Scheduling Information

Daily Schedule and Selection of Courses

John Handley High School runs a hybrid schedule that includes 4x4 (four classes each semester) and A/B (alternating-day block schedule). Students can earn 8 credits by the end of the school year. All students should select classes that maximize their learning opportunities. When deciding on which class level to choose, parents and students should consider the following:

• Previous class performance in the subject area;

• Standardized test scores;

• The commitment level of the student; and

• Recommendation from teachers and counselors.

Students have the opportunity to take Extended Study Time, a non-credit activity, during the school day to work independently or receive academic assistance such as preparing for a test or quiz, completing a project, or doing homework. The students do not receive a credit for that class period. 

VA Education Wizard

The VA Education Wizard allows students of all ages and stages to explore careers and find the best fit. Their career exploration tools meet specific VDOE standards and Academic and Career Plan (ACP) requirements. All WPS students will have access to VA Wizard using Classlink.

• A student's Wizard account is always theirs, even if they transfer to a school, district, or state not using Wizard. The Wizard helps students gather career artifacts and see their progression of career-based choices. Students can log in to see their data and print their resume, ACP, or Career Portfolio.

• Middle and high school students will utilize the ACP function of the VA Wizard to document courses completed, courses the students plan to take in future high school years, career interests and pathways, as well as, post-secondary plans. 

Student Schedule Adjustments

A specific deadline date for course request changes will be established each school year. After the first two weeks of instruction, students will not be allowed to drop from a course unless extenuating circumstances exist as determined by the principal.  Special circumstances may necessitate a change in course selections after this deadline such as:

• Incomplete schedule;

• Unmet prerequisite requirement;

• Completion of coursework during summer academy; or

• Level changes may be considered on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the student, parent, teacher, and school counselor.

Other guidelines for schedule adjustments include:

• Requests from students or their parents for a change in teachers will not be honored because such changes impact the master schedule balance;

• Considerations will be given to requests from students assigned to repeat a course with a teacher under whom they have previously failed;

• Second-semester schedule adjustments may be required if a student did not earn credit for a first-semester course and no longer meets prerequisite requirements; and

• Final approval for schedule change requests rests with the principal.

Expungement

Grade/course expungement for high school courses taken in middle school is designed for students who are not performing at the proficient level and would benefit from taking the course over.   The decision to expunge a grade /course should be made in consultation with the course’s teacher and their counselor. In some cases parents elect to have a grade/course expunged although the student was performing at a proficient level. Although this is allowable it is not recommended as the student may have to repeat the non-weighted course in high school. The parent of any student who, while in middle school, took a high school credit-bearing course may elect to have the grade and credit permanently expunged (removed) from the student’s transcript. If the parent elects to have such a grade permanently expunged, written notice of such election must be given by the parent to the student’s middle school counselor by the end of their first semester of their eighth grade year so that they can be scheduled to repeat the course.   If the parent elects to expunge the grade/course after completing the course they must notify the school counseling department of John Handley High School (rising 9th graders), on or before August 1st of the year in which the student finishes 8th grade. Parents of students eligible to make this election shall be provided written notice thereof and a form to be used for such election when the student receives the final report card from the middle school. For other expungement questions see WPS Policy JO - School Records.