Course Handbook

2019-20 Course Handbook

Dear Student and Parent:

This book is an extremely important part of student life at Westside High School because it contains critical information about modular scheduling, course offerings, graduation requirements, class rank, college planning and general program planning.

There are several key things to remember as you use this book to plan and implement your registration for school year 2019-2020:

• You are strongly encouraged to take courses every semester from the ACT core subjects of math, science, social studies, English and a world language. Your skills remain sharpest in these areas if they are practiced regularly, and these subjects form the core of a good basic education for any future you might envision. They also improve student performance on standardized tests like the ACT and SAT.
• Try to find those courses which challenge you, especially Advanced Placement (AP) and Dual Enrollment courses.
• Take special note of the course “group” explanation on page 5 since the group is determined by the intensity or the pace and how hard you will be expected to work in the course.

Evidence shows that students who complete Honors and Advanced Placement courses and who take a good selection of core courses have higher college entrance scores and more success in college. It likewise makes sense that students who complete challenging courses and take a good selection of core courses are more ready to be successful in the world of work.

If you have questions or concerns about any of the information in this guide, please contact our Guidance Department. Remember that student success is a matter of how many courses you take and how much you are willing to challenge yourself.

Good luck with your planning.