Course Selection

At Downers Grove North, we’re committed to ensuring that every student is supported in their educational journey and that includes in the course selection process.

Every year, students will have an individual registration appointment during the school day with their counselor. We encourage students and families to review and discuss all of the options available. In August, all students will receive their schedule.

2025 - 26 District 99 Academic Planning Guide for Review

We encourage families to review the guide as it is a valuable resource in planning students' course choices for the following school year. The coursebook is organized into academic division sections. Each section provides a comprehensive listing of classes offered in that division with course descriptions and pathways.

Incoming Students

Even though you are currently in 8th grade, starting to think about high school now will help in making the most out of your 8th grade school year. We look forward to welcoming you to DGN! In order to ensure a successful transition, several activities will occur this year to help each student have as smooth of a transition to high school as possible. Keep visiting this site throughout the school year to gather information about your transition to high school.

Timeline

January 2026 - Future Trojan Night
February 2026 - Course Selection
July 2026 - Enrollment
August 2026 - Student Orientation
August 2026 - First Day of School

Resources

9th Grade

Transition - Building a Solid Foundation

Settle into the routine of high school.
Use your student handbook to learn about North High procedures and policies. It is also a good tool to help you keep assignments and homework organized.
Develop effective study habits.
Realize that attendance and tardies do matter. Strive to be to school and class on time.
Get to know your teachers and your counselor. Seek them out if you have questions or need help.
Familiarize yourself with the academic resources within the school: resource centers, peer tutoring, library services, etc.
Realize that freshman grades do count.
Get involved! Join a club, organization and/or sports team.
Take inventory of yourself. What subjects do you like? What outside activities give you pleasure?
What areas of study might you like to explore in more depth over the next three years?
Have at least one serious talk with your parents about your future, your plans, and expectations they might have for you.

10th Grade

Exploration - Learning about Yourself

Keep future options open; enroll in solid academic courses.
Do your best in all your classes. Grades do matter when thinking about post-secondary options.
Realize that attendance and tardies do matter. Strive to be to school and class on time.
Continue your involvement in extra-curricular and/or volunteer activities.
Explore future options. Use the Family Connections program. Talk to people about their careers. Talk to older students who are in college. Ask them what they would have done differently in high school. Talk with your teachers about your future. Ask them what college they attended. Ask them why they went into the career they did.
Talk more extensively with your parents/guardians about what you want to do after high schools, i.e., college, military, trade school, etc.

Resources

10th Grade - 2024 Curriculum Night Presentation

11th Grade

Choices - Considering Your Options

Enroll in a solid academic course load. Take Honors and AP classes when possible.
Keep your grades up; 11th grade is important.
Attendance and tardies do matter. Strive to be to school and class on time.
Take the PSAT/NMSQT in October.
Continue your involvement in volunteer and extracurricular activities. Apply/run for leadership positions.
Check the postings regarding college representative visits in the College and Career Center and attend presentations throughout the fall and winter.
Prepare for ACT and SAT on your own or by enrolling in a test preparation course.
Review your transcript thoroughly.
Attend College & Career Planning Night in February with your parents/guardians.
Utilize the Family Connection Program to begin your college search/research.
Research colleges and plan college visits.
Attend local college nights in the spring.
Take the ACT (April) and/or SAT (May) in the spring.

Resources

12th Grade

Commitment - Taking Action to Make it Happen

Enroll in a solid academic course load. Take Honors and AP classes when possible.
Realize that attendance and tardies still matter. Colleges and future employers will often evaluate your commitment and dedication based on number of absences as well as grades.
Check credits for graduation.
Retake the SAT/ACT in September/October, if necessary.
Be ready to apply to 3-6 colleges no later than November.
Submit college applications a minimum of two weeks in advance of deadlines. Make copies of all application materials for your records.
Attend presentations made by visiting college representatives in the College & Career Center. Take time to talk with representatives, particularly from colleges where you plan to apply.
Re-visit or visit colleges as needed. Do not make a college decision without first visiting the campus.
Complete FAFSA forms, or, if necessary, the Alternate Application for IL Financial Aid, after October 1st, preferable no later than November 15.
Students planning on joining the military must take an ASVAB test.
Research scholarship opportunities. Apply for scholarships.
By May 1st, make your final college choice and give an admission deposit to the one school you will attend. Decline in writing the offers from all other schools.
Complete the appropriate paperwork for your chosen school--housing, extra financial aid forms, etc.
Write thank you notes to individuals who wrote letters of recommendation for you.
Finish your 12th grade with the same commitment you have shown in previous years.

