Counseling & Guidance

Graduation Credit Requirements (Minimum 24 Credits)

English (4 credits)

• English 9

• English 10

• English 11

• English 12

Mathematics (4 credits)

• Algebra I (or additional math if you took accelerated 7th & 8th grade math)

• Geometry

• Algebra II w/ Statistics

• One additional math credit

Science (4 credits)

• Biology

• Physical Science, Chemistry, or Physics

• Two additional science credits

Social Studies (4 credits)

• World History

• U.S. History 10

• U.S. History 11

• Government (.05 credit) & Economics (0.5 credit)

Required Electives (5.5 credits)

• Health (.5 credit)

• Beginning Kinesiology or substitute (1 credit)

• Career Preparedness (1 credit)

• 3 credits from any combination of the following course types:

  • Career and Technical Education (CTE)

  • Fine Arts

  • Foreign Language

Free Electives (2.5 credits)

• Any additional courses of choice

College and Career Readiness Indicator (CCRI)

Students must earn at least ONE CCRI to graduate. Options include:

• Computer Science Course — Exploring Computer Science, AP Computer Science Principles, or AP Computer Science A

• WorkKeys — 4+ on all three subtests

• ACT Benchmark Scores — English: 18+, Reading: 22+, Math: 22+, Science: 23+

• CTE Credential — Passed a credential test in a CTE course

• CTE Completer — 70+ average in three courses in the same CTE cluster

• AP Qualifying Score — 3 or higher on an AP exam

• Military Enlistment — Copy of contract submitted to Dr. Muhammad

• College Credit — Earned while in high school

 

Additional Graduation Requirements

Financial Literacy Exam (usually during Career Prep, 9th grade)

Civics Exam (usually during Government, 12th grade)

FAFSA — Must either complete or submit an opt-out form

Annual Standardized Testing

10th Grade:

• Pre-ACT

• Optional PSAT

11th Grade:

• ACT

• Optional PSAT

12th Grade:

• ACT WorkKeys

• Civics Exam (taken in your Government class)

Ongoing (all grades):

• Progress Monitoring (i-Ready, CERT)

 

SHS Graduation Checklist (PDF)

• Academic Guide

• Career Interest Inventories

• Course Pathways

• Course Selection Forms

• Links to Applications

• Instructions for Entering Requests in PowerSchool

• Course Selection Overview Video

Scheduling Process & Requests for Changes

Each spring, counselors meet with students at Sparkman High School finalize their course requests for the upcoming school year. Once all course selections are submitted in April, administrators review the data to determine how many sections of each course are needed and begin building the school’s master schedule. Over the summer, counselors use this master schedule to create individual student schedules for the next school year.

Schedules are made available to students during Senator Day, the school’s open house event held about one week before school begins in August. If a student notices an error on their schedule, such as a missing required course, a duplicated class, an empty block with no scheduled course, or placement in the wrong course level, they may submit a Schedule Change Request Form during the first three days of school. Forms are available in the Guidance Office, and only paper requests are accepted; emailed requests will not be processed.

Requests to drop or switch AP classes are not always possible. Because AP courses are often paired with other classes or only offered at specific times, making these changes can significantly impact the balance of the school’s schedule.

Students who wish to change a course for reasons other than an error, for example, a change in interest or future plans, may also submit a request. However, these requests are only considered if space is available and are not guaranteed. Such requests are not considered urgent and will be reviewed after all schedule errors have been addressed.

A second schedule change period is also available at the beginning of the spring semester for students still needing adjustments to their spring courses. 

Counselors use students’ course requests along with graduation requirements to create individual schedules. However, in some cases, students may be placed in courses they did not request due to limited availability, high demand for certain classes, or scheduling conflicts with a student's core classes. Students can rest assured that counselors carefully monitor each student’s credits and course selections to ensure they remain on track for graduation.

Advanced Placement (AP) and Dual Enrollment (DE) are two ways high school students can earn college credit before graduation. While both offer valuable academic experiences, they differ in structure, credit policies, and long-term benefits.

Advanced Placement (AP) courses follow a standardized curriculum created by the College Board and are taught on Sparkman's campus by AP-certified teachers. College credit is awarded based on performance on a final exam, scored from 1 to 5. Most colleges award credit for scores of 3 or higher, but policies vary by institution.

Dual Enrollment (DE) allows students to take actual college courses through a local community college or university. These courses may be taken in person at the college or online. Students earn college credit by successfully completing the course, and the grade becomes part of their permanent college transcript. However, credit transferability depends on the receiving college’s policies.

Key Differences:

Credit Awarded:

AP: Based on exam score (typically 3+)

DE: Based on passing the college course

Location:

AP: At Sparkman

DE: At the college or online

Instructors:

AP: AP-trained high school teachers

DE: College faculty

Credit Transfer:

AP: Widely accepted at many 4-year colleges

DE: More easily accepted at local or in-state colleges; may not transfer to all out-of-state or private universities

 

Pros and Cons:

AP – Pros:

• Recognized nationally by many colleges and universities

• Can boost GPA with weighted credit

• Encourages strong study habits and prepares for rigorous college exams

AP – Cons:

• College credit depends on one exam score

• Exam pressure can be high

• Not all colleges accept AP credits, especially for specific majors

 

DE – Pros:

• Earn real college credit upon passing the course

• Experience college-level coursework and the registration process

• Often more flexible than AP courses

DE – Cons:

• Credit may not transfer to all institutions

• Grades affect both high school and permanent college GPA

• Less standardized than AP, so academic rigor may vary

 

Which Option Should You Choose?

