Academic Planning

Academic planning helps students set and achieve their educational goals. OHS counselors assist students in selecting appropriate courses to meet graduation requirements and align with academic and career goals. They consider factors like prerequisites, graduation credits, and the rigor of coursework to ensure students reach their full potential and are adequately prepared for the next steps in their education or careers.

School counselors strive to deliver a proactive and personalized comprehensive curriculum to all students through classroom meetings, small group seminars and individual student/counselor meetings. Over a student’s four years at OHS, counselors serve as partners, advisors and advocates, helping each student to accomplish their academic goals. This includes the following:

Create and implement a four-year college readiness plan
Set and meet academic and personal goals and help work through challenges
Take time to reflect on ability, personality, and strengths and match those to post-secondary and career plans
Prepare for personal and academic success during and after high school
Build a target list of colleges that are a strong fit for each student and guide students through the application process

Graduation Requirements & Course Registration

Graduation Requirements
Course Registration

Graduation Requirements

To take full advantage of the educational opportunities offered at Orono High School, all students are required to register for seven courses. Students in grades 9-11 may elect to take no more than one study hall per semester as part of their seven courses. Seniors may elect to take no more than two study halls per semester as part of their seven courses. Students must earn 24 credits across several areas of discipline to graduate.

Academic Area	Credits
English	4
Social Studies	3.5
Mathematics	3
Science	3
Physical Education	0.5
Health	0.5
Fine/Performing Arts	1
Electives	8.5
Total	24.0

Course Registration

School counselors will meet with students during Spartan Hour grade-level meetings to review graduation requirements and provide feedback so that students can engage in thoughtful course planning to challenge themselves, pursue their passions, and create a four year plan that prepares them for college.

Students will have access to all registration materials in their Counseling Schoology course.

View the current OHS Course Catalog & Registration Guide.

Curricular Options

Honors Courses

Honors classes generally refer to higher-level courses that cover more material at a faster pace than regular classes. Honors classes may prepare students for the rigor of an Advanced Placement course in the same subject area. Some honors courses have prerequisites and require teacher recommendation to register. Please see the current course registration guide for honors courses in math, science, and world language.

Advanced Placement Courses

Orono High School offers more than 20 Advanced Placement (AP) courses are available to students who want to challenge themselves to grow academically. Students may earn college credit for these courses based on their score on AP exams taken in the spring. "AP for all" is a motto at OHS as it is the hope and expectation that all students will take at least one AP course during their four years in high school. Please review the current course registration guide for a list of AP courses.

Why AP?

Strengthen College Applications: The first and most important thing that college admission representatives consider when reviewing a student's application is the rigor of their coursework and the grades earned in in those courses. Schools want to see challenging courses that will help you grow academically. Taking an AP course and earning a passing score shows colleges that you are ready for the rigor of college.

AP Scholars Program: The AP Program offers several AP Scholar Awards to recognize high school students who have demonstrated college-level achievement through AP courses and exams. This achievement is acknowledged on their AP score report that is sent to colleges in the fall. In addition students are able to note this accomplishment on their college applications and resume. Many states and high schools recognize students’ achievements via press releases and various awards ceremonies.

Receive Credit for Learning: Students earning a qualifying score on an AP exam may be able to place out of introductory coursework and move into advanced studies in college. Additionally, students may be able to meet general requirements allowing them to pursue a second major or minor.

Earn College Credit: Students who perform well on AP exams may qualify to earn college credit. See "AP Credit Policy" in the table, below.

Register for 2024 AP Exams	AP Exams will be administered in schools the first two weeks in May 2024. Students taking AP exams at Orono High School must register and pay for exams between September 5-November 1, 2023 to avoid late fees. The late registration window is November 2-10, 2023. OHS will assign a late registration fee of $10 per exam. In addition, the College Board assigns a late exam ordering fee of $40 to each exam ordered after November 15. The 2024 AP exam fee is $75. Fee assistance is available and can be requested during the registration process. Waitlist Registration is November 11, 2023 - March 10, 2024 Register for AP Exams
2024 AP Exam Calendar	Please visit the College Board website for the 2024 AP Exam Calendar
Exam Terms & Conditions	Review the College Board's Exam Policies and Guidelines that all test takers are expected to follow
AP Credit Policy	Use the College Board's AP Credit Policy tool to find colleges that offer credit or placement for AP scores.
AP Student Website	Students are encouraged to visit the College Board's AP Students website for the most up-to-date information about AP Testing and resources. Short, searchable videos, created by AP teachers from across the country, are also available for all AP courses and cover the content and skills you’re studying in class. All students who join an AP class section (including an exam-only section) can watch them in AP Classroom anytime, from any device with internet access.

