Academics

We don't believe in a limit to academic excellence. To meet the needs of our excelling students, we offer a variety of AP classes. The College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) courses are college-level courses in a wide variety of subjects that you can take while still at SRRHS. The rigor and workload in each of these classes is intended to be greater than that of some of our required courses. As a result, grades for each of these courses are weighted and do have an effect on students’ GPA’s. The AP exams are given each spring and students may be granted college credit based on qualifying scores.

This is an opportunity for students to be introduced to a higher level of education with the added support of our staff. We encourage students that want or need accelerated education opportunities to ask their counselor about AP classes and how to become involved with them. Please see here for more information on the AP program. Visit our Courses & Registration Guide page for AP courses offered at SRRHS. 

With the completion of Articulated College Credit (ACC) courses, students may be eligible for credit at the St. Cloud Technical and Community College. 

ACC courses can be found in the following departments:

• Business and Marketing
• Family and Consumer Sciences
• Industrial Technology
• Language Arts
• Science

ACC student data is collected for the purpose of issuing ACC and used by secondary and post-secondary institutions for reporting program effectiveness.  Any public reports are in aggregate form and protect student identity. See the list of courses available for ACC credit here. 

The Senior-to-Sophomore Program (S2S) is St. Cloud State University’s concurrent enrollment program. S2S is a partnership between SRRHS (and other participating high schools) and the university which allows eligible high school students to enroll in introductory college-level courses in their high schools. Courses are facilitated on a day-to-day basis by the local high school teacher. The integrity of the university course content is maintained through direct involvement with a SCSU faculty member. 

General requirements are:

• Seniors: Rank in top 50% of class and pass any necessary placement tests
• Juniors: Rank in top 33% of class and pass any necessary placement tests
• Sophomores: Rank in top 10% of class and pass any necessary placement tests

These standards may change based on specific course requirements from the university.  

See here for more information on the S2S program. 

There are three programs available that enable some seniors to be on a cooperative work program. They are in Agriculture, Culinary and Marketing Education. Students registering for work programs must meet the following requirements:

1. Prior approval from the instructor
2. Sufficient credits for timely graduation. (Check with your counselor if you are uncertain about your total credits.)

See the appropriate section of this registration book for details. Students working through these programs are only eligible for one work program credit per trimester.

Independent Study (IS) courses are opportunities for students to expand their educational programs. These courses are taught voluntarily by licensed staff and must be accepted by the instructor and approved through the counseling office and administration. 

Interested students must be either a junior or senior in good academic standing and have a GPA of 2.5 with B's or better in the department of the IS. They must complete a contract form and have it approved prior to the start of the trimester. They are allowed only one IS course in a trimester. 

Independent Studies may be approved for the following course options: 

• Advanced course of study that is not available in our current curriculum 
• Current course offering that is impossible to fit into a student's schedule 

These courses are designed to be rigorous, and students will earn a graded credit upon completion of all course requirements. 

All students do not learn the same way, and we want to help all types of students achieve success. Our STEPS program provides alternative learning designed to assist juniors and seniors with educational needs that cannot be met within the traditional high school program. These students receive extra support through smaller class sizes and individualized student learning. We encourage students to work at their own pace to educational success. 

STEPS is an over 16 alternative program designed to assist juniors and seniors with educational needs that cannot be met within the traditional high school setting. Smaller class sizes and individualized learning plans are used to help students recover credits and graduate. Coursework in this program is primarily delivered digitally. Students can combine STEPS coursework with Mainstream classes through attending a morning or afternoon STEPS block and filling in schedules with other Mainstream courses. Recommendations for student placement are made through the student’s Counselor and will be reviewed by the SIRG (Student Intervention Resource Group) Committee.

Retention for the STEPS program is based on:

• Attendance (seven  absences or less per Trimester)
• Being Respectful (to Self and Others)
• Being Chemically Free (Chemical use tests are a mandatory part of the program)
• Making Continued Minimum Progress towards credit recovery and graduation (a credit a month on Apex, our online learning system).

