McCullough All Things Registration

Welcome to our All Things Registration Newsletter for rising 7th and 8th graders at McCullough Junior High.

The staff at McCullough has put together a wealth of information for you to use to make decisions for the 2026-27 academic year. We have used the newsletter format to organize and link everything in one place. This newsletter will be continually updated as more information is available.

The online registration window will be open February 3 through February 16. Individual conferences have been scheduled for 6th grade students at their intermediate school. Conferences with current seventh graders will occur beginning the week of February 17 through their math classes. There is also an optional parent help session scheduled for March 6 at McCullough. The final deadline to make changes to your child's course selection is April 1. We are looking forward to working with your child during the course registration process throughout the spring semester. We are dedicated to making this a smooth and successful transition.

Be sure to click on the various yellow buttons below for all of our presentations---toward the end you will find instructions on how to input course selections as well!

Counselors (2026-27 Assignments)

• Christina Augustine, 8th grade students with last names A-K. caugustine@conroeisd.net
• Jana Goforth, 8th grade students with last names L-Z. jgoforth@conroeisd.net
• Amber Bentley, 7th grade students with last names, A-K. abentley@conroeisd.net
• Krystal Gibson, 7th grade students with last names L-Z. kngibson@conroeisd.net

Assistant Principals (2026-27 Assignments)

• Crystal Kocian, 8th grade students with last names A-K. ckocian@conroeisd.net

• Ingrid Sosa, 8th grade students with last names L-Z. isosa@conroeisd.net
• Delvin Sims, 7th grade students with last names A-K. dpsims@conroeisd.net
• Farrin Ormes, 7th grade students with last names L-Z. formes@conroeisd.net

• February 12th - Coulson Tough and Eissler
• February 18th - Deretchin and Wilkerson
• February 24th - Mitchell

All general education classes, level and honors, are college preparatory. The ultimate choice on which core course, level or honors, you wish your child to be in lies with you as long as it is made before the final deadline of April 1st.

• Honors courses taught at McCullough, TWHS 9, and TWHS prepare students to be successful in Advanced Placement, Dual Credit courses, and beyond
• Higher expectation of students
• May move at a quicker pace than regular courses
• Be wise in making course choices for your child based on his/her unique characteristics
• Changes from honors to level and vice versa will not be accommodated after the April 1st deadline

• Language Arts - (1.0 Credits)
• Mathematics - (1.0 Credits)
• Science - (1.0 Credits)
• Texas History - (1.0 Credits)
• Writing Strategies 7 - Mandatory Elective (0.5 credits)
• Investigations in Math - Mandatory Elective (0.5 credits)
• Physical Education/Football/Athletics - Mandatory Elective (1.0 Credits)
• Core + Elective Classes Must Equal a Total of 8 Credits
• If you do not choose band/choir/orchestra you MUST take General Employability elective.

• Language Arts - (1.0 Credits)
• Mathematics - (1.0 Credits)
• Science - (1.0 Credits)
• U.S. History - (1.0 Credits)
• Writing Strategies 8 - Mandatory Elective (0.5 credits)
• Physical Education (0.5 credits)/Football/Athletics (1.0 Credits) - Mandatory Elective
• Core + Elective Classes Must Equal a Total of 8 Credits

• 7th Grade Math Courses

• Seventh Grade Math

• Pre-Algebra Honors* (Eighth Grade Math, one year ahead)

• Algebra I Honors** (High School Course, two years ahead)

• Math Investigations course required for all 7th graders

• Answers the question, "When will we ever use this?"
  

• Finance component
  

• Art and Patterns

• Statistics and Logic

• Careers

*Students in 6th grade advanced math should choose this, unless they feel they need to slow down the pace of math for the 7th grade school year.

**High School Course credit is recorded on HS transcript, but is not included in the calculation of HS grade point average. CBE or Summer School required for placement in this course.

• 8th Grade Math Courses
• Eighth Grade Math - Pre-Algebra
• Algebra I Honors* (9th grade math, one year ahead)
• Geometry Honors* (10th grade math, two years ahead)

*High school course credit is recorded on HS transcript but is not included in the calculation of HS grade point average.

Honors vs. Level

• Honors classes are going to move at a quicker pace and rely on students to read and work more independently through in-depth material.
• Level classes will move at a more structured pace with a heavier emphasis on teacher guidance.
• Both classes will tackle the same skills throughout the course of the school year but with novels and other texts that vary in complexity.
  

• Writing Strategies is a semester-long class that students will take in both 7th and 8th grade.
  
• This course will explore different writing styles and craft techniques with an emphasis on student choice.
  
• While students will be tasked with writing analytically in their core language arts class, Writing Strategies allows them to explore their own voices creatively.
  

