Registration guide

Students will register for classes between December and January, time frames vary based on school.

Students will register for classes for the upcoming school year between December and January, during the school day. For current middle school students, this often occurs during advisory periods.

• Time frames vary based on school.
• Students are encouraged to talk with their family about course choices for the upcoming year, and to reach out to their current teachers for advice.
• If a student and their family have additional questions about the process or their selections, please contact your school.

Welcome to middle school!

Starting middle school is a time of great excitement, growth and discovery. Most students look forward to middle school because it means they are growing up and gaining independence. We recognize this and work hard to make sure your student will feel comfortable making connections with other students and staff and navigating a larger school building. We want students to feel at home when they join our schools in the fall.

Helping all students succeed

• English Language Development [ELD] courses are available for students who are learning English.
• Special Education services are available for students with special needs.
• Before and after school programs are available for students who need help with homework or help understanding their coursework.
• A variety of support staff is available to meet social and emotional needs of students.

Where Everybody Belongs (WEB)

Every middle school in the Anoka-Hennepin Schools has programming designed to help students feel comfortable throughout their middle school years. Where Everybody Belongs (known as WEB) trains eighth grade student leaders to welcome sixth grade students to the school. WEB leaders help new students learn skills such as how to build relationships with others, how to organize their schoolwork, and how to get from class to class. They help students learn about what it takes to be successful in middle school.

Advisement Periods

The advisement period is similar to a homeroom. A group of students meet daily with a teacher or other staff member who is their advisor. A variety of activities are planned  during this period:

• Teachers monitor student academic progress.
• Students have time for reading, academic enrichment, academic intervention, social emotional activities, and career exploration.

Plan to explore your interests; try new and exciting challenges as you prepare for the future.

Middle school provides students with a time to grow and discover.  Most students look forward to middle school because it means they are growing up and gaining independence.  The middle school elective options allow students to explore different subjects and find particular areas of interest.

• Required electives: Required electives are classes required as part of the middle school experience. The classes provide students with a wide range of experiences and learning opportunities. 
  • All students are required to take at least two arts electives each year and experience a variety of art categories including music, visual arts, and media arts.  
  • Additionally, students must take a physical education class each year.
• Choice electives: Choice electives are classes for students in 7th and 8th grade.  They provide more opportunities for students to explore areas that may interest them.
  • Choice electives include Family and Consumer Science (FCS), World Language, and Project Lead the Way (PLTW). 
  • Students may also choose additional courses from the required arts options to fulfill a choice elective.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Students are encouraged to talk with their family about course choices for the upcoming year, and to reach out to their current teachers for advice. Families may also reach out to the main office at their student's school for additional support. These frequently asked questions also serve as a resource for students and their families.

General questions

Why do we register so early?

Teachers are hired and schedules are built based on registration selections students make now.

When will I know what my schedule is for the upcoming year?

Students receive their schedules during orientation week, which is typically held a few weeks before the new school year begins.

I struggle with math and reading. What happens if I need math and/or reading support?

Students performing below grade level in math and/or reading may be assigned to additional math and/or reading support courses.

I think I may be advanced in math. Is there anything I need to do at registration time?

No, there is nothing you need to do. We use data collected over time to determine placement in advanced courses. You will be notified if you are selected, based on your data, for an advanced math course.

I think I am interested in an advanced English Language Arts  or science course.  How do I know if this would be a good fit  for me?

See the information about advanced courses on page 6 of the guide, and read the specific course descriptions for more detailed information.

I am interested in learning about academic clubs or activities.  How can I learn about what is offered?

Your middle school has a Talent Development leader who organizes extra activities and opportunities that include Battle of the Books, Math League, Knowledge Bowl, essay contests, and off-site learning experiences.  

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Grade 6

What classes do I have?

Sixth graders will have English Language Arts (ELA), social studies, math, and science as Core classes.  The required elective classes are music, physical education, health and either visual or media art.

What must I do if I want to play an instrument?

If you choose either band or orchestra, you need to select an instrument. Your middle school will help in this process. Some schools will ask you to choose in the spring, others will ask you to select in the fall.

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Grade 7

Why do we have to make selections beyond our top two requests?

We have students rank their requests in case there are conflicts in their individual schedules. In the majority of cases, students do receive their top choices. Sometimes we may need to go to alternate choice[s] when specific demands are made on the student schedule.

Can I take more than one physical education, music, Project Lead the Way, or tech ed class?

In 7th grade, students will choose either Physical Education 7 or Personal Fitness 7 as a required elective.  You cannot take both.  If you want to take more than one music class, register for one as a required elective, and one can be used as a choice elective.

Do I need to take Exploring World Languages and Cultures if I want to take a world language in eighth grade?

Taking World Languages will help in deciding which language to take and is a building block to success for taking full year Level 1 French, German, or Spanish in grade eight. However, taking World Languages is not a requirement for Level 1.

I did not take band, orchestra, or choir in sixth grade. Can I take them in seventh grade?

Yes! The Beginning Band and Beginning Orchestra courses, along with Choir, are offered to everyone interested.

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Grade 8

Can I take more than one physical education, music, Project Lead the Way, or tech ed class?

In 8th grade, students will choose either Physical Education 8 or Personal Fitness 8 as a required elective.  You cannot take both.  If you want to take more than one music class, register for one as a required elective, and one can be used as a choice elective.  Remember music electives are year long every day in 8th grade, so each music elective takes 2 elective slots.

I did not take band, orchestra or choir in seventh grade. Can I take them in eighth grade?

Yes! The Beginning Band and Beginning Orchestra courses, along with Choir, are offered to everyone interested.

Do I really earn a high school credit if I take French, German, or Spanish?

In order to earn high school credit, students must successfully pass their World Language course as well as pass the high school’s world language assessment tests.

Will my grade in a world language course be part of my high school GPA?

The grade you earn may transfer to the high school and may be calculated into your high school grade point average [GPA]. This course is taught at a high school level.

Anoka-Hennepin Schools works to educate each student for success.

Middle schools have dedicated staff at each school to help students and their families find the right courses for them, and ensure they have the support needed.

Special education

A continuum of special education services are available for students who have a disability as defined by criteria established by the Department of Education and who demonstrate the need for special education and related services. A special education case manager will team with parents and regular education teachers in developing an Individual Education Plan [IEP].   An initial plan will address the student’s progress in the regular  education curriculum. Progress toward academic standards will be revised annually by a team that includes parents, regular education teachers, special education teachers, and administrators. The plan will describe the student’s participation in the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment [MCA] testing and other district-wide testing as well as the special education and related services the student needs.

Section 504 Accommodations

Students who are determined to have “a substantial limitation in a major life activity” by a multidisciplinary team may have a 504 Accommodation Plan. The Accommodation Plan will describe  accommodations which the team, inclusive of parents, has determined to be necessary to allow the student to access instruction.   Accommodations may include, but are not limited to, modified  assignments, untimed tests, adaptive equipment, assigned seating or adjusted schedule. Students with a 504 Accommodation Plan will participate in the state and local assessment of academic standards.

English Language Development (ELD) Services

The Anoka-Hennepin School District provides specific educational programming for multilingual students who qualify for English Language Development (ELD)Services.  Students may qualify to receive ELD services if they meet one or more of the following criteria: 

1. the student first learned a language other than or in addition to English
2. a language other than English is most often spoken in the home
3. the student usually speaks a language other than English
4. the student receives a qualifying result on the WIDA Screener or WIDA Alternate Screener.

Students are given the ACCESS assessment on an annual basis to determine continued eligibility for English Language services. If you have questions, consult your counselor.