Course Selection Process
PLEASE NOTE: This page has been updated for the 2022-23 selection process. The presentation given at our Course Selection Parent Information Night on Dec. 1, 2021, is available here.
Elmwood Park High School administration and faculty are committed to working with our families so all students will have the opportunity to take the most challenging and rewarding courses in line with their interests, goals and strengths.
To that end, students in grades 8-11 engage in an annual course selection process in which they choose their classes for EPHS's next school year. The process has been designed to ensure that all students have adequate time and input to choose the classes best suited to them.
Process at a Glance
Student Interest Surveys (9th-12th) |
Nov. 9, 2021 |
- All students take the career and course interest surveys during their advisory periods.
Course Selection Parent Night (8th-11th) |
Dec. 1, 2021 |
- EPHS counselors and administrators host an annual event for parents of current Elm 8th graders and current EPHS freshmen, sophomores and juniors.
- The purpose of the event is to help parents better understand the following:
- How course recommendations are created
- How the course selection process works
- What courses are offered for each grade
- How parents/students can view and communicate about course recommendation information
- How to best prepare their student(s) for next year
- This year's event (concerning 2022-23 courses) will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. in the EPHS auditorium on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
Senior Course Selection (current 11th) |
Nov. 29-Dec. 10, 2021 |
- Counselors present the course request process for the next academic year during advisory periods.
- Teachers in each department advertise their course electives.
- Counselors meet with each student individually to discuss course requests and schedule options for the next academic year.
Junior Course Selection (current 10th) |
Jan. 3-14, 2022 |
- Counselors present the course request process for the next academic year during advisory periods.
- Teachers in each department advertise their course electives.
- Counselors meet with each student individually to discuss course requests and schedule options for the next academic year.
Sophomore Course Selection (current 9th) |
Jan. 17-28, 2022 |
- Counselors present the course request process for the next academic year during advisory periods.
- Teachers in each department advertise their course electives.
- Counselors meet with each student individually to discuss course requests and schedule options for the next academic year.
Freshman Course Selection (current 8th) |
Jan. 31-Feb. 11, 2022 |
- Counselors visit Elm Middle School to present the course request process for the next academic year during and discuss the options for course electives.
- Counselors meet with each student individually to discuss course requests and schedule options for the next academic year.
Deadline for Change Requests (current 8th-11th) |
Feb. 25, 2022 |
- After course selections become viewable in PowerSchool, a window for students and families to adjust course selections will open.
- All requests for changes to course selections must be made by the announced deadline.
Other Information Related to Course Selection
In addition to the steps described above, students and parents should be aware of the following general rules, procedures and information relevant to EPHS course selection.
Once course selection has been completed in February, student course requests will be available in the student and parent PowerSchool portal for review.
Every attempt will be made to meet all requests, but in some cases scheduling conflicts will occur. Because of this, students will be required to select at least two alternate courses.
Each year Elmwood Park High School creates a master schedule for the following school year that reflects student course requests made during the selection process. Faculty members are employed, e-textbooks are purchased and rooms are assigned on the basis of these requests.
Thus, once a student enrolls in a course, he or she is expected to remain in the course. Careful consideration of course options by the student, parent and counselor prior to selection is critical to this process.
Please be aware that we will not honor any requests for "change of mind" schedule changes. This is due to large class enrollments and the need to accommodate our transfer students.
Once the school year has begun, student changes of mind or schedule preferences (teacher, period, time of day) will not be accommodated.
Therefore, only for limited reasons will adjustments be considered and/or approved.
Regardless of the request, students must continue attending class and completing assignments until notified of the decision regarding adjustment requests in case space is not available or a request cannot be accommodated.
The decision to allow or deny a change of course or course level will be made by the Tiger Support Team, which includes the teacher, counselor, social worker, student, parent and either the curriculum leader and/or administration.
Only significant academic and/or social-emotional reasons for a change in classes will be considered, which may include:
- Attendance in summer school or credit recovery.
- Level changes agreed upon by student, parent, teacher, counselor and administration. Level-change requests will not be considered unless the student engages in additional opportunities for support for a duration of minimally four to six weeks to determine the need for a level change. If a student decides to drop a course without engaging in support opportunities or intervention, doing so will result in a W/F on the student's academic transcript.
- Recognized special learning needs agreed upon by student, parent, teacher, counselor and administration. This may include the special education team, Section 504 team and/or Tiger Support Team.
- Significant evidence of new courses needed for college/career programs.
If the student meets one of these criteria, the students or parent should contact the assigned counselor and complete a Program Change Request Form.
Any student who fails a core class is strongly encouraged to attend summer school to earn credit and remain on track for graduation.
EPHS Summer Academy is a teacher-supported online learning environment that allows students to work at their own pace to recover credit. More information can be found online or by contacting the counselors.
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Period 1
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8:05 to 8:50 a.m.
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Period 2
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8:55 to 9:40 a.m.
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Period 3
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9:45 to 10:30 a.m.
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Period 4
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10:35 to 11:20 a.m.
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Period 5A
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11:25 to 11:50 a.m.
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Period 5B
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11:55 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.
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Period 5C
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12:25 to 12:50 p.m.
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Period 5D
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12:55 to 1:20 p.m.
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| Period 6 | 1:25 to 2:10 p.m. |
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Period 7
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2:15 to 3:00 p.m.
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In the event a student is unable to complete coursework due to special circumstances, a teacher or administrator may choose to issue a grade of "I" — an incomplete for a class.
If an incomplete is needed, the teacher will prepare the appropriate Incomplete Grade Agreement, which will be signed by the student and teacher and communicated to the parent.
This contract will include a specific plan to finish the course work and a timeline upon which this will be completed. The parent will be notified of the arrangement and provided a copy.
A copy of the signed contract will be kept by the student, teacher and counselor. It is the responsibility of the student to complete the expected work according to the agreed upon timeline. If the contract is not completed, the grade of "I" may be converted to a grade of "F."
In the absence of special circumstances, no grade of incomplete will be allowed to remain past the end of the following grading period.
Current 8th-grade students are placed into academic coursework for their freshman year through a process that involves articulation between EPHS and Elm Middle School.
Course placements are made using the following criteria:
- Standardized test scores
- Grades from previous semester
- Attendance
- Work completion
- Performance on curriculum-based measures/assessments
Current EPHS students are assigned to course levels for their sophomore, junior or senior years on the basis of test scores, performance/achievement and teacher recommendations.
A student's level of placement will be reviewed each year based upon the following criteria:
- Grades from previous semester
- Attendance
- Work completion
- Performance on curriculum-based measures/assessments
- Recommendations from teachers