• Science
  

• Honors Science
• Concurrent enrollment in Pre-Algebra for 7th & Algebra or higher for 8th recommended
• Independent Science Project is not required but encouraged
• Students should be self motivated and able to maintain a challenging pace of instruction
• Curriculum goes at a faster pace and goes deeper into the content areas

• Texas History

• Honors Texas History

• This course is designed to prepare students for subsequent Honors and Advanced Placement courses in Social Studies.

• The curriculum focuses on critical thinking, application of concepts, and strategies for analyzing primary sources.

• Development of writing skills is emphasized to promote success on Free Response Questions and Document Based Questions in AP Social Studies courses.

• US History

• Honors US History

• This course is designed to prepare students for subsequent Honors and Advanced Placement courses in Social Studies.

• The curriculum focuses on critical thinking, application of concepts, and strategies for analyzing primary sources.

• Development of writing skills is emphasized to promote success on Free Response Questions and Document Based Questions in AP Social Studies courses.

• All means All
• Our staff works diligently to know, encourage, and understand all of our student populations
• We have students in special populations in all levels of academic classes
• Intermediate campuses deliver all sixth grade student records to McCullough at end of year
• McCullough teachers receive accommodations for students in Special Education, Section 504, and English as a Second Language

• Time varies widely among students to complete assignments
• Effectiveness of your child’s study strategies
• The efficiency of getting work done within the classroom
  
• Consider activities outside of school such as, Dance, Gymnastics, Baseball, Equestrian, Swimming, etc.
• There is homework in our regular classes albeit less than in Honors classes
• Homework demands increase greatly in high school and college

• Students at McCullough report an average of 30-45 minutes per night spent on homework

• Students take PE for one year (two semesters) in seventh grade.
• Students take PE for one semester in eighth grade.
• PE Uniforms are required. Parents can click on the link below to purchase them. Current prices range from $8- $12 depending on size and material.
• Athletics/football is a substitute for PE
• A physical is required to be in either the football class or the athletics class.
• The athletics class is only available to students who will tryout for one of the sports offered during the school year. This includes:
• Cross Country
• Basketball
• Volleyball
• If you make the athletics class, you are not guaranteed to make the sport that you try out for.
• Students must pass skills evaluation to be placed into the Athletics class.
• Registering for football will be a football course only. Students can try out for additional sports after the football season, but during the football class it will be focused on football skills.
• You will NOT select athletics on the course registration form. Please note, if your child doesn't pass the skills evaluation, they will still get the opportunity to tryout for that sport during that season.

Below is a list of classes that fulfill the PE credit, but require a tryout before joining. Counselors will place students after the tryout has occurred..

• Athletics
• Cheerleading
• Highland Girls Drill Team
• Color Guard

NOTE: The Athletic Presentations will be posted after the February 10th Athletic Meetings here and on the McC Athletics Website!

Examples of activities that facilities may provide for off campus PE are: dance, diving (JH only), equestrian, fencing, gymnastics, figure skating, golf (JH only), martial arts, rowing, swimming (JH only), tennis (JH only), and other individual sports.

• March 9 - Off Campus/Private PE Applications open online. All applications due to CISD Physical Education Department are due June 1st.
• April 1 - Last day for Off Campus/Private PE requests at McCullough
• June 1 - Last day for Off Campus/Private PE Applications with Conroe ISD
• Off Campus Private PE is a one year requirement for both 7th and 8th grades.
• Students enrolled in 7515(level 2) *5 hrs must enroll in General Employability if in 7th grade
• Students enrolled in 8515(level 2) *5 hrs must enroll in high school credit principles class if in 8th grade

For more information please click on the following links:

**Please note, students who are trying out for the athletics class and would like the option for off campus PE as an alternate MUST make sure they have completed the Private PE online application by June 1, 2026. Off Campus PE cannot be added after the June 1 deadline if the application is not submitted. There are strict deadlines. BE sure to see JH Course Guide for more details.

The 2026-27 McCullough Cheerleader Tryout dates have been set as follows:

• Feb. 5 - McCullough Cheerleader Information Meeting, 6:00pm in the Nancy Bock Auditorium at McCullough
• Feb. 20th - Tryout packets due to the McC front office at 4:30 pm.
• Mar. 2-4 - McCullough Cheerleader Clinic 4:45 - 6:45 p.m.
• Mar. 5 - McCullough Cheerleader Tryout at 4:00 p.m.
• Mar. 6 - Posting of McCullough Cheerleader results after 6:00 p.m. after all results have been verified.

Reminder: All tryout dates are MANDATORY. A parent/guardian must attend the tryout meeting with the cheerleader candidate.

