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Welcome to

Irvington High School��Current 8th Grade Students

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Course Planning & Guidance from the IHS Counselors

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Counseling Team

(Course selection guidance, graduation & college requirements review)

• A-Dh: Ms. Velazco
• Di-Kn: Ms. Bennett
• Ko-Ngo: Ms. Mintey
• Ngu-Sh: Ms. Velasquez
• Si-Z: Ms. Serrano
• College & Career Specialist: Ms. Chophla

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Best ways for students

to contact a counselor:

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Counselors/Admin are unable to meet with students and parents/respond to emails from incoming students/families due to high caseloads.

• Counselor classroom visits at Horner on Tuesday, February 3rd
• IHS Registration site
• Registration Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Page
• Google Form (on registration website) to submit questions

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Administration Team

(Master schedule & scheduling)

• Principal: Mr. Hicks
• Assistant Principal A-H: Ms. DeFrance
• Assistant Principal I-P: Ms. Howell
• Assistant Principal Q-Z: Mr. Aucoin

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Please note that specifics about registration procedures, deadlines, and timelines will be communicated directly by the IHS Administration.

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Typical 9th Grade Schedule

1. English 9 (College Prep or Honors)
2. Science
3. Math
4. Health/Ethnic Studies
5. PE 9
6. Elective

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• CCA Coordinators:
• Ms. Buehler - kbuehler@fusdk12.net
• Ms. Avon - kavon@fusdk12.net

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Additional information, including applications, can be found on the CCA Website.

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Academies at Irvington

Center for Creative Arts (CCA)

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College VS Graduation Requirements

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Credits at Irvington

• Students earn 5 credits per semester class.

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• Most students take 6 classes per semester.

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• 5 credits per class X 6 classes = 30 credits per semester / 60 credits per year

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• 60 credits per year X 4 years = 240 credits

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230 credits are required to graduate

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• ONLY semester (December & May) grades are listed on student’s transcript.

The 9th grade math class is based on 7^th and 8^th grade academic performance and FUSD district standards.

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• Per district policy, students cannot skip math levels by taking classes during the summer or testing out.

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• Students should choose carefully as class changes during the school year are unlikely to be made.

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• Honors/accelerated courses are not offered in summer school.

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Choosing a Math Class

Irvington Recommended Math Course Pathways

CC Math 3 (CC3)

Algebra 1

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Discovering Geometry

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Geometry

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Algebra 2

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Algebra 2/Trig

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Trigonometry

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Intro to Statistics

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Precalculus

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AP Statistics

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Calculus

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AP Calculus AB

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AP Calculus BC

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Algebra 2/Trig/Precalculus Accelerated

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Geometry/Algebra 2 Trig Accelerated

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Graduation Requirement: Must pass 3 years of math including Algebra 1

Minimum college eligibility for most 4 year colleges: Pass Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2

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Personal Finance

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AP Computer Science A

Irvington Recommended Science Course Sequence

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Living Earth

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Chemistry of Earth Systems

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Honors Chemistry of Earth Systems

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Physics in the Universe

• AP Biology
• AP Chemistry
• Physics
• AP Physics
• Anatomy & Physiology
• Physics in the Universe
• AP Environmental Science

• AP Biology
• AP Chemistry
• Physics
• AP Physics 1
• AP Physics C
• AP Environmental Science
• Anatomy & Physiology
• Physics in the Universe

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Please refer to FUSD course catalog for specific prerequisites

�Health

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All 9^th graders will take a semester of health and a semester elective (Intro to Ethnic Studies). Health is a FUSD graduation requirement. �

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PE / Marching Band / Color Guard

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• Students take PE in 9th and 10th grade, and it is a high school graduation requirement.
• Students will select the appropriate option on the Google Registration Form. Marching Band students must have a band class concurrently during the school year.
• Students that participate in Marching Band or Color Guard to fulfill the PE graduation requirement must participate in the program for all four years to meet the PE requirement (students earn 5 PE credits per year for the fall semester of Marching Band/Color Guard).
• Students who would like to register for Color Guard will select Marching Band in Aeries. Color Guard students WILL NOT be placed in a PE class. Colorguard students do not need to take a band class concurrently during the school year.

Required 9th Grade Classes

• Students should choose their elective thoughtfully based on their interests, meeting graduation requirements and college admission requirements.

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• Elective choices are year-long courses and cannot be changed once the school year begins.

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• Students can choose to start or continue in a world language or take an art elective.

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• Due to space limitations, scheduling conflicts, etc., not all first choice requests are possible for all students. Students should include an alternate on their Google Registration Form. If a course is full and there is no alternate choice, the scheduling team will choose an available course for students.

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• If you are applying to be in Leadership (ASG) or Yearbook, list the class on your Google Registration Form. The form will ask you to enter a class that you want in the event you are NOT accepted. If you are accepted, the application course will replace your elective and cannot be changed.