Resources

2024 Curriculum Night Presentation

Grading

District 99 uses a weighted grade system for assigning point values to grades earned in selected courses. The criteria for a course to be weighted are 1) those courses in selected disciplines where section grouping is used to challenge the students by accelerating the learning rate and increasing the amount of content in the discipline; and 2) those courses in selected disciplines where course content is similar or equal to the content in university level courses.

Grades of A, B, C, and D are awarded an additional point in courses identified as having weighted grades. The grading scale for courses with weighted grades are as follows: A = five points, B = four points, C = three points, D = two points.

The following courses are designated as grade weighted:

AP Art History	AP Studio Art: 3D Design (Ceramics)
AP Biology	AP Studio Art: 3D Design (Jewelry & Metalwork)
AP Calculus AB	AP U.S. Government & Politics
AP Calculus BC	AP U.S. History
AP Chemistry	Anatomy & Physiology
AP Computer Science	Architectural Drawing 1 Honors
AP English Language & Composition	Architectural Drawing 2 Honors
AP English Literature & Composition	Biology Honors
AP Environmental Science	Chemistry Honors
AP European History	Civil Engineering & Architecture (PLTW)
AP French Language & Culture	Earth & Space Science Honors
AP German Language & Culture	Engineering Design & Development (PLTW)
AP Microeconomics	English & Communication I and II Honors
AP Macroeconomics	French III Honors
AP Music Theory	French V Honors
AP Physics C: Mechanics	German III Honors
AP Physics C: Mechanics, Electricity & Magnetism	Managerial Accounting Honors
AP Psychology	Math 2 Honors
AP Spanish Language & Culture	Math 3 Honors
AP Statistics	Physics Honors
AP Studio Art: Drawing & Painting	Precalculus 400 Honors
AP Studio Art: 2D Design (Digital Photography)	Principles of Engineering (PLTW)
AP Studio Art: 2D Design (Computer Design)	Spanish III Honors
	Spanish V Honors

The following courses have a weighted grade option. If a student would like to take the following courses as weighted, they must indicate this to the teacher: A Cappella Choir, Symphonic Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Advanced Journalism Honors.

PASS-FAIL COURSE GRADING OPTION

Rather than receiving a traditional grade, students may choose the pass-fail grade option in Keyboarding Technology, all music courses, PE for eligible varsity athletes and Seminar. The following conditions will apply to a student seeking pass-fail grading:

A student must declare in writing, accompanying the parent's signature, his/her desire to be graded on a pass- fail basis by no later than Monday of the fourth week of each semester. The deadline for students enrolled in Keyboarding Technology opposite lunch is the end of the ninth week. Otherwise, traditional grading procedures will be utilized.
The pass-fail grade will be recorded on the student’s report card at the semester as well as on the student’s transcript.
Pass-fail option courses may be counted as credit for graduation but will not count in calculating GPA.
A student who elects the pass-fail option is expected to meet the same course requirements and will be evaluated by the same procedures as are other students.

Changing Your Schedule

Course changes will only be made enrollment process error, failure in a prerequisite course, successful completion of summer school course or scheduling conflicts. Once the school year begins, a student must initiate the formal drop process in order to have a class removed from their schedule. Course drops cannot be initiated until the end of the 4th week of any given semester. A student will not be allowed to drop a course, if, in doing so, he or she would fall below the 6 credit class minimum requirement.