1 of 55

�� 2025-26 High School � Registration

CLASS OF 2029!

2 of 55

Agenda for Today

Give general high

school information

    • Graduation requirements

    • Registration Process

    • Recommendations and what to expect

3 of 55

Important Dates and Deadlines

Date

Information

January-Feb

Attend High School Open Houses

February 4th

Parent H.S Info Presentation with WFMS Counselors (5- 6 p.m)

January-March

Student lessons covering high school registration information and work on graduation plans.

February 21

Notification of Magnet & Application Schools Results

Feb 19th-Mar 17th

High School Registration Window (you can change and resubmit choices up until March 17). You will also start to see teacher recommendations on Powerschool.

Mar 3 - Mar 14

August 25

First Day of High School (Watch for freshman orientation)

4 of 55

4 Year Plan:

Why is this important?

5 of 55

Major Clarity/Career Development Plans

  • All 8th grade students must have a CDP completed
  • Plan assesses students’ career interests aligned with academic and extracurricular goals
  • WCPSS has selected the MajorClarity platform for CDP

At WFMS, This will take place during Social Studies classes.

Started Date: November 12th - 14th

Follow Up Date: March 17th - 21st

This activity is planning, NOT registration. Students will however receive their registration packets to prepare for registration in February during this session. The packets will be in a folder to come home. Please review the contents of the folder, complete the registration course selection sheet, and return to student’s home room teacher to be collected by Ms. Pertell.

6 of 55

Students will scroll down to “Continue with Google” and

choose their school email. There is no need to type in a

username and password.

Ms. Pertell has also been working with students to complete their Career Development Plan.

7 of 55

Registration

Every student will complete his/her base school registration.

If a student moves or is accepted to a different school after we register for classes, that student will register on paper with me, and I will send it to the new school.

8 of 55

Base Schools

9 of 55

Placement & Recommendations

9th Grade Placement Guidelines

Students will be recommended for an Honors (or AP where available) placement when they meet either of the following criteria:

  • Currently has an A or B in the course.�OR�
  • Level 4 or 5 on EOG in Grade 6, 7, or 8
    • EOG Reading: ELA, Science, Social Studies
    • EOG Math: Math

10 of 55

Placement & Recommendations

When a student meets the criteria, the school will recommend the student for the higher rigor level (ex: honors).

The school CAN also recommend students who do not meet the guidelines for honors.

Where a student takes a lower level of rigor than what is outlined in the guidelines, there must be a written parent request on file to support that.That written correspondence should be forwarded to the high school.

Form for Lower Placement

11 of 55

Example of Teacher Recommendation

Click here to select

your class

Keep in mind

recommendation

12 of 55

English Graduation

Requirement

Rising 9th Grade Recommendations:

  • Rising 9th Graders recommended for Academic or Honors English I

  • Integrated Reading is suggested for 9th grade students who have a history of struggling in 3-8 grade reading.

Key Details for

2025-2026

13 of 55

9th Grade English

Options

  • English I
  • English I Honors

Key Detail for 25-26:

  • Integrated Reading is suggested for 9th grade students who have a history of struggling in 3rd to 8th grade reading (may not be offered in all schools).

English

Threshold

Recommendation

A or B

English 1 Honors

C or Below

English 1

14 of 55

Mathematics Graduation

Requirement

Rising 9th Grade Recommendations:

  • Honors Math 1 (semester)
  • Math 1 (semester)
  • Math 1A/1B (yearlong)
  • Students are permitted to repeat a high school course to build a stronger foundation for future learning.
  • Advanced Courses in Mathematics Legislation requires that any student who scores a Level 5 on the 8th grade EOG, Math 1 EOC, or Math 3 EOC exam be placed in the advanced level for their next math course.
  • Math 1 is a graduation requirement

Key Details for

2025-2026

15 of 55

Current Math Class: Math 8

Data Source

Threshold

Recommendation

8th Grade Math Course Grade

A, B

Honors Math 1 (semester)

C

Math 1 (semester)

D, or F

Foundations of Math 1 & Math 1B (Year Long)

or

Most Recent EOG Math Score

(7th grade scores will be used then placement will be checked after 8th grade score received)

