Course Selection Process & Timeline

COURSE SELECTION PROCESS

The course selection process begins in early February each academic year.  High school administration and counselors meet with current 8th through 11th grade students to review the course selection process, distribute materials, and explain new courses and educational opportunities that are available to students.  The Program of Studies will be posted on the high school website for students and parents/guardians to access full course descriptions and other related information.

After these scheduled meetings, students are required to discuss their career and course interests with their parents/guardians.  In addition, students are encouraged to communicate with their teachers when selecting courses, especially in the subject areas of Math, Science, English, Social Studies, and World Language to obtain teacher recommendations.

Students should fill out the course selection sheet, sign the form and obtain a parental/ guardian signature.  All completed forms should be returned to their counselor by the designated deadline.  

Once forms are submitted, counselors will meet with each student individually to review the course requests that have been selected by the student and the parent/guardian.  During this meeting, students will participate in the scheduling process by discussing their course requests and how the requests are aligned with the student’s graduation and career plan.  At this time, counselors will enter in PowerSchool course requests totaling a maximum of 8 credits.  At the end of the meeting, students will receive a paper copy of the course request information entered into PowerSchool to share with their parents/guardians.  

Every effort is made to meet with students on an individual basis.  Students who do not meet the deadline for registration or who do not meet with their counselors will have their courses selected by the counselor. 

Counselors will review the student’s courses and ensure that alternative elective courses are selected in the event that the student’s first choice electives cannot be scheduled.  Although every effort is made, electives cannot be guaranteed.  Every attempt will be made to give students the courses they select, or if necessary, an alternate.  The schedule will be developed over a period of several months with the objective of meeting every student’s course requests.  Although adjustments are made, not all requests can be honored for a variety of reasons.  Students should choose their course selections carefully.

ENROLLMENT IN ADVANCED PLACEMENT/HONORS/DUAL ENROLLMENT COURSES

Enrollment in Advanced Placement, honors, or college dual enrollment courses requires a teacher recommendation/signature on the Course Selection Sheet.  These courses will be rigorous in nature with high expectations in achievement.  Some dual enrollment courses may require a prerequisite placement exam.

COURSE REQUEST CHANGES

Prior to the end of the school year, students will receive a Course Verification Letter listing courses chosen during the course selection process.  Students and parents/guardians should closely review the selections to ensure that they still align with students interests/abilities and to ensure all necessary courses are included.  If course selections are made carefully, there should be minimal changes to any requests made.  If an unusual situation occurs, the schedule change must be made by June 30th.   Any schedule change requests must be submitted in writing to the High School Counseling Office.  Some schedule changes may require parent/guardian approval.

SCHEDULE TIMELINE:

February

• Course selection begins in early February. Students will receive an overview of the WHS Course Selection Process and course selection forms in class and through their student emails.  The WHS Program of Studies and other course selection resources will be made available on the Program of Studies section of the high school website.

• Course Selection Resources

  • • • • WHS Course Selection 2023-2024 Track Time Presentation for students in grades 9-11 -  LINK (with embedded video)

        • WHS Program of Studies Website - Available from the "For Students" Tab on the WHS Website or via the following LINK 

        • Overview Video of the New Program of Studies Website - LINK

        • Course Selection 2023-2024 8th-9th Grade Presentation for students in grade 8 - LINK (with embedded videos)

• Middle School to High School Transition Program will be held at WHS and made available on the Whitehall High School website for students and their parents/guardians to access after the program. - LINK to Presentation Slides

• Completed course selection forms must be signed by parent/guardian and student and returned by Thursday, February 16, 2023. 

February - March

• Counselors will meet individually with students to finalize the course selection and enter requests into PowerSchool.  

• Any student who does not return a signed form or chooses not to meet with their counselor will be given a schedule by their counselor.

March - June

• Course selection process is complete; notification from district to LCTI with final numbers for full-time Academic Center.

• Administration processes course selections to develop the Whitehall High School master schedule.

May - June

• Course verification letters mailed home.  Corrections must be sent to the student’s counselor by June 30, 2023.

• Last day to make course request changes for valid reasons is June 30th.  

• Any requests to change a course after this date must be made in writing and are made at the sole discretion of the building administration.

July - August

• Finalization of the Whitehall High School master schedule.  

• Students receive their schedules for the new school year in August.

GRADE LEVEL COURSE SELECTION SHEETS

LINK to Grade 9 Course Selection Sheet 2023-2024

LINK to Grade 10 Course Selection Sheet 2023-2024

LINK to Grade 11 Course Selection Sheet 2023-2024

LINK to Grade 12 Course Selection Sheet 2023-2024

LINK to WHS Academic Planning Guide