Sophomore - CLASS OF 2026
THE COUNSELING CENTER HAS CREATED THIS PAGE FOR THE CLASS OF 2026. HERE YOU WILL FIND HELPFUL INFORMATION FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS. PLEASE CHECK BOTH THIS PAGE AND YOUR KINGSFORD EMAIL FREQUENTLY FOR CURRENT INFORMATION AND IMPORTANT DEADLINES.
1. Be Involved -- Get active! Join clubs, participate in your school and local community!
2. Be Prepared -- Log your volunteer hours on InnverView AND on your the DICSA sheet (available in the Counseling Office), start working on your Activity Sheet, keep your Career Cruising updated.
3. Be Positive -- CHARACTER MATTERS! Be noticed for being kind and being helpful. When you ask for recommendation letters for college admissions and scholarships, character is what the recommender will focus on.
2. Be Prepared -- Log your volunteer hours on InnverView AND on your the DICSA sheet (available in the Counseling Office), start working on your Activity Sheet, keep your Career Cruising updated.
3. Be Positive -- CHARACTER MATTERS! Be noticed for being kind and being helpful. When you ask for recommendation letters for college admissions and scholarships, character is what the recommender will focus on.
Sophomore Year To Do List:
- Check Your Graduation Credits - Keep Your Grades Up - Keep Your Options Open
- Update Career Cruising (research careers and colleges and post high school options)
- Map Out Your Classes for Junior and Senior Year
- Update Your Activity Sheet / Resume
- Log Your Volunteer Hours in InnerView / Upload Photo of Signed DICSA Form
- Tour a College or Two (or more) and/or Meet with a College Rep and/or Explore Career Options
- Create an NCAA Account (only for those planning to play sports at a Division I or II school) By the End of Sophomore Year
- STUDY FOR THE PSAT
CAReer cruising:
New student sign-up - Username: kingsford password: career
Step #1 - Update Career Cruising to reflect your current post-high school plans. Choose at least three potential career interests and choose SAVE TO EDP.
Step #2 - Update your Education Plan to include the classes you have taken throughout high school and what you intend to take next year.
Step #3 - If you are part of the Early Middle College program (planning on attending a fifth year), please indicate this in your EDP.
Step #4 - Try to move the progress bar in Career Cruising to 60% before the end of the school year.
Step #2 - Update your Education Plan to include the classes you have taken throughout high school and what you intend to take next year.
Step #3 - If you are part of the Early Middle College program (planning on attending a fifth year), please indicate this in your EDP.
Step #4 - Try to move the progress bar in Career Cruising to 60% before the end of the school year.
Graduation Requirements
You need 24 credits to graduate
- 4 English
- 4 Math (Alg.1, Geom., Alg. 2 + another math or math related Sr. Yr.
- 3 Science (Sci. 9, Bio. Chem, Phys. Anatomy and Physiology I/II, Environmental Sci., or other)
- 3 Social Studies (US History, Civics/Econ. and World History)
- 1 P.E./Health
- 1 or 2 World Language
- 1or 2 VPAA (Art, Band, Chorus, Woods, or any Tech. Ed. Class)
- The most credits you can earn per year is 7 credits.
How to Earn Credits
You earn credits by passing your Q1 + Q2 + Final Exam = Semester 1 grade.
(Q1)40% + (Q2)40% + (Final)20% = (S1)100% So remember the 40-40-20 rule.
What happens if I fail a course (S1 or S2)?
You will be placed on a credit recovery plan. This may include Summer School.
Summer School is offered Monday - Thursday from 8:00-10:00 for 1/2 credit and 8:00-12:00 for one full credit for four weeks.
(Q1)40% + (Q2)40% + (Final)20% = (S1)100% So remember the 40-40-20 rule.
What happens if I fail a course (S1 or S2)?
You will be placed on a credit recovery plan. This may include Summer School.
Summer School is offered Monday - Thursday from 8:00-10:00 for 1/2 credit and 8:00-12:00 for one full credit for four weeks.
