EPHS Registration Hub

Dear Eden Prairie High School Students and Families,

It is time to get ready for selecting courses for the 2023-2024 school year! Students in the classes of 2023 - 2026 will select courses in Infinite Campus February 1 - February 16.

We communicate our vision for EPHS through our three driving questions of, Do I belong here?, Is this meaningful?, Can I do this? These questions are on full display in course selection season as we encourage students to pursue their passion, challenge themselves, and create a schedule that will open doors in their future. This is an exciting season in your teens’ lives, and we’re here to support every step of the way. Here are a few ways we’ll partner in the weeks ahead:

The week of January 23, you will be receiving a mailing with information to support the course selection process:

• Complete list of our 44 college-level course offerings. The number of students enrolling in these courses has doubled over the past four years. We are closer to our vision of every student experiencing a college-level course before they graduate. Everyone belongs in these courses, encourage your student to select a college-level course!
• Our new course offerings. We continue to expand choices for students to find meaningful opportunities!
• Description of our ten Capstone course opportunities that upon completion will be noted on student transcripts! We encourage each student to take a close look at our Capstone course opportunities. Each Capstone course is designed to provide:
  • Instruction and assessment utilize the resources, tasks, purposes, and audiences regularly found within the career field
  • Collaboration with professionals in the field via guest instructors, site visits, and project partnerships
  • An opportunity for students to choose how to demonstrate their learning

Important dates in course selection season:

• Course Guides will be handed out to students at school the week of January 23
• Grade Level Meetings and Registration Rush on January 31: Students will participate in this event with an information session led by our counseling team and student leaders and a Registration Rush event to highlight new courses, our pathways and capstone course opportunities, and support students to access resources from all of our departments!
• Course Selection Open House for parents/guardians February 2 from 6:00p to 8:00p at EPHS.
• Course Selection open in Campus February 1
• Course Selection in third hour class on February 7: Counselors will walk through the graduation requirements and course selection process with students in third hour classes
• Counselor hotline on February 7 from 6:00-8:00p and February 13 from 12:00-3:00p. Another option to access a counselor with course selection questions! Spanish and Somali interpretation will be available.
• No Homework Night on February 7: To support students and families to engage in conversation around course selection.
• Course selection in Campus closes Feb 16

Opportunities await in the 2023-2024 school year for each of our students to maximize their high school experience. We look forward to partnering with you in that pursuit!

Nate Gibbs, Principal

Meg Bennett, Associate Principal

Victor Johnson, Associate Principal

Lomumuba Ismail, Associate Principal

Russ Reetz, Association Principal

Please join us for the 2023-24 Course Selection Open House on February 2 from 6:00-8:00 pm. When arriving to EPHS for the evening, we recommend parking at the North Entrance or the Performing Arts Center entrance. The schedule for the event below provides opportunities to:

• Attend general sessions to learn an overview information on course selection for the upcoming school year.
• Ask questions and connect with staff from various departments at tables located above the South Commons throughout the evening.
• Attend breakout sessions to learn more in-depth information by department or program. Breakout sessions will begin at 6:40. The schedule for breakout sessions will be provided at the event.

General and Special Sessions

Graduation Requirements

To receive a diploma from Eden Prairie High School, a student must meet the requirements prescribed by the school district. The graduation requirements are outlined below.

Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) is a program that allows 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students to earn both high school and college credit while still in high school, through enrollment in and successful completion of college-level courses at eligible participating postsecondary institutions. Most PSEO programs offer classes on campus, online (synchronous and asynchronous) and some blended.

Each participating college or university sets its own requirements for enrollment into the PSEO courses. 11th and 12th-grade students may take PSEO courses on a full- or part-time basis; 10th graders may take one career/technical PSEO course. If they earn at least a grade of C in that class, they may take additional PSEO courses. There is no charge to PSEO students for tuition, books or fees for items that are required to participate in a course.

Visit the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) PSEO website for more information including an updated list of participating colleges.

Visit the EPHS PSEO webpage for more information. For specific questions, please contact your student's counselor.

Advanced Journalism: Yearbook

Prerequisite: Please complete this application

Grade(s): 9, 10, 11, 12

Credits: 1/term

This course meets a Fine Arts requirement

Are you self-motivated, creative, and enjoy collaborating with classmates? This is a hands-on class for students with school pride who will take on the rewarding task of creating the school's yearbook. Learn and apply journalistic writing, design and photography skills while working as part of a student-directed team. Students should register for at least two terms, but are encouraged to sign up for the entire year.

EP Online is our district’s comprehensive K-12 virtual school, which offers a wide variety of online courses in order to maximize flexibility and personalized learning opportunities. Students at Eden Prairie High School are eligible to register for EPO courses in either a full-time capacity (3-4 credits per term) or a part-time capacity (1-2 credits per term).

This EPO Course List overviews the full catalog of classes available at EP Online and describes the format and term-length available for each course:

• Synchronous courses hold “live” class sessions on Zoom during a scheduled period within the school day; students interact with their teacher and peers in real-time every day.
• Asynchronous courses feature “independent” coursework on Schoology that is completed by students at self-determined and self-paced times throughout the week; students do not typically collaborate with other students in these courses and primarily communicate with their teachers through email.
• Semester-Length courses run for two consecutive academic terms and issue 2.0 credits. Students need to complete both terms of content to successfully complete a semester-length course.
• Quarter-Length courses run for a single academic term and issue 1.0 credit. Many quarter-length courses at EPO have an “additional term” of content that can optionally be taken to make the course become semester-length, if desired.
• Skinny-Length courses run at half the pace as a regular course, resulting in a 1.0 credit being earned over a half-year or 2.0 credits being earned over a full year. Students may choose to pair an in-person skinny course at EPHS with an online skinny course at EPO in order to achieve a full load within a given academic period. Skinny courses at EPO always utilize an asynchronous course format.

