Course Selection
Course Selection Process
Tucson High School’s master schedule is built from this student course selection process and their course schedule is designed from the choices students make.Because the school schedule of classes is based upon student choices made at the time of registration, it is very difficult to make schedule changes for students who change their mind after the schedule of classes is completed and the teaching staff has been assigned their responsibilities.
What is most important about this process is that you and your child begin to discuss the courses he/she is interested in while considering the following:
College and University Requirements/ Recommended Courses/Scholarships; see a college & career counselor if you have questions.
Teacher Recommendations
Talk with your current teachers and consider their recommendations.
Culturally Relevant Courses
If you are looking for a more diverse perspective in English or Social Studies, consider taking one of our Culturally Relevant Courses. Course descriptions will be provided at a later date.
Consider feasibility and workload
Do you have a job or other commitments?/ Are you a JTED student?/ Consider your time management/Are you in extra-curricular activities?/etc.
Opportunity Knocks
If there is a class or elective you have been wanting to enroll in, consider taking the class next year before it’s too late (remember some electives may be subject to auditions or pre-requisites).
What is most important about this process is that you and your child begin to discuss the courses he/she is interested in while considering the following:
College and University Requirements/ Recommended Courses/Scholarships; see a college & career counselor if you have questions.
Teacher Recommendations
Talk with your current teachers and consider their recommendations.
Culturally Relevant Courses
If you are looking for a more diverse perspective in English or Social Studies, consider taking one of our Culturally Relevant Courses. Course descriptions will be provided at a later date.
Consider feasibility and workload
Do you have a job or other commitments?/ Are you a JTED student?/ Consider your time management/Are you in extra-curricular activities?/etc.
Opportunity Knocks
If there is a class or elective you have been wanting to enroll in, consider taking the class next year before it’s too late (remember some electives may be subject to auditions or pre-requisites).
Computer Registration Directions
Step 1: Log into a computer using your TUSD account login + password.
Step 2: Log into StudentVue.
Step 3: Click on the Course Request tab on the left side of the page.
Step 4: Find the BLUE button Click here to change course requests box at the top left.
Step 5: Add your Class Request by entering Course Title or Course Code in the search box.
- start with English (add both semesters)
- click Add Request to add the 1st semester and 2nd semester
- then Math (add both semesters)
- and so on until you have entered 14 semesters (7 classes/credits).
- click Add Request to add the 1st semester and 2nd semester
- start with Alternative Elective #1 (add both semesters)
- click Add Alternate to add the 1st semester and 2nd semester
- continue adding Alternate Electives #2 and #3 (be sure to add both semesters for each)
- make sure you have entered 6 semesters (3 classes/credits).
- click Add Alternate to add the 1st semester and 2nd semester
- Make sure you have selected the correct levels!
- Make sure you have entered 2 semesters for each class.
- Selected Course Requests – should have 14 entries (7 classes/credits).
- Alternate Elective Requests – should have 6 entries (3 classes/credits).
- Raise your hand and a counselor will check your requests and help you lock your courses.
- Once you lock your course request, you cannot make any changes!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
What happens if I do not complete Course Selection?
Students who do not enter a course request will have schedules generated by the system with available classes at that time. With the volume of students at THMS, we encourage you to make informed decisions and speak with your Counselor now to complete this process.
What if I changed my mind about the classes I chose through course selection?
Because we have so many students at Tucson High, and all of our classes are scheduled to capacity, we do not change student schedules because they changed their mind, want a different lunch period, want to be in classes with their friends or want a different teacher.
How do I enroll in credit recovery for classes I failed?
Students should schedule an appointment with their school counselor to make a plan for credit recovery.
How do I know if I am on track to graduate?
Students, parents and guardians can check on their progress toward graduation on StudentVue and ParentVue by clicking on the Course History tab. If you have questions about your progress toward graduation, please make an appointment with your school counselor.
Are students allowed to change their class schedule?
Students are allowed to change their class schedule for the following reasons only:
What if I didn’t get any of the classes that I wanted?
