Future Freshmen FAQ

Please check with your middle school counselor to learn about the steps needed to take classes over the summer.

Yes, the Health and Fitness class serves as a foundational class for a student's high school experience. These class' helps students develop study skills and learning strategies such as time management and goal setting. Health and PE will also help students develop the knowledge and skills to successfully navigate life in high school and beyond. Students explore topics such healthy relationships and stress management.

Both Health and PE are also graduation requirements.

Health is available over the summer through WANIC. If you wish to take Health over the summer, it will be your responsibility to register through WANIC. This information can be found on the district website. Summer Health has limited space and priority is given to seniors. If you intend to take Health through WANIC over the summer, please register early.

High School level classes are automatically added to the students transcript. If you would like them removed please contact your high school counselor.

While there are options for credit retrieval, they are typically expensive and inconvenient. It is important for students to pass the Washington State History graduation requirement in middle school. For students who failed classes like Spanish 1, Algebra 1, or Geometry they can simply repeat the course in 9th grade, take summer school, or complete an accredited, pre-approved online course. Ask your middle school counselor for your best option.

For the best fit, ask your students current English teacher for a recommendation. 

Students are required to successfully complete a minimum of six semesters of mathematics in grades 9-12.

• Students are required to pass one credit of math after Geometry.
• Students are encouraged to maintain and improve their mathematical skills by continuing to take mathematics in their senior year in preparation for jobs or future training/education.
• Students planning to attend a four-year college or university need to successfully complete their mathematical study through Algebra 2 with some knowledge of Trigonometry.
• Students taking the SAT are tested on material covered through Algebra 2.
• Students must meet all prerequisite requirements in a math course before continuing in the math course sequence.

All science courses may be used to fulfill the science requirements for graduation. All courses are laboratory sciences in that students inter-act primarily with data drawn from the material world using the tools, data collection techniques, models and theories of science.
It is recommended that students complete their science education in this order: Biology in the Earth System, Chemistry in the Earth System, and Physics in the Universe. It is strongly recommended that students consult with their current science teacher to ensure appropriate placement. Colleges and universities vary in their requirements for entrance. Students are encouraged to read about specific college and university requirements in bulletins and course catalogs avail-able in the LWHS College and Career Center. 
The following table gives some typical course sequences for the freshman through senior year. Students, parents, science teachers and counselors should all be involved in the discussion of optimum science course choices and sequence for each student. 

Freshman Year:

• Biology in the Earth System
• Honors Biology in the Earth System*

Sophomore Year:

• Chemistry in the Earth System
• Honors Chemistry in the Earth System*
• Physics in the Universe
• AP Physics 1 concurrent with Astronomy - Stars
• Science Elective

Junior & Senior Years:

• Chemistry in the Earth System
• Honors Chemistry in the Earth System*
• Physics in the Universe
• AP Chemistry
• AP Physics 1 concurrent with Astronomy - Stars
• AP Physics 2
• AP Biology
• Science Elective

*Honors is optional via the Biology in the Earth System and the Chemistry in the Earth System curricula. See course descriptions for more information.
**Personal science pathways will vary based on individual interest and ability.
**Electives can be taken any semester in addition to the core science class.

Learning another language opens up a whole new world and expands one’s knowledge and understanding of different people and cultures.  In today’s age of increasing international relations, it is important for Americans to acquire a better understanding of the values, cultures, and aspirations of others. Increasingly, the business world is demanding second language skills of their employees so they can operate in a global economy. One can gain this awareness through the study of other languages. As admission to state universities becomes more competitive, two years of language study may not be adequate to assure admission because the number of highly-qualified applicants is increasing. (Students are encouraged to check with the college/university of their choice for complete admission requirements.) In addition, three years of high school foreign language study is required to satisfy the current University of Washington’s College of Arts and Sciences’ graduation requirement.

In addition to our course offerings, LWSD allows students to take a proficiency test in a foreign language they are fluent in. Earning credit through the proficiency exam can take the place of earning credit through taking a foreign language class. Please use the link below for more information.

https://www.lwsd.org/schools/high-school/high-school-guide/world-language-credit-by-proficiency

There are no restrictions for your student if they wish to take honors or AP classes in the future.  For the best fit, ask your students current subject teacher for a recommendation. 

Yes, many of our Fine Arts credit courses are available for freshman. All your students options are available in our Course Catalog.

Additional information & details are available in the Course Catalog.