Course Selection Process
High School
High schools in Suffolk Public Schools operate on a 4x4 schedule. Students will take 4 classes the 1st semester and 4 new classes the 2nd semester allowing students to earn eight high school credits per year. By focusing on four classes per day in one semester, it provides for fewer transitions, a more manageable schedule due to its condensed course load, additional elective opportunities, increased opportunities for earning an Advanced Diploma, and the opportunity for struggling students to repeat a course or otherwise retrieve credits.
High school students will select eight courses and two alternates.
When selecting courses for the school year, students and parents/guardians should carefully choose the courses to be taken. The chosen courses should be based on the student’s ability, past record of academic achievement, career goals, interest in the subject if it is an elective, and teacher/counselor recommendations. Fine arts and career and technical education electives offer students the opportunity to explore and study new topics as well as to gain valuable knowledge and skills.
Through thoughtful course selections and close cooperation between the student and the school counselor, a student should be able to pursue an academic and/or a career goal in a variety of elective areas of study. Parents/guardians are encouraged to contact their child’s school counselor to discuss student career goals, course selections, and student academic achievement.
Middle School
The middle school program seeks to provide for the intellectual, physical, emotional, social, and cultural needs of students in grades 6-8. Allowing for a smooth transition from childhood to adolescence and from elementary to high school is a priority. A balanced curriculum is built around the basic courses and provides a variety of educational programs which address the needs of all students - general, special, and gifted and talented.
English, mathematics, social studies, science, health and physical education are required courses. Algebra I, Geometry, Earth Science, Spanish I, and French I are offered to eligible eighth grade students for high school credit. Exploratory courses are available in keyboarding, art, family and consumer sciences, technology education, band, orchestra, chorus, foreign language, and general music. Advanced math courses and advanced science courses are offered to qualified sixth and seventh grade students. All rising middle school students will be meeting with their counselor to discuss academic career plans for the upcoming school year. Parents/guardians will receive elective information from each school to assist their child in selecting elective courses.
The school counseling program is designed to help students achieve self-understanding and self-direction. School Counseling is a part of the total education program which assists the individual student in goal setting, counseling, scheduling, peer tutoring, career choices, and group interaction.
Advanced Academic Courses and Requirements
Students who demonstrate advanced skill levels in math and science may be eligible to take advanced level science and math courses. Below is a list of those courses and the recommended requirements:
Mathematics
Enriched Math 6 (Grade 6)
Score 450 or higher on Math 5 SOL exam
Grade of B (83%) or better in 5th grade Math
Teacher recommendation
Pre-Algebra (Grade 6)
Pass Advanced on Math 5 SOL exam
Grade of B+ (87%) or better in 5th grade Math
iReady math diagnostic score of 500 or higher
Teacher recommendation
Pre-Algebra (Grade 7)
Score of 450 on Grade 6 Math SOL exam
Grade of B (83%) or better in 6th grade math (highly recommended)
Teacher recommendation
Algebra I (Grade 7 or 8; high school credit course)
Pre-Algebra Route:
Successful completion of Pre-Algebra
Math 7 Route:
B (83%) or better in Math 7, AND
Pass Advanced on Math 7 SOL
Geometry (Grade 8; high school credit course)
Successful completion of Algebra I
Students who do not pass the Algebra I SOL in Grade 7 should retake Algebra I in 8th Grade OR enroll in a remediation program for Algebra I before taking Geometry
English
Enriched English 8 (Grade 8)
Grade of B (83%) or better in English 7
Score of 450 or higher on the Reading 7 SOL exam
Concurrent enrollment in World Language
Social Studies
Enriched World Geography 8 (Grade 8)
Grade of B (83%) or better in Civics and Economics 7
Pass Proficient on Civics and Economics SOL exam
World Language
Spanish I/French I (high school credit course)
ASL I (Online via Virtual Virginia ONLY) (high school credit course)
Concurrent enrollment in Enriched English 8