Project Lead the Way (Pre-Engineering)

The Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Innovation Zone (aka, the classroom) is an engaging and thought-provoking place where students develop critical thinking skills through hands-on, project-based learning, preparing them to take on real-world challenges. Students have the opportunity to create, design and build things like robots and cars, applying what they are learning in math and science to the world’s grand challenges.

PLTW’s comprehensive curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, creativity, innovation, and real-world problem solving. The hands-on, project-based program engages students on multiple levels, exposes them to subjects that they typically would not pursue, provides them with a strong foundation for achieving their academic goals in any chosen field of study, and establishes a proven path to college and career success in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) related industries.

Orono High School offers four PLTW courses. Please see the current course registration guide for course descriptions.

Introduction to Engineering Design (IED)
Principles of Engineering (POE)
Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM)
Engineering Design and Development (EDD)

Post-secondary Enrollment Option (PSEO)

Pathways at Hennepin Technical College

Did You Know?

In 2023, 172 OHS students were named AP Scholars!

Approximately 80% of Orono Students take one or more honors, enriched, AP, or dual enrollment courses as part of their four-year plan.

66% of the Class of 2023 passed at least one AP exam before graduating.

Student Milestone Checklists

We have identified important milestones the best prepare high school students for the college selection and application process. School counselors will be working with students in classrooms, in small group seminars, and in one-on-one meetings to help and assist in this important process.This college planning calendar and checklist by grade will help families and students stay on track.

Freshmen

Students in the ninth grade are adjusting to high school. It's a big step and the school counseling office staff is here to help ensure a smooth transition to OHS for every student.

9th Grade Checklist:

Keep grades up and study hard.
Join at least one sport/club or organization.
Stay organized and on top of homework - check StudentVue.
Review 4-year college readiness course plan with school counselor.
Scheduled counselor meetings: each school counselor will meet with 9th grade students throughout the year in small groups, classrooms, and individual meetings.

Most of all, 9th grade is a time to not just work hard and keep grades up, but to get involved, make new friends and have fun.

Sophomores

10th Grade Checklist:

September

Make sure your are taking challenging courses and are prepared and organized to do well in those courses.
Keep a record of your co-curricular involvement, volunteer work, and employment (all year) in MaiaLearning. Remember the level of involvement and accomplishment is most important, not the number of activities.

October

Take the PACT (practice ACT) in school October/November. The results will not be used for college admission, but to analyze college readiness.

November

Complete “Personality Test" assignment in MaiaLearning for English Class. Counselors will be in classrooms to present the assignment and how to use this personality assessment to help guide you towards career choices and possible majors and college choices.

December

Meet in small groups with your school counselor to review “Personality Test” assignment and PACT results. Explore future courses that fit your areas interest/ personality as well as ways to improve on future standardized tests and courses to discuss which may be required or beneficial for your post-high school plans.

January

Keep studying! Get ready for finals. See academic support if you need it.
Volunteer-a great way to identify your interests and to develop skills.

February

Register for junior year classes. Use information from December school counselor meetings to register for appropriate courses. Try taking an AP course if you have not already.
It is never too early to start researching the colleges and universities you talked about with your school counselor. Visit the College & Career Center off the media center. Have trained volunteers help you to browse through literature and guidebooks or surf the Web and check out college and university home pages.

April/May

If you are taking any AP Courses, see your school counselor for advice on SAT Subject tests.
Plan now for wise use of your summer. Consider taking a summer course or participating in a special program (e.g., for prospective engineers or journalists or for those interested in theatre or music) at a local college or community college. Consider working or volunteering.

Summer

If you work, save some of your earnings for college.
If you travel, visit a college campus. Try visiting a small, medium and large college campus to see size which you prefer.
Make your summer productive. Continue reading to increase your vocabulary.

Juniors

Junior year is a big year of college prep! Students prepare for the College Fair. Begin college selection process. Attend college fairs, financial aid seminars, general information sessions, etc., to learn as much as you can about the college application process.

September/October

Attend college visits at the OHS College & Career Center for colleges in which you have interest. Follow us on social media to keep up to date with the calendar. @oronocounselor
Register for the PSAT in the school counseling office.
Prepare for the National College Fair in early Fall. School Counselors will be in your English classrooms to talk to you about the college search process, how to determine fit, and how to make the best use of the college fair. Be sure to bring a parent note 3 days prior to be excused from school!
Take to 10-12 colleges of interest at the National College Fair.
Take the PSAT in school in October/November.
Make sure you are meeting NCAA requirements if you want to play Division I or II sports in college.

