Class Registration

First, consider your remaining graduation requirements of the 24 needed to graduate and the available high school planning information available to you on this site. Second, you will want to take classes that align with your career and college goals or requirements.

You must select 8 classes (marked with an X) and 4 alternates (marked with an A) on your registration card as a rising freshman, sophomore, or junior. Seniors have some flexibility, but they must at least select 6 classes and 2 to 3 alternates. Of your primary selections, it is recommended that you take at least one English, Math, Science, and Social Studies class every year. As a note, alternates may end up in your schedule if PowerScheduler cannot fit your primary selections.

Additionally, if you failed a course or multiple courses, your counselor may discuss credit recovery or equivalent course suppression options with you during registration that may alter your initial selections.

There are several types of requirements, such as:

• Applications
  Applications are required for Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID), Honors Leadership and Learning (HLL), and Help Desk. Students that do not return the application or meet the requirements are not approved for these classes.

• Contracts
  If you sign up for an Advanced Placement class, you must turn in an AP Commitment form. Dual Enrollment classes require a Career & College Promise contract and an Early Release Form. Early release from class during the 3rd and/or 4th block also requires an Early Release Form. Mid-year or 3-year graduation requires an Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools Mid-Year and Early Graduate Contract. All of these contracts are available in Student Services.

• Corequisites
  Corequisites are courses that are taken within the same semester or year as another course, e.g. AVID 9 and AP World History in 9th grade; AP Seminar and AP US History in 10th grade.

• Fees
  Several classes require fees. You must pay for art supplies in Ceramics, Contemporary Craft & Design, and Visual Arts; drama fees in Theatre and Technical Theatre; and the gym uniform in Health and Physical Education. These are paid via Online School Payments (OSP).

• Grade Level
  Some classes that you can register for may depend on the grade level that you are in. For example, AVID has specific grade level classes. CPCC classes, Honors Leadership and Learning, and Help Desk only allow 11th and 12th grade students. Students cannot start Beginning level courses in 12th grade, and CTE pathways cannot be started in 11th grade. 

• Prerequisites
  Prerequisites may include (1) specific foundational classes, (2) demonstrated mastery, or (3) course sequence progression, or a combination thereof. The High School Planning Guide can help you understand the prerequisites required by each class.

  1. Many higher level classes require the completion of a class (or classes) that provide foundational content. 

  2. Arts Education requires that you demonstrate mastery of all course objectives to move from one proficiency level to the next, from Beginning to Intermediate, Proficient, and Advanced. 

  3. CTE Pathways and WLM classes require that you follow a specific course sequence, advancing from level to level.

Dual enrollment allows qualifying high school students to begin certificates, diploma programs, and undergraduate classes for credit. Unlike Advanced Placement (AP) classes, which award college credit based on a test, dual enrollment courses award credit as long as the student passes the class. AP classes, unless they are being piloted, are always awarded credit on a 5.0 weighted scale whereas dual enrollment classes are weighted based on whether you are in the College Transfer or Career and Technical pathway at CPCC, weighted at 5.0 and 4.0 respectively. Additionally, AP classes are nationally (and at times globally) recognized by colleges and universities whereas dual enrollment classes may require further credit translation by institutions that are not partnered with the community college. AP classes are also only offered on-campus whereas dual enrollment classes are offered at several CPCC campuses and online.

You may register for any pathway as a rising 9th, 10th, or 11th grade student. Career and Technical Education covers a blend of early career discovery and skill development through hands-on courses. SMHS offers the following CTE pathways: Automotive, PLTW Biomedical Science, Culinary Arts, Sports Partners and Influencer, Software Development, Entrepreneurship, and Hospitality & Tourism.  CTE pathways provide you with practical skills, industry certifications, and the opportunity to earn a Career Endorsement.

AP Capstone™ is a diploma program from College Board based on two yearlong AP courses: AP Seminar and AP Research. Completion of this program helps you stand out to colleges and can develop your key academic skills and confidence. You need to complete these 2 courses along with 4 other AP classes to qualify.

It is not recommended to take multiple levels of English in the same year unless you are either trying to graduate early or with your cohort in the case that you have failed a class. Otherwise, doubling up on credits is completely normal for students that want to take AP courses. If you want to be an NCAA student-athlete, you will want to make sure to complete your 16 core class requirement for your NCAA GPA within a 4-year period.

For the World Language Magnet, students must follow a specific sequence of study to fulfill the 7 magnet credits that they must earn at the high school level, where 5 of those credits are completed in your target language. Middle school credits do not count toward this credit requirement, but your WLM sequence depends on which middle school you attended. You may consider taking other WLM electives in your Sophomore or Junior year to allow for other options outside of the WLM program in your Senior year.