High School Course Guide

How many credits do I need to graduate?

You need 66 credits in grades 9-12 to graduate. Successful completion of a trimester course earns one credit. Courses that are yearlong earn three credits: one per trimester.

Challenge Yourself!

We encourage all our students to challenge themselves by taking Advanced Placement (AP), College in the Schools (CIS), Project Lead the Way (PLTW) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. These classes are more challenging, but they can teach you skills that will help you succeed in college, and in some cases, you can earn college credit. You should expect a faster pace, more reading and more homework time compared to regular classes, but grades in AP, CIS, PLTW and IB are weighted to recognize the increased challenge. Look for weighted courses in this guide with "WGT" in the course title.

If you are uncertain, talk to your school counselor and teacher, who can provide you with more information. CIS courses have additional entrance criteria. Check the course listings for details.

Want to learn more about the categories listed below? Dive into the explanation for each course category, its advantage and what you should consider before registering. 

Explore

Preparing students with the knowledge, skills and competencies to successfully pursue a degree, diploma, certificate or industry-recognized credential and employment. Get more information on college and career resources, including access to Naviance, Personal Learning Plans (PLP's), college and career resources, college credit programs, and Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO).

Learn More

Use the following guide as a general planning tool when registering for classes so you are prepared for your post high school education. Check the admission requirements of every school you apply. NOTE: Some east or west coast four-year schools prefer the SAT to the ACT. The chart below lists the minimum requirements according to the latest information available; many colleges require further studies for admission. Research your schools of interest so you are best prepared for the application process!

Have you been interested in taking an online course that will look and feel different than distance learning did but will still provide the flexibility that distance learning offered? South Washington County Schools continues to grow its selection of online courses. See the Department pages for an explanation of each course and look for registration codes on your course registration worksheet. Online courses are in blue and marked with the SoWashCo Online logo throughout this course guide. Before you do, however, read more about SoWashCo Online below.

SoWashCo Online Mission

SoWashCo Online will empower students to lead their own learning by choosing the path, pace, and place in which they learn through a standards-aligned, flexible, and personalized learning experience. We embrace and nurture diverse perspectives, creativity, and innovation within and beyond the community. We will provide a supportive environment that is designed to meet individual needs by cultivating strong connections with families, teachers, staff, and students.

Profile of a Successful SoWashco Student

Online learning is a great opportunity to build skills needed for college and the workplace, including time management, organization, and connection within and beyond the community. Take a look at the profile of a successful online learner below, and think carefully about whether this is a good option for you.

Course Design

Each course is facilitated by our expert teachers and meets the rigorous curriculum guidelines and standards South Washington County Schools is known for. Taking online courses through SoWashCo Online allows students flexibility in scheduling their courses and provides an opportunity to gain experience with online classes in a supportive environment. SoWashCo Online teachers will facilitate learning activities and offer opportunities for students to have one-on-one or small group support throughout the trimester.

Registering for a SoWashCo Online Course

Students and families will notice SoWashCo Online icons throughout the course guide that highlight courses offered through SoWashCo Online. If you have a student interested in one or more of these courses, they can register their request through their home school online registration system. If you are a student new to South Washington County Schools and would like more information on enrollment with SoWashCo Online, please visit our website at online.sowashco.org > About Us > How to Enroll.

SoWashCo Online Learner Expectations

• Interact and engage with the course’s learning activities and/or communicate with your teacher frequently throughout each school week. Although you will have control over when and where you engage with your course, you are expected to make continual progress toward the learning goals and communicate with your teacher frequently.
• Communicate immediately with the teacher if you fall behind- you can expect that your teacher will help you create a plan to catch up!
• Respond to teacher communications by phone or email within 48 hours from the time sent by the teacher.
• Check “apps.district833.org” email and Schoology daily.
• Immediately notify the teacher of any technical difficulties within the course content or with the school-issued device.
• Advocate for yourself! You are in the driver’s seat and have control over your success in SoWashCo Online.
• During the hour of your online course, students are expected to be off-campus or in a learning space determined by your building. Please make sure that you work with your school counselor to determine the right fit for your schedule and learning needs.

Attendance

What Is “attendance” in an online class?

Regular attendance is an important contributor to your success in online courses. To comply with state mandates for handling student aid, attendance is required. All SoWashCo Online courses will document attendance through the parameters outlined below.

