Southwest students' schedules are the result of intentional academic planning completed in collaboration between students, families, teachers and counselors each spring.
Once students submit final course registration cards in the spring, this information is used for the upcoming academic year's budget, staffing, and to create the school's master class schedule. Thus, altering student schedules after the registration process is complete is challenging and limited.
All students who wish to change a class will have the opportunity to submit a formal Schedule Change Request Form following the Southwest schedule change request process (see below). It is not always possible to accommodate all schedule change requests.
Typically, all schedule change requests require parent and student signature, and in some cases additional signatures from other staff (e.g. AVID Coordinator, IB Diploma Coordinator, case manager, etc.) may be required. Therefore, practice has been for all schedule change requests to be submitted in writing using the Southwest Schedule Change Request Form. This year, however, the process will be virtual - students will submit a Google Form to request a schedule change. By signing and submitting the Schedule Change Request Form, students and families agree to the schedule change process, timeline, agreements, and approved reasons for requesting a schedule change (see sections below). Schedule change requests cannot be submitted via email, phone, or in person.
It is important that students are in the appropriate academic level courses where they are being challenged but not overwhelmed. After the schedule change request window closes, if a student believes they are in the wrong level of a core class, they are encouraged to reach out to their teacher for support and to make a plan for success. If they find they are still struggling, or the teacher recommends a level change, students may schedule an appointment with their Counselor to discuss a level change request.
Schedule changes...
Schedule change requests are reviewed if a student is…
To request a change, the student must…
… not scheduled into a class during one of the class periods.
...submit a Schedule Change Request Form immediately on the first day of school.
… scheduled into 2 classes in the same period.
… scheduled into the same class twice (e.g. Biology 1st period and Biology 6th period).
… not scheduled for a CORE class (English, Social Studies, Math, Science, World Language)
… placed in wrong level and is requesting a level change.
… in a course they have already successfully completed.
… not in one of the 7 ranked electives selected during spring registration last year.
Schedules changes cannot be accommodated if…
… the request is for: a teacher change, a lunch change, based on friends’ schedules, or based on outside of school or after school activities.
… it would create an imbalance in class sizes (e.g. moving a student from a smaller class into a larger class).
… the request is submitted by email, phone, or in-person (must use Schedule Change Request Google Form to submit requests).