This guide is designed to provide students and parents with information about our programs, course offerings, graduation requirements, and policies and procedures. Please study the Academic Program Guide carefully keeping in mind your future educational and career goals. The forecasting process runs February through April and students will select courses for the fall and spring semesters. Student requests during this time determine the master course schedule for the 2024-2025 school year. Teachers will be hired and textbooks and supplies will be purchased based on this forecasting process. It is very important that all students, with parent involvement, complete the forecasting process in a serious manner as schedule changes are extremely limited after the master schedule is complete. We will only make changes due to errors in placement or data entry.

Please contact our Counseling Department at 503-668-8011, ext. 7125 with any questions. Credit for satisfactory completion of a course is applied to the subject area in which the course is located unless otherwise noted. A semester course earns 0.5 credit and a full-year course earns 1.0 credit.

Courses at Sandy High School require students to access the internet for curriculum, instructional, and assessment purposes.

Freshmen, sophomores and juniors should be enrolled in seven classes plus advisory. With approval, seniors may take fewer classes if they are on track to graduate. Students who plan to attend a four-year college or university directly after graduation must select appropriate courses beginning the freshman year in order to meet college entrance requirements.

The Oregon State Athletic Association (OSAA) and Sandy High School policy requires athletes and activity participants to be enrolled and passing at least five classes, both during the season and the previous semester. In order to be academically eligible, a student must also show satisfactory progress towards graduation requirements by earning a minimum number of credits each year as indicated below: Prior to 10th Grade: 4.5 credits

Prior to 11th Grade: 10 credits Prior to 12th Grade: 17 credits

Questions may be directed to the student’s counselor or Athletic Director.

Students who withdraw from school (from all classes) mid-term will leave with a withdrawal grade; however, no midterm grade will be reported on the transcript. Students who withdraw mid-term, either to attend another school or to be homeschooled, risk the forfeiture of athletic eligibility under OSAA rules.

Students and families must take the forecasting process very seriously because it is difficult to make schedule changes after the master course schedule is built and teachers are hired. Students may request a schedule change during the designated week in August due to academic misplacement or computer/administrative errors only. There will be NO schedule change requests after school begins for either 1st or 2nd semester. Students will transcript a “W” if they withdraw from a course at any time during the semester. Students are not eligible for Val/Sal with a “W” on their transcript. Students may appeal for an exception to these policies to the Curriculum Assistant Principal through their counselor. Reasons for exceptions include extended illness or health issues or significant extenuating family problems. College-bound students who drop a class in the second semester of their senior year could jeopardize college admissions and/or scholarships.

Seniors who are on track to graduate may get approval from a school counselor for a reduced schedule. All students requesting a release period must complete an application. Students are not allowed to have release periods in the middle of their schedule. Students should be mindful of OSAA eligibility requirements if they plan on playing sports during high school, including enrollment in a minimum of 5 classes. Students with early release or late arrival may not be on campus during that time.

Class fees are charged per semester and are subject to review and change on an annual basis upon school board determination. Please check our website for any updates or changes to the fees listed. There may be additional material requirements for selective courses, such as calculators, safety glasses, etc.

In order to provide more incentive for our students to take the most rigorous classes, Sandy High School weights Advanced Placement and college credit classes and calculates a weighted GPA. Although many colleges use unweighted GPAs in their admissions selection process, many colleges, particularly the more selective colleges, seek students who have taken a more rigorous program of study throughout their high school career. Weighted grades can help those students not only with college admissions, but also with college scholarships. Sandy High School will report both the weighted and unweighted GPA on a student’s transcript. Students should not avoid rigorous classes for fear of lowering their GPA. Avoiding challenging courses to “protect” a high GPA could hinder a student’s opportunities in the college admissions process.

All Advanced Placement and college credit courses will be weighted by one extra point, however report cards will not change. While no indication of the weighted grading will appear on the report card, the transcript will report both the weighted and unweighted GPA. A regular GPA scale gives 4 points for an A, 3 points for a B, 2 points for a C, and 1 point for a D. The weighted GPA will score 5 points for an A, 4 points for a B, 3 points for a C and 2 points for a D in an Advanced Placement class or college credit class.

The valedictorian(s) and salutatorian(s) must be students who are also earning an Honors Diploma. Although SHS will report weighted grades on transcripts for college and scholarship purposes,

un-weighted GPAs will be used to determine valedictorian(s) and salutatorian(s). The valedictorian(s) will be the student(s) with the highest GPA in the graduating class. The salutatorian(s) will be the student(s) with the second highest GPA in the class. All grades used to determine valedictorian(s) and salutatorian(s) status must be submitted to the student’s counselor by seniors’ last day. Students with a “W”, “U” or “I” on their transcript will not be considered for Val/Sal.

College Coursework – High school students may attend college level classes at Mt. Hood Community College or other community colleges and receive dual credit at Sandy High School. Approved courses will be counted on the basis of 3 or more college quarter credits equal to .5 high school credit. The student must pay for books, fees, tuition, and transportation costs.