November

Grades are extremely important in the college admission process. They are a measure of how well you do in advanced, upper-level courses. So put in the extra effort to keep your grades up!

December

Receive the results of your PSAT. Read your score report and consult your counselor to determine how you might improve on future standardized tests.
Register for the February ACT.

January

Research colleges. Use the internet or College and Career Center resources to find places of interest.
Meet with your school counselor to review your courses for this year and plan your schedule for senior year.

February/March

Meet with your school counselor to discuss your preliminary list of colleges. Discuss whether your initial list of colleges meets your needs and interests (academic program, size, location, cost, etc.) and whether you are considering colleges where you are likely to be admitted. You should be optimistic and realistic when applying to colleges.
Signing up for a prep course, using computer software, or doing the SAT/ACT practice tests available in the counseling office or at bookstores. But don't spend so much time trying to improve standardized test scores that grades and co-curricular involvement suffer.

April

If you are in AP level courses, talk to your counselor about SAT Subject tests. Register for the May SAT Reasoning Test.
Continue to evaluate your list of colleges.
Look into summer jobs or apply for special summer academic or enrichment programs. Colleges love to see students using their knowledge and developing their skills and interests.

May

Begin visiting colleges. Set up visits and interviews if possible. Many colleges will tell you they are optional, but an interview will show interest, enthusiasm and initiative on your part and provide an excellent opportunity to have your questions answered. Do a practice interview with your counselor, teacher, employer, or a senior who has had practice. Interview times can book quickly so set them up as early as possible.
Take the SAT Reasoning Test or the SAT Subject Tests.

Summer

Visit colleges, take tours, and talk to current students. Although it is ideal to visit colleges during the academic year, going in the summer will be valuable. Make college visits a family event. Involve your parents and siblings in every step of your application process. Choosing the right college is a tough decision; the opinions of those who know you best can provide helpful insight into which college is best for you.

August

Being preparing for the application process. Begin drafting essays, collecting writing samples, assemble portfolios or audition tapes.
If you are an athlete and plan on playing in college, contact the coaches at the schools to which you are applying and ask about intercollegiate and intramural sports programs and athletic scholarships. Complete the NCAA Initial- Eligibility Clearinghouse form if you hope to play Division I or II sports. This form cannot be mailed until you finish your sixth semester of high school.

Seniors

September

Counselors meet with seniors in their English courses during the second week of school to review the college application process.
Make an appointment with your counselor to be sure your list includes colleges appropriate to your academic and personal record. Review your transcript and co-curricular records with your family and counselor.
Senior Parent College Night
Arrange for letters of recommendation - give recommendation requests to teachers 4 weeks prior if required.
If counselor needs to complete a written recommendation letter, complete Counselor Brag Sheet (can be found in School Counselor Schoology course).
Parents complete Optional Parent Input Questionnaire (In School Counselor Schoology course).
Attend college visits to OHS.
Attend the National College Fair.

October

Plan Visits to Colleges of interest over MEA.
Meet with counselor as needed.
Arrange for you ACT and SAT scores to be sent to colleges--scores must be sent directly from ACT and SAT. The high school does not send out scores. Be sure to send your best score only.
Some private universities may require you to register for CSS/Financial Aid Profile at this time.
Work on essays in English class and activity resume. These will be finished mid-October in class.
Attend the OHS Financial Aid Night.

November

November 1 is deadline for military academy applications and some ROTC programs.
Check MaiaLearning for Application deadlines.
November 1 and 15 - deadlines for some Early Decision and/or Early Action Applications.
November 1 is Priority DEADLINE for the University of Minnesota applications.
Register for last chance ACT.
Continue to submit applications as completed--most applications completed by the end of the month.
Investigate scholarship opportunities – many deadlines are happening now.

January

Some schools will also ask student to complete CSS/Financial Aid Profile (before February 15th if possible).
First semester transcripts sent to colleges.

February

Remember to get university/college housing requests in as soon as possible

March

Local scholarship information available (late March)

April

Colleges reply. If you are waitlisted at a school, be sure to see your counselor.
Visit college campuses to help make college visits and final decisions.
Meet with counselor, if needed, to discuss options.
Applications due for local scholarships to the counseling office Early April.
Thank the teacher(s) who wrote your college recommendation letters and let them know the results.

