CHS Course & Graduation Guide

Planning Today. Prepared for Tomorrow.

At Circle High School, no two Thunderbird journeys look exactly the same. Each student brings unique interests, goals, and dreams, and your high school experience should reflect that.

A Guide for Every Thunderbird Journey.

This Curriculum Guide is designed to help you navigate your four years at CHS and prepare for what comes next, whether that path leads to college, career, the military, or another opportunity. Through thoughtful course selection, your Individual Plan of Study, and the development of your Electronic Portfolio, you will have the tools to intentionally shape a path that fits you.

While every effort is made to keep this guide accurate and up to date, course offerings and programs may change. Your school counselor is always the best resource for the most current information and personalized guidance. We are proud to walk alongside you during this important chapter.

Meeting graduation requirements is an essential part of planning a successful high school experience. While students are responsible for completing all graduation requirements, counselors and families are here to support and guide students along the way.

Counselors and faculty are here to support students as they explore their strengths, interests, and the courses that best align with their educational and career goals. Students are encouraged to meet with a school counselor to ask questions, explore options, and make thoughtful course selections. Families play an important role in this process, and parents are encouraged to partner with their student as they plan their path forward.

Enrollment Process

Incoming freshmen will receive enrollment information during the Freshman Orientation Program held in late January or early February. Students should complete all enrollment forms carefully and fully.

Current Circle High School freshmen, sophomores, and juniors will receive enrollment information from school counselors in January. Counselors will help students select courses for the next school year that support both current needs and future goals.

Graduation requirements are listed in this guide and outline the courses required to earn a Circle High School diploma. Families are encouraged to review course selections and graduation requirements together.

Final student schedules will be provided in August. Enrollment fees will also be paid at that time. Exact dates and times will be posted in the District Calendar.

Schedule Changes

Teaching assignments, course offerings, and the master schedule are built based on the course requests students submit during spring pre-enrollment. Because of this, it is important for students to plan carefully when selecting courses for the upcoming school year. Thoughtful planning helps ensure schedules align with student goals and available opportunities.

Alternate course choices may be included in final schedules, so students are encouraged to choose options carefully.

Once course selection is complete, schedule changes are limited.

Students who do not complete pre-enrollment in PowerSchool by the designated deadline will have courses selected by their school counselor to ensure a complete schedule.

After schedules are finalized, changes will be considered only for the following reasons:

The student does not meet the required prerequisite for a course.
The student is failing a course, and the teacher recommends a change due to lack of background knowledge or ability.
Administrative adjustments are needed to balance class sizes or address scheduling needs.

Schedule changes will not be made based on teacher preference.

Dual Credit College Courses

Students who drop a college course after the first two weeks of the college semester will receive the grade assigned by Butler Community College or WSU Tech, and that grade will appear on the high school transcript. In some cases, the opportunity to earn credit for the current semester may not be available. All college course drops must be completed in consultation with a school counselor.

Grade Classification

Student grade classification as a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior is based on the number of years a student has attended high school.

Freshman: First year of high school
Sophomore: Second year of high school
Junior: Third year of high school
Senior: Fourth year of high school

Staying on track for graduation requires steady progress each year. To complete all 29 graduation credits on time, students should earn the following cumulative credits by the end of each year:

End of freshman year: 7 credits
End of sophomore year: 14 credits
End of junior year: 21 credits

Counselors are available to support students in monitoring credit progress and planning course selections to stay on track for graduation.

CHS Counseling Staff

Driver's Education

Driver’s Education is offered to Circle High School students during the summer. The course includes two weeks of classroom instruction.

To participate in the driving experience, students must be 15 years old by June 1 or be enrolled as a sophomore. Students who successfully complete the course will earn one-quarter credit. The course is graded on a pass or fail basis.

Summer School

In some situations, students may need to repeat a course during summer school to stay on track for graduation.

School counselors can provide information about current summer school options, including dates, locations, fees, and enrollment deadlines, and help students determine the best next steps.

Kansas State High School Activities Association seal with winged figure and Kansas landscapes.

KSHSAA Eligibility

Via the KSHSAA Handbook

The student shall be enrolled in and attending a minimum of five new subjects (those not previously passed) of unit weight, or its equivalency, during the present semester.

NOTE: High school students dually enrolled in colleges, who have their college hours recorded on their high school transcript may count five hours of college credit as two subjects of unit weight or three hours of college credit as one subject of unit weight. However, the student must attend at least one class of unit weight at the member, base school per semester.

Special Education

Special education programs are designed to support the individual learning needs of students.

Services are provided through the Butler County Special Education Interlocal 638, in partnership with Circle Public Schools.

Visit Butler County Special Education Interlocal 638

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