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.

High level ensembles require an audition. For this reason, you are required to first sign up for the general ensemble. After auditions, the Registrar will update your course requests if necessary. This applies to the following classes:

• Wind Ensemble - sign up for Symphonic Band

• Virtuosi - sign up for Orchestra

• Chamber Choir - sign up for either Tenor/Bass or Treble Choir depending on your voice

Yes, provided you would still be enrolled in the minimum five classes. To indicate a free period, simply leave the second choice box blank. 

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.

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.

PLACEMENT TEST 

FOR AP BIO APPROVALS

Science will be using a placement test to aid with AP Bio approvals and as a result it will strengthen the quality of decisions by the teacher, advisor and student during the registration process.  

AP BIOLOGY REGISTRATION (Graduation Requirement)

AND THE PROCESS

1. • • Students in Integrated Chemistry Accelerated should sign up for AP Bio. Teacher approves on Google Sheet as normal

     • Students in Integrated Chemistry *Regular* should ALL sign up for Integrated Biology

     • Regular Science students who are interested in AP Bio are required to take a placement test to help determine their eligibility.

     • After students take the placement test, the Registrar will update student course requests appropriately according to the information provided by the Science Department Chair

COMMON QUESTIONS

Can I take other AP Science classes as a Junior?

• Yes, but only as electives, and only if you meet the grade level and math requirement. Other AP Science classes do not require a placement test.

Can I take a different AP Science to fulfill my graduation requirement in 11th grade?

• No. 11th grade students must take AP Bio or Integrated Bio to meet their graduation requirement

When in doubt, please contact the Registrar (brueckert@micds.org)

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.

Keep in mind, you may have additional work or a placement test in order to gain final approval for the higher level class. Do not begin this process if you are not planning on following it through to the end.

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. Petitioning allows you to be reevaluated at the end of the school year or in the summer for a class you currently aren't allowed to take. 

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 and sometimes in the summer.

   • Administration notifies the students of the result via email. 

4. The Registrar updates courses for the upcoming year depending on results.

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.