General Information
Course Request (all grades)
The basis for a successful year in high school is careful course selection for that academic year. The best selections are made when the student and parent have complete and accurate information from which to make choices and decisions, so please read this carefully. The registration guide provides students and parents/legal guardians with information about high school graduation requirements, university and community college admissions requirements, course descriptions, special academic programs available to students, and more. With careful attention to the information presented here, a student can make a tentative four-year plan for high school that is based on options available upon graduation from high school. Additional opportunities will be available to choose courses that may potentially meet college credit needs or may enhance future career opportunities.
The registration process begins in January each year and concludes in late February. Detailed information will be shared with students and parents/guardians about the process in early December each year. Students and parents/legal guardians can also gain additional insight into high school planning by attending special presentations offered by the high school throughout the year. These programs are listed on our BHS website. The registration process is filled with many opportunities for discussion, approval of courses, and previews of courses offered. Since there is a system of checks and balances in place, we make every effort to allow student choice in the selection process, catch misplacements, and determine balances in schedules so students have to make final decisions about student schedules once the portal closes and the counselors review the student’s schedule. Because of the intensity of our registration process to meet all student needs, schedules will not be changed once the portal closes. Please keep this in mind when registering for courses.
Although we make every effort to eliminate the need for schedule changes, changes to a student’s schedule may occur prior to the start of school only if the student:
- Attended summer school, thus creating a need for a change.
- Scheduled for a class in which the student has already earned a credit, or failed a course that is a prerequisite for the scheduled class.
- Has not been scheduled for the number of classes required by the school.
- A specific course is needed for graduation.
- A change of schedule is needed to accommodate administrative decisions.
BHS Graduation Requirements |
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English | 4.0 | Consumer Education* | .5 |
Social Studies | 3.0 | Government | .5 |
Math | 3.0 | Health | .5 |
Science | 2.0 | Physical Education | 3.5 |
Elective Credits | 9.0 |
Minimum credits required for graduation: 26
*Economics or Incubator Entrepreneurship fulfills Consumer Ed requirement
What Colleges Look For
Preparing for college starts as early as the ninth grade, if not earlier. Parents and students often ask counselors, “What does it take for me to get into (Fill in the Blank) University?” That is a difficult question to answer, as competition has intensified for a spot at certain colleges, and it is hard to ascertain what factors colleges will emphasize in a particular year. We do know that colleges, especially those that are most competitive in admissions, seek students who are academically prepared for the rigors of college-level courses, who can contribute to their campus community, and who have a clear sense of why they are a good match for that college.
Course Placement Procedures
Students are placed into core academic classes based upon their standardized testing data, teacher recommendations, and prior achievement data.
Appeals
Students or their parents can appeal a placement by simply filling out the Course Appeal Form. Appeals need to be made by the time the portal closes. The curricular supervisor in charge of that area will review the appeal.
Course Fees
Some classes have associated fees that cover consumables. These fees are paid during registration in August. The fees are listed below each course description and are subject to change.
Students Behind on Credits
Only two out of building credits will be accepted to allow a student to graduate on time. These courses must be approved by an administrator prior to enrolling in the course.
Add or Drop a Class
Class schedules (only initiated by BHS) may be changed for the following reasons:
- A student does not meet the course requirements.
- A student needs to reschedule a required course.
- Class sizes need to be balanced.
- A course a student has selected cannot be scheduled.
- Unbalanced schedule
Removing a Student with Excessive Absences
A student removed from a course due to the excessive absence policy, will receive a grade of “F” and the course and grade will appear on his/her transcript.
Grading Scale
Student GPA will be capped at a benchmark of 4.375. To achieve this benchmark, students need to average 3 Honors/AP courses per year and earn a grade of an A in every course.
90-100% | 80-89% | 70-79% | 60-69% | |
College Prep | A = 4.0 | B = 3.0 | C = 2.0 | D = 1.0 |
Honors/AP | A = 5.0 | B = 4.0 | C = 3.0 | D = 2.0 |
NCAA Clearinghouse Requirements
Students who wish to participate in collegiate athletics at the Division I or II level must apply for certification with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Clearinghouse after their junior year in high school. Batavia High School counselors can assist students in completing this process if needed.
Course Descriptions
College Prep: These are courses that provide instruction to develop skills in reading, reasoning, higher level thinking, computation, laboratory science, and foreign language. They ready students for university and college work, as well as other post-secondary options.
Honors (H): These are courses that demand high levels of cognitive and problem-solving processes and independent work. A rigorous instructional pace allows for both curricular depth, and enrichment. They prepare students for university and college work, as well as future study in Advanced Placement courses. 50% increase in information covered, Increased depth and topics covered, Increased speed, Increased expectations for memorization.
Advanced Placement (AP): These are highly challenging courses with expectations that students will work independently and demonstrate high levels of critical and analytical thinking, reading, and writing. The textbooks and materials used are above grade level or at college level. The goal of the course is to prepare the student for the Advanced Placement exam; which may permit a student to receive college credit and/or placement. All Illinois public universities and community colleges must award college credit to students with an AP exam score of 3 or higher. 75%-100% increase in information, Increased depth and topics covered, Increased speed, and Higher levels of expectations for memorization of raw facts.
Dual Credit Policies
Waubonsee Community College offers classes that students may take and receive both high school and community college credit. These offerings vary, so check with your counselor if you are interested.
- Students must meet WCC requirements (see your counselor).
- Students must pay tuition, fees, and all other costs for class.
- Students must provide their own transportation to WCC.
- Students must be enrolled in the equivalent of four high school courses at all times. WCC classes that are not dual credit will not replace the four-course enrollment requirement.
- Three college hours will transfer as one high school credit.
- Grades and credits will be included on the BHS transcript and be included in GPA.
- To confirm the grade for the final BHS transcript, an official transcript from WCC must be provided. Failure to provide this will result in an “F” on the transcript.
- If the student should drop the WCC class, the high school must be notified immediately. The student will receive an “F” for the course and must also re-enroll in a high school course as soon as possible (beginning of next term).
Articulated Credit Transfer
Students who earned an A or B in each of the following courses are eligible for college credit through Waubonsee Community College. For more information on articulated credit, please visit the Valees website. Students will need to complete the Articulated Credit Form.
7th Semester Graduation Policy
Though 7th-semester graduation is not recommended, it may be in the best interest of some students. These rules apply:
- Students may apply for this during the registration process during their senior year. In some cases, students may begin planning for this option with their counselor as early as their freshman year.
- No credits may be transferred into complete requirements unless there is a hardship circumstance.
- Hardships may fall into the categories of
- Emancipated student
- Family relocation
- Personal/social issues
- Acceleration into post-secondary education