Counselor course request presentations (English classes in February) will cover the information required for students to select courses for the upcoming school year..
Read the following Information and then wait for more guidance on processes from your counselor.
Q. Do I need to take specific courses if I want to go into a specific major or field of study?
A. Regardless of your intended college major or career field, students in 9th and 10th grade should take their 4 core classes, a world language, and any other elective at Western Sierra. More elective choices will open up for you in your 11th and 12th-grade years.
We go over course recommendations in your grade level course selection presentation that happens each February in preparation to request courses. See your counselor for more information.
Review our Academic Erichment section to explore options of courses you can take at Sierra College. An Academic Enrichment ELT is offered every semester to discuss process and options as well.
You do not need to focus on your proposed field of study while in high school. It can be helpful to take courses in different fields of study so that you know what you like and don't like, and why. Develop your interests and pursue areas in which you might be interested. See more information about STEM fields the next question.
In the U.S., the more competitive colleges use a “Holistic Review Process”
Not just grades, test scores and courses
Community service, activities, obstacles, family responsibilities, social justice, sports, special skills/talents, GENUINE passion, interests, contributions to your community, etc.
Q. I want to pursue a STEM field in college (pre-med, nursing, computer science, engineering, etc). What courses would helpful help me prepare and explore whether this field might be a good option for me?
A. For pre-med, computer science, and engineering, continuing with a fourth year of math and science is highly recommended.
For health careers, consider the WSCA Sports Med class with Mr. Navarro for 10th or 11th-grade year as an elective. For students who are highly excelling in their math and science, AP Bio and AP Chem are highly challenging junior/senior-level courses that are great for potential pre-med students. We do not recommend taking AP Bio and AP Chem during the same year.
Nursing majors should consider the Sierra College class Allied Health 20. It is a 1 unit course with an overview of nursing majors. Nursing majors typically benefit from AP Stats more than AP Calc.
Colleges also appreciate seeing students with varied interests, such as music and art, versus students with only a single narrow focus of interests, such as just science/math.
If you are interested in taking classes outside of WSCA to broaden your knowledge base of medical terminology, see the FAQ section on "Taking Classes Outside of WSCA." It is important to note that colleges would prefer you take your core high-school courses at your enrolled high school. Additionally, colleges would like pre-med majors to take their college-level course science classes while you are at their specific university, not while you are in high school.
Experiences and internships are typically seen as more valuable uses of your time for pre-med students than overloading on yourself on your course load. See the College and Career Google Classroom (add code tocegk).
Computer Science majors may want to take CSCI 10 at Sierra College to explore this field more.
Q. What classes should I plan to take? What classes should I take if I want to go to ________ college?
Western Sierra counselors give detailed presentations on course selection every February in the the WSCA student's English classes. We will provide all of the information you need to choose course requests that align with your goals.
Western Sierra grad requirements already meet or exceed the requirements to apply to 4-year colleges, and are above and beyond other local high schools. If you are curious if a college has any different recommendations for courses, this is easily researched by visiting that college's freshman admissions page.
Q. Can I take courses outside of WSCA?
Guidelines differ for why a student is taking an outside course:
Courses taken for fun or for a student's own enrichment purposes: Students may take courses outside of WSCA for their own enrichment purposes.
Once the course is completed, if the course is college level, the student must request that the issuing institution send a transcript to our registrar at crepetti@rafos.org.
Outside courses not being used to fulfill a grad requirement will not be placed on a student's WSCA transcript.
Attend the ELT for Academic Enchriment for Sierra College Courses (ELT offered each semester)
Courses taken in place of a WSCA Grad Requirements:
Students must have specific permission from their counselor to take a course outside of WSCA if it is to be used to fulfill a graduation requirement. Only certain classes can substitute for a WSCA-required course, and this can only be done under certain circumstances (i.e. course remediation, specific math acceleration courses). The course must be a-g approved and have counselor approval for equivalent coursework. The student must receive a "C" or higher in the course.
Courses taken outside of WSCA to REMEDIATE a course not passed at WSCA must be completed by the end of the summer/before school starts for the following year. Official transcripts must be sent to WSCA Registrar (crepetti@rafos.org) and will be placed on the student's WSCA transcript before the start of the school year. If the course is not completed, the student will be placed into the course again at WSCA.
Example: if biology is not passed during freshman year, the student can take an a-g approved biology course outside of WSCA for each semester not passed. If the transcript is not received by the registrar by the first day of school, the student will be placed in biology again during sophomore year.
Courses taken in place of a WSCA grad requirement NOT for remediation (ex/ student wants to make extra room in the student's schedule or to accelerate- must be PRE_APPROVED by your counselor.
