Catalina Foothills High School

The Governing Board of Catalina Foothills School District determines the number and type of credits required for a CFHS diploma.  These requirements meet and exceed those required by the Arizona Department of Education for an Arizona diploma, and meet the admissions requirements for the three Arizona public universities (UA, NAU, and ASU) as set by the Arizona Board of Regents.  

• English (4.0 credits)
  English 9, English 10, English 11, & English 12
   
• Mathematics (4.0 credits)
  Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, & additional post-Algebra 2 math
   
• Science (3.0 credits)
  Biology, Chemistry, & Physics
   
• Social Studies (4.0 credits)
  World History, US History, Modern History/Law & Justice , .5 Government and .5 Economics, 
   
• World Language (2.0 credits)
  Spanish or Chinese (or, if transfer, two credits of other approved language)
   
• Fine Arts or CTE (1.0 credit)
  Various Fine Arts and Career & Technical Education courses offered
   
• PE (1.0 credit)
  .5 Individual Fitness and .5 Group Fitness
   
• Health (.5 credit)
   
• Elective (4.5 credit)

Total: 24 credit

The current Course Guide can be found here. Students should review course descriptions to determine content interests and rigor options, as well as review any prerequisites.

2024-25 Course Guide (English)

2024-25 Course Guide (Español)

Students complete a Course Request Form (CRF) in February for the subsequent school year.  Most CFHS courses are yearlong. Students should ensure they are selecting courses required for graduation as well as courses of interest and of appropriate rigor (e.g., Standard, Honors, Advanced Placement).  Students need to be enrolled in a minimum of six (6) for-credit classes each semester.  Students may request 7 classes and will be placed as space is available. 

Schedules are available for student access on VUE approximately one week before school starts.  Note: Schedules are subject to administrative changes throughout opening so students must review their class schedule on VUE for any updates that may have been made prior to the first day of school.

Schedule changes are prioritized for those that are NECESSARY such as:

• Student failed a class and needs to repeat it
• Student completed a class over the summer and needs an alternative course
• Senior needs a class to meet graduation requirements
• Scheduling error (e.g., a freshman was erroneously put in English 11)

Schedule change requests that are NOT considered:

• Free period assignment ~ We are unable to build a master schedule that gives every interested student 7^th free.  Sports, jobs, rides, etc. need to work around the 8:30-3:30 school day.
• Teacher preference
• Moving from Honors or AP courses to standard ~ The master schedule is built based on student choices and cannot accommodate multiple moves to standard sections. If you have compelling reason to request a change, contact your counselor who will review your request including course history, class size, etc.

Counselors may be able to honor requests for other changes if space allows, but know that class size and/or impact on the rest of the student’s schedule may prohibit a change from being made.   Unnecessary changes are restricted once school starts.  Please make any requests for schedule changes at least four days before school start to allow us time to review and, if appropriate, attempt adjustment prior to school start.

Students are encouraged to complete a four-year academic plan (PDF) and review and adjust it annually based on credit completion, changing interests, etc.  Students are given a Four-Year Academic Plan worksheet during course selection periods and it is reviewed with freshmen during ECAP 9 sessions. 

Four-Year Academic Plan (Class of 2022-2025) (PDF)

Four-Year Academic Plan (Class of 2026 and beyond) (PDF)

What Are AP Courses?
Advanced Placement (AP) courses are courses that meet a prescribed syllabus developed by the College Board. According to the College Board, which developed the AP Program, AP "enables students to pursue college-level studies while still in high school." These courses represent college level study and prepare students for May testing. The AP exam is scored on the following scale of 1-5:

1. No Recommendation
2. Possibly Qualified
3. Qualified
4. Well Qualified
5. Extremely Well Qualified

Colleges typically consider AP courses favorably when making admissions decisions. In addition, based on each college's policy, students can earn:

• Actual college credit for high AP scores -- increasingly, colleges require a score of "4" or "5" to receive full credit.
• Elective college credit for high AP scores -- such courses cannot fulfill specific college requirements but can be used to fulfill elective requirements.
• Advanced Placement -- allowing students to skip the introductory level of a course
• Permission to take the college's own placement test for credit and/or placement.

Check with individual colleges for their policies or with the College Board credit policy information list, as credit/exam recognition policies differ from school to school.
 

AP Courses at CFHS:

Math - Precalculus, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Statistics
Science - Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Physics C (Exams: Electricity & Magnetism and Mechanics) 
Social Studies - Macroeconomics, US Government & Politics, US History, World History 
Language - Chinese Language and Culture (not offered 2020-21), English Language and Composition, English Literature and Composition, Spanish Language and Culture, Spanish Literature and Culture
Other - Music Theory, Studio Art (2-D and 3-D), Seminar, Research, Computer Science Principles, Computer Science A
 

Useful Links:

AP Home Page
College Board Equivalency Search
UA Credit Equivalency Chart
AP Capstone

CFHS course options include of variety of Career and Technical Education (CTE) options.  Career-related courses include: Business, Engineering, Graphic Design, Photography, Sports Medicine, Theatre Production, Software Programming & Applications, Biotechnology, and Film & TV. Students may explore level 1 courses and choose whether or not to continue in the career pathway. Pathways range from 2 to 4 years. See the CFHS Course Guide for information about these options. 

