Counseling

Counselors are also called on to help students in personal crisis, facilitate mediation between students, consult with students on problem-solving, facilitate support groups, and provide information and referrals to services outside the school.

In addition, families can utilize the Community Mental Health Resources listed below.

EGRHS strives to help each student find their unique path toward their goals.  Please look through the information below for course options, sequencing, and other pertinent information.

Scheduling Guidelines

All students, in all grades, are to be scheduled in six classes per semester.  Any exception will be examined on a case-by-case basis.

The primary schedule is created to meet the academic needs of the entire student body and offers each student the opportunity to satisfy all graduation requirements.  With this framework, we make every effort to give students the courses they requested in the previous spring. If the student has a complete schedule that includes six courses, (although not necessarily the teachers or hours they would prefer), we consider this to be their FINAL schedule.  Any further adjustments to the schedule, particularly for teacher requests and/or lunch hour preferences, cause imbalances to the primary schedule and teacher assignments.  For this reason, requests for teacher changes and/or lunch hour changes will not be accommodated.

If the student’s schedule reflects one of the conflicts described below, they should meet with their counselor during the assigned registration period in August:

1. The student is enrolled in fewer than 6 classes.

2. The student has more than 6 classes.

3. The student is enrolled in a class they have already taken.

4. The student is enrolled in two classes the same hour of the day.

5. The student is missing a graduation requirement.

6. The student does not have a lunch period.

7. The lunch period assigned to the student is in a class period other than 4th or 5th hour.

If a change is necessary due to one of the above circumstances or because of a course placement concern, those changes need to be made by the end of the first week of the semester.  Exceptions to this timeline will only be considered for those changes that are initiated by staff.  If a student has a concern about a course placement, they should discuss this with the teacher of the course.

SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test)

• Register for the SAT
• SAT Practice Resources
• Understanding your PSAT/NMSQT Score

ACT (American College Testing)

• Register for the ACT
• ACT Practice Resources
• ACT vs SAT

AP (Advanced Placement Testing)

• AP Exam Registration Information
• AP Classroom & Registration
• Benefits of AP
• AP Credit Policy Search Your AP scores could earn you college credit or advanced placement (meaning you could skip certain courses in college). Use this tool to find colleges that offer credit or placement for AP scores. 

CLEP (College Level Examination Program)

• Overview & Benefits
• Practice Resource 
• Comparing CLEP and AP
• Which Exam should I take: CLEP or AP?

Additional Testing

• Michigan Department of Education Seal of Biliteracy

Test Prep Resources

• SAT and PSAT/NMSQT Practice Test
• Khan Academy
• Helpful Tips - Test Anxiety

---

What Does Test-Optional Mean on College Applications?

• Many students wonder, how do colleges evaluate an application for admission if they don’t have any test scores? Most colleges will do a comprehensive holistic review of a student’s application. 
• What is a holistic review? A holistic review includes considering the applicant as a whole individual.  The holistic review takes into account factors such as a student’s strength in high school coursework, academic and extracurricular interests, unique talents, and personality. By evaluating an application from a holistic perspective, admissions officers take the time to get to know applicants as people, not as numbers.
• In general, colleges will look more closely at the information about the classes you took, your grades, your extracurricular activities, and any essays or recommendations you may have to submit. 
• When should you send your scores to a test-optional school? Generally, if your scores are higher than the average test score of your high school.  
• Understanding the Testing section in Common App

In compliance with state law, East Grand Rapids High School provides the opportunity for students to “Test Out” of a subject area.  Testing out provides an opportunity for a student to demonstrate mastery of a subject area’s content and skills and thereby, earn credit.  

Students wishing to test out are provided with the curriculum content expectations.  The district is under no obligation to provide instructional support or textbooks for students choosing to test out.  Testing out is truly an independent learning experience with no support from the school or a teacher.  The content expectations will be made available on the last day of school to those students who register by the deadline.  Students will then take a comprehensive examination before the start of the new school year.  Students will have two hours to complete the assessment. 

If the student earns a 77% (C+) or higher on the exam and the required assignments, the student will earn credit.  No letter grade will be recorded on the transcript, only a CR, and the credit will NOT be included in grade point average computations.  The transcript will show that the student earned credit through testing out.   A successful Test Out will fulfill graduation requirements for a subject area or a course sequence.  

Testing Out of Physical Education

Testing out of Physical Education is a more comprehensive process involving more than one examination period during the summer.  Specific information regarding testing out of Physical Education can be found in the testing out application. Any student wishing to test out of Physical Education must complete the “Student Request for Testing Out” form and return it to the Counseling Office.

IMPORTANT: Testing out is a significant decision for a student.  Only those students who feel they already have mastery of a specific subject and want to accelerate through the school curriculum should consider it.  Experience shows that the percentage of students who successfully test out is low.  Additionally, a student testing out will miss participation in class discussions and opportunities to develop higher level thinking skills which are nurtured by daily contact with the instructor.