Academic Advising

STUDENT SUCCESS AT SOUTH AND BEYOND

Your school counselor will help you make sure you are on track to graduate.

MPS aims to offer all of its students a well-rounded and high-quality educational experience and graduate high school college and career ready. The graduation requirements support this goal in the following ways:

• All students are-engaged in coursework that allows them to pursue their passions and interests.

• Students who are struggling are able to recover important credits in core classes.

• Students who are doing well are able to excel further by taking world languages and other electives as well as International Baccalaureate (IB) or Advanced Placement (AP) courses and other electives.

• Students have access to career and college programs through Career and Technical Education (CTE), Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) and work-based learning opportunities.

Minneapolis Public Schools graduation requirements include successful completion of 21.5 credits in specific content areas. Students must also complete a Personal Learning Plan/Post-secondary portfolio by completing My Life Plan college and career readiness activities.

Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO)

Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) is a program that allows public and nonpublic students in 10th, 11th and 12th grades to earn college credit while still in high school, through enrollment in and successful completion of college nonsectarian courses at eligible postsecondary institutions. Students generate both college credit and high school credit by successful completion of the course. Most PSEO courses are offered on the campus of the postsecondary institution; some courses are offered online. Each participating college or university sets its own admissions requirements for enrollment into the PSEO courses. Eleventh and 12th-grade students may take PSEO courses on a full- or part-time basis; 10th-graders are eligible to enroll in PSEO on a more limited basis (see note below). Students must meet the PSEO residency and eligibility requirements and abide by participation limits specified in Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.09.

PSEO for 10th-Graders to take Career and Technical Education (CTE) Courses 

Legislation allows public and nonpublic 10th-grade students to enroll initially in one Career and Technical Education (CTE) course through PSEO. If the student earns a “C” or higher grade in this first course, she/he is eligible to take additional postsecondary courses while in 10th grade. In order to be eligible, a 10th-grade student must have met the proficiency level of “meets or exceeds” on the 8th-grade MCA reading test. If the student did not take the MCA, another reading assessment accepted by the enrolling postsecondary institution can be substituted. For students with disabilities, there is an alternative options to demonstrate reading proficiency. Access the Alternate Eligibility Options Policy and Modification Request Form below.

Eligible Courses and Institutions

Courses taken through PSEO must meet graduation requirements at their high school. Lists of approved courses can be found here, under "Courses at Colleges" (bottom of the page). Only nonsectarian and non-developmental courses are considered eligible by statute. Courses must be offered by Minnesota PSEO eligible postsecondary institutions. Access the list of Participating Postsecondary Institutions for a list of schools and their contact information. Postsecondary institutions are required to allow PSEO students to enroll in online courses consistent with the institution’s policy regarding postsecondary student enrollment in online courses.

How to Enroll in PSEO

Students must meet the PSEO eligibility requirements and abide by participation limits outlined in the Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act and explained in the PSEO Reference Guide (below). Interested and eligible 10th-, 11th- and 12th-grade students should contact the postsecondary institution to find out their admissions requirements, which courses are offered and what the application process/timeline is at that institution. Public school students should meet with their high school counselor to discuss graduation requirements and the benefits and risks of enrolling in the PSEO program. All students must complete the PSEO Notice of Student Registration (listed at the bottom of this page) for the school year during which they intend to enroll.  

Tuition, Fees and Transportation Reimbursements 

There is no charge to PSEO students for tuition, books or fees for items that are required to participate in a course; however, students may incur fees for equipment that becomes their property when the course or program is completed or for textbooks that are not returned to the postsecondary institution according to their policies. Public school students may be responsible for tuition costs if they do not notify the district by May 30 and the district does not waive this date requirement. 

Funds are available to help pay transportation expenses for PSEO students whose families are at or below the poverty level, as determined by the federal government, to participate in PSEO courses on college campuses. Access the PSEO Mileage Reimbursement Program Instructions. If you have any questions regarding the mileage reimbursement for low-income students' participation in the PSEO program, contact Kelly Garvey at 651-582-8524.

For additional PSEO information click here. 

REQUEST A TRANSCRIPT

Please contact our Registrar Clerk, Richard Palmquist, for a copy of your transcript. He can be reached via phone at 612-668-4367 or richard.palmquist@mpls.k12.mn.us.