PTHS Counseling Special Edition
Scheduling and Course Selection 2024-2025
Course Selection 2024-2025
The PTHS Counseling Special Edition Newsletter serves as an additional resource to assist students and families with planning course selection for next school year. Information will be provided during morning announcements, available on the student Canvas page, and Counseling Webpage. Please contact your school counselor with any questions.
Important Dates
Scheduling Portal: February 28 - March 13
Final day for course selection and course application deadline: March 13
Move-up Day for incoming 9th grade students: March 1
Summer Gym Registration Opens: March 6
The Course Description Book
The Course Description Book (CDB) is an invaluable resource to assist students in the learning more about courses that best meet their academic goals and further their exploration of career interests. The CDB can be utilized to research the expected curricular topics, workload, and description of courses. Additionally, students will find suggested course progressions, applications, and dual enrollment opportunities.
PTHS Graduation Requirements
Understanding Course Levels: Academic, Honors, CHS, & AP
Academic level courses are college and career preparatory classes. Students should expect regular homework assignments. Homework is designed to reinforce and extend concepts learned in class.
Honors level courses are rigorous college and career preparatory courses which demand a high level of critical thinking and analytical reading skills. The pacing of the course requires students to work outside of the classroom.
College in the High School (CHS) courses are college-level classes offered through our school’s partnership with local universities. Students may earn college credits upon successful completion of the course.
Advanced Placement (AP) courses are college level courses that follows the College Board’s syllabus and prepare students for the AP Exams offered in May each year. Students that sign-up for an Advanced Placement class are expected to take the Advanced Placement Exam in the course(s) that they complete.
Students are encouraged to consider challenging themselves in a healthy and balanced manner. If a student has never taken an honors course, then consider choosing one honors course in a subject area of interest. If a student is in all honors courses, then consider adding an AP Course for a core class the following year. We encourage students to consider enrolling in at least one AP course during their four years of high school.
CHS Courses
College in High School (CHS) courses enable Peters Township High School teachers to partner with local universities to offer college-level courses. CHS courses provide high school students the opportunity to earn college credits and receive a grade on a university transcript for courses successfully completed and taught at Peters Township High School. In many cases, students may transfer these credits to other universities.
Students enrolling in the CHS courses will be required to pay a nominal fee to the universities for each course. Peters Township High School has concurrent enrollment agreements with several colleges and universities including Point Park University, Carlow University, La Roche University and the University of Pittsburgh.
CHS Courses offered at PTHS
- CHS Computer Programming & Java
- CHS Anatomy & Physiology
- CHS Media TV Pro*
- AP/CHS French*
- AP/CHS German*
- AP/CHS Spanish*
*Pending School Board and university partnership approval
AP Program
The Advanced Placement (AP) Program is sponsored by the College Board and allows students to take college-level courses during high school. PTHS offers 21 courses in math, science, English, social studies, world language, and music. There is an option to take the comprehensive exam given during a two-week period in May, where there is a potential to earn college credit. The exam is scored on a five-point scale 5(extremely well qualified), 4 (well-qualified), 3 (qualified), 2 (possibly qualified), and 1 (no recommendation). Students are strongly encouraged to take the AP exam at the conclusion of the course, must register to do so, and assume the related costs. Most AP exams contain both multiple-choice questions and free-response questions that require essay writing, problem solving, and other skills. Students who complete the AP Exam are exempt from the course final exam.
Dual Enrollment Opportunities - Earn College Credit
Pre-Apprenticeship Program
In partnership with the Pittsburgh Chapter of the German American Chamber of Commerce, students in grades 11 and 12 have the opportunity to explore a Sales Engineer, Polymer Process Technician, or Mechatronics Technician, or CAD/CAM Technical Designer through online course work and paid on the job training. Participating students complete online course work in preparation for the Manufacturing Technician 1 (MT1) certification exam. Students earn 6 college credits from CCAC upon successful completion of the exam. Completion of course work and training occurs during the school day. Contact the counseling office for more information.