May

Students reply to colleges--May 1 is final reply date for most schools. (Make sure you return housing contracts and pay fees by deadline.)
Notify the other schools that you will not be attending.
Final check with counselor.
AP exams - early May.
Senior Survey: Post-Secondary Plans (Arrange for final transcript to be sent to student's school of choice)
Local Scholarship Awards

June

Commencement!
Start planning for college. Remember it is not as much where you go to college, as what you do when you get there.

Study Habits for All Students

Try not to do too much studying at one time.
Plan specific times for studying.
Try to study at the same times each day.
Set specific goals for studying.
Start studying when planned.
Work on the assignment that you find the most challenging first.
Review your notes before beginning an assignment.
Avoid social media distraction during study times.
Call another student when you have difficulty with an assignment.
Review your schoolwork over the weekend.

torch graphic that says orono public schools

Quick Links

Course Catalog/Registration Guide

Post-High-School Planning Guide

MaiaLearning

Transcripts

Transcript How-to's

Current Seniors:

Pay the Transcript Fee in MPP under "Activities." Seniors, there is a $40 senior fee that will cover the costs to send all official transcripts for your college applications, mid-year reports, final transcripts and scholarship transcripts. Please visit MyPaymentsPlus. You can pay the transcript fee under "Activities."
Sign in to MaiaLearning to request a transcrpt. Once this fee is paid, sign on to your MaiaLearning account. Once you add a college to your list of "Applying List" under the "Universities" tab and choose the appropriate deadline dates, select "request transcript" when you are ready for us to submit. We will send your transcript to the college once the transcript and letters of recommendation are all ready to go. For special requests (e.g., international destinations or rank requests), please visit the High School School Counseling Office.

Alumni:

Requests may be submitted by one of the following methods:

U.S. Mail: Orono School Counseling Office, 795 Old Crystal Bay Road, Long Lake, MN 55356
Email susan.mccabe@orono.k12.mn.us and drop off the $7 fee (per transcript) to the OHS School Counseling Office
Visit the OHS School Counseling Office in person

All Requests Must Include:

A written and signed request that includes your name at the time of graduation, date of birth, graduation year, name/s and address/es of the institution/s to which you would like the transcript/s sent, and your phone number or email address.
$7.00 (per transcript, cash or check made payable to OHS).

OHS Profile

Tutoring

There are many tutoring options available in our area:

Orono Community Education

CE offers individual tutoring services before/after school on campus. Families can request tutors for specific areas of need. Please call 952-449-8350 or visit the Community Education Youth Academic Programs webpage for more information.

OHS Peer Tutors

Orono High School maintains a list of peer tutors available to help students in specific academic areas. Please contact your School Counselor for more information.

Community Resources

There are also a variety of tutoring options available in the community. Fees and areas of focus vary by provider. Formats include one-on-one, small group, large classroom, online interactive, on site, in-home and any combination of these. Areas of focus might include: specific academic areas, general study skills, and/or test preparation. We do not endorse one individual/organization over another, and there are many good sources in our area.

Spartan Hour

This is a 40-minute period held every Tuesday and Thursday between first and second periods that gives students the opportunity to form relationships with peers and teachers, access teachers for extra help, make up tests, and collaborate with other students on group projects.

How it works

Students report to their Spartan Hour teachers for attendance purposes at the start of each Spartan Hour. After checking in with that teacher, students that have a pass from another teacher will be able to go to that teacher's room for a specific instructional purpose. Each Spartan Hour class consists of students from the same grade level, assigned proportionally by last name. Each Spartan Hour group remains intact throughout a student's high school experience, encouraging the development of new relationships.

This structure was devised to also provide new opportunities to monitor student progress and provide academic interventions or extensions more uniformly.

Contact

Shana Borgen, School Counselor
(Last Names A-Ha)
shana.borgen@orono.k12.mn.us
952-449-8411

Kathryn Haagenson, School Counselor
(Last Names He-N)
kathryn.haagenson@orono.k12.mn.us
952-449-8410

Lauren Handrick, School Counselor
(Last Names O-Z)
lauren.handrick@orono.k12.mn.us
952-449-8422

Marie Techam, School Social Worker
marie.techam@orono.k12.mn.us

Ericka Ronnings, School Psychologist
ericka.ronnings@orono.k12.mn.us

Brandy Randall, Gifted & Talented
brandy.randall@orono.k12.mn.us

Susan McCabe, Transcripts
susan.mccabe@orono.k12.mn.us

Kristin Palm, Registrar
kristin.palm@orono.k12.mn.us