You are considered present for your online class if you are engaging with course content at least once per week. Evidence will be measured by the completion of a specific attendance question and subsequent follow-up with your teacher when requested.

Staying On Track

Most SoWashCo Online courses are designed to be primarily self-paced, however, the instructors may provide a recommended calendar and timeline to stay on track.  Typically, we suggest spending about the same amount of time each week that the student would be in class, 5-7 hours, to stay on track with course work. Students can choose a time that works best for them during the day and week, allowing flexibility in their schedule.  

In the event a student is not making regular progress, the teacher will:

• Contact the student directly to discuss requirements of making regular progress
• Contact the student’s parents/guardians
• Contact the student’s home school counselor
• Contact the student’s home school administration

Grading and Credits

Grading will closely align with traditional SoWashCo Schools classrooms and have both formative and summative assessments. 

Credits earned in all SoWashCo Online courses will appear on student transcripts as they are posted in this course guide. If you have any questions about online courses and NCAA eligibility or college admission requirements, please speak with your counselor.

Self-Advocacy and Communication 

At SoWashCo Online, students, parents/guardians, teachers, and staff are a team, all focused on student success. We encourage you, the student, to practice self-advocacy- that is, to ask directly for what you need when you need it. You can expect timely responses (within 24 hours, excluding weekends) from all teachers and staff.

Please don’t hesitate to call, text, message, or e-mail teachers and counselors to share your questions, concerns, accomplishments, or ideas about improving SoWashCo Online.

• Your teacher can most quickly resolve your concern about a specific course, for example, a broken link or assignment instruction that needs clarification.
• Your school counselor is the best person to contact for issues such as class schedules, progress toward graduation, and post-secondary planning.

Orientation

Once registered for a SoWashCo Online course, students are expected to complete orientation within the first three weeks of their first SoWashCo Online course. This training should be completed once per school year. Note: there may be specific updates that students are asked to review each trimester. 

Support Services

SoWashCo Online courses are designed and taught by experienced SoWashCo Schools teachers. Academic support is available by these experienced teachers either virtually or in-person (when arrangements are made with the teacher).

Students on a 504 Plan or IEP will continue to have case managers, who will work with teachers to ensure the online teacher is aware of the necessary accommodations as recommended by the planning team.

Curriculum

SoWashCo Online courses provide a highly personalized learning path that aims at empowering you to manage your time while providing a structure to keep you motivated and on track to complete the coursework.

Course curriculum includes modules or units. You have some flexibility in the completion of units/modules, but you are expected to meet the targeted deadlines. Because the coursework requires an ongoing effort, you will need to spend time working in Schoology on a regular basis.

As you navigate through the units/modules of the course, you will regularly engage with the instructor and other students. There are a variety of methods for instruction depending on the courses and their requirements, ranging from digital textbooks, video lessons, online simulations, tutorials, readings, discussion boards, real-world projects, and assessments. 

You may be asked to seek out resources (library, school media center, teacher’s classroom, etc.) that may not be available online. Teachers will work collaboratively with students to secure any necessary resources.

A Special Note for Parents and Guardians of Online Students

Your involvement can play a big part in helping your student achieve success in their online courses. Parents/Guardians are encouraged to take an active role in learning about the activities that will be required for course completion. Course Instructors will welcome contact with you and be happy to discuss your student’s progress in their courses, so don’t hesitate to contact them if you have any questions. Specific things that you can do to help your student include:

• Review all registration and course information with your student.
• Help set up a good workspace and plan for where your student will work on their online course.
• Help your student set up a regular schedule for working on their assignments.
• Be aware of when synchronous support sessions are scheduled and help minimize schedule conflicts.
• Ask questions about how the class is going and what your student is working on.
• Contact the SoWashCo Online principal or course instructors if you have any questions.

Students taking classes in Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Project Lead the Way (PLTW), College in the Schools (CIS) and Concurrent Enrollment have weighted grades using a 1.2 multiplier. The University of Minnesota Talented Youth Math Program (UMTYMP) weights grades at the university level before reporting the final grade to individual schools. Look for weighted courses in the course guide with "WGT" in the course title.

For detailed information on SoWashCo Schools grading policies and grade point average calculations, click on the button below.

High School Grading