Moving from middle school to high school is a big step and it can be confusing.
This video will give you a better understanding of what high school looks like.
What credits and classes you need to graduate and prepare for your t24 goals.
What programs, activities and clubs are offered. And why it's important to be
the expert on your own future. Let's start with the basics.
Lockers may be optional for 9th graders, depending on your high school.
At some schools, you'll share lockers with a buddy. Other schools might not have lockers available at the
start of the year. Whether or not you start with one, you can
always get a locker or stop using a locker, depending on how it works for you.
Your middle school is probably a lot smaller than the high school you'll attend.
Moving through the hallways between classes can be challenging, so here are some tips.
Follow the flow of traffic. Walk on the right side of the hallway, or up the right side of the stairs.
Try not to be on your phone while walking or you'll block traffic.
If you need to talk to a friend or look at your phone, just step out of the flow and against a wall or locker.
High school is pretty much the same as traditional middle schools.
You have six periods in the day that run about 55 minutes each.
Some high schools will have special schedules for advisories, cons or half days.
Grab your high school's bell schedule and put it in your binder
folder or planner for reference. Interested in a different kind of school?
Ask for more information about The Community School and NewTech.
Most schools have more than one lunch. Your lunch may depend on your classroom
number for a certain period or what floor your class is on. Pay attention to your
high school counselors when they give you details. Let's talk about credits now.
Hopefully you've heard that you need 24 credits to graduate. Credits can be
confusing so make sure you ask your high school counselors if you have questions.
In high school, you'll earn one-half credit for every semester class you take.
Usually, this means that by the time you pass all six of your classes for the
school year, you'll have earned six credits.
After four years of high school you'll earn exactly 24 credits.
Want to do more? There are summer programs, Spokane Virtual Learning online classes, and zero period
or seventh period classes available before or after the start of the regular school day.
Click the link below to learn more about your 24 credit requirement.
The choices you make in high school open a lot of doors for you to explore your
future, so let's talk about those. Picking your class schedule is pretty exciting.
Let's start with the easiest choices. All freshmen are required to take either
English or honors English. For math, just choose the class that follows what
you're taking now. If you're in eighth grade math or pre-algebra you'll
register for algebra in ninth grade. If you're in algebra you'll sign up for
geometry. And if you're in algebra 2 you'll register for precalculus.
For science, your high school might have different options that include biology
chemistry or Mesa biology. Ask your school counselor or eighth grade science
teacher for advice. Next up is health and fitness. Some of you may want to wait
until later because you want to take other year-long classes like AVID, band
or choir. Just know you'll need a semester health class and three PE
classes to graduate. Talk to your counselor about options, including SVL and waivers.
Then there are some other classes you need to graduate.
These include Career and Technical Education, Visual and Performing Arts,
world languages and electives. Electives are classes that might not fit into
categories we've already talked about, or any class you take in addition to your
graduation requirements. For example, let's say you take 4 years of science.
Because you only need three years of science to graduate, that fourth year
counts toward your six required electives. That was a lot to take in, but
don't stress. Look at your ninth grade registration sheet and choose six
classes that get you started in the right direction. Classes aren't the only thing
you get to choose. Next, let's talk about getting involved in your school.
Did you know that participating in a school club or activity makes you more likely to
have a higher GPA, graduate high school, and move on to college?
There are a lot of programs, clubs, activities and sports to choose from in high school, but don't
worry, just ask questions and get connected. Interested in sports? There are
plenty of teams to get involved in. Pay attention to deadlines for eligibility
paperwork, and make sure you have a physical from your doctor.
Want to join a club? There are quite a few, from cybersecurity to community service.
Ask your high school counselor for a list and start exploring potential college
majors or careers. Some clubs may require you to take certain classes so
double-check that too. There are a lot of other programs to look at,
depending on what you want to explore and accomplish. Get college credits
before you even graduate through AP, Running Start, or tech prep classes.
Get job credentials and experience through NewTech, CTE or Project Lead the Way.
Whatever you want to do in the future, be a part of something in high school.
You'll be glad you did. So, what's next for you? The classes and
clubs you take part in, the teams you join and the credits you earn all pave
the way to your future. Are you interested in the military, a technical field,
apprenticeship, a four-year degree, or a PhD? It's super important to ask
questions, take classes, get involved with programs, and get the grades that will
help you achieve your goals. Here's something to remember: We all make mistakes.
Don't get discouraged, and don't give up. Take responsibility for your future.
Make sure your goals and dreams have
multiple paths and backup plans. There are plenty of teachers, counselors and
others at your high school who want you to realize your goals. Feel lost or don't
know what to do next? Ask questions. Not sure about the answer you're getting?
Ask someone else. Don't let anyone stand in the way of
getting to where you want to go. Thanks for watching. If you didn't catch everything,
watch it again at Spokaneschools.org/stories.
As you move into your next phase of learning remember to ask questions.
As much as your high school teacher, counselor or principal would
love to read your mind, they can't. They want to help, you just have to tell them how.