2023-2024 Course Catalog

Previous Semester High School Eligibility:

During the previous semester, the student-athlete or club member must have passed a minimum of five classes of academic work. If a student-athlete or club member fails to pass a minimum of five classes for the semester, they will be ineligible to compete or participate for the entire next semester. 

Current Marking Period High School Eligibility:

During the current marking period, the student-athlete or club member must be passing five classes at the nine week eligibility check in order to be eligible to compete or participate for the remainder of that semester. Student-athletes and club members who are determined to be ineligible at one of the nine week reports will be ineligible for a minimum of one week. After one week, an academic progress report must be circulated to the student-athlete’s or club member’s teachers and submitted to the athletic director (for student athletes) or the sponsor of the extra-curricular activity (for club members) for eligibility verification. This process will continue until the student-athlete’s or club member’s progress report indicates that they are currently passing five classes. 

Students who achieve a 3.5 unweighted grade point average (GPA), or better, for the academic school year are part of the Honor Roll. Students who maintain a 3.5 unweighted GPA are encouraged to pursue membership in the National Honor Society. An academic letter is available for purchase in Attendance Office B to students who meet the Honor Roll criteria.

Research shows that the single greatest factor contributing to student achievement is attendance at school. While a student who is absent from school may be able to cover a missed chapter, copy missed notes, complete a missed assignment and receive help after school, other important aspects of a lesson that will make a difference to learning cannot be retrieved. Discussion, recitation, listening, note taking, questions, explanations, and clarifications are among the important interactions that cannot be retrieved despite the most sincere efforts at make-up work. Student success depends on a solid educational background, and such a background can only be gained through regular school attendance. Please familiarize yourself with the high school’s current Attendance Policy, located on the Novi High School webpage.

As a team, counselors, teachers, administrators and support staff share the responsibility of assisting young people in preparing for the challenges of postsecondary life. The counselor's primary commitment is to help the student realize their potential academically, personally and socially. Some topics you may contact your counselor about include:

• Academic Support
• ACT/SAT/PSAT/NMSQT testing opportunities and registration
• Alternative Education Options
• Armed Services Opportunities
• Career Planning Resources
• College Applications
• College Information
• College Representative Visits
• Crisis Support
• Dual Enrollment Opportunities
• Four Year Plan and Scheduling
• Graduation Audits
• Interpersonal Counseling and Referrals/Social-Emotional Support
• Military Academy Applications
• NCAA Eligibility Center
• New Student Registration
• Novi Youth Assistance
• Oakland Schools Technical Campus (OSTC)
• Online Learning Opportunities
• Scholarship/Financial Aid Information
• Summer School Information
• Transcript Requests

Seniors may complete their senior year prior to their graduating class if all graduation requirements have been met and all state endorsed proficiencies have been attained. Students who wish to complete early should consult with their counselor and complete the “early completion application” by October 1 of their senior year. Early completion students may attend any senior activities and will receive their diploma with the rest of their class at the graduation ceremony.

Grading System

Students will receive both a weighted and an unweighted grade point average (GPA) on their transcript. The GPA will only differ if AP or IB coursework has been taken. Note that plusses and minuses appear on the transcript, but do not affect the GPA calculation. Passing marks for both unweighted and weighted are A+ through D-. Please note: Novi High School does NOT calculate exact rank.  
Unweighted Four Point Scale:
A+, A, A- = 4
B+, B, B- = 3
C+, C, C- = 2
D+, D, D- = 1
E= 0
        
Weighted Scale for Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate coursework:
A+, A, A- = 5
B+, B, B- = 4
C+, C, C- = 3
D+, D, D- = 2
E= 0

Incompletes

Grades posted as “Incomplete” or “I” will revert to an “E” grade after a period of one semester. If the incomplete grade has not been changed, an “E” will be placed on the transcript. A teacher retains the right to change the “E” grade at a later date if circumstances warrant the change. 

Grade Appeals

Students have until the end of the next semester to meet with their teacher regarding a grade challenge. This opportunity is forfeited after one semester.  

Repeated Coursework

Coursework may be repeated if a student received an unsatisfactory or failing grade. The new grade will not replace the original grade. Both grades will be factored into the GPA and both will be reflected on the transcript. Credit recovery coursework receives credit (RC) or no credit (NC)and does not factor into the GPA. 

Homebound and hospitalized services are designed to provide continuity of educational services for students with medical conditions that prevent them from physically attending school for a period of time during a school year. Parents are responsible for notifying the school district when the student is going to be homebound or hospitalized for a period longer than five (5) school days. Parents should contact their child’s counselor for additional information and paperwork should they believe their child may qualify for services.