If you completed course selection, we will place all students in their first, second or third choices. We do our best to assign everyone their top choices, following with alternates. If those are full or you did not provide enough alternates, open electives are assigned. If you were placed in an intervention class, both the student and a parent or guardian will need to meet with their school counselor to discuss the placement before any changes will be made.
Can I reduce my schedule (take less than 7 classes)?
What happens if I do not complete Course Selection?
Students who do not enter a course request will have schedules generated by the system with available classes at that time. With the volume of students at THMS, we encourage you to make informed decisions and speak with your Counselor now to complete this process.
What if I changed my mind about the classes I chose through course selection?
Because we have so many students at Tucson High, and all of our classes are scheduled to capacity, we do not change student schedules because they changed their mind, want a different lunch period, want to be in classes with their friends or want a different teacher.
How do I enroll in credit recovery for classes I failed?
Students should schedule an appointment with their school counselor to make a plan for credit recovery.
How do I know if I am on track to graduate?
Students, parents and guardians can check on their progress toward graduation on StudentVue and ParentVue by clicking on the Course History tab. If you have questions about your progress toward graduation, please make an appointment with your school counselor.
Are students allowed to change their class schedule?
Students are allowed to change their class schedule for the following reasons only:
- Placed in the incorrect level (i.e., 1, 2 vs. 3, 4)
- Hole in their schedule (no class scheduled for one or more class periods)
- Not scheduled for any magnet classes for their magnet program
- Missing a graduation requirement or university entrance requirement
- Schedule Change Request form
What if I didn’t get any of the classes that I wanted?
If you completed course selection, we will place all students in their first, second or third choices. We do our best to assign everyone their top choices, following with alternates. If those are full or you did not provide enough alternates, open electives are assigned. If you were placed in an intervention class, both the student and a parent or guardian will need to meet with their school counselor to discuss the placement before any changes will be made.
Can I reduce my schedule (take less than 7 classes)?
- Students in grades 11 who are on track to graduate, may reduce their schedule to 6 classes. Students in grade 12 who are on track to graduate, may reduce their schedule to 5 classes.
- Students who are enrolled in JTED may reduce their schedule based on their JTED schedule.
- Students requesting less than 6 classes (for juniors) or 5 classes (for seniors) due to their JTED schedule, must wait for the district to approve their reduced schedule before they can officially reduce their schedule
- Complete this AFTER you have entered your course selection with your English class.
- Reduced Schedule Request form
Course Descriptions
Once you check out the course selection guides for your grade level, feel free to browse the videos and information below for more details about specific classes.
Check out the Videos produced by Mrs. Z's freelance students that give you a good idea of what THMS classes have to offer!
Theater Arts
Jazz Dance
Mariachi
Studio Drawing
Guitar
Vocal Music (Choir)
Drawing & Painting
Film Acting
Orchestra
Ballet
Piano
STUCCO
Theater Arts
Jazz Dance
Mariachi
Studio Drawing
Guitar
Vocal Music (Choir)
Drawing & Painting
Film Acting
Orchestra
Ballet
Piano
STUCCO
This course is for students who want both academic and practical work experience in library procedures and skills. Students will gain knowledge in the many facets of library work through assignments and practical work experience. Students play a vital role in helping us operate the THMS Library Program. Because this course is like a real-world job, we ask a lot of our students. They will have an opportunity to develop leadership skills and work ethic that will ideally carry over into other areas of their lives.
Requirements
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A yearlong commitment with excellent attendance and grades
-
Parent permission
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Librarian approval
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Ability to follow instructions and work well with others
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Ability to assist others in a kind, safe, and responsible manner as they navigate the facility
Benefits
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Gain valuable work experience while developing a positive work ethic at school
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Have immediate access to library media services and facilities and the knowledge of how to use them
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Acquire new information literacy skills and gaining an edge in academic progress
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Lay a foundation for future recommendations for employment and college entrance
Library Practice counts as a letter grade. If interested, please come see Mrs. Murlless and/or Miss Nazh in the library.
