Course Selection FAQs

  • We are so excited about Course selection for the 2024-25 school year! 

    Course selection for all incoming freshmen through rising seniors opens Tuesday, January 16th and will close on January 29th.  

     

    Course selections must be completed in SKYWARD by January 29th.   The SKYWARD portion is done in the student’s account.  We have step-by-step instructions, a video for the SKYWARD input, as well as the 24-25 Course Reference Sheet linked below.  

     

    Students will have the opportunity to review their course selections with their counselor  individually after the course selection window closes and courses may be updated to make sure that students fulfill all graduation requirements and have met prerequisites at that time.  Course selections drive hiring and the master schedule of courses for the campus; therefore, the final opportunity to make changes to course selections is the last day of the school year.

     

    VIDEO: How to Select Courses in SKYWARD

    Online Course Selection Directions

    24-25 Course Reference Sheet

    24-25 Course Catalog

    2024-2025 Course Selection FAQ

    We know everyone has lots of questions – so here is our plan to help you and your student:

    1.        We will be meeting with every student one on one to review their transcript and course requests.    We will make sure they are on track for graduation and answer all of their questions.

    Here are the dates:

    ·       11th grade:   February 5 – 14

    ·       10th grade:  February 26 – March 6

    ·       9th grade:  March 25 – 28

    2.        The website has been updated with excellent Course Selection Information.  Please take a look at everything that has been created including the virtual Prosper ISD Course and Program Information EXPO! 

    Click HERE for the link to the Course Selection tab on the RHHS website.

    4.       Counselors are available in the cafeteria during every lunch to answer questions, no appointment needed. 

    Please continue reading below for some answers to some of our frequently asked questions regarding course selection.

     

    RHHS Course Selection Q&A 

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    Graduation Requirement Questions: 

    • What are the Graduation Plan Requirements and how many credits do you need to graduate? 

    • How can I create my 4-year plan? 

    • Students can use pages 9-11 and pages 103 - 161 of the course guide to create a 4 year plan based on their Endorsement.

     

    • Do I have to have community service hours to graduate? 

      • No, however community service experience looks great on college and scholarship applications. 

     

    Endorsement Questions: 

    • What are endorsements, and why do I have to have one? 

      • An endorsement is “a coherent sequence or series of courses” in one of five areas: STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), Business and Industry, Public Service, Arts and Humanities, and Multidisciplinary Studies. Starting with 2018’s graduating class, the state legislature declared high school endorsements necessary for graduates of the Texas Foundation Graduation Plan. By requiring students to focus their course of study, students attain the knowledge and skills necessary to become college and career-ready. This benefits not only students but also Texas’s workforce and economic future.

    • How do I know which classes match up with my endorsement? 

      • Students can use pages 9-11 and pages 103 - 161 of the course guide to create a 4 year plan based on their Endorsement.

    • Can I change my endorsement? 

      • YES, students can change their endorsement as many times as they want.

    • How do I select my endorsement? 

     

    Honors/AP/Dual Credit Questions: 

    • When can my student start taking Dual Credit courses? 

      • Beginning in the summer after the student’s sophomore year, qualified high school students may enroll in Dual Credit courses. 

      • Rising 10th-grade students may take Dual Credit Medical Terminology/Pathophysiology during their sophomore year.

    • Are Dual Credit courses weighted differently? 

      • Grades earned in Dual Credit courses are weighted the same as AP Courses.

    • How do we register for Dual Credit? 

    • Please check the  Dual Credit page for your high school for the most current information on Dual Credit.

    • I can’t select Dual Credit Classes on Skyward. What should I do? 

      • The student should select the course in Skyward that they would take if they did not take a Dual Credit course. After counselors receive the final registration report from Collin College, we will change the student to the Dual Credit course.

     

    • Should I take Honors/AP/Dual Credit classes?

      • This is a very individual decision, and there are many factors to take into consideration: areas of strengths, previous grades, other commitments, teacher recommendations, etc. Your current teacher knows your skill set the best. They will be the best judge of your academic readiness. Taking Honors in all areas is challenging and time-consuming, especially for those with extracurricular commitments. We encourage you to balance your life and your school load. Students who decide to take Honors/AP classes must complete the entire first 6 weeks of the class before moving to an on-level class would be considered.