This will be be approved by your counselor, only for specific circumstances. The course must be completed by the end of the summer PRIOR to when the course would be originally scheduled for the student. The student must send the transcript to our registrar, Carol Repetti, crepetti@rafos,org, prior to the start of the new school year. If the course is not completed prior to the start of the school year, the student will be placed in the course at WSCA and the student will need to complete the required course at WSCA.
Example: a student who would like to make room in their schedule during 11th grade may, if approved by their counselor, take a high school, a-g approved physics course outside of WSCA. The student must complete an a-g approved course during the summer and the registrar must receive the transcript prior to the start of the 11th grade. If the registrar as not received the transcript by the first day of school, the student must take physics at WSCA during their junior year as part of their regular 6 period schedule.
All courses taken outside of WSCA to fulfill a WSCA graduation requirement will be placed on the student's WSCA transcript and will factor into the student's GPA calculation. No course taken outside of WSCA will be given weighted points on the student's WSCA transcript, regardless of the honors, AP or college-level course designation.
Where can students take outside courses?
We do not restrict through which institution a student takes courses outside of WSCA. As noted above, the student must get approval from the counselor in advance if the course is being used to fulfill a WSCA grad requirement. The institution must be accredited, and the course must be a-g approved, and fulfill the equivalent level and curriculum requirements as the WSCA course that is being substituted.
Please note that some institutions require that a student be enrolled for 30 days as a requirement for course completion (Silicon Valley High School) Because of this, students should be diligent in deciding course start and completion dates so that the course can be completed by the first day of school.
For classes taken at Sierra College, students must follow the Academic Enrichment Process, thoroughly detailed on our College and Career website. After a student carefully reviews the academic enrichment process guidelines, WSCA counselors can help with questions on this process and course selection. Students interested in taking a Sierra College course should attend an ELT on Academic Enrichment, led by the counseling team. At least one ELT per semester will be offered to help students with the Sierra College Academic Enrichment course selection and processes.
For courses taken outside of WSCA, but NOT taken through Sierra College, students need to navigate the course registration process independently.
Please Note:
Outside courses will not, under any circumstance, be given weighted grade points on the WSCA transcript, even if it is an AP, Honors or college-level course.
Q: How do I know if I can take an advanced class?
Refer to our Course Catalog. Listed are prerequisites and grade level requirements.
Q: I would like to advance a level in math. How do I do that?
Advancing ahead in math should be a very thoughtful process.
If you are interested in accelerating:
Carefully read the Math Acceleration Guidelines.
Do NOT attempt to accelerate prior to the when the process is announced in your Course Request Presentation (February of each year).
Speak to your current math teacher for their input on whether accelerating might be right for you. They can look at your current math skills, test scores and advise. Take into consideration your workload in other subject areas, and commitments outside of academics prior to overloading yourself with acceleration.
Fill out the Math Acceleration Google Form that is linked to your Course Request Google Classroom by the specified date. Students who complete the math acceleration form will be provided with more information and next steps.
While requesting classes for next year, register for your next level of math course that comes directly after the one in which you are currently enrolled. Any advancements will be done after the acceleration process is complete.
Q: I am finishing Integrated II this year. Should I take Integrated 3 or AP Precalculus next year?
You have two choices of math courses after Integrated II: Integrated III or AP Precalculus.
If you felt confident in Integrated II skills, taking AP Precalculus may be your best option. Please note that this is a college-level course. Completing AP Precalculus is especially recommended for Computer Science, Engineering, Pre-Med or Business majors as it will prepare you to move on to Calculus.
If Integrated II was a challenge for you, or if you are going to be a senior, consider taking Integrated III. Integrated III is NOT a remedial course. It exceeds graduation requirements at most other high schools. It contains many of the same concepts except for pre-calculus and runs at a bit slower pace. Nursing, non-stem and liberal arts type majors may want to go on to AP Stats after the completion of Integrated III.
Incoming seniors who have completed Int 2 must choose Int 3.
PLEASE NOTE: If you take Integrated III and then decide you want to go on to take Calculus in a subsequent year at Western Sierra, you will need to take our AP Precalculus first.
Middle school students cannot take AP Precalculus. If students take Integrated II their 7th grade year, they MUST take Integrated III in 8th grade.
This chart and resource will help further explain the differences and may help with your decision. See your math teacher for individual guidance.
Q: I will be completing Integrated III this year. What math should I take next year?
Choosing what to take after Int 3 depends on a couple of factors including what field of study you would like to pursue.
