Why are the high school years different from other years of schooling?

In high school the student begins to develop a permanent transcript of work which will follow
him/her throughout life. Employers may ask about the transcript. Colleges will certainly require
to see it. In addition, there is a specific course of study which a student must follow in
order to receive a diploma. It is important for students to take the right courses for
graduation.

How do I know my student is following the proper course of study?

The best thing to do is to sit down at the beginning of the 9th grade and work out a four-year plan.
That four-year plan will include all of the courses the student needs for graduation, when they will
be taken, and, to the extent possible, the electives which will be taken.
If the student is transferring into JCS, how do I know what courses he/she has taken?
Every parent can and should request an unofficial transcript from each high school the student
attends. That transcript will tell what credits the student has received, grades, and which
graduation requirements have been met. Planning for each year should be done with this
transcript in hand.

What if the student transferring in has been in home school and does not have a transcript?

This may be handled in two ways: 1) If the student kept records or a portfolio, then he/she may
petition the school for credits needed for graduation for core courses. 2) The student may take the
SAT II subject matter tests as suggested by the University of California, and based on those grades,
may petition for credit from Julian Charter School.

What courses does a student need to graduate from JCS?

That information is on the school web page. Basically the student needs 220 credits with courses
distributed among the core courses and electives.

Must I take final examinations in high school?

Final exams are one way of assessing the student’s knowledge. Students taking college prep
courses should have a great deal of experience with examinations.

Can I take courses at the community college?

Yes. Community college classes are recommended for high school students who are ready.
Parents need to understand that college classes taken while in high school are recorded on the
student’s permanent college transcript. It is particularly recommended to take advanced math and
science courses at the community college. Each community college has its own requirements,
which will include paperwork signed by the parent and by school staff. Inquire at your local
community college for their requirements and procedures. Make sure and inquire about the
enrollment process far in advance of the beginning of the semester so that paperwork can be
processed.

How much high school credit is granted for a college course?

Julian Charter School has established a policy that one college class of 3 or more credits will count
for one year of high school or 10credits. PE classes and workshops or practica in various
courses which are less than 3 college credits each will count for one semester of high school work.

How many courses can I take at a community college each semester?

The State of California allows a high school student to take up to 6 college semester units, with
both the high school and the college receiving money from the state for the student’s attendance.
At JCS, this usually translates to 2 courses a semester. With this accounting, a student can get
credit for up to 4 classes per year from the local community college.

Can I take just any classes at a community college?

Each student should to discuss with the academic counselor which courses need to be taken and
how they fit in with the 4-year plan for graduation from high school. Courses which the student
wants to use for college credit also should be chosen carefully and should be those which are
included on the colleges Intrasegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) – a list of
course which will be accepted by the University of California and the California State Universities
as meeting their lower division general education requirements. Students should inquire at the
local community college for a list of which courses are transferable to where.

How much does it cost to take a class at the community college?

The community colleges charge fees based on the number of units take. Other fees are also charged
when registering. You may check with your local college for exact fees. Textbooks and required
supplies are an additional cost. For home study students, Julian Charter School will reimburse the
required fees and the cost or required textbooks and supplies once the students has passed the
class with a grade of “C” or better. Original receipts must be submitted. Please see the
reimbursement policy for details. If academy students take collage classes, the cost will not be
reimbursed because the academy programs are comprehensive and provide the necessary classes.

What levels of classes does Julian Charter School offer?

In order to accommodate our diverse student body, Julian Charter School offers courses at the
college prep level, non college prep level, and remedial level.

What is a college prep course?

A college prep course is one whose description is on file with the University of California and
which has been approved by the Univeristy as a course acceptable for the admission sequence of
courses, also known as the a-g list. The California State University system also requires that
entering freshman have completed the U.C. approved college prep classes. Students wishing to
attend an out-of-state public university or a competitive four-year private university also need to
complete these course sequences. Students should contact the desired university to determine the
course requirements. Students wishing to attend a four-year university as freshmen need to begin
taking a college prep course sequence in the ninth grade. College preparatory courses are more in
depth and require more writing, research, and reading than other courses. College Prep core
courses will be under the supervision high school teachers who are highly qualified in those
courses.

What are Honors and AP Courses?

The University of California has described Honors courses as those which are taught at the college
level. In our course descriptions on file with the UC, we have no Honors course descriptions. AP
courses are Advanced Placement Courses designed by the Educational Testing Service and
students who take them are tested each spring. Many colleges and universities give college credit
for courses when the student passes the AP test with a grade of C or better. If you are interested in
taking an AP exam in the spring, you need to let your teacher and counselor know early in the fall
semester. Otherwise, we encourage advanced students to take courses at the community college.
Doing so will give the student a weighted grade and college credit. Although JCS weights these
grades we cannot guarantee every college will accept weighted grade.

Can I take courses online with JCS?

We do not currently offer completely online courses, however students who are ready are encouraged to take
online classes from a community college. Many of the community colleges also have televised
classes. Early enrollment is advised, as the community college distance learning classes tend to fill
quickly.