New or Returning Classes for 2024-2025
- Advanced Fit - This course provides you with an opportunity to explore a variety of different fitness activities including: group sports, yoga, strength and conditioning, outdoor recreation, etc. Students must have successfully passed 9th grade PE in order to enroll in this course.
- Intro to Computers - This course provides you with an overview of basic computer skills you need to be successful now and in the future. Many students think they "know computers," but do they really? Help improve your academics and your opportunities for future success by becoming familiar with all the ways technology can be used to your benefit. (Pending Board Approval)
- Spanish Cultures - This course is pending School Board approval. When it is approved, it will be a course primarily geared towards underclassmen, but could be available for upperclassmen who have had an unsuccessful attempt at passing a traditional World Language class (Spanish, French, or ASL). This class will be an exploration of various aspects of the Spanish culture. It will satisfy one World Language credit for graduation. (Pending Board Approval)
Important Scheduling Reminders:
Dual Enrollment, Work Based LEARNING, PEER-To-Peer
- Registration for Fall 2024 courses at Bay College opens the first week of March.
- If you plan to take a Dual Enrollment class through Bay for the Fall Semester, please communicate the course on the course schedule form and complete the required paperwork for Bay College and KHS.
- The Michigan Transfer Agreement is a way for you to earn 30 credits of general education credits that will be accepted at most private and public colleges and universities in Michigan. If you complete your MTA, you will not need to take additional general ed credits in college. You can start taking classes in your major. This is an average savings of about $30,000. This MTA guide is a very helpful tool to plan out your courses.
- Please look at the courses on THIS DOCUMENT. It is a tentative list of the online course offerings for Dual Enrolled students through Bay College. You WILL still need to meet prerequisite requirements for MATH or ENGLISH depending on the course. See Mrs. Sutton for more information.
- Students interested in Work Based Learning must be placed in a position that directly relates to the student's career interest which MUST BE LISTED ON THE EDP. The student must also have had at least one (preferably two) course at KHS or the Tech Center that directly relates to the placement the student is seeking. For example: A placement at Systems Control in the Business Office must relate to a student's career plans to pursue business and that student must have had a course in math and Intro to Business. In order to be considered for the WBL, students must complete the WBL form and turn it in with their scheduling form.
- Students interested in Peer-to-Peer must have Education, Child Development, Pediatrics, or another child-related career field listed as a career interest on their EDP. Otherwise, students cannot participate in the program. Students, please indicate on the scheduling form which teacher(s) /or grade level /or subject in which you are interested in serving as a Peer-to-Peer.
Important Testing Information
- Do you have a College Board Account? If not you need to create one. The College Board is where you access your PSAT/SAT scores and much more. It provides valuable feedback on your college readiness and a free, personalized plan on Khan Academy to help you start getting ready for the SAT - and for college.
WHAT IF COLLEGE ISN'T FOR ME?
Military Options and Skilled Trades/Apprenticeships
- Enlisting
- ROTC
- U.S. military academy
- Check out Michigan Talent Connect for info about wages, requirements
FUTURE COLLEGE ATHLETES
If you have aspirations to play a sport in college, please check out the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) website. The NCAA has certain eligibility requirements that you may want to explore before senior year when schedules have been determined. Check out the NCAA future student athlete information HERE.
High school Scheduling Terminology
Advanced Placement: AP courses are university level courses offered on campus at Kingsford High School. Courses which are designated as “AP” on a student’s transcript will have a 5.0 grading scale applied. Students who take the AP College Board test at the end of the course and score in a high enough range can earn college credit. The only AP class available for freshmen is AP Computer Science Principles. This is available on a very limited basis and only with teacher permission.
Dual Enrollment: Students in 10th, 11th, and 12th grades can take courses through Bay College during their school day and earn college credit that might be transferable to other colleges or universities. These courses are paid for by the school district.
