Academic Policies

Jesuit High School offers a variety of electives. Some of those electives are open to all students in the designated grade levels and others require applications and/or auditions. See the course descriptions for more details, or review the chart below for easy reference. The 2024-25 forecasting process for application or audition-based electives is as follows:

Feb. 5: Applications will be available at the forecasting preview page. 

Feb. 5 to Feb. 14: Students should watch videos on the forecasting preview page to learn more about the electives of interest.

Feb. 14: Applications due. Students fill out applications found on the forecasting preview page.

Feb. 16: Elective teachers will finalize a list of students who may forecast for application-based electives and, if applicable, a waitlist. Teachers will notify students who applied for the electives via email about the decisions. If a student is approved to forecast for an elective, that option will appear on the student's forecasting page in PowerSchool.

February 23: Forecasting closes in PowerSchool at 5pm.

The following 2024-25 electives require an application and/or audition. 

• Art I Advanced: 9th

• Tech Theatre: All grades

• Music Production: All Grades

• Cantoria Choir: 10th, 11th, 12th (audition)

• Chamber Choir: 10th, 11th, 12th (audition)

• Concert Band: 10th, 11th, 12th (audition)

• Symphonic Band: 10th, 11th, 12th (audition)

• Jazz Studies: 10th, 11th, 12th (audition)

• Art II, III, IV: 10th, 11th, 12th

• Advanced Media Production; 10th, 11th, 12th

• Speech and Debate:10th, 11th and 12th

• Yearbook and Publications: 10th, 11th and 12th

• Environmental Science: 10th(in chemistry), 11th and 12th

• International Studies :10th, 11th, and 12th 

• AP Psychology: 11th and 12th 

• Anatomy & Physiology:11th and 12th 

• Arrupe Virtual Learning Institute Courses 10th, 11th, 12th

The following 2024-25 electives do NOT require an application:

• Freshman Drama: 9th

• Performing Arts Studio: Song and Story  9th

• Electronic Music production: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th,

• Choir Studio I: All grades

• Beginning Band: All grades

• String Ensemble: All grades

• Guitar: All grades

• Percussion/Drumline: All grades

• Art I: All grades

• Drama & Theatre: 10th, 11th, 12th

• Rec. PE: 10th, 11th and 12th

• Power Training: 10th, 11th and 12th

• Cardio Fitness:10th, 11th and 12th

• Creative Writing:10th, 11th and 12th

• Fundamentals of Media Production :10th, 11th, 12th

• Photography and Graphic Design:10th, 11th, and 12th 

These charts show the estimated number of work hours expected each year, including for each AP or Post-AP course, outside of regular class time. The estimated hours are given as an average only; each student knows his/herself best and the time needed in particular subjects. Students should also remember that most AP courses increase their workload in the spring leading up to the AP exam schedule in May. When forecasting, students must take into account the extra time that these courses will require. 

We encourage students and families to strive for a healthy balance of academics, activities, social/family time, and sleep. 

During forecasting, every student should complete the Managing a Weekly Schedule form (below) and discuss it with their parents or guardians as part of their discernment. Students should bring their completed Managing a Weekly Schedule form to their forecasting meetings with their counselors. 

A common question from students regarding course selection is whether the student should take an “easier course” with a great likelihood of getting a higher grade, or enroll in a more rigorous course in which a higher grade is less likely. A three prong response:

• 1. Students should choose courses that make sense to them. The courses they choose in each discipline should provide a new level of challenge and opportunity for growth.

  2. Students should do as well as they can in their courses.

  3. Ultimately, students should apply to colleges that will value the level of academic scholarship that s/he has to offer.

  4. Juniors and seniors will hear from college admissions deans that they should take the most challenging courses for which they are qualified – within reason. Some top factors in the college admission decision are:

• Grades in college prep courses

• Strength of curriculum

• Grades in all courses

Jesuit students can attest that all of our courses are challenging, especially when taken in combination. The challenge is finding the right combination. Some students need to be challenged to push themselves harder by seeking more rigorous courses. Others may need to choose less rigorous courses in order to balance their time spent on other important parts of their lives. We encourage students and families to discern carefully before making their choices.

A course designated by Jesuit High School as “Honors” (H) requires that students commit to in-depth, intensive study of complex material, both in and out of class.

An “Advanced Placement” (AP) designation before a name indicates that the course meets the standards set by the College Board for advanced college placement, and that students in the course are prepared to take the AP test of that subject in May of the current academic year. Students are eligible for college credit with a 3, 4, or 5 score on the exam. 

Students are automatically registered to take AP exams upon enrollment in each AP class. All students in an AP class will be charged a $100 fee for the cost and administration of each AP exam. 

Some courses in the Mathematics department are designated as “Post-AP” courses. While not preparing for a specific AP exam, the courses can only be taken after completion of an AP course and offer further studies in that area. All statements about the expectations of students in Honors/AP courses applies to these courses as well. 

Honors and Advanced Placement courses require students to have mastered the fundamental skills of the academic discipline.

Students must have mastered the fundamental skills of the academic disciplines involved. Only when they have mastered the basic skills of spelling, grammar, manuscript preparation, problem-solving, calculation, research, experimentation, etc., are students prepared to enter Honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Honors and Advanced Placement courses require students to work independently.

Students often have to work on assignments without detailed instruction. Students are responsible for asking questions when they do not fully understand material. Students must be prepared to spend a greater amount of time on homework. In addition, they must seek extra help, if needed, and make appointments with their teachers to obtain added support.

Honors and Advanced Placement courses require students to develop personal commitments and a strong work ethic.

Simply attending class and behaving acceptably is not adequate; students must participate in discussions and activities. They must develop an active interest in the concepts they are learning, engage these concepts, and actively seek answers to questions. Students must commit to doing their best work, not the least work necessary, for a high grade.

