On Mon., Jan. 12 and Tues., Jan. 13 course cards for the 2026-27 school year were handed out in study hall classes. The number of classes available to students increases with each grade level. For core classes, and certain electives, students need to get the card signed by their teachers. Class placements are determined by students’ grades and EOC (end of course) exam scores.
It is recommended that students talk to their parents, teachers and guidance counselor when filling out their course card. Once students have discussed classes with their parents, they may need to get approval from their current teachers. However, it is possible that teachers will not agree with students’ class decisions. If this is the case, students and their parents can fill out a parent override form.
A parent override form allows students to take any classes they want with only parental permission. If students choose to do this with a class, though, they cannot switch out of that class until after winter break. The parent override form is due after spring break. Once students turn in the form, parents must attend meetings starting after spring break; the meetings may begin as early as 7:15 a.m.
AICE classes can be taken as part of the AICE Cambridge track, and are beneficial for college. If students take eight AICE classes and pass seven of the exams, they will earn an AICE diploma. Earning the AICE diploma, in addition to 100 community service hours, automatically qualifies students for Bright Futures. AICE classes can also be taken a la carte, and are mainly research related.
“I’m taking an AICE a la carte class because I wanted something that really challenged me instead of just honors without going for the AICE diploma,” freshman Maha Tariq said.
Advanced Placement (AP) classes are also rigorous courses that stand out on college applications. AP classes are college level classes and by taking them students are showing universities that they are challenging themselves. If students pass with a three or higher on three or more AP exams throughout high school, they will receive the AP Scholar Award.
“I’m taking AP Capstone Seminar and AP U.S. History. I am trying to go for the AP Scholar Award,” sophomore Ananya Fukey said.
Different symbols on course cards mean different things, making them important to know. PRE means that the course requires a teacher’s signature; a single asterisk means local honors; a triple asterisk means the course requires co-curricular participation; the hashtag means the course satisfies an art graduation requirement; the filled in diamond means the course is an AICE Cambridge course; and the open diamond means the course is an a la carte Cambridge course.
With all of this information in mind, course cards are due on Jan. 26 and 27 depending on which day students have study hall. When students come to school on these days, they should come confident in their class decisions and aware of the work their chosen courses require. It is up to students, with the help of their parents, teachers and guidance counselor, to pick the classes that will afford them the most success.