Early Middle College (EMC): In the spring of their sophomore year, or the fall of their junior year, students can enroll in the Early Middle College program that can set them on the path to earn a certificate in Welding, Clinical Nursing Assistant, Mechatronics, or an Associates Degree in Mechatronics, Pre-Engineering, Cyber Security, or Computer Network Information Systems. Many of these programs transfer seamlessly to other colleges or universities. Students who are part of the EMC delay receiving their diploma for a year (they still participate in graduation with their class, though) then attend Bay College for a year after graduation to receive their degree or certificate. This is all paid for by the school district.
Educational Development Plan (EDP): An EDP is a working document that records students’ career goals and pathways to reach those goals. This EDP is used to help students, parents, and counselors ensure a student is taking the right courses and making the right plans to meet the student's after high school college or career goals. At KHS, we use Career Cruising to document students' EDP's.
Visual, Performing, or Applied Arts (VPAA): The goal of the visual, performing, and applied arts credit guidelines is to ensure that all students have a foundation and experience in the complete artistic/creative process, and they achieve competence in the process by the time they graduate from high school.
Work Based Learning: Students in 11th and 12th grade can earn work experience and on-the-job training during the school day in a variety of work environments throughout Dickinson County. Students must apply to the Work Based Learning program. Certain criteria must be met to take part in this program, including ensuring the placement matches specifically the students' career interests on their EDP.
Dual Enrollment: Students in 10th, 11th, and 12th grades can take courses through Bay College during their school day and earn college credit that might be transferable to other colleges or universities. These courses are paid for by the school district.
Early Middle College (EMC): In the spring of their sophomore year, or the fall of their junior year, students can enroll in the Early Middle College program that can set them on the path to earn a certificate in Welding, Clinical Nursing Assistant, Mechatronics, or an Associates Degree in Mechatronics, Pre-Engineering, Cyber Security, or Computer Network Information Systems. Many of these programs transfer seamlessly to other colleges or universities. Students who are part of the EMC delay receiving their diploma for a year (they still participate in graduation with their class, though) then attend Bay College for a year after graduation to receive their degree or certificate. This is all paid for by the school district.
Educational Development Plan (EDP): An EDP is a working document that records students’ career goals and pathways to reach those goals. This EDP is used to help students, parents, and counselors ensure a student is taking the right courses and making the right plans to meet the student's after high school college or career goals. At KHS, we use Career Cruising to document students' EDP's.
Visual, Performing, or Applied Arts (VPAA): The goal of the visual, performing, and applied arts credit guidelines is to ensure that all students have a foundation and experience in the complete artistic/creative process, and they achieve competence in the process by the time they graduate from high school.
Work Based Learning: Students in 11th and 12th grade can earn work experience and on-the-job training during the school day in a variety of work environments throughout Dickinson County. Students must apply to the Work Based Learning program. Certain criteria must be met to take part in this program, including ensuring the placement matches specifically the students' career interests on their EDP.
Post High School Terminology
- OJT - On the job training. Typically requires some specialize skill.
- APPRENTICESHIP- Training for a technical trade that allows one to earn a wage while working and learning. Often required taking some course work as it pertains to the type of work. Often high paying jobs with good benefits. Examples: plumber, welder, pipefitter, electrician, lineman.
- CERTIFICATE - Usually, one year of education consisting of special traning for a specific type of job or trade at a technical school.
- MILITARY - The military offers just about every career that is available in the general public. You can enter the military as enlisted, ROTC (4yrs of college first), via the academy (highly selective), or part time/reserve. ROTC stands for Reserve Officer Training Corps. It’s a college program offered at over 1,700 colleges and universities across the United States that prepares young adults to become officers in the U.S. Military. In exchange for a paid college education and a guaranteed post-college career, cadets commit to serve in the Military after graduation, each Service branch has its own take on ROTC.
- ASSOCIATE DEGREE - Usually, a two year program, from a college, university, or trade school with exposure to classes which train for a job field. Most classes will later transfer to a baccalaureate program if one wishes to pursue a higher level degree.
- BACHELOR'S DEGREE - Four or more years of a prescribed curriculum in a program leading to a field of specialized knowledge.
- MASTER'S/DOCTORATE DEGREES - Approximately two additional years (MA) or more (PhD/MD) of specialized education following the BA degree.