If you are planning on entering a STEM, computer science or business field, AP PreCalculus may be the best option, as you will likely need to continue with Calculus in college.
If you are going into a humanities field or nursing, AP Statistics might be the best fit.
You could also take both Calculus AB AND AP Stats if you have room in your schedule
Reach out to your current math teacher and/or counselor for more guidance.
Q: I will be completing AP PreCalculus this year. What math should I take next year?
If you are planning on entering a STEM, computer science or business field, AP Calc AB may be the best option, as you will likely need to continue with Calculus in college.
If you are going into a humanities field, AP Statistics might be the best fit.
Q: I took AP Calculus AB and it was challenging. I am not sure if I will do well by going onto AP Calc BC. I still want to take another math class, what should I take?
AP Statistic may be an option depending on what field of study you plan on entering. There are other off-site options. See your counselor for more guidance.
Q. I am interested in taking band or guitar. Do I need to supply my own instrument?
Please see the Course Catalog for this information. Rental information will be provided. However, if renting an instrument is a financial hardship, please let Ms. Estrada know. We do not want instrument rental to be an obstacle for students pursuing their interest in music.
Q: I took two years of band in middle school. Can that count towards my graduation requirement?
Only UC approved, A-G VAPA courses taken during high school will fulfill graduation requirements.
Q: I took two years of the same VAPA course (choir, band, photography etc., does that fulfill my 2 year VAPA requirement?
Yes, you need two years of a VAPA and that can mean two years of the same course, if available to repeat.
Q: I've taken art before, can I skip Art 1?
Students should begin their art studies with Art 1 regardless of their previous art experience.
Q: Do I have to take specific VAPA courses to meet graduation requirements?
Any course listed under Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) can be used for graduation requirements. Some courses can also be repeated and will count towards the two year requirement. Students need to pass 4 semesters of any VAPA classes to meet this two year/20 credit requirement. They do not need to be two sequential courses.
Q: I struggled in Spanish I or Mandarin I. Should I take this course again or move onto Spanish II or Mandarin II?
If you are in 8th grade, going into 9th grade, and feel like you struggled in Spanish I or Mandarin I, we would HIGHLY recommend repeating the course.
You will be much more prepared and feel more confident for Spanish II or Mandarin II if you have a good foundation/base in the first level.
It will look much better on college apps to have a solid A or B on your transcript for Spanish I or Mandarin I in 9th grade, and then also go on to do well in the second level in 10th grade, than to struggle in Mandarin II or Spanish II in 9th grade.
If you are in 9th grade, going into 10th grade, we would likely recommend the same of above, but have a conversation with your world language teacher as they would have a good assessment of your ability in the next level.
If you are in 10th or 11th grade, please talk to your teacher/counselor.
Q: Can I take a language if I have not taken Exploring Mandarin/Exploring Spanish?
You do not need to take Exploring Mandarin/Spanish to start your language studies. It is a very well-liked class and a great way to preview these languages before deciding which one to pursue. You will take Exploring Spanish one semester and Exploring Mandarin the other.
Q: If I start my language studies in 8th grade, will I still need to take 2 years in high school?
The World Language requirement is by level NOT years. Once you reach the second year level of a language, you have met our graduation requirement no matter when that occurs.
Q: Why should I take a 3rd year of language? I have several classes I would like to take and am having a hard time getting them into my schedule.
If you are considering going to a UC, CSU or selective university, we recommend a 3rd year of a language. UC's "recommend" a 3rd year because they are looking to see that you are taking advantage of opportunities that might challenge you - that includes advancing in your language studies. CSU's often have a language requirement. Depending on the CSU, taking a 3rd year of a language may fulfill their language requirement. Selective schools are looking for students to challenge themselves as well.
We do not recommend breaking up your language studies. It is far too easy to forget what you have learned with a year-long gap. Completing your world language should be your highest priority elective.
A third year of a world language is recommended for students who are considerinIfg UC, CSU or selective universities. EX/UC Language Other Than English Guidance. However, as students are typiclaly finishing Spanish II or Mandrin II into their sophmore year year, we know that it can be hard to fit this into your junior year schedule.
If you choose NOT to request Spanish III or Mandarin III, Students will be shown by their counselor how to explain scheduling constraints on their UC and selective university applications during their senior year.
After completing Spanish II, you may consider to take Spanish III over the summer through an online school. Remember it must be an A-G approved course to count towards your college applicaitons. OR you can consider taking college level Spanish II at Sierra College over the summer (equivalent to high school Spanish III), however it is the trickiest class to sign up for at Sierra because you need to submit a WSCA transcript that shows Spanish II completed. Your transcript will not be ready until mid June, which is too late to register for a Sierra College summer class.
