Planning and Policies
Purpose of the Course Selection Guide
In a typical year, Lakewood High School will offer its students nearly 200 different courses. The scope of our program, however, narrows considerably when you and your child begin to plan for his or her future. All students, of course, must fulfill the basic graduation requirements of the Lakewood Board of Education. In fulfilling those requirements, students begin to focus on their immediate post-high school needs. For example, students who plan to go to four-year colleges after graduation need to follow certain course patterns. Should you need assistance, please contact your child’s school counselor.
We encourage all students to reach well beyond the minimum graduation requirements and to make the most of the many educational opportunities that Lakewood High School provides. It is helpful for students and parents to review the courses and programs offered and to develop a plan for which courses will be taken each of their four years. School counselors can help with this process and will assist in identifying course prerequisites and a recommended sequence of courses. This plan can be flexible as a student’s interest and career plans change but will help provide a roadmap for reaching one’s goals.
Course Availability
Classes represented in this Course Selection Guide are reflective of anticipated course offerings for the 2023-2024 school year and are not guaranteed to be available once the school year officially begins. Actual courses offered are based on the number of student course requests, scheduled sections of each course and teacher, facility and fiscal/resource availability.
Schedule Correction Guidelines
As the master schedule and staffing needs for the next school year are based upon the course selections made by students during the spring, it is critical that these choices be made with great care. Furthermore, change requests subsequent to the original schedule request may not be possible. Students and parents MUST give careful thought to course selections for the following year. Students should also consider the effect of course reduction on their eligibility under OHSAA.
All schedule changes are contingent upon the availability of space in the requested class and the judgment of the professional staff.
No schedule changes will be made after the 2nd week of the 1st quarter for year-long classes and 1st semester classes and the 2nd week of the 3rd quarter for 2nd semester classes.
Grade Level Advancement
Freshman (9th grade): A student is assigned to the Freshman Class upon completion of 8th grade
Sophomore (10th grade): minimum of 5 credits completed
Junior (11th grade): minimum of 10 credits completed
Senior (12th grade): minimum of 15 credits completed
Student Class Load
All students must be scheduled for six or more class periods worth five credits or more per year. Lunch, study hall, tutoring, etc. are not counted in the minimum class load. Students in all grades are encouraged to select more than the minimum load. Any course dropped after the first two weeks of the beginning of the course will be indicated as WF (withdrawn with an F) on the transcript and receives zero credit, the equivalent of an F grade. Any class that is “dropped with penalty” will be posted to the student’s transcript as a dropped class with no credit and will have a negative impact on the student’s overall accumulative grade point average.
Lunch
All students must be scheduled for lunch period unless a lunch waiver form is completed and signed by the student, parent/guardian, and either the Associate Principal or Building Principal.
Naviance
Students and parents also have access to a “Family Connection” portal through Naviance. Naviance is a comprehensive guidance software package that provides a wide range of tools to help students develop long-range course plans that not only meet graduation requirements, but also help students realize their post-secondary career or college goals. Please contact the school counseling department for information on how to log in to Naviance and start developing a tailored course of study.
The Lakewood High Career Advising Policy starts with a series of self-assessments available on Naviance. It is strongly encouraged that every 9th grader take the semester course Compass (formerly Career & College Readiness). The curriculum is designed to introduce Naviance to students and start planning their career and college readiness. Career assessments will be used during individual conferences with counselors to create the best possible plan that meets the students’ needs in high school and beyond.
Steps in the Registration Process for Grades 9-11
The selection of courses should be based upon careful consideration of your goals, interests, and abilities. These decisions are primarily the responsibility of you and your family, but your teachers and counselor are here to help.
•Four-Year Plan
1. Indicate all the courses you’ve taken since 9th grade.
2. Indicate the courses you are taking this year.
3. Indicate the required courses you must take next year.
4. Indicate the electives you want to take next year.
5. Include any plans to go to summer school.
6. Discuss your career plans with your parents.
7. Show your parents what you need to graduate from LHS.
8. Show your parents how your selection of courses for next year will move you closer toward graduation and your career goals.
9. Once you have made your final decision you may proceed
•In April, we will mail home to you and your parents the list of classes you requested. If there is an error, or if you have changed your mind, ask a parent to indicate on this form what changes should be made. Have your parent sign the form and return it to the Counseling Department secretary as soon as possible.
• After this, if you change your mind about a course, see your school counselor as soon as possible but before the end of school.
• Make sure you are enrolled in at least six periods per semester. Two courses with lab classes may count as three class periods.
• Students must be scheduled for lunch unless written permission to drop lunch is provided by the parent.
Repeating a Course
Students may elect to repeat a maximum of two courses at LHS to improve their performance (and grade) in the courses. Parent and counselor written permission is required. This applies only to courses that were not failed previously.
Credit Recovery
A student who needs to retake a course that has been failed will work with their School Counselor to best identify the path for credit recovery (which may include a third-party platform) that will help that student stay on track for graduation. Every effort will be made to enroll a student who is repeating a course into a supported study hall.
Student Athletes + NCAA Eligibility
Student athletes who are interested in the possibility of competing in sports at the college level need to be aware of NCAA eligibility requirements. Students must take rigorous courses that meet the NCAA’s definition of core academic courses. Throughout high school, student athletes should discuss course selection with their school counselors with this in mind. Prior to the recruiting season, students should register with the NCAA Eligibility Center to have their transcripts reviewed and approved. For more information, see the Athletic Director.
Athletic Eligibility
To be eligible a student-athlete must have received passing grades in a minimum of five one-credit courses, or the equivalent, in the immediately preceding grading period. This requirement is strictly enforced by the Ohio High School Athletic Association and no exceptions will be permitted for any reason. See the district athletic page for details.