CFHS students are also given the opportunity to participate in for-credit Pima County Joint Technical Education District (JTED) courses off-campus outside of the school day. These courses are designed for career exploration and preparation and can lead to industry certification. JTED programs range from cosmetology and culinary arts to accounting, medical professions, automotive and aviation technology, to construction and other trades. A complete list and information may be found here. 

Questions about CTE/JTED can be directed to:

Cari Burson - CTE/JTED Coordinator

Robin Larson - JTED liaison.

Click here for the CFHS Career and Technical Education Pathway Guide.

CFHS uses Synergy as its records platform. Students and parents have access to current grades, course history (grades and credits), and attendance records through VUE. Login information is given to new students/parents at the time of registration. Contact Ann Margolis at amargolis@cfsd16.org if you need login assistance. 

Students/Parents should frequently check Student Grade Book (noting any missing and/or upcoming assignments and assessments), as well as check Course History each semester to confirm progress towards graduation.  Students may also find their current weighted and unweighted cumulative GPA on the Course History Screen. While counselors monitor students’ graduation progress, it is ultimately the student’s responsibility to ensure they meet diploma requirements prior to graduation.

Progress Reports occur every 8-9 weeks and a Quarter Grade Report notice is sent mid-semester. These grade notices are meant to call attention to a student’s progress in the course and current academic status. Only semester grades are noted on a student’s official high school transcript. 

Student athletic eligibility is reviewed at each grade reporting period and Quarter/Semester grades affect eligibility for an Academic Letter. Students who are at academic risk at any point in the semester should work with the teacher, increase their home study time, and use other study techniques to improve their grades.

All semester grades and credits are noted on a student’s official transcript. A copy of the student’s transcript is sent to colleges and other programs for admissions/award purposes by the CFHS Registrar when the student makes a request via MaiaLearning. Students requesting an unofficial copy of their transcript for personal review/use may download a copy from MaiaLearning under Maia Drive.

After graduation, students should follow the Alumni Transcript Request process using Parchment.

Alumni Transcript Request Process
Catalina Foothills High School has partnered with Parchment to order and send your transcript and other credentials securely. Order Transcripts here.

Requests will usually be mailed, faxed or emailed within 3 business days. Please allow enough time for your transcript request to be processed and transcript to be mailed.

To access the cumulative GPA calculator (to calculate overall weighted or unweighted GPA): log in to MaiaLearning using school gmail and password. Click on "Resources" on the left toolbar and the GPA calculator can be downloaded.

To access the core GPA worksheet (mostly used to determine scholarship and in-state admission eligibility): log in to MaiaLearning. Click on "Resources" on the left toolbar and the GPA worksheet can be downloaded. 

Students who fail a course required for graduation (e.g., math, English, etc.) must complete credit recovery in one of the following ways: repeat the course or complete approved alternate in the classroom, repeat the course through CFHS Course Emporium, or take the course or approved alternate through an approved non-CFHS program. If the course completed is the same as the original course, the F for the original course is changed to an RF (repeated/replaced) and the F comes out of the GPA calculation. If not, both the original F and the completed course’s grade are on the transcript and included in the GPA. (Example: If a student takes and fails Honors English 10, she can take the non-Honors English 10 through Course Emporium or alternate program to meet graduation requirements, but will only have the F replaced if she retakes Honors English 10.) 

CFHS offers credit recovery for core courses through a program called Edgenuity via our “Course Emporium,” or CE. Only students who’ve taken and failed a course, or earned a D, may retake a course through CE. They should speak with their counselor as soon as possible about getting a space in Course Emporium for the current semester or next. 

Course Emporium meets during the school day and interested eligible students are assigned to a period by the Counselor. The CE classroom is monitored by a certified teacher and students work through the computer-delivered curriculum (aligned with CFHS standards and benchmarks) at their own pace. When the student completes the course, the new grade/credit will be noted on the student’s transcript and the original grade is changed to an RF or RD as appropriate and the GPA is recalculated. 

Courses usually take about 8-9 weeks to complete in Course Emporium (students work during their assigned CE period, but also may work on the course from home) and, when finished, the student is reassigned to Study Hall or, if a junior or senior with six courses, given a free period. Course Emporium is free during the school year. Summer Course Emporium is also available for credit recovery at a fee of approximately $150 per .5 credit.

While our preference is that CFHS students complete CFHS curriculum for the CFHS diploma, state law allows that students may also take classes through an ADE-approved program.  Please check with your CFHS counselor before enrolling in any outside course to ensure that we will accept the credit for CFHS graduation requirements vs. elective. Should you ultimately choose and be approved to take a non-CFHS course, you'll need to follow their instructions for registration. Ignore their request for transcript and other records as they will contact the CFHS Registrar, directly for that information and it will be faxed to them. 