Choose AP if you're aiming for selective universities and are confident in taking high-stakes exams. Choose Dual Enrollment if you want college experience now, plan to attend an in-state or partner college, or prefer earning credit through coursework rather than a single exam.

Take the Dual Enrollment Readiness Quiz

Ready to get started with Dual Enrollment? See the Dual Enrollment Process at Sparkman High School here. 

High School vs College Expectations

Dual enrollment is not college courses with high school expectations. College class = college rigor. Students receive extra support from our Student Success team, making their transition from high school to college more successful - not "easier".

High School	College
Teachers allow you to make up missed assignments with no notice.	Without a university-approved excuse, professors do not have to allow you to make up anything, notice or not.
Teachers might provide you with a fill-in-the-blank study guide for each test.	Professors tell you what the test covers and expect you to do the rest.
Teachers fit their content delivery to your learning style and needs.	Professors deliver content. Often, students adapt it to fit their learning style and needs.
Teachers continuously remind you of upcoming assignments and projects.	Professors expect you to read the syllabus and keep up with due dates in Canvas yourself.

 

• Co-Op

  • Co-Op allows students to leave campus early in order to work.  If you are employed or will be employed prior to the start of the semester, you may qualify for Co-Op. 

  • Since Co-Op teachers are required to monitor a student’s employment through employer evaluations and review of hours worked throughout the semester, there is a limit to the number of students who can be in the program. 

  • You will need to sign up to attend an information session to begin the process. After completing the application, be sure to check your email frequently so that you can respond to any requests for additional information from the Co-Op teacher. 

  • Ms. Allen is the Co-Op teacher - aallen@mcssk12.org

• ELO

  • Extended Learning Opportunities (ELO) are pathways for students to earn high school credit through approved out-of-classroom learning experiences, such as internships, apprenticeships, service learning, and approved camps or programs

  • ELO requires students to submit an applicaton to their counselor during the registration period for the following school year.

• Dual Enrollment

  • Dual Enrollment allows students to take actual college courses through a local community college or university. These courses may be taken in person at the college or online. Students earn college credit by successfully completing the course, and the grade becomes part of their permanent college transcript.

  • Students may be eligible for "off blocks" in their schedule to allow for time to attend class, complete assignments, and study for exams. 

• Early Graduation

  • Students who wish to graduate a semester or entire year early must first meet with their counselor to confirm that they are on track to earn the required graduation credits in time to be eligible for this opportunity.

  • Students interested in pursuing this opportunity will make an appointment with their counselor during the registration period (when they are selecting courses for the next school year).  If the student meets credit requirements, the counselor will add the student to a list to be invited to apply. 

  • The next step, the early graduation application, is handled by Dr. Muhammad.

SHS Four Year Guide

Your GPA is a number that shows your overall average in all your classes. Here’s how you can figure out your GPA at Sparkman where most classes are 1 credit, some are 0.5 credits, and grades are based on a 4.0 scale—with one special exception for advanced classes.

• Step 1: Convert each class grade into GPA points
  • A (90 - 100) = 4 GPA points
  • B (80 - 89) = 3 GPA points
  • C (70 - 79) = 2 GPA points
  • D (60 - 69) = 1 GPA point
  • F (59 or below) = 0 points
  • Special rule:
    • If you are in an advanced class and your final average is over 100 (an A+), that class earns 5 GPA points instead of 4.
• Step 2: Multiply the GPA points by the course credits
  • Most classes are 1 credit, so the number stays the same (ex: 4 points × 1 credit = 4).
  • Half-credit classes use 0.5 (ex: 4 points × 0.5 = 2).
  • This gives you the quality points for each class.
• Step 3: Add up all your quality points
• Step 4: Add up all the credits you took
• Step 5: Divide total quality points ÷ total credits
• The result is your GPA.

 

Quick Example

Suppose you take:

English (1 credit): A = 4 points → 4 × 1 = 4

PE (0.5 credit): A = 4 points → 4 × 0.5 = 2

Advanced Math (1 credit): 102 average (A+) = 5 points → 5 × 1 = 5

Total quality points = 4 + 2 + 5 = 11

Total credits = 1 + 0.5 + 1 = 2.5

GPA = 11 ÷ 2.5 = 4.4

 

Dr. Muhammad has created a one-stop hub for all things College & Career at Sparkman. Designed with seniors in mind, this resource centralizes everything from how to request transcripts and letters of recommendation to information on college visits and more—all in one convenient location. 

HELP FORM: Use this google form for ANYTHING you need Dr. Muhammed to Do/Sign/Complete for you

Scholarships

Order Transcripts

Cap & Gown Ordering (Jostens)

 

Graduation Ceremony Information

Senior Portraits (Greg Machen Photography)

• Sparkman High School has  four school counselors available for academic and social/emotional support. These counselors primarily provide short-term, responsive counseling services. In addition, SHS has a dedicated College and Career Counselor as well as a Career Coach who focus on post-secondary planning, working closely with students and their families to prepare for life after high school.

• For students in need of long-term or on-going mental health support, referrals can be made to outside agencies or to an on-campus therapist, sometimes referred to as a school-based therapist or SBT. Sparkman currently hosts two full time therapists contracted through the Enrichment Center and Wellstone Inc. These therapists provide free, school-day therapy services to students on campus. 

• A district-assigned social worker also supports Sparkman High, helping students and families address challenges related to attendance and truancy, financial hardships, and access to community resources.

• Two School Resource Officers from the Madison County Sheriff's Department are assigned to Sparkman High. These officers are in place to ensure safety of students and staff, and they assist in situations that may require law enforcement involvement.