Work/Volunteer Experience – Juniors and Seniors may earn credit for volunteer or paid work if they follow guidelines and file papers and hours with their counselor. For both types of experiences, 120 documented hours earns .5 credit. For students earning a standard diploma, a maximum of 2.0 elective credits may be earned. Students working toward a modified diploma will work with their IEP team to determine the maximum number of work/volunteer experience credits. Credit will be transcripted at the end of the semester in which it is earned, and will not appear on a student’s schedule.

Outdoor School – Students who successfully go through training and serve as Outdoor School Counselors for two separate sessions may earn .5 elective credit. Students will need to be approved by a counselor and administrator to be eligible.

A (voluntary) five-month residential program in Bend, OR for at-risk youth 16-18 years old. Students can earn a GED or return to their home high school with 8-10 credits depending on circumstances.

Programs are available locally through MHCC, Clackamas Community College, and Portland Community College. A student must be 16 years of age and obtain a release from compulsory education form from their local high school. The student must pay tuition costs.

Available to students 16 years or older who live in OTSD. Students are withdrawn from SHS classes and take at least 12 hours of GED Prep classes at MHCC before taking the GED tests; cost is covered by SHS and MHCC. Successful completion may qualify a student for a 7-credit scholarship from MHCC. Students wishing to take the GED tests without the prep classes must obtain a release from compulsory education from SHS and the student must pay the test fees.

A career training program available to students ages 16-22. Most Job Corps sites are residential, but some sites allow for commuting. Students receive pay while enrolled in the program. Students must work towards either a GED or high school diploma while in the program if they do not already have one or the other. In some cases, Job Corps will also pay for students to complete community college programs.

Middle College is a partnership with Mt. Hood Community College and the Oregon Trail School District for students who would like to begin their college career while also completing their high school diploma. Applications are accepted once per year, usually in April. This is a full-time option for juniors or seniors only, and students may take up to 2 classes on the main high school campus in addition to their MHCC courses. Students must apply and be accepted into this program.

Students should communicate with their counselor prior to March 1.

The Center for Advanced Learning offers a two-year program for high school students. At CAL, nearly one college year of transferable credits can be obtained while completing requirements for the Oregon High School diploma from their home high school. CAL applications are provided upon touring the school. CAL is located in Gresham: 1484 NW Civic Drive, Gresham, OR 97030. SHS students wishing to participate in CAL must submit a SHS application (counseling office) prior to applying to CAL, provide their own transportation to participate, and cover all expenses related to participation in the program.

Please contact school staff for a Center for Advanced Learning Application.

High school students may attend college level classes at Mt. Hood Community College or other community colleges and receive dual credit at Sandy High School. Approved courses will be counted on the basis of 3 or more college quarter credits equal to .5 high school credit. The student must pay for books, fees, tuition, and transportation costs.

Juniors and Seniors may earn credit for volunteer or paid work if they follow guidelines and file papers and hours with their counselor. For both types of experiences, 120 documented hours earns .5 credit. For students earning a standard diploma, a maximum of 2.0 elective credits may be earned. Students working toward a modified diploma will work with their IEP team to determine the maximum number of work/volunteer experience credits. Credit will be transcripted at the end of the semester in which it is earned, and will not appear on a student’s schedule.

Students who successfully go through training and serve as Outdoor School Counselors for two separate sessions may earn .5 elective credit. Students will need to be approved by a counselor and administrator to be eligible.

• Students who register for college credit will result in a transcripted grade. All grades are permanently added to college transcripts and will impact a student’s college GPA and academic standing.
• Accommodations/Modifications for students on IEPs or 504s in Dual Credit Courses: Students with disabilities will have access to all accommodations/modifications for the high school credit portion of dual credit courses. Students may have access to those accommodations for the college credit portion of the course as long as they don’t compromise the learning expectations or measured outcomes of the course (i.e. notes on tests may not be allowed if the learning expectation is memorization of facts). Modifications are not allowed in college credit courses. In order to determine appropriate college-level accommodations, the district may ask for a release of information to share the student’s IEP or 504 plan with the community college. Students and parents are encouraged to participate in this exchange with the college’s disability services department to understand what support can be provided at the college level.
• LDT (Lower Division Transfer) courses transfer to Oregon public 4-year colleges as well as to some private and some out-of-state colleges. CTE (Career & Technical Education) courses fulfill community college requirements for an Associate of Arts or Science Degree and may not transfer to other colleges. Some elective college credit courses may only be accepted by the sponsoring college.

These are anticipated offerings. Please note that courses and offerings may change due to dual credit requirements.

*Students pay a $30 transcription fee once per school year, regardless of how many courses they take through Willamette Promise (courses articulated with WOU and Oregon Tech).

