Scheduling Process and Practices

The scheduling process for almost 3000 students is complex and intricate. To make every effort to meet the needs of every student, it's important for all stakeholders - students, families, faculty, school counselors, and administration - to be on the same page regarding some of the most critical information.

The Scheduling Process and Master Schedule Creation has multiple components:

1. Pre-Registration: Based on student performance in Semester 1 and teacher feedback, most of a student's 2025-26 courses are pre-registered for them. They are not obligated to keep these pre-registered courses, but they do reflect what is advised for that student. Only certain classes are Pre-Registered: Core Academic, CTE, World Languages, and some Performing Arts. To learn more, check out Pre-Registered Courses.

2. School Counselor 1-on-1s: School Counselors will meet with 9th, 10th, and 11th graders to review their pre-registered classes and discuss electives and special programs. Along with the Pre-Registered classes, the courses picked at this time are entered into Skyward as Pre-Registered Course Requests.

3. Registration Letters and Request Verification Forms: Once all Pre-Registrations are completed and processed, students will receive two documents: a Registration Letter listing all the classes they have requested in Skyward and a Request Verification Form, which they will review with their families and return by the end of the First Week of April. This is where they either confirm the requests are accurate, request a simple change, or request a meeting with their School Counselor to discuss bigger changes. Note: Changes not requested on or reflected in signed Request Verification Form may not be able to be accommodated once Final Schedule is processed.

4. School-Wide Master Schedule: The Master Schedule that is built in Skyward places almost 3,000 students into the different classes of over 150 teachers across 7 periods and 2 semesters. It is a highly complex structure that is only as accurate as the information used to build it. The foundation of the Master Schedule is student course requests, which should be finalized by April. While some changes can be anticipated (changes in the number of students who need Intensive Language Arts due to F.A.S.T. ELA PM3 outcomes, for example), an influx of even simple changes creates an imbalance in the course offerings and class sizes. For this reason, changes requested after Request Verification Forms are submitted may not be able to be accommodated.

5. Final Student Schedules: By July 31st, the Master Schedule has been completed and the Skyward Autoscheduler will have placed all 3,000 students into 7 periods of classes based on their course requests. On August 1st, these Final Schedules will be visible to students and families in Skyward.

6. Course Change Requests: As with any automated process, there will be errors in student schedules. After August 1st, students will be able to submit Course Change Requests to correct errors in their schedule. Changes based on preferences (different lunch, different teacher, change of heart about an elective) cannot be accommodated. Note Again: Changes not requested on or reflected in signed Request Verification Form may not be able to be accommodated once Final Schedule is processed.