What does research show about the benefits of language learning?
Language learning :
¨ correlates with higher academic achievement on standardized test measures.
¨ is beneficial in the development of students’ reading abilities.
¨ students transfer skills from one language to another.
There is a correlation:
¨ between second language learning and increased linguistic awareness.
¨ between language learning and students’ ability to hypothesize in science.
¨ There is a correlation between language study and higher scores on the SAT and ACT Tests.
¨ between high school foreign language study and higher academic performance at the college level.
Heritage learners who use their language skills to interpret and translate for family members experience higher academic performance and greater self-efficacy. Extraction from http://www.actfl.org
Language learning :
¨ correlates with higher academic achievement on standardized test measures.
¨ is beneficial in the development of students’ reading abilities.
¨ students transfer skills from one language to another.
There is a correlation:
¨ between second language learning and increased linguistic awareness.
¨ between language learning and students’ ability to hypothesize in science.
¨ There is a correlation between language study and higher scores on the SAT and ACT Tests.
¨ between high school foreign language study and higher academic performance at the college level.
Heritage learners who use their language skills to interpret and translate for family members experience higher academic performance and greater self-efficacy. Extraction from http://www.actfl.org
Dual Enrollment Registration
Step 1: Apply for Admission to PCC
- Go to pima.edu and click on “Apply Now”
- Next to New students, click apply here and create an account for your application
- Complete your application as a Dual Enrollment student
Step 2: Set Up Your MyPima Account
- Once you are assigned your A#, go to my.pima.edu
- Click on New to MyPima? Activate your account
- Write down your A#, username, password, and email associated with MyPima account
Step 3: Take the EdReady Placement Tests
- Log in to MyPima, go to the left side and under ”Tools”> “Academics” > “Pima Ed Ready Placement Tests”
- Review your scores and complete study paths (modules) if needed to improve placement level
Step 4: Confirm your scores with Pima and CCRC
- Email Christie Monreal (Pima) AND your CCRC Walker
- Still need help? In Person in Counseling Office, Main building
Schedule Changes
Plan Wisely
Tucson High School’s master schedule is built from the student course selection process in the Spring. The course schedule is designed from the choices students make during registration. Therefore, changes may not be possible after the semester has begun.
Schedule change requests are only considered in the event of a gross error:
- credit already earned or course repeat
- enrollment in a course without meeting prerequisite
- missing graduation requirement
- missing university admissions requirement
- The parent/student must meet with the teacher discuss the concerns: What support/interventions has the teacher offered? What does the attendance look like? How many conference/BPH sessions has the student attended?
- Implement a plan that demonstrates interventions and supports to make academic progress.
- If steps 1 and 2 are unsuccessful in resolving the problem, an administrator is contacted to review the progress of the student and to make a decision about future steps to be taken.
Teacher Change Request
Addressing Instructional Concerns (Parent Teacher Conference)
Tucson High does not make teacher changes for students unless they have previously had the teacher and failed the class. These changes are made before school starts or within the first 10 days of the first week of school.
The counselors, department chairs, and administrators are available to facilitate the solving of problems between students and teachers. The process for problem-solving is as follows:
Tucson High does not make teacher changes for students unless they have previously had the teacher and failed the class. These changes are made before school starts or within the first 10 days of the first week of school.
The counselors, department chairs, and administrators are available to facilitate the solving of problems between students and teachers. The process for problem-solving is as follows:
- The parent and student must conference (phone call/zoom/in person) with the teacher, discuss the problem and design a plan to solve the problem: What support/interventions has the teacher offered? What does the attendance look like? How many conference/BPH sessions has the student attended?
- If the plan is not successful, the counselor, the teacher, the parent and the student will meet to discuss why the plan did not work and to formulate an alternative approach.
- If steps 1 and 2 are unsuccessful in resolving the problem, an administrator is contacted to review the progress of the student and to make a decision about future steps to be taken.