WITHDRAWAL FROM COURSES
A completed schedule change request form (including parent/guardian signature) is required when seeking to withdraw from a course. Careful consideration is advised, as a dropped course may jeopardize promotion to the next grade or graduation. Consequently, there is a significant chance that the requested withdrawal will not be possible.
Criteria:
Students will remain in their originally scheduled courses until the withdraw process has been completed.
Students may drop a full year (1.0 credit) course and add a second semester (0.5 credit) course within the same
period. Courses scheduled in other periods will not be moved to accommodate such a change.
Students who attend TCHS may not drop the program after the 30th school day. Students who wish to return to
Owen J. Roberts after the 30th school day may do so at the conclusion of the first semester.
Seniors only: Colleges will be notified when a course dropped during senior year results in a WF grade.
During the first 5 school days of the term, a student may withdraw from a course and receive no grade, no credit, and no penalty.
Deadline to withdraw from courses:
- Term course: half-way point of term.
- Semester course: end of the first marking period or the course.
- Yearlong: end of the second marking period.
Elective change requests may only occur with the period of the currently scheduled course. Other courses will not be moved to accommodate a request for a different elective course.
Current academic teachers will recommend the following year’s placement in each subject. While we believe it is important to challenge students academically, we are also equally cautious to recommend placements that will afford students the greatest opportunity for success. All recommendations are made with careful consideration of a student’s 1) demonstrated abilities and performance in the classroom; 2) his/her academic goals; 3) the required knowledge and skill for the level of the course requested.
Placement Process: The placement process helps to reduce the number of inappropriate course selections and the number of eventual schedule changes. In December, all core subject, world language, and special education teachers will make their initial recommendation for students’ placements. Teachers will inform students in their classes of their recommendations. Students will then have an opportunity to request elective courses in January/early February.
The core subject recommendations and requested elective courses are not guaranteed to be on the final student schedule. They are the basis upon which the school’s master schedule for the next year will be built in the spring. Families and students should note that some alternate elective choices may be substituted for courses that cannot fit into students’ schedules.
In June, teachers will review the student course placements for a final time. If necessary, students’ schedules will be adjusted to reflect these changes. Tentative student schedules will be made available on Skyward Family Access in the summer.
Instructional Levels: Each course description in this booklet indicates the academic instructional level at which the course is taught. These academic instructional levels are: Standard (ST), College Preparatory (CP), Honors (H), and Advanced Placement (AP)/International Baccalaureate. Each level denotes the degree of academic difficulty, the depth of the course content, and the nature of assignments and assessments required. These levels are defined as follows:
Standard: designed for those students who demonstrate an average command of language and other academic skills, and who advance at a moderate rate.
College Preparatory: designed to challenge students who demonstrate an above average command of academic skills, learn rapidly, and plan to attend a post-secondary school.
Honors: designed for those students who are academically accelerated and college-bound. These courses have substantial academic criteria and prerequisites that must be attained before enrollment. Students must be disciplined, motivated, and have strong reading, writing, and analytical skills. Assessments most often come in the form of essays and short research papers. These courses often require summer reading and writing assignments. Students are advised to carefully consider the amount of work required and the amount of discretionary time they have before electing more than two honors level courses per year.
Advanced Placement: designed for academically accelerated students who meet the criteria of the program and plan to attend a four year college. Advanced Placement (AP) courses follow a prescribed syllabus prepared by The College Board. Students will be prepared to take AP exams in the spring of each year. Students are responsible for AP test fees. Students may be awarded college credit or advanced standing based on their test scores and the policies of the college they ultimately attend.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP): IBDP classes are offered as part of our IB Career Program at OJRHS. IBDP classes are academically challenging courses that prepare students who plan to attend a four-year college. IB Diploma Program (DP) courses follow a prescribed curriculum prepared by the International Baccalaureate and are taught by teachers trained specifically for those courses. Students will be prepared to take IBDP exams in the spring of each year. Students are responsible for IB test fees. Students may be awarded college credit or advanced standing based on their test scores and the policies of the college they ultimately attend.
Families who have questions concerning instructional levels or the placement level of their child should contact the teacher making the recommendation or their child’s school counselor.