You should use the "elective section" to enter the course you wish to take. If you don't see the course in the elective section, please contact the Registrar (brueckert@micds.org)

AP and Accelerated Classes

• All AP classes require approval from your current teacher of that particular subject. If you do not have a teacher in that subject this semester, reach out to the department chair for approval.

• Accelerated classes require approval, even if you are currently in the accelerated track. Share your form with your teacher so they can provide their comment signature.

• Some high level non-AP courses also need approval. Double check the curriculum guide if you are registering for a 500 or 600 level course.

Yes, provided you would still be enrolled in the minimum five classes. You are not allowed to indicate a free period as a second choice if you only have five first-choice classes. Similarly, you can't indicate an extra free period as a second choice more than once, as this would potentially put you under the minimum of five classes

The second choice is ONLY in case the class becomes full or is canceled due to low number of requests. Most of the time you will get into your first choice class.

No!

You may have a special circumstance that requires you to take a course from a specific department (per graduation requirements). 

If this is not the case:

• Example: it is okay to put AP Macro as a second choice for AP Computer Science (or whatever combo you can think of). 

  • • Even though it will look odd to have AP Macro listed with Computer Science on your Google Sheet, it is important to include them next to each other so your advisor and Mr. Rueckert are able to see that one course replaces the other.

PER SEMESTER COURSE REQUIREMENTS 

• Minimum of 5 classes per semester 

• Maximum of 6 classes per semester

• Not having a free period means you will be taking seven classes and will need to petition for a 7th Class. This is uncommon and involves a presentation to the US Academic Team.

The minimum required course load is five classes. Keep in mind, that this is considered "underloading" your courses. You should have a discussion with your college counselor to help decide if this is wise. 

While we believe that taking six classes is in your best interest as your prepare for college, we also acknowledge that there may be some scenarios that warrant a senior considering a course load of only five classes; the most notable being a substantive overload of AP courses. 

If you are a senior wanting to take five classes, the following steps must be completed according to the timetable published by the Registrar. 

1. A student initiates this process by completing the Request for Five Classes Google Form. 

2. Upon completion of the form, a Request to Take Five Classes document will be emailed to the student. 

3. The document must be signed and completed by the registration deadline. 

You don't register for a free period. They occur during the day when you don't have a scheduled class. Note, that Freshmen have a required study hall during their free periods for, at minimum, one semester. Freshmen may be allowed to drop study hall in second semester. This is at the discretion of the Dean.

Yes, provided you would still be enrolled in the minimum five classes. You are not allowed to indicate a free period as a second choice if you only have five first-choice classes. See above.

In order to successfully petition for an Independent Study, the following steps must be completed according to the timetable published by the Registrar. 

1. A student initiates this process by completing the Independent Study Google Form. 

2. Upon completion of the form, an Application for Independent Study will be emailed to the student. 

3. The application and a detailed study prospectus must be submitted to the Registrar by the registration deadline. 

4. The student must submit to the Registrar a video presentation detailing their Independent Study.

5. Decisions are made in May

• Administration notifies the students of the decision via email. 

6. The student must make a final presentation to the US Academic Team at the conclusion of the Independent Study to receive a passing grade.

In order to successfully petition for a 7th class the following steps must be completed according to the timetable published by the Registrar. 

1. A student initiates this process by completing the Petition for Seventh Class Google Form. 

2. Upon completion of the form, a Petition for a Seventh Class will be emailed to the student. 

3. The completed petition must be submitted to the Registrar by the registration deadline. 

4. The student must make a presentation detailing their rationale for a 7th class to the US Academic Team. Administration will reach out to you to schedule this presentation.

5. Decisions on petitions are made in May

6. Administration notifies the students of the decision via email. 

Approval for seven courses is rarely granted. 

1. In the few cases where it is, a condition of the approval is taking one of the classes on a Pass/No Pass basis. 

2. The course does not earn a grade nor is it included in the GPA. 

3. However, it does appear on the transcript. 

4. US Academic Team will take your Pass/No Pass choice into account when considering your petition and may suggest you alter your choice if they collectively disagree with your chosen Pass/No Pass class.

