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Unique Programs and Services

In additional to traditional course offerings and class settings, the following unique programs and services are available to meet specific student interests and needs:

Advanced Placement Courses
Advanced Placement (AP) courses are offered to challenge students and provide an opportunity to earn college-level credit while enrolled in high school by taking the AP exam. All students enrolled in an AP course will be required to take the related AP exam in May. AP courses follow guidelines as suggested by The College Board. AP course descriptions found in this Bulletin are listed by department. AP courses not offered at your home school may be available at the other KPS high school or online through Michigan Virtual University (MVU). Consult your dean of students if you are interested.

Advanced Placement courses are intended for students in grades 10-12

Due to the rigor of AP courses, students are strongly encouraged to complete a summer assignment as suggested by the AP teacher. Content from summer assignments will be included on an assessment during the first trimester. 

A packet with detailed course information is available in the principal’s office.

All Advanced Placement (AP) courses, all Academically Talented Youth Program (ATYP) courses, and college-level KAMSC courses offer weighted grade values. 

ATYP (Academically Talented Youth Program)
ATYP are classes offered in collaboration with Western Michigan University (WMU) to provide an accelerated high school curriculum for students possessing unusually high mathematics and verbal abilities. Classes meet on the campus of WMU for two and a half hours per week (September through June). Students must meet qualifications to be eligible to participate in ATYP. For more information, please contact WMU at (269) 387-3553. Your dean of students can provide you with information regarding scheduling and credits.

Career and Technical Education (CTE)
This program is a county-wide consortium of school districts, KVCC and Kalamazoo/RESA. This program provides career and technical education opportunities, guidance, assessment, and job placement for all participating students. Because of the nature of CTE courses, space is limited. Applications are required for all CTE courses and are available in the Counseling Office.

Credit Retrieval
Students are required to pass all core academic courses. Students who do not successfully pass a course (required for graduation) will have to make up the course either during the regular school day (based on availability) or through alternative means (after-school program, summer school, or a KVCC course) and will have to pay the appropriate tuition and fees (where applicable).  Credit retrieval is available through summer school, Edmentum Courseware, and Kalamazoo Valley Community College.  Each is described below.

  • Summer School  KPS summer school offers students an opportunity to make up credit in core academic courses during the summer. Pertinent information regarding summer school will be made available in May through your guidance counselor or by contacting the Department of Secondary Education at 337-0168. As information becomes available, it will be posted on the Kalamazoo Public School’s website at: www.kalamazoopublicschools.com.
  • Edmentum Courseware  Students have an opportunity to make up credit through Courseware, a computerized credit recovery system. Through Courseware, students work independently in a computer lab to complete an online course and recover credit. The lab is available at each high school during the school year. Interested students should contact their counselor or dean of students for more information. Students who successfully complete a Courseware course will receive credit for the course. However, this format does not fulfill the MDE online learning experience.
  • Kalamazoo Valley Community College (KVCC)  Students must receive approval from the Dean of Students to make up courses at KVCC. Students are responsible for all related costs.

Education for the Arts (EFA)
The mission of this county-wide program is to enhance arts education for all students in the public and private schools of Kalamazoo County making dance, literary arts, media arts, music, theatre and visual arts an essential part of their comprehensive education. EFA offers intensive classes in the arts and is designed to provide especially talented and motivated students, the opportunity to explore their abilities in depth. Weekend and evening classes are available.

Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center 
KAMSC offers a curriculum in accelerated math, science and computer technology to high school students. The center educates the scientific and technical leaders of tomorrow in a nurturing environment focused on the technical and intellectual needs of advanced math and science students. Students attend KAMSC one-half of each school day and take their math, science, and technology courses. All remaining courses are taken at their home school. Acceptance into KAMSC is based upon application, teacher recommendation, results of the OLSAT and a timed impromptu writing activity. Students attending the KAMSC should check with their counselor about deviations from the graduation requirements.

Michigan Virtual University (MVU)**
MVU is an online resource that provides courses taught by certified teachers. Through MVU, students can prepare for tests, take a variety of courses, and learn any place where there is a computer and an internet connection. Students might consider MVU if they want to take a subject that is currently not offered at their high school, need to get around a scheduling conflict, or supplement learning experiences. Each semester of a MVU course is designed to count as a half-credit and credit comes though the high school, not MVU. The cost of required textbooks for MVU courses will be covered by the district. Consult with the dean of students for more information and approval to enroll in MVU. For more information, go to www.mivu.org. 
**Fulfills the MDE online learning requirement and exemption from the College and Career Readiness course (page 29).

Online Learning Options
Students interested in online learning are encouraged to speak to their counselor about available options.

Student Assistance Program
This is a program that has well-trained professionals working toward prevention and intervention strategies for potential difficulties students may experience and for providing help to their families.

Testing Out
Testing out of a class can provide a student the opportunity to move into more challenging advanced classes, including college dual enrollment, at a quicker pace. Students interested in testing out should be self-directed learners capable of demonstrating an understanding of the subject area content expectations in the course for which they wish to test out. 

In some instances, students may test out of either the A or B sections or the entire course. The student must score at least 70% or better on the district designated test in order to test out and receive credit. The testing out credit will appear on the transcript and will count towards the total number of credits needed for graduation. However, the score does not translate into a grade, and is not part of the GPA calculation for any purpose. When considering the test-out option, students need to consider the following: 1) the effect on their GPA calculation (this may mean NOT including a potentially high grade in the GPA); 2) NCAA requirements; and 3) other college admission considerations. See your counselor to inquire about your test-out options, test schedule, and/or to register for an exam.

Three, Four, and Five Year Graduation Plans
The Kalamazoo Public Schools’ high school graduation plan is flexible to meet the unique and varied needs of its students. Students may wish to accelerate their plan by graduating in fewer than four years, or in more than four years, if necessary. For specific details or to vary your plan, please consult with your building’s Dean of Students.