1. Earn a cumulative Weighted GPA of at least 3.50 at the end of their eighth semester.
2. Earn a minimum of 28 credits. Class of 2022 and beyond standard = minimum of 28 credits, six
3. (6) of which are Honors courses.
4. Complete two (2) years of World Language.
5. Complete all graduation requirements.
6. Show active participation in at least one co-curricular activity (sports, clubs, drama, music, etc.)

Students must provide evidence of transcripted credit from articulating institutions. Transfer students and other policy exceptions must be presented to the Honors Review Board prior to January of the senior year. Independent Study courses will not count toward Honors Credit. Any course that earns dual credit may be considered for Honors.

** Indicates course must be taken in Junior or Senior year to be considered for the Honors Diploma.

*See your school’s website for specific subject requirements.

Remember that these requirements are for the seven Oregon public universities listed, although most 4-year colleges have similar requirements. Students should check college websites early to learn about specific admission requirements since they can vary from school to school.

Community colleges are two-year institutions that provide both career-oriented training as well as transfer credit toward a four-year university degree. Since tuition is about half to one-third less than that of

four-year state universities, students often start with their first year or two at a community college. If courses are chosen carefully, all credits earned should transfer to a four-year college. Many community colleges and four-year universities have formed partnerships to ease this transition.

Community colleges accept all students. You do not need to have followed a college preparatory curriculum or have a certain GPA to be accepted. Community colleges generally do not require SAT or ACT scores, however they often require that a student take a placement test before registering for classes in order to determine appropriate class placement. Remedial classes for students who are not ready for college work are also available.

Community colleges and vocational schools prepare students to work in the professional world by offering career-oriented training after only one or two years of college. Students completing one-year programs receive Certificates and students completing two-year programs earn Associate Degrees. These programs are often custom designed by the colleges to meet local business and industry standards and to reflect local community needs. Projected job growth and starting salaries in many of these areas are impressively high. Some of the fastest growing fields requiring only one to two years of training include: Accounting, Architectural Drafting, Business Management, Engineering and Electronics Technology, Early Childhood Education, Finance and Banking, Hotel/Restaurant Management, Health Services, Law Enforcement and Corrections, Marketing and Management, Nursing, Para-educators and Instructional, Assistants, Social Work, Travel and Tourism.

The PSAT/NMSQT, a practice test for the SAT, or Scholastic Aptitude Test, is offered only one time each year in mid-October for sophomores and juniors. The PSAT counts for National Merit Scholarship Program ONLY when taken during the student’s junior year.

The SAT and ACT are both college entrance exams. Both are nationally administered and are sometimes used to help colleges evaluate applicants. Click here for detailed information. Information on the ACT may be found on the ACT website. See below for a comparison of the two tests.

Students should check the Admissions requirements for any colleges or Universities that they are considering to decide if it would be in their best interest to take these exams. Do NOT assume that you NEED to take the SAT or ACT exam for college admissions. Community colleges (including MHCC) have never required SAT or ACT scores, but usually give their own exams if needed for determining academic placement. Before registering for tests students should research the Admissions pages of school websites for any college programs they are considering – because they likely no longer need to take a standardized test. Should a student determine they need an SAT or ACT exam for college admission, it is highly recommended that students take at least one of these tests no later than the spring of their junior year. Register here with College Board. Register here with ACT. Online registration is recommended. The Sandy High School code is 381055.

How do you decide which test to take, the SAT or ACT? There are two questions to consider: Where do you want to go to college and which test plays to your strengths.

Once you decide which college(s) you are interested in applying to, check the websites of those colleges by looking under “Freshman Admissions” – the site will tell you which test the college prefers – many colleges will accept either but don’t assume – check it out!

If you can take either test, then decide which test plays to your strengths by looking over the SAT vs. ACT Comparison Chart (see below). The SAT costs $55 for the 2021-22 school year. The ACT costs $60 (no writing) or $85 (with writing). Fee waivers are available to qualified students at the counseling center.

Everything you need to know to practice and prepare for either test is included on the SAT and ACT websites! The Official Study Guides, Official Practice Tests, Question of the Day, etc… Many free resources are available online. These websites also have college search engines that are informative and fun to use as well. Just Google SAT or ACT for a wealth of information and preparation tools. For example: When Score Reports are returned to PSAT test takers, they can share their scores withthe Khan Academy for personalized, world-class SAT practice.

At this time, Sandy High School offers the PSAT, the SAT, AP tests, and the ACT test each year. Please call 503-668-8011 x7130 for additional information.

The new SAT will require similar skills and test similar content to that of the ACT and current SAT. Many of the changes to the new SAT format will make it look a lot like the ACT, but the SAT will retain its focus as an aptitude test. Among the biggest changes to the SAT are a sharper focus on critical-thinking, an emphasis on real-world problems, a new scoring system, and an overhaul of the essay section. Overall, the redesigned SAT will place a bigger emphasis on problem-solving and understanding context.

Comparatively, the ACT will remain more of an achievement test, requiring a broad knowledge of many concepts, as well as considerable speed and endurance.