Course Selection

Choosing Courses for Next School Year

Choosing Courses for Next School Year 2025-26

Choosing courses wisely is an important step contributing to high school success. It is important for a student to challenge themselves while also considering the importance of academic and personal balance. Fairfax County Public Schools offers a wide range of courses. Meet with your school counselor and attend information sessions such as Curriculum Night to help you achieve your goals.

Course Selection Timeline

SCHS Overview of Curriculum Programs & Academic Advising Timeline for 2025-2026

 

January 8 and 9 - Academic Days of Emphasis

Teachers will meet individually with students during each class to discuss course level options.

January 23 - SCHS Curriculum Night 6:00-7:30 pm 

All SCHS families are welcome to attend Curriculum Night. The night begins with an informational session for rising 9th grade Stallion families in the auditorium. Department members will be available in the cafeteria to assist with specific information about course offerings and expectations so that you can make informed choices about course registration for the upcoming school year.

Curriculum Overview

All students will receive a curriculum overview presentation via Advisory on January 9th or January 13th. This will include information about course offerings, sequencing, prerequisites for specific courses, and graduation requirements.  

Electives Exploration

All students will have the opportunity to explore elective options during an advisory lesson during the month of January.

Academic Advising Conferences 

School counselors will meet individually with their students to assist them in exploring their academic and postsecondary/career goals.  Students will review their transcripts and select their courses for next school year.

  • January 14 through January 24 - Rising 12th grade through USVA History classes
     
  • February 4 through February 14 - Rising 11th grade through PE classes
     
  • February 24 through February 28 - Rising 10th grade through PE classes

 

All course selections will be finalized on March 15, 2025. Any changes must be requested before June 2, 2025 and will be considered on a space available basis.

Students with an FCPS login can access our electives information here.

Advising presentation…coming soon

Course Catalogs and Selection Sheets

Course Catalog

Course Selection Sheets

  • 9th Grade Course Selection Sheet - Coming Soon
  • 10th-12th Grade Course Selection Sheet - Coming Soon

South County High School Counselors

School Counselors

  • Students are assigned a school counselor based on their last name. For example, a student with the last name beginning with A through Br would have Ms. Megan Cooper as her student counselor.

Name

Alphabet

Email Address

Phone Number

Megan CooperA - BL@email703-446-1703
Laura HanleyBo - Dh@email703-446-1706
Trevor EcholsDi - Haq@email703-446-1705
Mehreen NaghmiHar - K@email703-446-1704
Becky FreemanL - Mon@email703-446-1805
Brittany MaslowskyMoo - Raj@email703-446-1804
George BigusRak - Ta@email703-446-1813
Michelle GundermanTe -  Z@email703-446-1803

FCPS Graduation Requiements

Honors, Advanced Placement, and Dual Enrollment

  • Honors, Grades 9-12 - Fairfax County offers open enrollment in Honors social studies, English, science, and mathematics classes for students who seek additional academic rigor.
     
  • Advanced Placement® (AP) - The Advanced Placement® (AP) Program provides academic college preparatory coursework in the major subject fields. AP classes emulate introductory college courses, preparing students for selective universities and colleges.
     
  • Dual Enrollment courses are taught at the high school by an FCPS teacher and offer college credit through agreements with a college or university.

Academies and Specialized Programs

Advanced technical and specialized elective courses are available at the High School Academies for students interested in pursuing coursework in a variety of options related to career pathways. Academy details and contacts.

Students and families are invited to visit an Academy Open House, it is a great opportunity to visit classroom and lab spaces as well speak with instructors and Academy Counselors. View the 2025 Academy Open Houses List.

Economics and Personal Finance - High School

One credit in economics and personal finance must be completed prior to graduation. This course is required for the Standard and Advanced Studies Diplomas. Information on how to complete this requirement is available here.

FCPS Online Campus

FCPS Online Campus allows students to take an additional course online to supplement what they take in school. Online Campus offers a variety of standard, honors, and AP level courses, and also provides access to additional courses not offered at Woodson. The online campus also has courses students can take over the summer, which can help students advance or catch up on academic credits earned towards graduation requirements. Students must let their counselor know if they’re interested in taking a course through Online Campus, and work with their counselor to complete the required registration paperwork. For more information on Online Campus course offerings, how online classes work in general, and the registration process please click the link below. 

FCPS Online Campus Site

Schedule Changes

Selecting courses in high school is an important process that requires careful planning and decision-making for both students and parents. Although the process starts in early January, students are given ample time during the spring to choose their courses for the following year. The school’s Master Schedule is built based upon these choices. All course selections will be finalized on March 15, 2025. Any changes must be requested before June 2, 2025 and will be considered on a space available basis.

Below are the only approved reasons for a schedule change:  

  • Too many or too few classes in student’s schedule
  • Student is missing a required course for graduation 
  • To correct an error in placement
  • Student wants to go up in rigor, if space is available

Below are NOT approved reasons:

  • Elective changes 
  • Teacher requests
  • Time preference 
  • Lunch Requests
  • Friend Requests

For questions or more information, please contact your school counselor.

Questions?

If you have any questions or need any assistance related to academic advising during this time you are welcome to contact your school counselor or the appropriate department chair/teacher/content area administrator. Please also bookmark this site to refer to it for necessary information.