia Harold.
8th grade students at AMS have completed what is called a Career Cluster Inventory through a program called Naviance. The purpose of this activity is to provide clarity as to your student's interests and in turn, help assess what may be good course options for your student, whether at home or at AHS (and eventually DMACC or ISU).
Please have your student take some time to complete the career cluster inventory following the instructions in the slideshow by December 5.
STEP 2: RSVP to attend the 11.30 meeting
STEP 3: Complete the 4 year plan
STEP 4: RSVP to one of the following MYAP ORIENTATION MEETINGS ( this is for 8th grade students or any current 9th-11th grade students who is new to dual enrollment or not new to dual enrollment but needs a refresher on this new program which was launched during the 22/23 school year).
STAY TUNED FOR MORE STEPS TO COME, THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED AND AN EMAIL WILL BE SENT WHEN ACTION ITEMS ARE ADDED.
STILL UPCOMING:
COMPLETING A 4-YEAR PLAN
REVIEWING AHS COURSE OPTIONS IN THE 24/25 COURSE PLANNING BOOK (INCLUDING DMACC and ISU COURSE OPTIONS WHICH CAN BE TAKEN THROUGH SENIOR YEAR PLUS (SYP) PAID FOR BY ACSD)
COMPLETING COURSE REQUESTS ON INFINITE CAMPUS.