Choosing Your Grade 9 Core Courses

There are many things to consider when choosing the levels of courses you will take. In the Morris Hills Regional District, courses are offered at the college preparatory level (CPA and CPB), honors level (H), and an Advanced Placement level (AP). (Students in the International Baccalaureate Program are also offered courses at the IB level.)

Each of your core teachers will make recommendations for the appropriate levels for you. They will base their recommendations on your grades, homework, class work, tests and quizzes, and school attendance. They will also consider how motivated you are to learn and your self-discipline. Your teachers know the academic performance level required to be successful in certain classes in high school and will give a lot of thought as to your recommended placement.

Your school counselor and your parents are all ready to talk to you about what courses and levels to choose. Remember you have an opportunity to take a variety of challenging courses, so choose wisely. Your careful selection will provide you with the foundation necessary to sample new fields of study and reach your post-high school goals.

Course Levels

Classes at the high school are leveled as follows:

CPA: CPA classes are taught at the four-year college preparatory level and are the standard level for high school students. Class expectations include independent study, research, active participation, and long-term projects. Students at the CPA level are able to meet these expectations, as well as course goals, with minimal scaffolding. The majority of students take classes at the CPA level.

CPB: CPB classes are also taught at the college preparatory level and utilize the CPA curriculum, but classes and content are modified to meet the needs of learners that require a more supportive academic environment.

CPB classes generally move at a slower pace than CPA classes and emphasize study skills and strategies with targeted areas of academic instruction. Students who are attaining grade level standards without assistance should NOT take classes at this level.

CP: (Environmental Science Only) Students in Environmental Science CP are given the opportunity to hone their skills as they prepare for future science courses. In this course, additional time and effort will be spent to help students develop their math and science skills. Students will receive additional support to help improve their reading, writing, and study skills so that they can succeed in future science courses. At the end of the course, students will be recommended for either Biology CPB, CPA, or Honors.

Honors: An honors class is an advanced/accelerated high school course; honors courses typically move at a faster pace with more in-depth study of a content area than the CPA level. Honors students are expected to have strong reading and writing skills and/or strong analytical/problem-solving skills. Students taking honors coursework should be motivated, independent learners capable of balancing a variety of academic challenges. Because the material is more rigorous and moves at a faster pace, honors classes are weighted. Some honors courses have a mandatory summer assignment associated with them.

Advanced Placement (AP): AP courses are college level courses taken by high school students. AP course content is determined and certified by the College Board (makers of the SAT). Students can sit for the AP exam in May in order to earn college credit for the course. Eligibility for college credit is based on exam results. Because teachers have to deliver the AP curriculum by the end of April in preparation for the May exam, the AP course moves even faster than an honors course, and a significant amount of work that is done independently by the student outside of class time. An AP Course requires extensive analytic skills, expert time management skills, and a passion for learning due to the intense nature of the workload. Students interested in taking AP courses should take honors courses in those academic areas as freshmen and sophomores. AP courses are also weighted and often have a summer assignment associated with them. Most AP courses are only available to juniors and seniors, although a few are open to freshmen and sophomores.

*Motivated, high-achieving students may choose to accelerate the pacing of their education by doubling up on certain Honors or CPA classes in some academic areas with departmental permission or by taking an AP Elective in science, math, or social studies starting in the sophomore year. Students may also move from level to level (CPB to CPA, CPA to H, etc.), depending on prerequisites and/or individual student needs. PLEASE NOTE: This table only reflects common pathways in core areas and does not reflect the depth and breadth of coursework available. For additional options, please contact your child’s school counselor and review all of the courses available on this website.