Evening parent-teacher conferences are scheduled each semester. Parents may sign up to meet with their student's teachers. This is an opportunity for parents to check in with teachers regarding student progress and academic program requirements and expectations. If additional time is needed, private conferences can be arranged with teachers during their conference period.

The Personal Curriculum (PC) is an option a student or family can explore as a way to modify certain graduation requirements and earn a diploma. The high school diploma is documentation that the student has met the expectations and possesses the knowledge and skills necessary for postsecondary success. The purpose of secondary education is to prepare students for life after high school. Any modification to a student’s graduation requirements needs to be consistent with this purpose. See your counselor for additional information about PCs.

Students will receive four academic report cards at 9-week intervals throughout the year to inform parents and students of academic progress. The semester report card is the final grade for each course and indicates the student’s grade and credit earned. All classes are graded using cumulative scoring/grading. Current student progress can be monitored via Schoology. 

The Michigan Seal of Biliteracy has been created to recognize high school graduates who exhibit language proficiency in English and at least one additional world language. The Seal has been created to encourage students to study world languages and embrace their native and heritage languages. The Seal will provide employers with a way to identify individuals with strong language and biliteracy skills. For more information, please see the Counseling Schoology Group.

Course selection is one of the most important processes that a high school student will undertake. Choosing the correct courses (along with teacher, parent, and counselor input) is key to a successful high school and post-secondary experience. The master schedule is based upon student course selections. Therefore, changing courses at a later date is not guaranteed. Please read this entire course catalog for the most updated information regarding scheduling. Select Scheduling to see the timeline for course selection for the coming school year.

Advanced Placement (AP) Program:

The College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) Program gives high school students an opportunity to pursue college level studies while still in high school. Some colleges award college credit and/or advanced standing if the student achieves a particular score on the AP exam. AP courses run for two semesters unless otherwise specified below. The AP Capstone diploma can be pursued by students who qualify. Information can also be found online at https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-capstone

• AP Biology
• AP Calculus AB
• AP Calculus BC
• AP Chemistry
• AP Computer Science A
• AP English Language & Composition
• AP English Literature & Composition
• AP Environmental Science
• AP European History
• AP French Language & Culture
• AP Japanese Language & Culture
• AP Macroeconomics (1 semester)
• AP Microeconomics (1 semester)
• AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism
• AP Physics C: Mechanics
• AP Psychology
• AP Research
• AP Seminar
• AP Spanish Language & Culture
• AP Statistics
• AP U.S. Government & Politics
• AP U.S. History

International Baccalaureate (IBDP) Diploma Programme:

The IB at the high school level is a comprehensive curriculum, based on international standards, which can complement and enhance an already rigorous curriculum. The IB Diploma Programme, as well as individual IB courses, are taught and well recognized around the world. If a student achieves the appropriate score within an IB course then some colleges will award college credit for the coursework. For more information please visit the Novi IB link at: https://hs.novi.k12.mi.us/academics/apib

• IB Biology HL1&2
• IB Business Management HL1&2
• IB Career Related Core
• IB French SL1&2
• IB German SL1&2
• IB History of the Americas HL2
• IB Japanese SL1&2
• IB Literature HL1&2
• IB Math Analysis & Approaches SL1&2
• IB Physics SL
• IB Spanish SL1&2
• IB Sports, Exercise & Health Science HL1&2
• IB Theory of Knowledge
• IB Visual Art SL/HL1&2
• IB World History SL/HL1

International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP):

Students in the IBCP engage with a career related studies program that genuinely interests them while gaining transferable and lifelong skills in applied knowledge, critical thinking, communication and cross-cultural engagement.

In short, it is a program that allows students to develop: Career/technical skills (2 credits of career focused classes), Academic skills (2 DP courses as part of Novi grad requirements), and Employability skills (explicitly taught in our CP Core course)

AP/IB Workload:

The workload for these courses is equivalent to college courses. Students can expect up to 10 hours of homework per week for each AP or IB class taken. For example, one class would require 10 hours per week, while three classes would require 30 hours per week of homework.

Many courses at Novi High School have prerequisites that must be satisfied before a student can move ahead (i.e.: Painting 1 before Painting 2, Biology before Human Anatomy). Also, all Advanced Placement courses have prerequisites. Please refer to the course listings in the Course Descriptions for specific prerequisite information. It is the responsibility of the student to familiarize themselves with prerequisite coursework and choose classes accordingly.

The following courses require an application or special permission to enroll. Applications are available in the Counseling Schoology Group. Check deadlines carefully, as some applications require that you seek letters of recommendation. 

• AP/IB Course Reflection
• Dual Enrollment: See your counselor
• IB Diploma Program
• IB Career-Related Program
• IB Visual Art HL
• Journalism II: Yearbook
• Marketing: Store Operations
• Medical Careers Exploration
• Newspaper & Modern Media
• Oakland Schools Technical Campus coursework; must be a junior or senior
• Peer to Peer
• Teacher Cadet
• TV News and Production
• Virtual Coursework
• Wildcat Writing Den
• Work-Based Learning: see Mrs. Moss for an application; must be a junior or senior.

Students may request schedule changes during August registration after receiving their schedule. For example, if a student completed a summer school class, they may need to contact their counselor to have a change made. Changes will be made if the student meets the prerequisites for the requested course and there is space in the requested course.

All core schedule changes must have parent approval. The counseling office will provide a schedule change request form before each semester for students to submit schedule changes with parent permission.

All change of mind requests must be finalized by the end of the first week of the semester. Level change requests (i.e. moving from Honors Geometry to Geometry) must be finalized by the end of the second week of the semester. Requests for teacher or hour changes will not be accommodated. 

Schedule adjustments during the senior year may impact college acceptance. The senior year schedule is used in the admissions process when a student applies to college. Therefore, it is recommended that the student contact colleges which have received an application to inform them of schedule changes, as offers could be rescinded based upon schedule changes. 

Colleges and universities continue to stress the importance of students maintaining a strong curriculum in the five core areas of mathematics, science, language arts, social studies and world language. These courses, along with exploratory electives that are thoughtfully considered, will ensure a well-rounded student. We encourage students to refer to individual college websites for specific admission criteria. We also encourage students to attend college fairs, take college tours and see their counselor for any individual assistance they may need. 
If a student chooses to take a math-related course then please understand that it may not meet university math requirements. Students should contact a university admissions representative if you have questions regarding math-related coursework.

• It is important to maintain a strong senior year schedule including core classes in order to meet university admissions requirements. Schedule changes may impact the college admission decision. Contact your admissions office before dropping core coursework.

University Admission Requirements

The state universities of Michigan have specific admission requirements for students who graduate from high school and wish to enter any four-year university. To be eligible for regular admission to a university, a high school student should maintain a minimum of four core credits all four years of high school. Please recognize that admission criteria varies from college to college. For specific information, students are encouraged to visit the websites of colleges they wish to apply to.

Students should have regular conversations with their counselor regarding college planning and college admissions. Thorough and up to date information is shared at the annual junior and senior meetings held by the counseling team.

Students must have four math credits (through Algebra II) to graduate. Students entering their senior year with only three math credits will need one full math or math-related credit in their senior year. Students with 3.5 or more credits can choose a .5 credit course as their senior math class. (Double dipping graduation requirements is not permitted.)
Courses that fulfill the senior math-related requirement for graduation:

• All Art classes
• All Accounting classes
• All Chemistry classes
• All Computer Programming classes
• All CTE classes
• All Finance classes
• All OSTC coursework
• All Physics classes
• AP Macro & Micro Economics
• Food Science
• Genetics and Medical Technology
• IB Business Management
• IB Sports, Exercise & Health Science
• Journalism II: Yearbook
• Life and Leadership
• Marketing: Store Operations
• Medical Math
• Newspaper & Modern Media
• Statistical Reasoning in Sports
• Study Skills
• The Incubator
• Work Based Learning

Please be aware that several of our AP and IB courses require completion of a summer packet or summer reading/writing assignments due upon return in the fall. Summer Work will be posted in the AP & IB Schoology Groups in June. 

Join AP Schoology Group Code: JBQW-X6P8-CBN3W

Join IB Schoology Group Code: Q5XZ-W4XN-56DVH

These courses may fulfill the graduation requirement for the Visual, Performing & Applied Arts credit. One full VPA credit is required for graduation.

• All Art classes
• All CTE classes
• All Dance & Music classes
• All OSTC Coursework
• Acting I & II
• AP Computer Science
• Bake Shoppe
• Broadcast Communication
• Computer Applications
• Computer Programming I & II
• Creative Writing & Poetry
• Debate
• Early Childhood Education
• Food & Culture
• Food Science
• IB Business Management
• Journalism I
• Journalism II: Yearbook
• Marketing I
• Marketing: Sports/Fashion/Entertainment
• Marketing: Store Operations
• Medical Careers
• Newspaper & Modern Media
• Peer to Peer
• Practical Public Speaking
• Teacher Cadet
• Theater Arts
• TV News & Production