It is the student’s responsibility to see that requirements for eligibility are met. The high school staff will make every effort to keep up-to-date records and to keep students and parents informed.
NCAA Approved Courses
ProgressBook
At the midpoint of each grading period, an automated telephone reminder is provided to parents encouraging them to review their students’ academic progress. Official progress reports are NOT mailed or given to the student. Students and parents can see academic progress at any time via the ProgressBook online grade book program provided by the district. The parent/student username and password is distributed at the beginning of each school year and the link is provided on the Lakewood City Schools web page. Please contact individual teachers for more information regarding class progress.
Report Cards
Report cards are issued four times a year at nine-week (quarterly) intervals. If, due to an extended excusable absence, a student has not completed his/her work for the grading period, an “Incomplete” grade may be issued. The student is expected to complete this work by arrangement with his/her teachers. Incomplete grades will be changed to “F” if not completed by the end of the following quarter.
Semester Exams
Semester exams are scheduled during the final week of the first semester and are designed to assess student knowledge and comprehension of course material through the first half of year-long courses or though the end of a first semester course. The daily schedule is modified to permit extended testing periods and students are permitted, with parent permission, to leave campus during periods where they do not have a scheduled class. Grades achieved on the semester exams are included on the report card and account for 1/10th of a student’s final letter grade in the course. An unexcused absence from a semester exam results in the student receiving a failing grade. Semester exams can only be given early with administrative approval.
Final Exams
Final exams are scheduled during the final week of the second semester and are designed to assess student knowledge and comprehension of course material through the end of year-long courses or through the end of a second semester course. The daily schedule is modified to permit extended testing periods and students are permitted, with parent permission, to leave campus during periods where they do not have a scheduled class. Grades achieved on the final exams are included on the report card and account for 1/10th of a student’s final letter grade in the course. An unexcused absence from a final exam results in the student receiving a failing grade for the exam. Final exams can only be given early with administrative approval. Students with extenuating circumstances should make an appointment to see their House Principal for consideration.
Grades and Credits during Expulsion
Students who are expelled are withdrawn from school. Those students returning from expulsion prior to the end of the school year will receive grades of “0” (no credit) for all graded assignments due during the duration of the assigned expulsion. For these students, quarterly, semester, and/or year-end final grades will be calculated and assigned upon the end of the school year or the student’s re-enrollment from expulsion (whichever comes first.) Students expelled during the fourth quarter will receive failing grades for all year-long and second-semester-only courses taken.
Grades from Other Schools
Other schools are not required by law to enroll a student expelled from Lakewood High School. However, if a student enrolls, is accepted, and completes coursework at another school while under expulsion from the Lakewood City Schools, those credits will be reviewed for possible credit at LHS upon completion of the expulsion period and the student’s re-enrollment at LHS. Credits will be accepted only if they are comparable to courses provided by LHS and/or deemed of appropriate content and rigor. Final determination of credit acceptance or rejection is made by the building principal.
Awarding of Credit
Credit will be granted on a semester basis. Thirty-six week courses will reflect .50 credits earned each semester. The two separate final grades will not be averaged together. Eighteen-week courses will reflect the .50 credits earned in the semester the course was taken. Students failing a semester of a year-long course must repeat the semester of the course failed. It is also very important to realize that failing for a quarter jeopardizes students’ chances of passing the subject for the semester respective to the marks received for the other quarter and the semester final. If a student obtains a passing grade in two of the three marking periods (each quarter and the semester exam), then credit will be awarded for the semester.
Grading Scale and Quality Points
Estimated General Fees
These fees are determined each year by the Lakewood Board of Education and are subject to change.
High School - General Instruction:
Regular and Special Education..............................................26.00
ID Card - Required of all students........................................5.00
Replacement ID Card (as needed)........................................5.00
Parking Permit .............................................................................20.00
Transcript ....................................................................................... 4.00
Instrument Rental.......................................................................50.00
Career-Technical:
Family and Consumer Sciences
Everyday Cooking...........................................................20.00
Global Foods..................................................................... 20.00
Foods for Life ....................................................................20.00
ServSafe ..............................................................................20.00
Experience with Foods...................................................20.00
Creative Cooking .............................................................20.00
Workforce Development Programs
Auto Technology I & II.................................................... 20.00
Electronic Engineering Technology I & II.................20.00
Medical Office Management I & II..............................20.00
Business Management I & II .........................................20.00
Early Childhood Education I & II................................. 20.00
Project Lead the Way I, II, III, IV....................................18.00
Health Careers Technology I & II ................................20.00
Media Art & Design I & II................................................ 20.00
Cisco Networking I & II....................................................20.00
Culinary Arts I & II.............................................................20.00
Construction Trades I & II...............................................20.00
Optional High School Fees:
Cinema Yearbook (subject to change)................................... 55.00
Special Elective High School Course Fees:
Art Courses (semester) except Ceramics ......................11.00
Art Course (year)......................................................................22.00
Computer Applications..........................................................18.00
Ceramics (semester)............................................................... 20.00
Photography (semester)........................................................ 20.00
Fibers Arts and Crafts (semester).......................................11.00
Personal Finance .....................................................................18.00
Digital Media ..............................................................................18.00
PLTW 5 - Robotics.....................................................................18.00
Introduction to Computer Programming........................18.00
Tech Trends..................................................................................18.00
It is important to understand that the only fees waived under a district-approved fee waiver are the LHS General Instructional fee and the cost of any workbooks, paperback books, etc. which are required to purchase for a class. Fee waivers do NOT include student ID card fees, parking permits, transcript costs or instrument rental. Fee waiver applications must be completed at the beginning of each school year and are not retro-active to prior years or previous fees.