Some students may choose to be involved in a sport or activity that is not offered by the school. Those students may apply for an athletic season of an Independent Sports option each individual year. 

• An independent athletic application must be completed and submitted in advance of the season and is available from the Athletic Department Office. 

• The Director of Athletics reviews applications for an independent sport option before approval is granted.

Students seeking enrollment must take a placement test in order to satisfy enrollment for 

• AP Chem

• AP Biology

• AP Environmental Science 

Tests are administered digitally in STEM 202 during Collab or after school. More information about placement test dates and times will be disseminated in February

Chemistry Study Guide

Bio/Environmental Science Study Guide

Moving up a level in a course will always require a petition. 

STEP 1: Register for the regular course on the Google Registration Sheet.

STEP 2: Complete the petition form for departmental approval.

STEP 3: You will receive an email with the departmental approval petition document.

STEP 4: Get proper signatures, then turn in to Registrar. 

If a student does not gain approval for a class that requires departmental approval but desires a chance to take the course, they must go through the Petition process.

1. Students initiate the process by completing the Petition for Departmental Approval Google Form. 

2. The Petition Form must be fully completed during the registration window.

3. Decisions on petitions are made in May.

   • Administration notifies the students of the result via email. 

4. The process is not complete until the student confirms, in person, final plans with the Registrar.

Note: an approved petition earns the student a place on the waitlist for the course. 

Approved petition does not guarantee a seat in the class.

You will be notified by Administration via email when your schedule is ready to view in the Portal. This occurs in mid to late July

Students in grades 11 and 12 may request to take a non-required course as Pass/No Pass. 

1. Contact your Dean to begin process.

2. The request is reviewed by the US Academic Team.

3. Changes in status must be made during the Drop/Add period of each semester - meaning, you can't decide to take a class Pass/No Pass in the middle of a semester.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

• Every student is required to take a minimum of five courses every semester. 

  • • These five may not be taken as Pass/No Pass. 

• Courses taken as Pass/No Pass cannot fulfill a department specific graduation requirement. 

• Pass/No Pass courses do not contribute to a student's GPA but do appear on the transcript. 

• In unusual circumstances a student may be allowed to take a 7th course during a semester if they follow the formal petition process. 

  • • 7th course must be taken Pass/No Pass

Dear Faculty Name,

What ________ class do you recommend that I take next year?

Will I need to do any summer work or tests? 

If so, please list the materials and steps I need to take to fulfill the requirement.

The college counselor is there to encourage and provide registration advice during the registration process for parents and students. This becomes more important as you progress to the upper grades and begin considering potential schools you will attend after MICDS.

Yes! 

However, because your course requests have already been vetted by your parents/guardians, Dean, College Counselor, Learning Specialists, and the Registrar, changes to course requests after advisory conferences are handled like a course change during the school year.

1. Students who wish to make a change to course requests must meet with the Dean.

2. Students log their request on a Google Form provided by their Dean.

3. Registrar sends out a Google Doc to gain feedback and approvals from parents, department chairs, teachers, advisors, and/or learning specialists

4. Student notifies Dean that all appropriate adults have signed the document.

5. Dean provides final approval or denial after viewing feedback.

6. Registrar makes changes in Veracross.

Any course may be canceled by Department Chairs, the US Academic Team, or the Head of Upper School if it has insufficient enrollment. 

• In these instances, students will be registered for their second choice.

• If your second choice is also canceled or not a valid choice, you will be contacted by the Registrar to pick a different class.

Students who fail to provide a second choice do not get preferential treatment in the registration process and will be contacted by the Registrar and/or their Dean to find an appropriate replacement course. 

If a class is full, a student will be placed on a waitlist to enroll in the class if a seat becomes available. 

1. When a student is added to the waitlist, they are assigned the next available position number. 

2. As currently enrolled students drop the class, eligible waitlisted students are moved up into the class when the waitlist process runs. 

3. The remaining students then fill in the waitlist spots the previous waitlist students had.

Note, that you are not put on the waitlist for your first choice if you receive your second choice. If a spot opens up for you, you will be contacted by the Registrar. At that time, you may choose to accept or decline the seat in the class.

There is no guarantee that a seat will open up in the class, and not all classes have waitlists.