EP Online provides virtual versions of many of the courses offered in-person at Eden Prairie High School, along with offering a number of unique specialized courses that can only be taken at EPO in an online setting. For detailed course descriptions, please consult EPO’s virtual course catalog.

EPHS students who are interested in enrolling with EP Online in a part-time capacity should notify their EPHS School Counselor of their intention to do so by filling out the EPO Course Request Form found on the EPHS Registration Hub and indicating the specific classes and term length they wish to request.

EPHS students who are interested in enrolling with EP Online in a full-time capacity should ask their parents/guardians to submit an In-District Transfer Request form. Once approved, students will be assigned an EPO Counselor who will schedule a meeting with the student’s family to make EPO course selections.

EP Online is also proud to offer its Summer Soar program to all EPHS students. For a small fee (used to cover summer operating costs), EPO Summer Soar allows students to complete up to 2.0 credits worth of courses in an asynchronous format during an 8-week term in June, July, and August. This is a great opportunity for students to “work ahead” and complete graduation requirements in over twenty different courses over the summer, providing more space in students’ schedules during the regular school year for other learning or work opportunities. Interested students can sign up using the EPO Summer Soar Registration Form.

AVID is an elective, one semester course and cohort program at Eden Prairie High School. Students must apply for AVID by submitting a Google Form application, obtaining a recommendation from an adult mentor/coach/teacher/advisor, and participating in a brief interview.

Students participate in this program on a voluntary basis, and must uphold the AVID steps to success, which include maintaining at least 2.5 GPA, enrolling in at least one rigorous course each year, having good attendance and behavior, showing motivation to succeed personally and academically, and participate in at least 35 extracurricular hours.

Within AVID, students learn valuable skills including writing, note taking, reading, inquiry, collaboration, organization, and critical thinking, which support their success in rigorous courses. Students also receive guidance with college and scholarship applications, financial aid literacy, preparing for the ACT, and touring college campuses and college fairs.

If you are interested in applying for AVID, please talk to your high school counselor. They will share the application form with you. If you have more questions about the AVID program, please email Molly Zumwalde (AVID Coordinator) at mzumwalde@edenpr.org.

Application Timeline:

• To apply to be a NEW AVID student for the following school year, all applications are due February 10.
• To apply for AVID 10/11 for second semester, applications are due December 15.

Intermediate District 287 serves high school students by offering courses that are designed to match each student’s level of career readiness. Intermediate District 287’s career courses focus on career skill development experiences and exploration.

Credits / Scheduling

• Each semester class offered at HTC equals 3 credits.
• HTC courses are one semester in length.
• Many programs offer articulated college credit
• Transportation is provided for the 10:00AM session only.

To register, you must see your counselor to obtain an application and the numbers to enter on your registration form. Course information can be found on the Hennepin Technical College website: https://hennepintech.edu

Please complete the following form if you are interested in getting more information:

EPHS Program Interest Form

Pursuing a Pathway

As students pursue their educational goals, they have the incredible opportunity to follow focused Pathways to provide the necessary experience and skills for their next steps after graduation. Each Pathway centers around a broad collection of career fields that include: 

• Core and elective course offerings at EPHS (referred to as Pathway Supporting courses) 

• Extracurricular activities related to the interest area 

• Capstone Courses for 11th and 12th grade students 

• Certifications and Credentials from area colleges, professional organizations and more 

• Opportunities to earn college credit

Students can take individual courses within a Pathway or choose to complete a Pathway and have it included on their official transcript. Completing a Pathway requires 10 credits including a Capstone course. Students have several supporting courses and extracurricular activities to choose from to tailor their plans for their goals. See course guide for more details on Pathway options, courses, and opportunities.  Courses within a pathway have a specific notation, so that students and families can quickly identify them!

Pathway Resources

BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT - Planning Guide & Course Listing

HUMAN & PUBLIC SERVICES - Planning Guide & Course Listing

NATURAL & APPLIED SCIENCES - Planning Guide & Course Listing

ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGY, & MANUFACTURING - Planning Guide & Course Listing

COMMUNICATION & ARTS - Planning Guide & Course Listing

Capstone Courses

Watch this video to hear teachers speak about their Capstone courses and students speak to their experience in Capstone courses!

Capstone courses are the culmination of student exploration, learning, and experience within a career pathway. Specifically, students acquire, apply, and demonstrate learning in personalized ways that authentically reflect how professionals think and act within the career field. Capstones center each student’s interest, identities, and strengths to provide experiences that will prepare them for specific college, career, and civic opportunities post-graduation. Students can take multiple Capstone courses as long as they have met the prerequisites, and don’t need to have completed all Pathway Supporting Courses in order to complete the Capstone. 

Each Capstone course provides

• Instruction and assessment utilize the resources, tasks, purposes, and audiences regularly found within the career field

• Collaboration with professionals in the field via guest instructors, site visits, and project partnerships 

• An opportunity for students to choose how to demonstrate their learning 

Capstone courses have prerequisites (see course guide for prerequisites) that prepare them for the Capstone experience. Our Capstone courses have a specific notation in the course guide, so that students and families can quickly identify options.  Completion of a Capstone course will be noted on a student’s transcript beginning in the 2022-2023 school year.

Capstone offerings for next school year include

• Entrepreneurship
• Integrated Marketing & Analytics
• Education Capstone
• Civics in ACTION
• Science Research & Design
• Principles of Engineering
• Advanced Woodcrafting
• iOS App Development
• Gallery Studies & Exhibition Creation
• Multimedia Story Production