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Choosing Your Elective

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• Current FUSD 8th grade students in a world language class will be placed in the next level if they meet the prerequisite.
• Current FUSD 8th grade students can choose to repeat their current level in 9th grade to get a better foundation for the next level.
• Students in an approved FUSD Chinese language school that plan to take Chinese at IHS need to scan a copy of their transcript and send to Ms. Howell (mhowell@fusdk12.net) to be placed in the next level.�
• The language placement test is ONLY for students who are:

1. Not in a world language class in FUSD �AND�2. A native speaker of that language

• Students who meet the requirements and take the Language Placement Test will be placed in that level class the following year.

World Language Classes

Tips from current 9th grade students:

• Don’t be swayed by others’ opinions when picking courses, you know yourself best. Don’t let your parents choose your classes!

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• Make sure to check the A-G credits of each class and create a 4-year course plan for high school (remember that it's still flexible)

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• Be more outgoing with classmates. Talk to the person next to you, go to school events, join a club/sport

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• What might have been a breeze for someone else may not be as easy for you specifically, and vice versa

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• Don’t be afraid to ask questions about assignments (it's not that embarrassing)
• Teachers have better explanations/summaries than Google
• Teachers are very understanding if you have a situation

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• At Horner, honors = harder test, but at Irvington honors = faster pace in everything

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• Look for your fields of interest when choosing electives, can eventually help you to choose your major for college

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• Don’t pick every hard class! Challenge yourself, but not to the point where you overwhelm yourself.

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• Join as many clubs as possible at the beginning of the year to make friends and figure out what you want

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• I wish I spent more time with friends than cramming for the next exam

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• High school is only one chapter of your life

Tips from Current 9th Grade IHS Students

College Prep vs. Honors vs. AP

• College Prep:
• Students are taught curriculum and skills that are necessary for progressing to college level
• Meets UC/CSU a-g college admission requirements

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• Honors:
• More in depth and faster paced than college prep
• Students must demonstrate higher level of critical thinking and academic performance
• Increased time commitment for studying, projects, and more challenging tests

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• Advanced Placement (AP):
• College-level curriculum taught at the high school level for students typically in 11th and 12th grade
• Students can earn college credit by passing end of year AP test with certain scores (required scores vary by college/major)
• Very rigorous and requires a considerable amount of studying, increased homework load (board homework policy does not apply), and challenging tests

• Students who begin 9th grade in college prep (CP) English can move to honors English in 10th and AP English in 11th and 12th grades.*

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• Grades earned in English 9 and 10 Honors English are not weighted (for UC/CSU)

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• Living Earth in 9th grade is not an Honors class

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College Prep to Honors/AP Classes

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At Irvington, we encourage students to select courses based on their genuine interests and academic goals. Academic balance is key to maintaining well-being.

Key Information About Honors and AP Courses:

• AP Classes: Typically offered in 11th and 12th grade and are college-level.
• Honors Classes: Usually available in 9th and 10th grade as advanced options.

Important Considerations:

• No Summer School Makeup: AP, honors, and accelerated courses are not offered in summer school. Students earning a D or F will have those grades on their transcripts.
• Limited Transfer Options: Switching to a college prep course after the school year begins is often not possible due to space constraints. College prep course availability is based on requests during registration.

When Registering for Honors/AP Classes, Ask Yourself:

1. Am I interested in and excited about the subject?
2. Do I have the time and energy to balance this course with my other commitments?
3. Can I handle the workload alongside clubs, extracurriculars, and personal time?

Your mental health and well-being are more important than taking a particular class. Choose classes that truly reflect your interests and priorities.

Notes about Honors/AP Classes

Know Your Options

There are many different paths to happiness.

Students should choose the one that is right for them.

CAREER

University (Doctorate)

University (Graduate)

Professional

School

Military

University (Undergraduate)

Community

College

Vocational/Technical School

High School

Where to go

if you have questions…

Where to go for additional information

Irvington.org

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Irvington’s Registration Site

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• Timeline
• Courses offered at Irvington
• Link to district course catalog
• FAQs

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Information will be communicated through email, is on Irvington.org, and will be in student’s grade-level google classroom.

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Counselor Grade-Level Tools

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• Suggested Math sequence
• Suggested Science sequence
• Courses offered at Irvington
• Link to district course catalog
• 4 Year Plan
• Graduation and College Requirements
• A-g List

Counselor’s Website

Irvington.org/counselors

Irvington’s uc a-g list

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Every class at Irvington that fulfills an a-g subject requirement for CSU and UC admission can be found on this list.

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Click for list

SAMPLE

Information on clubs and activities can be found on ihsvikings.org

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Information on clubs and activities can be found on ihsbluecrew.org

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Athletics:

Coach and director information can be found here.

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Athletics:

Coach and director information can be found here.

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Choose Classes Wisely

• Select a course load that allows time for activities you enjoy. A balance between school and extracurriculars can improve academic performance and overall well-being.

Get Involved

• Engage in school or community activities that are meaningful to you. Depth of involvement and excellence stand out more than the number of activities. Plus, it can help narrow down career interests.

Focus on quality, not quantity.

Utilize Campus Resources

• Take advantage of the resources:
• Counselors, administrators, the college/career center, the library, and advisory. These resources are here to support you!

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Tips for a Balanced and Successful Year

WELCOME TO IRVINGTON!!

Class of 2030

Questions??

Submit Questions HERE.

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IHS Open House:

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Thursday, February 5, 2026

You’re Invited: