Skip To Main Content

Course Selection

Milford High School: Course Selection

As we prepare for each academic year, the MHS School Counseling Department is excited to support you in planning a course schedule that aligns with your goals, interests, and aspirations. Course selection is an important process that helps shape your educational journey, and we are here to ensure it is both thoughtful and empowering.

When choosing your classes, we encourage you to aim for a balanced schedule that combines academic rigor with your personal interests and strengths. Strive for a challenging, but not overwhelming, mix of courses—this means selecting classes that push you to grow while also allowing you to manage your time and responsibilities effectively. Consider the following tips as you navigate this process:

  • Prioritize core academic areas to stay on track for graduation and post-secondary goals.
  • Explore subjects that excite you or align with potential career interests, such as electives or specialized courses.
  • Reflect on your workload: Include a mix of rigorous courses and subjects you genuinely enjoy to avoid burnout.

It’s also important to keep in mind that sometimes, scheduling conflicts may arise due to how classes are offered or arranged. This means you may have to make tough decisions between two classes that meet at the same time. When this happens, we encourage you to:

  • Think about your long-term goals. Which course aligns better with your future aspirations?
  • Seek guidance. Your family and our counselors are here to support you in these decisions and help you explore alternatives or solutions.
  • Stay flexible. Sometimes sacrifices must be made, but every choice can still contribute to a meaningful educational experience.

Our team is here to support you every step of the way. Whether you have questions about prerequisites, want to explore new opportunities, or need help balancing your schedule, don’t hesitate to ask questions and seek feedback. Together, we can create a plan that sets you up for success both now and in the future.

*Please click here for an Introduction to Scheduling

Available Course Levels

  • College Preparatory (CP) designed to prepare students for the academic demands of college. These courses typically focus on building foundational knowledge and skills across core subject areas like English, math, science, social studies, and world languages.
  • Honors (H) advanced-level class designed for motivated students seeking a greater academic challenge. These courses move at a faster pace, delve deeper into subject material, and often require higher-level critical thinking, independent study, and active class participation.
  • Advanced Placement (AP) designed to mirror the expectations of college-level courses. Based on the grade you achieve on the AP exam and the college you attend, the school may award credit and/or placement out of prerequisites.
  • Early College (EC) designed to mirror the expectations of college-level courses. These courses are taught by a college professor and supported by MHS faculty. Based on the grade achieved in the course, the college you attend may award credit and/or placement out of prerequisites.

How to Select from a Long List of Courses

It can be helpful to think about your academic journey as a whole. What classes have you taken? What would you ultimately like to study in the future? It helps to build a schedule around long term goals when you have those ideas in mind. Review this Four Year Planner to help understand that you are not just planning for one year at a time, but really your whole academic journey throughout high school. 

If you are still unsure, it is helpful to use available elective classes as an opportunity to explore a new interest to determine if it is a good fit. Does business seem interesting? Maybe take on a Sports Marketing course or Entrepreneurship. If the medical field might seem more appealing, try the PLTW science courses. Electives are a great way to explore possible college and career pathways in a safe, supportive environment.

The Process

  1. Students will receive ample support throughout the course selection process. Students should begin by reviewing the MHS Program of Studies to familiarize themselves with the available courses.
  2. Teachers will meet with students in January to discuss core subject recommendations for the subsequent year. Students should use this opportunity to ask questions about the different courses and the levels available. Teachers can provide a review of the class while also identifying student strengths and areas of improvement to help the students select the best fit. Teachers will post recommendations in X2.

*8th grade students at Stacy Middle School will work with teachers and the 8th grade counselor in the spring to make course selections for freshman year.

  1. Students will be able to log into X2 accounts and request the electives they would like to take the following year. It is important to select first choice electives and also identify back-ups in the event that there is a conflict with the preferred class.
  2. Students will meet individually with their school counselors to finalize course requests. Students will select classes to fill 7 periods for a full year (42 credits).
  3. Review course requests with parents. All course requests will be available for review in X2. If a student or parent is concerned with a recommendation, please reach out to the teacher to discuss the selected level recommendation. If students or parents disagree with the recommendations, instructions will be forwarded by administration on how to override those courses for a preferred level change.