Whatever your child’s plans after high school—whether it’s enrolling in a four-year college, a two-year community college, the military, or vocational training—it’s vital to keep an eye on future goals when choosing a high-school class schedule. So says a panel of mid-Michigan principals assembled by the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals.
Parents can best help their children, say the educators, by understanding their child’s high-school curriculum, how scheduling works, what the requirements are, and then working with their child, his or her counselor, and teachers, to assess the student’s strengths and weaknesses.
Nowadays, counselors at most high schools help students plot their futures by preparing “individual educational development plans” prior to the start of high school. The plans are based on each student’s standardized tests, past grades, abilities, and goals.
The principals polled by MASSP say there are steps that both students and parents can take each year to ensure that wise class scheduling helps to prepare a student for the future. Here are some of the principals’ top tips that students can use when creating class schedules:
- Spend time assessing your strengths and interests, and write down the goals you plan to pursue after high school.
- Work with your counselor to develop a four-year “individual educational development plan” based on your academic progress and future career goals.
- Learn the requirements for graduation, and which courses your high school offers to best prepare you for college, if you plan to attend one. Find out about the admission requirements of colleges that interest you, too.
- Keep in regular contact with your counselor to find out if you’re meeting your requirements or about opportunities for academic advancement that may come up such as dual enrollment programs with nearby community colleges.
- Don’t choose classes just because your friends do, but rather, because the classes fit your personal goals.
- Don’t blow off your senior year. Instead, maximize its value by taking advanced-placement courses if you’re heading to college, or vocational training courses in a career field that interests you.
Parents can play a vital role in helping their children to stay on track during their high school years. Michigan principals offer these guidelines for assisting kids with class schedules:
- Get involved. Most school districts hold orientation sessions for students before their freshman year of high school. Read all the material your child brings home at this time, including course and graduation requirements.
- If you have questions, concerns, or suggestions, don’t hesitate to contact the appropriate school official, whether it’s a teacher, principal, counselor, or district superintendent.
- Help your child look for balance among academic, extracurricular, work, and social activities in his or her schedule. For example, a heavy load of advanced-placement classes combined with athletic practices and events, and work, could lead to a stressed-out student and home-life.
- Know your child. A college preparatory curriculum isn’t for everyone. Many students flourish with a mix of academic courses and training in a vocational area that interests them.
- Bear in mind that students are assigned to advanced-placement courses based on a combination of standardized testing, grades, and often a teacher’s recommendation that a particular student might benefit from such a course.
- Still, don’t be satisfied with the status quo. Ask about courses that may move your student onto a new academic path if he or she shows exceptional ability in a certain subject.
- Work cooperatively with teachers and counselors to help your child prepare his or her schedule.
The Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals, founded in 1911, is the statewide society representing principals and assistant principals in middle schools, high schools, and vocational centers. With more than 2,000 members, including 96 percent of public high school principals, MASSP’s mission is to improve secondary education in Michigan through leadership, research, and promotion of standards of excellence.
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