     

    Middle School Classes that Count for HS Credit: 

    • Fundamentals of Computer Science (On-Level GPA course)

    • Graphic Design (On-Level GPA course)

    • Honors and GT Algebra I (Honors GPA course)

    • Honors Geometry (Honors GPA course)

    • Principles of Arts, Audio/Video Technology, and Communications (On-Level GPA course)

    • Spanish I (On-Level GPA course)

    • Spanish II (On-Level GPA course)

    • Honors Spanish III (Honors GPA course)

     

    Release Period Questions: 

    Who qualifies for release periods? 

     

    Seniors on track to earn the required number of credits to graduate on time, have achieved CCMR status, and have appropriate discipline may choose to have a release period.

     

    Seniors can meet CCMR status by doing at least one of the following:

    • SAT 

      • a minimum score of 480 in Reading and 530 in Math

    • ACT

      • prior to 2/15/23 - minimum score of 19 in English, 19 in Math, and a Composite Score of 23

      • after 2/15/23 - minimum score of 40 on English and Reading combined and 22 on Math

    • TSIA2 

      • a minimum score of 945 on ELAR, 950 on Math, and 5 or higher on Essay

    • AP Score of 3, 4 or 5

    • Dual Credit

      • credit in 3 hours of DC English or DC Math

      • credit for 9 hours in any DC Subject

    • Earn an Industry-Based Certification

    OR

    • Complete a College Prep Course - More information to come.




    How many credits does a rising 11th grader have to have for a release period? 

    • Juniors who completed 15 credits after sophomore year and meet CCMR status (see above) can have 0ne release period.

     

    What counts as an “Off Period”?

    • Office aide and senior release periods count as an “off” period.

     

    Foreign Language Questions: 

    • My student took Spanish (or another foreign language) in middle school. Does this count as HS credit? 

      • If the course was considered High School-level, then we can award HS credit for it and it will count toward their foreign language requirements. 

    • Do all colleges accept ASL and Computer Science as a foreign language? 

      • Although many colleges do accept both of these, some do not. Please check with the universities your student is interested in attending to make sure they will accept them. 

    • My student was in a Dual Language Program in MS, does that count as HS credit? 

      • Yes, they would have received Spanish 1 credit in 7th grade and Spanish 2 credit in 8th grade.  They would take Honors Spanish 3 as a 9th grader.

     

    Athletics Questions: 

    • Why can’t I add my athletics class to my schedule?

      • Entering freshmen are allowed to add any athletic course to their schedule.

      • Current 9th - 11th graders will have athletic courses added to their schedule if they are currently enrolled in an athletic course.  If a student is not currently in an athletic class and would like to be in an athletic course next year, they need to talk to the coach to get approved.

    • What if I want to play 2 sports? 

      • Sign up for the sport that is in the Fall for the full year. Once the coaches choose the teams for the Spring sport, the counselors will change it on your schedule.



    Program Application/Audition Questions: 

    • What if the course I want requires an audition? 

      • Choose an elective from the course catalog. Once you speak to the director, he/she will let the counselors know and will change your schedule. 

    • I am interested in taking a course that requires an application. Where can I find these? 

      • Access course applications HERE. 

     

    Skyward Questions: 

    • How do I select my courses in Skyward? 

    • Do I need to select 3 alternate electives? 

      • Yes. If we cannot accommodate your 1st choice courses, we will choose from your alternates. If you do not select alternates, we will have to choose elective classes for you. 

     

    Other Questions: 

    • Can I change my electives once school starts? I don’t like my elective/my elective is not what I thought it was going to be. How can I change it?

      • Unfortunately, no elective changes are allowed once the course selection window closes. We staff our school based on the student requests, so please choose your electives wisely!

      • There will be a change form available March 1st on the RHHS website and will close on the last day of school.

    • Can I request a particular lunch/period/teacher?

      • No, you may not. 

    • When will I get my schedule? 

      • You will be able to see your schedule in Skyward in August. If there is a mistake on your schedule, please email your counselor. Remember – there are no elective changes. Level changes can be made at the end of the sixth week of school.

    • Can I have a “Study Hall”? 

      • No. RHHS does not offer Study Hall