MHS course catalogue reflects changes

Maricopa High School has made changes to the class catalogue for the new school year to provide a more accurate scope of what the school has to offer. The school made adjustments to class descriptions as well as what classes will be available.

Principal June Celaya and Assistant Principal Krista Cox presented the new class descriptions for the 2015-16 school year to the Maricopa Unified School District Governing Board during their meeting Wednesday.

“We added in the Arizona university requirements for graduation,” Cox said. “We updated the AP scoping sequence. It was a little bit outdated over the last couple years, so we wanted to make sure that aligned with what it actually should be.”

The school also made a decision to drop the “exceptional student services” title from class descriptions, and adjusted the student council class name back to “student council” instead of marketing. The length of the visual arts classes will be changing from year-long classes to semester classes as well. This will allow students to take multiple disciplines in the visual arts spectrum each year.

MHS will also be seeing a change to its advanced placement classes. The school has seen growth in AP classes over the last few years, and the upcoming school year will be no different. MHS will be adding four AP classes to its schedule, while also offering an expanded range of dual enrollment classes in both math and English.

“It’s been a long time coming, but we are really excited to be offering the dual enrollment classes,” Celaya said. “By adding the dual credit classes, the kids can receive college credit if they want to pay the fee for [Central Arizona College]. In addition to the AP classes we have, those will run concurrently.”

This will give MHS students two tracks to receive college credit. Students can now take a dual enrollment class and pay a fee to CAC and receive college credit right away. The other option students have is to take the AP classes, then take the AP test, and receive credit that way.

English classes through CAC will cost students $480 per year ($240 for English 101 in the first semester, and $240 for English 102 in the second semester). Students will not have to purchase the text books, though. With math, students will only pay $240 for the year. They will receive a full math credit for high school, and three credit hours for college.

Central Arizona College also offers two programs free to students. The “first step” summer classes offer up to 14 credits to students after their sophomore year. Juniors and seniors can also take “early college” classes where they can receive nine credits in the fall semester and nine credits in the spring semester. However, these classes do not offer dual credit for high school and college.

“Everybody asks, ‘why wouldn’t they just do that, they get it for free?’” Cox said. “Yes, they would get it for free. However, this is a chance for them to knock out more credits. If they take advantage of all three, they potentially, when they walk across the stage at graduation, could be getting their associates degree a week later.”

Another change to the curriculum is with the career and technical education courses. There will no longer be any pre-requisites for students to enter these classes other than being at least a sophomore.

***ADVERTISEMENT***“I’m glad to see that being changed,” MUSD Governing Board member Torri Anderson said. “It’ll be open to anyone who’s a sophomore. That’ll be nice.”

The motion for the new course book was unanimously approved. The MUSD Governing Board showed visible excitement when discussing the new classes and the potential for the dual enrollment program.

“This is so exciting,” MUSD Governing Board President Patti Coutre said. “I’ve got a freshman starting next year and a sophomore, so I am so excited to see this. I can’t wait to see the finished product.”