As a freshman one of the big steps coming into high school is choosing what courses you want to take. When you get the course sheet everything can feel overwhelming. You don’t know whether or not you should be in advanced classes or what intro level classes to take for elective credit. Don’t worry, it’s not as difficult as it may seem.

Before you graduate high school you will need a certain number of credits, in addition to those earned for core classes. The breakdown is as follows:

• 2 credits of the same Foreign Language
• 1 credit Fine Art
• 1 credit PE
• ½ credit Health
• ½ speech credit

There is a variety of classes available to help fulfill those credit requirements.

Fine Arts options include:

• Art 1
• Band 1
• Color Guard 1
• Choir 1
• Dance 1
• Boys Dance 1
• Drill Team 1
• Orchestra 1
• Tech Theater 1
• Theater 1

P.E. Options include:

• Softball
• Individual P.E.
• Soccer
• Basketball
• Golf
• Baseball
• Football
• Drill Team 1
• Cheer-leading
• Cross Country
• Dance 1
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Track
• Trainer
• Volleyball
• NJROTC 1
• Off Campus P.E.

Some courses also include fees. If you don’t pay the fee at the time of the course, you must pay it by graduation. If you don’t pay a fee, teachers can revoke your exam exemption.

Additionally, some courses require prerequisites that students must complete prior to entry into another class.

For instance, if you would like to be involved in FFA, you are required to take Principles of Ag. If you would like to be on the Newspaper or Yearbook staff, then you must complete Photojournalism or Journalism.

After Sophomore year, students can begin enrollment in both Dual Credit (DC) or AP classes. These courses are college level courses that will allow you to earn credit while still in high school. Both DC and AP have fees.