Incoming 9th Grade
Welcome Future Vaqueros!
Course Selection Process:
1) Student Presentations - Incoming 9th grade students at our feeder schools (LMS, TDS and LCC) will be provided the Student Presentation through their middle schools the week of March 11th. They will also be provided a course selection sheet and a course selection information booklet at this time. The presentation video and corresponding slide deck with active links are also available below. We recommend that parents also review the student presentation.
2) Parent/Guardian Night Webinar - We will be holding a webinar March 13th from 6pm-7pm to provide information and answer questions regarding El Capitan, program offerings and course selection. A recording of this presentation will be provided below by March 15th.
3) Students will meet one-on-one with a Counseling staff member the week of March 18th at the feeder middle schools and return their completed course selection sheet at that time If you are an incoming 9th grade student who is not currently attending a feeder middle school, please contact the Guidance Information Specialist that corresponds with the first letter of the student's last name:
In addition to the Student Presentation and Parent/Guardian Night, we are providing the following information to help with this process:
* High School Graduation and "a-g" Requirement Information
* Course Selection Information and Program Offerings Booklet
* Frequently asked questions (Located at the bottom of this page)
Additional Questions:
We understand that you may have additional questions after reviewing the presentations and resources provided including the Frequently Asked Questions document below. Please contact the Guidance Information Specialist based on the first letter of your last name:
Registration:
Be sure to ALSO complete your online registration. Online registration enrolls your student at El Capitan High School and Course Selections help to build your schedule once you are enrolled. If you need assistance, please see the Online Registration Tutorial Video. Additional information about Online registration can be found at the Becoming a Vaquero website run by the El Capitan Administrators.
Presentations
Parent Guardian Night - Class of 2028 Presentation.pdfStudent Information
Click this slide deck link to access the links within the presentation
Click this link to access the links within the presentation
Important Information and Documents
Course Selection Booklet 24-25.pdf2024-2025 Course Selection Information and Course Offerings Booklet
To see complete booklet, you can either scroll through the document here or click on the image and then select the square with an arrow in it to open in a new tab.
Course Selection Sheet
9th Grade Course Selection Sheet 24-25.pdfFrequently Asked Questions
When will I get my schedule?
At this time, we plan to release tentative schedules a couple days before school starts. Official schedules are released on the first day of school.
Where do I go to find out about bus transportation?
Please visit the GUHSD transportation website.
If I plan to play a sport 9th grade year, do I still need to take PE?
Yes, all 9th and 10th grade students are required to take PE. Although we encourage students who are interested to participate in athletics in the 9th grade, it does not excuse them from taking PE.
I would like to participate in GLLP (language immersion program), how many classes will I need to take?
Participating in the GLLP requires students to be enrolled in 6 classes in the 9th grade.
Single language immersion students - Students in GLLP that wish to participate in an additional pathway or specialized program would need to be enrolled in 7 classes.
Triliteracy students - This program requires 7 classes.
Important note for all GLLP students - Some programs do not require an additional course. Students can be part of the Agriscience Pathway (Beginning in 9th grade) or Med Tech Pathway (Can begin in 9th or 10th grade) without taking an additional course outside of already required courses. If either of these programs interest you, make the appropriate selection for their science course outlined here:
Agriculture Pathway - Agriscience
Science Selection: Ag Biology (College Prep) OR Ag Biology (Honors)
Although not required, it is strongly encouraged for Ag Science Pathway students to be concurrently enrolled in California Agriculture that would require a student to be enrolled in 7 classes.
Med Tech Pathway
Science Selection (To start in 9th grade): Biology and Community Health (Honors)
Science Selection (To start in 10th grade ): Space and Earth Science (College Prep)
I want to be part of the Med Tech Pathway, what science course do I need to take in the 9th grade?
It depends. There are two options please see the course sequences below:
Option 1:
9 - Space Earth Science (College Prep)
10 - Biology and Community Health (Honors)
11 - Chemistry and Community Health (Honors)
12 - Physiology (Honors)
Option 2:
9 - Biology and Community Health (Honors)
10 - Chemistry and Community Health (Honors)
11 - AP Physics or AP Biology (Advanced Placement - college level course)
12 - Physiology (Honors)
I want to be part of the Med Tech Pathway and Ag, what courses do I select?
The Agriculture program has 4 different pathways:
Agriscience
Ornamental Horticulture and Floral Design
Agriculture Mechanics
Agriculture Business
If you want to be apart of the Med Tech Pathway you will be meeting all of your science requirements through that program, so taking Agriscience would be a duplication. It would be recommended for you to select one of the other Agriculture pathways if you want to participate in both programs. Please see the sequencing for the Med Tech Pathways in the answer to the previous question.
9th grade science course selection would be:
Space Earth Science (College Prep)
or
Biology and Community Health (Honors)
1st Elective Choice:
California Agriculture (The 1st course for the Floral, Ag Mechanics and Ag Leadership Pathways)