Guidelines for Program Planning
Planning your program of study each academic year is one of the most important tasks a student will complete throughout the four years at Parkland High School. Students will be guided through this process by faculty, counselors, and administrators as they closely follow graduation requirements. Counselors will present an overview of the Program of Studies book, highlighting prerequisites, course sequences, and the pathways available within each department. In addition, all teachers will review the content for next year’s courses and provide guidelines to assist with selection in their specific areas.
Listed below are some basic guidelines to follow when selecting courses for the next academic school year:
- Motivation, interest, and aptitude are important factors to consider when selecting courses. Students are encouraged to challenge themselves with the most demanding course of studies they can successfully complete in a given academic year.
- Previous levels of achievement should be reviewed to determine possible course selection.
- Graduation requirements must be reviewed each year to determine appropriate progress in all required subject areas.
- Students must select a complete schedule consisting of a minimum of 6.25 credits each year. Credit and period requirements are listed on the front of the registration sheet for each grade level.
- Students should review their academic records to identify areas of strength and weakness. This information should be considered when planning for the upcoming academic year.
- Teacher recommendations will be used to support informed course placement. Teachers provide insight into a student’s readiness for the next level of study based on classroom performance, work habits, assessment data, and demonstrated skills. These recommendations help guide students through appropriate course sequences and ensure they are prepared for the rigor of the next class.
- Students must ensure that all prerequisites are met before selecting a course. Prerequisites are designed to ensure that students possess the foundational knowledge and skills necessary for success in a particular course.
Teachers and counselors will review the course selections for students, advising them of an appropriate academic program of studies. Counselors will meet with each student to review the entire academic schedule and to track graduation requirements. Parents/Guardians will be contacted if a course selection appears too difficult for a student to complete successfully; this determination is based on whether the student does not meet the prerequisites and/or lacks a teacher recommendation, as well as on teacher input, previous classroom performance, test scores, and other standardized data. As a team, the student, parent/guardian, teacher, and counselor will work together to select a challenging, yet realistic, academic program of studies for each student at Parkland High School