5

Honors Math 1

4

Choice of Honors Math 1 (semester) or Math 1 (semester)

3

Choice of Math 1 (semester) or Foundations of Math

1 & 1B (Year Long)

Not Proficient

Foundations of Math 1 & Math 1B (Year Long)

16 of 55

Current Math Class: Math 1

Data Source

Threshold

Recommendation

NC Math 1

Course Grade

A or B

Honors Math 2

C or D

Honors Math 1 & Honors Math 2 (Year Long)

F

Math 1 or Honors Math 1 or Foundations of Math 1 & Math 1B (Year Long)

or

Most Recent EOG Math Score

(7th grade scores will be used then placement will be checked after 8th grade score received)

4, or 5

Honors Math 2

3

Choice of taking Honors Math 1 & then Honors Math 2 (Year Long)

Not Proficient

Honors Math 1 & Honors Math 2 (Year Long)

17 of 55

Current Math Class:

Math 2 Honors

Grades in Math 2 Honors

Score

Recommendation

A, B, C

Math 3 Honors

D, F

Math 2 Honors

9th Grade Math Options:

  • Math 3 Honors

18 of 55

Math Side Note:

  • Math I taken in middle school counts toward the 4 required math class credits, but the grade is not calculated into the high school GPA.

  • It is still recommended that a math course be taken in the senior year.

  • Some schools may not offer Math 2 (just Math 2 Honors) or Math Plus.

  • Students are permitted to repeat a high school course to build a stronger foundation for future learning.

  • Math 1 is a graduation requirement.

  • Advanced course in mathematics legislation requires that any student who scores a level 5 on the 8th grade EOG, Math 1 EOC, or Math 3 EOC exam be placed in the advanced level for their next math course.

19 of 55

20 of 55

Social Studies Graduation

Requirement

Rising 9th Grade Recommendations:

  • Honors World History
  • AP World History (if offered)
  • 9th Graders should be placed in the most challenging level course where they can be successful

Key Details for

2025-2026

21 of 55

9th Grade Social Studies

Options

  • World History
  • World History Honors
  • AP World History
  • ELA grade is used to help guide placement

Class of 2026 and beyond

  1. For all students, the proposed sequencing is:
    1. World History
    2. Civic Literacy
    3. American History
    4. Economics and Personal Finance

only available to freshmen at some

schools

9th graders should be placed in the most challenging level course where they can be successful

Social Studies

Threshold

Recommendation

A

Honors World History or AP World History*

A or B

Honors World History

C or D

World History

22 of 55

Science Graduation

Requirement

Rising 9th Grade Recommendations:

  • Academic Earth/Environmental Science
  • Honors Earth/Environmental Science
  • Honors Biology*

*Math 2 or Higher

Key Details for

2025-2026

23 of 55

9th Grade Science

Options:

  • Earth Science
  • Honors Earth Science
  • Honors Biology

*Science recommendations are made based off of math and ELA recommendations.

**Some schools do not offer Biology until 10th grade.

8th Grade

Math Class

Grade

Science Recommendation

Math 8

Any Grade

Earth Science

Math 1

A or B

Honors Biology

(or Honors Earth Science / AP Environmental Sci)

Math 1

C or below

Earth Science

Math 2 Honors

Any Grade

Honors Biology

(or Honors Earth Science / AP Environmental Sci)

24 of 55

Science Side Notes

  • Science recommendations are made based off of math and ELA recommendations.

  • Some schools do not offer Biology until 10th grade.

  • 9th grade students who take Biology will still need to complete an Earth/Environmental Science course credit in HS. These students would most likely follow the sequence of taking AP Environmental Science.

  • Students need to be in Math 2 in order to take Biology.

  • Students take an End-of Course assessment at the conclusion of the Biology course.