For Mandarin III and above, we recommend you do this through WSCA as we are not aware of many Mandarin programs elsewhere.
Q: Will I get into the language class I'm requesting?
We make sure students do not have a disruption in their language sequence for graduation requirements. Infrequently a student may have a course conflict and then will need to choose between a courses beyond the third year of the language and another elective course.
Q: How many AP or Honors Courses would you recommend taking in a single year?
The number of AP, Honors or College level courses appropriate for a student is based on the individual. We ask students to consider course rigor, time commitments, outside activities and mental health when determining their courses. We caution students in taking more than 3 AP courses in a single year. Be mindful that each AP course takes considerable time to study and prepare.
Q: What AP or Honors courses can I take my sophomore year?
Students typically start their AP courses their sophomore year beginning with AP World History. Students may take other AP or Honors courses only if they have met the prerequisites.
AP Courses - Expect college course level rigor for AP Courses. If students pass the AP test at the end of the year, they may receive college credit. A score of 3 is often considered passing, but every college or university, and even specific majors, may only accept a score of 4 or 5 as passing. Some colleges or majors do not accept AP credit. See the college or university of interest's website for more specific information. The curriculum is advised by the College Board organization. AP courses taken at WSCA are given weighted grade points on the student's WSCA transcript.
Honors Courses - Expect college course-level rigor. While the rigor and course expectations are similar to an AP course, the curriculum is not guided by College Board and there is no AP test or college credit obtained through an honors-level course. Honors courses taken at WSCA are given weighted grade points on the WSCA transcript.
Dual Enrollment Courses - Dual Enrollment courses are Sierra College courses taken on the WSCA campus, taught by a Sierra College visiting faculty or by a WSCA teacher who is simultaneously a Sierra College adjunct faculty in the role of teaching this course. This course is both a WSCA course and a Sierra College credit course. The course will go on the student's Sierra College transcript, which will be starting their college transcript. Dual Enrollment courses are NOT given weighted grade points on the WSCA transcript. However, the universities that the student applies to will do their own calculation of the student's GPA and may give dual enrollment courses weighted considerations on their calculation of the student's GPA.
Academic Enrichment - Academic Enrichment courses are college courses taken by a high school student through a college campus. The high school has no jurisdiction over the college course. WSCA may assist students through the course selection and enrollment process for Academic Enrichment courses taken at Sierra College, but students must carefully follow all guidelines and processes set forth by the college. The process will be found on the WSCA CCC website, or through this link. Courses taken outside of WSCA will not be given weighted grade points on the WSCA transcript. It will ONLY be placed on the WSCA transcript IF approved in advance by your counselor to be used for this purpose AND only for specific courses and reasons. See section under Registration FAQs- can I take courses outside of WSCA for additional information. (Note- Academic Enrichment is a term Sierra College's uses. Many other colleges use the term Dual Enrollment for both Dual Enrollment and Academic Enrichment courses).
Articulation Courses- Articulation courses are high school courses taken at WSCA for high school credit by a WSCA teacher. However, the course will follow the curriculum of a college course. After completion of the course, students will get to decide if they would like to receive college credit for the course. Articulation courses are not given weighted grade points on the student's WSCA transcripts
Q: Do any of the courses I took in middle school count towards my high school graduation requirements?
A-G approved world language classes (ie Spanish 1/Mandarin 1 and above) and Integrated 1 and above math courses, taken in middle school will be added to your transcript and count towards the 220 credits needed towards graduation.
If these courses were taken at a RAFOS school, it will automatically be added to your transcript.
If you took one of these classes at a middle school outside of our Rocklin Academy Family of Schools or another outside school and is an a-g approved, and would like these courses added to your WSCA high school credits, please email Ms. Repetti crepetti@rafos.org.
All other courses in middle school (ex/ a VAPA, pe, other elective) are not high school courses, and will not be put on your high school transcript, will not be counted into your graduation credits.
Q: How do I know what I need to complete to graduate?
Our graduation requirements are located in our Parent and Student Handbook. You can also find our graduation requirements on our WSCA Academic Support and Course Planning google site.
Q: How many hours of community service are required for graduation and what can I do?
Students are required to perform 60 hours of community service.
There are many ways to complete Community Service. See announcements in Mrs. B's College and Career google classroom (class code tocezgk) and information on our College and Career Website. You can look for opportunities in the community, your church or other non-profit organizations as well. Keep in mind that working for businesses even if not paid does not count towards community service.