West Side Story 2.0

The course registration process for next school year begins next week. We encourage students to make thoughtful choices that align with their strengths, interests, and future goals. Using Xello (access through the student portal), students can explore careers and post-secondary pathways, helping them select courses that set them up for success beyond graduation. Thoughtful course selection not only shapes each student’s high school experience but also plays a critical role in determining our staffing and course offerings. We appreciate your partnership in guiding students to create a schedule that challenges and excites them.

Here you will find a sneak peak of our Registration Hub. The Hub will be accurate and up to date next week, but feel free to start investigating our courses. To get started, we suggest you go to the 2025-26 Course Guide tab, then click on the drop down menu to see specific grade level and to see courses by departments.

We will be sending daily newsletters during registration time to provide additional information about classes and opportunities available to students. Today, Science and Social Studies are being highlighted.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

Registration Window

The registration window will open in Infinite Campus on Monday, February 3rd and will close on Monday, February 17th. Counselors will be meeting with each grade level to give an overview of the registration process during the first week of February.

Mark Your Calendar: Registration Open House - Students and Families grades 8-11

Thursday, February 13, we will hold a registration open house from 6:00pm - 8:00pm.

At 6:00pm, in the auditorium, we will be having a registration meeting for our DMMS families who will have freshmen next year. Anyone who is interested in hearing more about the registration process is welcome to attend.

At 6:00pm in the cafeteria, we will be hosting a Dual Enrollment Information Meeting for students who will be in grades 10-12.

Teachers will be available in their departments to share information about the courses they teach and to answer questions. Each department will have an information table in their hallway with information about the classes they offer and information about clubs and activities.

Three years of Science is required of all students in Minnesota. We also offer a variety of Science elective courses.

Required Science courses for the 2025-26 school year:

Grade 9: Earth Science or Earth Science Enriched

Grade 10: Biology

Grade 11: Chemistry

AP courses are some of the most widely accepted college-level academic experiences available to high school students. Credit is not guaranteed; it depends on your AP Exam score and each college sets their own score marker for obtaining credit.

We offer the following Advanced Placement (AP) courses in Science:

AP Biology - grades 10, 11, 12

This course is the equivalent of a college Biology course usually taken by Biology majors during their first year. The AP Biology course is designed to be taken by students after the successful completion of a first course in Biology or Chemistry.

AP Chemistry - grades 11, 12

This is a SECOND YEAR chemistry course for students attempting to earn college credit in chemistry.

AP Physics - grades 11, 12

This course is equivalent to parts of a first year college physics course.

AP Environmental Science - grades 10, 11, 12

This course is designed for students to gain a deeper understanding of environmental challenges and how we interact and depend on natural resources.

Concurrent enrollment courses are PSEO courses taught by West teachers at West High School. We offer the following concurrent enrollment course in Science:

Our Natural World (Bio 100) - grades 10, 11, and 12

Completion of this course meets the laboratory requirement of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum Goal Area: GE-03 Natural Sciences and completes 4 of the 6 credit requirements for GE-03 Natural Sciences and completes GE -8 Global Perspectives.

Other Science elective courses include:

Anatomy and Physiology I and II

Astronomy

Wild Life Ecology

Clubs/Activities related to Science:

YES! Team (Youth Eco Solutions)/Science Club

In the 2025-26 school year, students in grades 9 and 10 are required to take three and a half years of social studies and grades 11 and 12 have a four year requirement. We also offer a variety of Social Studies elective courses.

Required Social Studies courses for the 2025-26 school year:

Grade 9: World History or World History Enriched

Grade 10: Human Geography

Grade 11: U.S. History

Grade 12: Government and Economics

We offer the following Advanced Placement (AP) courses in Social Studies

AP Human Geography - grades 10, 11, 12

This course goes beyond the curriculum of the Human Geography course and students taking this college level introductory class are preparing to take the AP Exam in the spring.

AP U.S History - grades 11, 12

This course is designed to provide motivated students in grade 11 with an intensive college-level study of United States History.

AP Government - grades 11, 12

This course is designed to provide motivated students in grade 11 with an intensive college-level study of United States History.

AP Economics - grades 11, 12

This course is designed to challenge the highly motivated student. It will require college level reading, writing and testing skills. AP Economics is taught as a full-year course, with two distinct parts: Microeconomics and Macroeconomics.

AP Psychology - grades 11, 12

Students will be provided with a critical overview of the study of psychology, focusing on the theories and research methods used in psychological science and practice.

We offer the following concurrent enrollment course in Social Studies:

Government - grades 11, 12

Other Social Studies elective courses include:

Breaking Barriers: Civil Rights Movements in the United States - grades 9-12

Controversial Issues and Debate - grades 9-12

Lights, Camera, History: Exploring American History and Government through Film - grades 10-12

Psychology - grades 11, 12

Sociology - grades 11, 12

Street Law: Understanding Your Rights and the Law in the Real World - grades 9-12

Clubs/Activities related to Social Studies:

Debate

Students who desire to improve their communication and persuasion skills in a competitive environment.

History Day

Students enter their projects into History Day competitions at school, regional, state, and national levels.

Key Club

International student-led service organization to encourage leadership through serving others. Students who complete at least 25 hours of service in the community may receive a letter.

Knowledge Bowl

An interdisciplinary academic competition involving teams answering questions in a written round and several oral rounds.

Student Council

Work with peers, teachers, and administration in making decisions and plan, manage, and run school events, (ex. Homecoming, Snow Week). All students are welcome to become general members.

SHINE

Promotes respect for diversity, devoted to increasing tolerance and understanding between social and ethnic groups at school. Activities include poster campaigns, cultural celebrations, social events and volunteer opportunities

February 3rd

Registration Window Opens

February 3 - 7

Counselors meet with students to review the registration process

February 13

Registration Night

Class of 2029 Information meeting at 6:00pm Auditorium

Dual Enrollment Options 6:00pm Cafeteria

February 17

Registration Window Closes