25 of 55

Potential Science Course Sequence

26 of 55

Testing

  • End-of-Course Exams
    • Math I, Math III, Biology, & English II

  • EOC’s count as 20% of the student’s final grade

27 of 55

Health & Physical Education Graduation Requirement

Rising 9th Grade Recommendations:

  • Healthful Living I
  • Honors Healthful Living I (available for all WCPSS high schools)
  • Students must complete the CPR instruction to graduate

Key Details for

2025-2026

28 of 55

Academic & Honors Healthful Living are the same in that …

They both present the NC Healthful Living Standards for Health and Physical Education.

In Academic you can expect …

Use of district-created Health and Physical Education material that is appropriately aligned with NC Essential Standards.

In Honors you can expect…

Health Education curriculum created by neuroscientists and Duke University. Learning of standards through lens of how behaviors affect physiological processes. Physical Education will use Sports Education Leadership model which expects student facilitation of their own learning. Health components go beyond the standard Health Education offering by blending neuroscientific principles with behavioral health concepts.

Health & Physical Education

29 of 55

Healthful Living

(Academic vs. Honors)

Healthful Living Honors is designed to challenge highly motivated individuals to understand and apply concepts of neuroscience as they apply to personal health and physical education.

This course is project-based, and students will be expected to possess superior leadership, collaborative, and communication skills. In addition students will need to possess the ability to research and present factual products which demonstrate an understanding of healthy behaviors and their relation to basic neuroscience.

30 of 55

World Languages Graduation Requirement

Rising 9th Grade Recommendations:

  • Not required for graduation
  • Two credits in the same language (sequential) are recommended for UNC System Minimum Admissions
  • Students may elect to start at their proficiency level

Key Details for

2025-2026

31 of 55

World Languages

Are you currently in Spanish?

  • Continue with Spanish 2 next year

Considerations

  • Not required for high school graduation.
  • Give students time to get used to the block schedule
  • Languages move FAST and is as difficult as a core class
  • Students could take both levels in one year (no gap!)
  • Can still make it to the AP level
  • Click here for more information

College Requirements

  • Recommended TWO levels of ONE language to go to a 4 year college
  • (Click Here to Learn More)

Ex- Spanish 1&2, Latin 1&2, French 1&2, etc.

Do you speak Spanish at home?

  • Heritage Spanish 1

32 of 55

Arts Education

Graduation Requirement

Rising 9th Grade Recommendations:

  • All students must complete at least ONE arts education course between grades 6-12
  • Students who have completed semester or year long arts course in middle school (band, chorus, full arts course) the requirement is met
  • Students who have not met the requirement must complete a beginning arts course

Key Details for

2025-2026

33 of 55

Electives: Fine Arts

All students must complete ONE arts credit (music, visual art, theatre arts, dance) between Grade 6 and Grade 12 in order to graduate from high school.

Any student interested in placing out of the beginning level for Fine Arts classes (orchestra, band, dance, chorus, theater, visual art) should contact the appropriate teacher and watch for audition dates at their school. Click Here for links to the school websites.

34 of 55

Example of Teacher Recommendation

Click here to select

your class

Keep in mind

recommendation

FUTURE-READY CORE �GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

35 of 55

Graduation Requirements

Earn 22 Units of Credit under the Future-Ready Core plus 4 Elective Credits from any area totally 26 Units

Students must pass three EOC assessments (NC Math I, Biology, English II)

36 of 55

Graduation Requirements

  • 4 English Credits
  • 4 Math Credits
  • 4 Social Studies Credits
  • 3 Science Credits
  • 1 Health & PE credit
  • 6 elective credits

Students could be eligible to graduate in three years (22 credits)

More information available at the HS Open House Events

*Eligible students are only able to apply for this flexibility if they meet the state’s minimum requirements.

37 of 55

Future Ready Core

Courses Credits

English 4

    • English I, II, III, IV

Math 4

Science 3

    • Earth/Environmental Science
    • Biology
    • a Physical Science

Social Studies 4

    • World History,
    • Civic Literacy,
    • American History,
    • Economics and Personal Finance (EPF).

38 of 55

Future Ready

Core

Courses Credits

Healthful Living 1

Electives 6

Career/Tech, Arts ed

World Languages, etc..

