For students at Southern Lehigh High School, the end of the first semester means midterms. For the guidance office, it means that preparations for next year’s course selections are about to begin.
The process of course selection is not as easy as it seems, and that’s why it begins way before the upcoming year. It takes a long time, because there are many steps in order to ensure that students are guaranteed classes fit for their abilities.
The first step in this lengthy process starts with administration, as they decide which courses are going to be offered. They determine which Advanced Placement (AP) courses will be offered, and what Honors classes will accompany the College Prep (CP) classes.
Then that information must be set up on the computer for the students to choose, and all four grades must choose their courses. This includes the eighth graders at the middle school, since they will be the incoming freshmen the following year.
“We have students select their courses in January because the process is just so long to complete,” guidance counselor Mrs. Lynne Kelly said.
Next, guidance checks to make sure that every student has selected their courses. This process allows the guidance department to evaluate how many students selected each course. The scheduling group makes a master schedule for each student, which takes about two to three weeks to complete. Finally, the schedules are mailed to students.
“If there was anything missing on a student’s schedule, we would have to see where the courses are offered in their master schedule,” guidance secretary Mrs. Melody Davis said, “and there are always a lot of changes that have to be made, and that’s why we have deadlines.”
In the 2013-2014 school year there is only one new course being offered.
“Next year, AP World History will be replacing AP European History,” guidance counselor Mrs. Tamme Westbrooks said. “That’s the only course being changed next year!”
Choosing courses for the next year in January may seem early, but it is imperative that this process begin at the start of the second semester to ensure guidance has enough time to create a unique schedule for each student.
Note: The Program of Studies can be found here on the high school website.
