Daily Schedule
What are the school hours?
At FSHS, we use a 7 period schedule, but not every class meets every day. You will have 6 periods on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. On Wednesdays you will have 4 periods. The school day starts at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 3:10 p.m. every day except Wednesday which has an earlier dismal time of 1:20.
What is a zero-hour class?
Zero-hour is an optional class period that takes place before the traditional 8:00 a.m. start time. 0-hour begins at 7:00 a.m. and ends at 7:55 a.m. Unless there is an extenuating circumstance, freshmen do not take zero-hour classes.
Course Selection
What is the difference between Advanced and Regular classes?
Advanced classes cover the same material as on-level classes, they just go into greater depth, move at a faster pace, and often require more work.
There are no pre-requisites or applications needed to join an advanced class. It is a good idea to ask the student's current teacher if they believe taking an advanced class is in the student's best interest.
What are Advanced Placement (AP) classes?
AP (advanced placement) is a program of classes developed by the college board to give high school students an introduction to college-level classes and also gain college credit before even graduating high school. These courses are more difficult than the usual high school class and also require passing an AP exam at the end of the year to gain the college credit.
Freshman can take AP Human Geography. For more information go to the College Board website here: College Board AP classes
If I sign up for an advanced or AP class but have difficulty keeping up, can I transfer to a regular course at any point during the year?
Students can transfer to an on-level course within the first quarter of a semester with permission from the teacher and if there is room in the new class.
Do I need to take a world language (Spanish, French, German)?
You do not need to take a foreign language class to graduate. Some, but not all, colleges require two years of the same world language. Additionally, the Seal of Biliteracy counts towards the Secondary Asset requirement.
Should I take Spanish II if I had some Spanish in middle school?
Students should talk to their current teacher or counselor if they are unsure of the class they belong in.
How do I know which math class I am supposed to be in?
USD 497 has a sequential math pathway. Please refer to the math flowchart in the "Courses and Requirements" tab or on the back page of the FSHS Freshman Enrollment Planner.
If I fail a class, do I have to take it again?
In order to meet state and local graduation requirements, there are a few classes students will have to repeat if they fail the first time. This includes any English class, Health, Government, Modern World History, and United States History.
Can I take a PE class more than one time and still earn credit?
Yes, many students like having an activity break during the day and choose to take PE as one of their elective classes. You can take the same PE class more than one time.
Should I take Health over the summer?
A few students choose to take the required Health class during the summer so that they can take more electives during the school year. Lawrence Virtual School (LVS) offers summer classes but you usually need to wait until April or May to sign up. Info will be sent to the middle schools when it's available.
Enrollment Questions:
When is enrollment due?
The enrollment planners are due on the following dates:
February 7 - LMCMS, WMS
February 6 - WMS
If you missed the date above, turn in your enrollment planner to your middle school counselor
Where do we find the course catalog?
The full course descriptions are linked in this freshmen enrollment website under the Courses & Requirements tab. Course descriptions are also on the PowerSchool page students see when they enroll in Powerschool Unified Classroom.
We attended a private school last year. How do we enroll?
First of all, welcome to USD 497! You will have to go to the USD 497 Enrollment Center and register as a new student in the district. https://www.usd497.org/parents-and-students/register-for-school
Our school registrar will contact you to facilitate enrollment.
School Contact Questions:
What is the best way to contact my student's counselor?
E-mail is the best way to connect with the school counselors. Do not hesitate to reach out, we are here to help you. Contact information can be found under the School Contacts tab on this website.
Can I contact my school counselor during the summer?
School Counselors are on a 10-month contract just like our teachers, so they have limited availability during summer break. Counselors return to school a week before school starts so there is plenty of time to attend to questions and concerns you might have before the school year begins.
Parental Involvement
How can I check my student's grades in PowerSchool?
Go to this link for information on setting up or getting help with a PowerSchool parent account: PowerSchool Parent Portal
The school does not send out paper report cards. How can I get a copy of my child's grades?
High school grades are recorded on a student's transcript. FSHS uses an online platform called Parchment to process all transcript requests. To get a personal copy of your student's grades, go to the website and choose to have a transcript sent to yourself. In a day or two, you will get a digital copy emailed to you. Please contact your school counselor if you have questions. Transcript Requests
Other FAQ
What is the average student/teacher ratio in the classroom?
24-32 depending on the classroom (excluding choir, band, PE, etc).
In the past, students were encouraged to work on math packets over the summer. Is that still happening?
No, This was phased out a few years ago.
Is transportation done through First Student?
Yes, you can find more information here: USD 497 Transportation
What are dual credit courses?
There are specific courses juniors and seniors can take to earn both high school and college credit.
Athletics Questions: Please go to the FSHS Athletics Website for accurate / up to date information freestateathletics.com