Our recommendation/preference is that students do credit recovery/grade replacement at CFHS through our Course Emporium (CE) or an actual retake of the class at CFHS for the following reasons:

• Diploma integrity: Students earning a CFHS diploma should have CFHS credits. CFHS CE content is more closely aligned with CFHS core curriculum than that of online/outside schools so students will see material they have already seen once.
• Course content: CFHS CE content is going to be more advanced/meaningful than that of online/outside schools.
• Supervision/Monitoring: CFHS CE courses are self-paced computer-based instruction (like online school programs) but it is in a structured time/place with a physical teacher present who takes attendance and monitors progress. This reduces the procrastination/self-discipline (or parent discipline) issue that is required of other self-paced programs.
• Registration/Enrollment: CFHS CE has seamless registration/enrollment -- just work with CFHS counselor for course approval and assignment. There is no need to "register" at another school which involves submission of transcripts, immunization records, birth certificate, etc.
• Credit reporting:  CFHS CE is seamless reporting. Completed credits/grades automatically get added to the student's CFHS transcript by our Registrar upon course completion. Students often neglect to request records from other programs which causes delay in CFHS transcript updates and inaccurate credit checks.
• Counselor tracking: CFHS counselors have access to the CE/Edgenuity portal and can track CE progress and completion. We have no way of knowing whether or not a student has actually registered for or completed their intended non-CFHS courses. Students often indicate that their plan is to complete a course through a non-CFHS program but then don't pass or don't follow through and neglect to initiate another plan until their delay has caused additional complications.
• Work time: CE is a class period / on the student’s schedule during the school year and is offered in lieu of a free period (or Study Hall if grade 9/10).  Students are expected to complete the coursework/credit in 9 weeks but may complete sooner and then have the CE period turn into a free period or Study Hall (if grade 9/10). Students who have been working consistently but need more time to complete a course may request additional weeks as needed. 
• Cost: CE is free when taken during the school year. If taken during the summer, CE costs $125 per .5 credit plus a one-time $25 registration fee.  Summer CE runs 3 hours a day for six weeks but the student may complete much sooner depending on focus and proficiency and/or additional at-home time.  Online public charter schools are offered for free to Arizona residents but state legislation allows these programs to take 25% of the student's ADM funding from their brick-and-mortar school (CFHS) even if the student is only enrolled in .5 online credit for 6 weeks.
• Note: CFHS CE is for credit recovery/content mastery only -- the student must have already taken the course and received an F or D. CE cannot be used to replace a C or to bypass taking a course in the classroom.

Students periodically have reason to want to complete high school in 3 years.  While we believe students benefit from a full four years of free public education, see your counselor after the start of sophomore year if you wish to discuss the possibility of early completion.

Students are encouraged to develop study skills and utilize available resources.

Resources:

• Teacher: Your teachers are your best resources for assistance.  Utilize the Academic Assistance period (every late start Friday 9:05-9:35am) and/or reach out via email to schedule an appointment.
• Google Classroom: Refer to Google Classroom for upcoming projects, tests, deadlines, and other information.
• VUE: Check grades, missing assignments, and the calendar regularly in VUE.  Email Mrs. Margolis at amargolis@cfsd16.org if you need log in assistance.
• Online Help/Resources: Favorite Math and Science resources include: khanacademy.com, learntobe.com, mathisfun.com, mathway.com desmos.com, science with Mr J (youtube), and crashcourse (youtube).
• Friends/Classmates: Get contact information from at least one classmate in each class. Form study partners/groups.
• Peer Tutoring in the library before school. Juniors and Seniors from the National Honor Society are there and ready to help.
  • Monday 8:15-9:00 
  • Tuesday-Thursday 7:45-8:30 
  • Friday 8:45-9:30. (Note: If you have any questions contact Kristyn Reneau at kreneau@cfsd16.org)  
• NHS Tutors: NHS students are available for private tutoring (off campus, $20/hr). Contact your counselor for a list of NHS tutors. Counselors cannot make recommendations for adult private tutors but there are a myriad of tutoring agencies/individuals a family may research/contact as desired.
• UA Math Student Tutors: The UA Math Department is offering free virtual tutoring sessions with trained student tutors. For more information click here.
• UA Think Tank: Trained UA students offer supervised tutoring to high school students at Think Tank in the UA Rec Center. Cost is $35/session.  Info and scheduling can be found here.
• Credit Recovery: If you are needing to recover credits to meet graduation requirements, please communicate with your counselor as soon as possible to discuss a credit recovery plan.

Tips/Suggestions:

• Get organized.  Consider using a homework/planner app such as mystudylife or myhomeworkapp.
• Keep a calendar of deadlines and test dates.
• Get motivated and stay focused by studying with a student who has recorded their study session such as Pomodoro Study with Me.  You can check it out here.
• Develop a consistent study time/place. Studying at the kitchen counter or dining table can be more effective than a bedroom and personal distractions. Determine best time and commit one to three hours per night to academics – perhaps working 4-5 pm, taking a break, then working again from 7-8 pm; maybe doing 30-minute increments is a more effective model.  Parents can help monitor and support.
• Put the phone away – both during study time and sleep time. Consider no phone after 10 pm (perhaps overnight charging in parent bedroom).
• Develop a “growth mindset” and know that practice leads to success.