CCBC High School Academies
In partnership with the Community College of Beaver County, students in grades 11 and 12 have the opportunity to earn up to 28 college credits in conjunction with earning a high school diploma. CCBC offers set curriculum on the in-person campus or virtually. PTHS Students often take the online courses through CCBC in the morning and then attend PTHS in the afternoon for their core classes. All costs associated with colleges courses or online courses including by not limited to tuition, transportation, related materials and supplies are the responsibility of the student and family. Contact the counseling office for more information.
Aviation Academy: The CCBC Aviation Academy program provides exploration into Professional Pilot, Air Traffic Control, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles career paths.
Criminal Justice Academy: The CCBC Criminal Justice Academy provides hands-on experience in classrooms, mock crime scenes, and other real-world environments to prepare students for careers in law enforcement.
Education Academy: The CCBC Education Academy provides students with skills to prepare developmentally appropriate lessons for a future career in teaching. Students choose between Pre-K-4th Grade Education or Secondary Education.
Health Academy: The CCBC Health Academy provides students opportunities to explore careers in nursing, practical nursing, radiologic technology, physical therapy, respiratory therapy, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, nurse anesthetist and more.
Western Area Career & Technology Center
Students in grades 10, 11, and 12 who wish to obtain training in selected occupational fields may enroll in one of the programs at Western Area Career & Technology Center (WACTC). Upon successful completion of the course, required hours, earned proficiency on certification exams, and graduation, students are eligible for employment. Some students choose to pursue further education upon successful completion of the program.
There is an application for WACTC that must be completed prior to admission. This online application is available on the WACTC website. Students will be awarded three credits per year upon successful completion of the course.
Programs offered at WACTC include Automotive Mechanics, Automation and Robotics Engineering Technology, Carpentry, Collision Repair Technology, Cosmetology, Culinary Arts and Baking, Electrical Occupations, Health Assistant, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning, Machine Shop, Masonry, Networking, Welding, and Rehabilitation Aide/Sports Medicine.
New Courses for the 2024-2025 School Year
Refer to the Course Description Book for more information about the courses below. New courses are pending School Board approval. New CHS courses are also pending university approval.
BCIT Course
- Python II Honors*
Media Courses
- CHS Media III, IV, V, VI TV Production*
- Media III, IV, V, VI TV Sports Production*
Science Course
- Earth and Space Science*
World Language Courses
- Level III French Honors*
- Level III German Honors*
- Level III Spanish Honors*
- AP/CHS French*
- AP/CHS German*
- AP/CHS Spanish*
Where Do I Start?
Consider the 9 period day. Fill each period with a core class: math, science, English, and social studies. Each subject area has a section in the Course Description Book identifying course progression and information about each course. Make sure to account for two periods if enrolling into a lab science. Add a lunch period to your schedule. At this point, you will have 5-6 periods accounted for. Next, decide whether or not to enroll in a world language. Beyond the benefits of studying a world language, it is recommended to have 2-3 years of the same language on the high school transcript for college admissions. Have you taken Personal Wellness and two semesters of PE? Have you taken one of the required technology courses: Media I, Intro to Stem, Tech Applications, or AP Computer Science Principles? Review how many periods would be remaining. Next review elective courses in the Course Description Book. This is a great opportunity to explore interests. In addition, you can select a semester study hall if taking a lab science or a full year study hall if taking a science without a lab. Once you have a sample 9-period day, it is time to select your courses in PowerSchool. Beyond the 9-period day select alternative options in the event the courses your select are unavailable.
Remember that your teachers and school counselor are great resources to discuss your options.
PTHS Counseling Team
Ms. Patton; pattona@pt-sd.org
Students with last names A-C
Mrs. Wolf; wolfc@pt-sd.org
Students with last names D-Hh
Ms. Simmons; simmonsa@pt-sd.org
Students with last names Hi-Mh
Mrs. Prinsen; prinsenh@pt-sd.org
Students with last names Mi-Se
Mr. Sudol; sudolj@pt-sd.org
Students with last names Sf-Z
Mrs. Steffen; steffenl@pt-sd.org
Dean of Counseling Services