The 2026-27 McCullough Highland Girls Drill Team Tryout dates have been set as follows:

• Feb. 10 – Highland Girl Applications available
• Mar. 16 – Highlander Girl Tryout Meeting, McCullough Large Gym at 6:00 p.m.
• Mar. 16 – Application Deadline – turn in to McC front office by noon or at parent meeting
• Mar 17-20, 23-27 – Highland Girl Tryout Clinic
• Mar 28 - Highland Girl Tryouts
• Mar 29 - Posting of Highland Girls results

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Tara Gourley, tgourley@conroeisd.net

The 2026-27 McCullough Color Guard Tryout dates have been set as follows:

• April 13th - Mandatory Audition Informational Meeting at 6:30 PM in Nancy Bock Auditorium at McCullough Junior High (Parent/Guardian and student attendance required)
• April 17th - Audition Application Due by 5:30 PM
• April 20-22nd - Mandatory Color Guard Audition Clinic: McCullough Gyms A & B , 4:30 - 6:30 PM (attendance at all three days of clinic are required to be eligible to audition)
• April 23rd - Mandatory Color Guard Auditions in McCullough Gyms A & B, 4:30 - 8:00 PM
• April 24th - Audition results sent to parent/guardian email by 5:00 PM

If you have any questions, please email mniemeyer@conroeisd.net.

• Art A (0.5 credit)

• Art B (0.5 credit)

• Band (1.0 credit)

• Choir (1.0 credit)

• Orchestra (1.0 credit)

• Exploring Languages(0.5 credit)

• Teen Leadership(0.5 credit)

• Theater Arts I(0.5 credit)

• Theater Arts II(0.5 credit)

• Yearbook I (0.5 credit)

High School Credit

• General Employability (1.0 credit)*

Eighth Graders may take all electives that are available to seventh graders. The following elective choices are only available to our eighth graders. All applications will be picked up in the counselors office.

• Ceramics (Art A is pre-requisite, application required)
• Yearbook II (Yearbook I is a pre-requisite, application required)
• Art A (0.5 credit)
• Art B (0.5 credit)
• Ceramics (0.5 credit)
• Band (1.0 credit)
• Choir (1.0 credit)
• Orchestra (1.0 credit)
• Exploring Languages (0.5 credit)
• Teen Leadership (0.5 credit)
• Theatre Arts A (0.5 credit)
• Theatre Arts B (0.5 credit)

High School Credit Electives - The following Career Technical Education (CTE) courses are only available to rising 8th graders. 8th graders are highly encouraged to sign up for one or more of them. More information will be available at McCullough Athletic and Elective Night on Feb. 10, 6:00 p.m.

• Art I (1.0 credit)
• Communications Applications (0.5 credit)
• Health (0.5 credit)
• Spanish I (1.0 credit)
• Intro to Culinary Arts (1.0 credit)
• Principles of Agriculture (1.0 credit)
• Principles of Business, Marketing, and Finance (1.0 credit)
• Principles of Arts/Audio Visual (1.0 credit)
• Fundamentals of Computer Science (1.0 credit)

McCullough's Athletic and Elective Night is scheduled for Feb. 10, 2026. Students will have the opportunity to explore elective offerings as well as attend athletic presentations in the Bock Auditorium.

• 5:45 PM Doors open to Bock Auditorium
• 6:00 - 6:30 PM Girls' Athletics Presentation in Bock Auditorium
• 6:00 - 6:20 PM Advanced Math Presentation
• 6:00 - 7:15 PM - Come and Go Events
• Elective Fair in Commons, E104, E106
• Band Directors in Band Hall D100
• Orchestra Director in Orchestra Hall D101
• Choir Directors in Choir Room D102
• 6:30 - 6:50 PM 8th Grade HS CTE Courses
• 6:45 - 7:15 PM Boys' Athletics Presentation in Bock Auditorium
• 7:00 - 7:20 PM Advanced Math Presentation

• Staffing

• Availability of course

• Student core course selection

• Elective course requests by students

• Specialty classes

• Athletics

• Fine Arts

• Online scheduling portal opens for all incoming 7th and 8th graders Feb. 3 through Feb. 16.
• Instructions for making course requests will be available Feb. 3.
• Deadline for course request changes is April 1, 2026

Parent Help Session will take place on March 6, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at McCullough Junior High School. The help session is for rising 7th and 8th grade parents who may have specific questions about course selection pertaining to their child. Please note that staff will meet individually with all students prior to this date to verify for accuracy of course selections.

Counselors will meet individually with each student after the online request window closes on the following dates (dates are tentative).

• McCullough Current 7th graders beginning Feb. 17 through their math classes
• Feb. 26 - Wilkerson and Eissler
• Feb. 27 - Coulson Tough
• Mar 3 - Deretchin
• Mar. 4 - Mitchell

• Final deadline to make any change, elective request, or core level change is April 1, 2026
• Teachers are hired with specific teaching certifications based on requests of parents on this date
• Master schedule is constructed based on parent/guardian course requests