4 credits strongly recommended in an Area

of Concentration (CTE, JROTC, Arts Ed. or

any other subject area)

Additional Electives 4

Total 26 Credits

39 of 55

Standard

Honors

Advanced Placement

Course Levels

40 of 55

Honor Level Classes���What Does It Take?

Independent learning

Discussions where you are prepared and participate.

Summer reading/

assignments

Vocabulary is geared toward SAT prep.

Emphasis on critical thinking

Emphasis on college level reading and writing

41 of 55

Honor Level Classes***�What Does It Take?

An honor student needs to be a more mature student.

Student grades should be an A (90-100) or high B (87-89) test average for the year, before retests. High schools look for a level 4 or 5 on EOGs.

An accelerated, advanced course requiring significantly more work.

42 of 55

AP Level Classes��What Does It Take?

  • AP classes are more rigorous than honors courses. After completing an AP class, students can take the AP exam and potentially receive college credit for that course if they receive a passing score. Taking an AP course shows colleges that students can handle college level work.

43 of 55

Quality Points

Grade

Grading scale

Standard

Honors

Advance Placement

A

90-100

4

4.5

5.0

B

80-89

3

3.5

4.0

C

70-79

2

2.5

3.0

D

60-69

1

1.5

2.0

44 of 55

Promotion

9th to 10th Grade

Must pass 6 courses:

  • English
  • 2 out of the following 3—(Math, Science, Social Studies)
  • 3 additional courses

Course Loads

    • Students are required to carry a course load equal to the number of instructional periods in the school day.

4 instructional periods = 4 classes.

45 of 55

Sample Schedule

90 min classes*

Block Schedule: 4 x 4 (RHS, HHS, WFHS, WHS )

Fall

Math 1

Earth Science

Health and PE

Elective

Spring

English

World History

Elective

Elective

Block Schedule: A Day/B Day

( Only at BHS, EHS, GHS, MHS &

SERHS)

A Day

Math 1

Earth Science

Health and PE

Elective

B Day

English

World History

Elective

Elective

46 of 55

Course Selection for 9th Grade

8th grade teachers have made recommendations based on high school guidelines

If the recommendation is not what you hoped for, please talk with your teacher before or after school.

Students who enroll in a class above what was given in the recommendation are generally not as successful as those who follow the teacher’s recommendation.

47 of 55

Registering for Classes

Students will register on Power Schools/ WakeID.

Students must have their own Power Schools/WakeID accounts.

48 of 55

Selecting Classes

8 Classes

  • English
  • Math
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Health and PE

  • Elective/Math
  • Elective
  • Elective

**Alternates**

49 of 55

How to Pick Core Classes

Levels

  • Academic
  • Honors
  • Advanced Placement

Teacher Recommendations

  • Available in PowerSchool by February 3rd
  • Powerschool
    • Course Registration
      • Click on Subject
        • Recommended course will be at the top of the list
  • Talk with your student’s teachers if you have questions.

Other Considerations

  • Grades in middle school
  • Work habits
  • Interests
  • College Goals
  • EOG scores

Resources

  • WCPSS Program Planning Guide

50 of 55

Registering for Classes

  • The eight classes should be the ones that you hope to have 1st and 2nd semester.

  • The alternate electives are those classes you are willing to take if they do not get the first choice.

  • This is just the choice of classes, not a schedule.

Availability of electives is NOT determined by when

students register in PowerSchools- as long as it is before the deadline. It is not “first come, first served.”

51 of 55

Drivers Education

  • Driver’s Education through Jordan Driving School.

  • If you are 14 ½ years old and interested in Drivers Ed. Please go to the Jordan Driving School Website for more information.

  • www.jordandriving.com/

52 of 55

Who is Eligible for Driving School

  • Age eligible students (14 ½) in Wake County who attend a middle school, private school, charter school or home school may sign up for any after school class at a public high school If their schedule permits; however, students MUST be able to arrive to class on time each day, no exceptions

53 of 55

High Schools that have Drivers Ed.

54 of 55

Thanks for coming today!!

Please email me if there are any questions or concerns:

rpertell@wcpss.net

919-554-8440 Ext. 22429

8th Grade Counselor

55 of 55