Honors and Advanced Placement courses require students to value learning.

While grades are important and taken seriously, learning must be the first priority of students. Students must be able to learn from mistakes. The thinking skills students practice are abstract and often have ambiguous answers. Students must learn to cope with ambiguity and to think through complex questions. Immediate rewards for “right” answers are not always possible in the context of Honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Honors and Advanced Placement courses require students to maintain a positive attitude.

Students cannot resist a task because it is new or difficult. When work is “easy,” students may be practicing skills rather than learning new ones. Discomfort with new tasks is normal and students must be willing to take risks. They must do their best and strive to see the purpose of the work they are doing.

Honors and Advanced Placement courses require students to take an interest in the subject.

Students must be willing to analyze their work in detail and participate in lengthy discussions and projects. Each level of an honors or advanced placement course is preparation for the next. Students must not limit themselves to the assigned material, but continually strive to learn more by engaging in outside reading, attending lectures, doing additional research, etc.

Schedule changes are discouraged. Therefore, students must choose their courses wisely. In the event students are misassigned, they may request a schedule change. The last date for a schedule change is the second Friday after classes begin in the first semester. There are no schedule changes in the second semester. A $10.00 fee is charged for schedule changes. To change a schedule, a student must:

1.     Obtain a Schedule Change Form from your Vice Principal;

2.     Obtain the signatures of the teachers involved in the change;

3.     Obtain a parent’s signature as an indication of his/her approval;

4.     Obtain the counselor’s signature; and

5.     File the Schedule Change Form with your Vice Principal for approval and signature.

A schedule change is not effective until your Vice Principal approves the request and indicates an effective date for the change.

The following policies govern failures and incompletes:

1. Students must pass all subjects taken at Jesuit High School. A semester failure in any subject constitutes a deficiency which must be corrected.  Deficiencies may be corrected in several ways: an approved course in evening school (Portland Public Schools and/or Portland Community College), summer school, or on-line. A student who fails a course must file with your Vice Principal a plan to retake the course before the start of the next school year. Failed courses may not be made up at Jesuit during the regular school year. Make-up work will be recorded on the student’s transcript and will be included in the grade point average. It is the student’s responsibility to provide the school with an official transcript of all make-up work.

2.  An “Incomplete” is sometimes awarded when a student has not fulfilled course requirements for some reason (e.g., prolonged illness). In such cases, the student is expected to complete the requirements within four weeks of the date that the Incomplete was awarded. It is always the student’s responsibility to contact the teacher with regard to correcting an Incomplete. An Incomplete that is not corrected within the four-week time span becomes an “F” unless special arrangements are made with your Vice Principal and the teacher involved.

3.  All students must carry a 2.3 or better grade point average (GPA). Students who allow their semester GPA to drop below a 2.3 will be placed on academic probation and placed in a study hall. Students who are on academic probation for two semesters may be asked to leave Jesuit High School.

Jesuit Class Name       PCC Class Name-No fee 

Honors Biology      BI 211: Principles of Biology   

AP English Literature and Composition                 ENG 104 Intro to Literature- Fiction

Pre-Calculus     MTH 111: College Algebra

AP English Literature and Composition                 WR 122: English Composition

Jesuit Class Name         PSU Class Name-Fee for Credit 

Spanish Heritage II                 SPAN 201H,  SPAN 202H, SPAN 203H 

Spanish Service Learning (H) SPAN 301H, SPAN 302H, SPAN 303H

Introduction to Probability and Statistics                STAT 243 - Stats I , STAT 244 - Stats II 

Multi-Variable Calculus                                               MTH 254 - Calculus IV, MTH 255 – Calculus V  

Introduction to Linear Algebra                                       MTH 261 

Number Theory MTH 346 

A complete description of all courses and programs offered at Jesuit High School is contained in this Academic Catalog and online under “Academics”. Each year this catalog is revised in order to update course descriptions and to incorporate changes in academic procedures.

All students must be full-time at Jesuit High School. Freshmen (9th Grade) and Sophomores (10th Grade) must take seven (7) courses each semester. Juniors (11th Grade) and Seniors (12th Grade) must take a minimum of six (6) courses each semester. At the discretion of the Principal and with the concurrence of the student’s parent(s), the course requirement may be waived for an individual. Such waivers are extremely rare, and are restricted to the following cases:

• an emergency situation (e.g., serious illness on the part of the student)

It is important to remember that waivers could affect college acceptance.

Students may take no more than one P.E. course per year (each P.E. course is a two-semester course). Aide or tutoring courses must be a seventh course; students in such courses receive a P/F grade.

Jesuit works in cooperation with Edison High School, a school that serves students with learning differences located on the Jesuit campus. 

Jesuit schools across the United States work with AVLI to offer students opportunities to take classes that are not offered at their current school.  Jesuit is piloting work with AVLI for the 24-25 school year.

Jesuit High School AVLI requirements:

• AVLI classes are offered to students with the demonstrated ability to work independently.

• Students must request Vice Principal approval to take a AVLI class. 

• Students must have  a current cumulative GPA 3.5.

• An AVLI class cannot replace a core class requirement; it is for elective credit only

• AVLI/JHS agreement outlining expectations signed by student, parent/guardian, AVP.

• Students enrollment in AVLI AP courses are required to take the AP exam and pay the additional exam fee.

• This must be a 7th class, taking 6 Jesuit classes. A student cannot have prep period while taking an AVLI class.

• A student in a zero period (Calc or Jazz) may take an AVLI class with permission from their Vice Principal.

• Students will be assigned to a classroom for one period a day with attendance taken.

• Cost $415 yearlong class, $285 per semester class

CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF COURSES AND MORE INFORMATION