Course Selection Process*
*PLEASE NOTE: This page describes the general process by which students in grades 8-11 choose their courses for EPHS's next academic year. We will update this page later in the 2021 fall semester with dates and details specific to the selection process for 2022-23 courses.
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.
Although the specific details may change from year to year, the selection process in general consists of the steps described below.
Process at a Glance
SURVEYS (9th-11th) & PRESENTATIONS (9th) |
DATES TBA |
- Students currently in grades 9-11 take career and course interest surveys during their social and emotional learning (SEL) periods.
- Counselors begin to visit current freshman English classes to explain the course request process for the next academic year.
- Surveys and freshman presentations typically take place in early December.
VIDEOS (9th-11th) |
DATES TBA |
- Students currently in grades 9-11 view videos during their SEL periods as needed to help decide on their elective choices.
- These videos are typically presented in mid December.
COUNSELOR MEETINGS & COURSE REQUESTS (9th) |
DATES TBA |
- Counselors meet with current freshmen individually to discuss schedules and enter their course requests.
- These meetings typically begin in mid December and continue after winter break.
COURSE SELECTION PARENT NIGHT (8th-11th) |
DATE TBA |
- EPHS counselors 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.
- Course Selection Parent Night typically occurs during the second week of January.
COUNSELOR MEETINGS & COURSE REQUESTS (11th) |
DATES TBA |
- Counselors meet with current juniors individually to discuss schedules and enter their course requests.
- These meetings typically occur in mid to late January.
COUNSELOR MEETINGS & COURSE REQUESTS (10th) |
DATES TBA |
- Counselors meet with current sophomores individually to discuss schedules and enter their course requests.
- These meetings typically occur in late January and continue through early February.
PRESENTATIONS (8th) |
DATES TBA |
- EPHS counselors visit Elm Middle School to present course offerings to current 8th graders.
- These visits typically occur during the first week of February.
COUNSELOR MEETINGS & COURSE REQUESTS (8th) |
DATES TBA |
- Counselors meet with current 8th-grade Elm students to discuss schedules and enter their elective requests.
- These meetings typically occur during early to mid February.
DEADLINE FOR CHANGE REQUESTS (8th-11th) |
DATE TBA |
- After course selections become viewable in PowerSchool (usually during the third week in February), 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.
- This deadline typically occurs in late February.
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