Students may petition Sauk Rapids-Rice High School for permission to complete their high school course of study prior to the normal graduation date if they have completed the requirements for graduation. The student will not receive a diploma until his or her class has graduated. Sauk Rapids-Rice High School will, however, certify completion of studies when requested to do so. Students petitioning for early graduation will not be able to participate in extracurricular activities during trimester 3.  Forms for requesting early graduation are available from your counselor. All forms must be completed and returned to your counselor by the end of your junior year.  Students interested in early graduation should register for 10 credits and early graduation.

The Sauk Rapids-Rice Compass program focuses on providing extra support for high school students. This blended alternative educational program is designed to support successful transitions with a focus on career and college readiness. In this program, students experience a more structured and supported setting with multiple services offered to fit their needs. Students also have the opportunity to connect to mentors and community partners to support their personal and educational goals.

The overall goal for Compass Program is for students to return to a mainstream education program with the skills necessary for success. Staff will select students who they believe could benefit from the program's support and meet the criteria for entrance. We want students to succeed! By providing them with skills in career and college readiness, civic engagement and overall well-being, we give our students opportunities that follow them into the future. Compass staff are here to help students discover, learn and navigate their path to success. 

Download a Printable Outline and Agreement Form

To learn more contact:

Emily Peterson

COMPASS PROGRAM PROJECT MANAGER
AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS TEACHER 

emily.peterson@isd47.org

• Earn an Associate Degree in 2 years (and can transfer credits to a 4-year college or university)
• Offer career programs leading to a job
• Open admissions policy (i.e., students with a high school diploma can enroll)
• Do not need to take ACT or SAT (need to take a placement exam once accepted, however)

Examples: Central Lakes (Brainerd) Community College; St. Cloud Technical and Community College; others

• Offer programs leading to bachelors, masters and/or advanced degrees.
• Some four-year schools have traditional admission policy (i.e., a student needs to complete college preparatory curriculum and be in the upper half of the class), while other schools are more selective (see Minnesota Career Information Systems for more information regarding requirements for specific colleges/universities)
• Need to take a college entrance exam (ACT or SAT) college prep curriculum for new entering freshman at Minnesota state colleges and universities
  • Four years of language arts
  • Three years of mathematics (including algebra, geometry, and advanced algebra)
  • Three years of science
  • Three years of social studies (including geography)
  • Two years of a single world language
  • One year of art (art; music; graphics; others)
  • ****Note: U of M requirements:  Applicants must have a fourth year of mathematics.

Examples: St. Cloud State University; University of Minnesota; others
 

• Offer programs leading to bachelors, masters, and advanced degrees
• Need to take a college entrance exam (ACT or SAT)
• Admission policies vary; View college/university websites or see your counselor for specific admission requirements
• College prep curriculum similar to that of four-year public colleges/universities

Examples: The College of Saint Benedict’; Saint John’s University; others    

The focus of these schools is on the development of job skills with training programs that range from a few months to two years in fields like business, technology, cosmetology, and others. 

• Offer programs leading to a degree, diploma or certificate
• Do not need to take ACT or SAT
• Note: Not all credits earned at private career schools may transfer to 4-year colleges/universities

Examples: Rasmussen College; Model College of Hair Design; others

• Opportunity to serve the country, obtain job training, pursue college course work, and obtain tuition assistance while exploring the world
• Must be a high school graduate
• Must obtain qualifying scores on the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery)
• Recruiters are available to answer questions (See Schoology for scheduled dates/times)

If you are a male ages 18-25 and living in the United States it is your legal requirement to register with the Selective Service. You can register at any United States Post Office or online here. 

Any student-athlete planning to participate in college athletics must register with the NCAA Clearinghouse.  Students must have their ACT scores sent directly to the clearinghouse by entering code 9999 on their ACT registration.  In addition, any student who wants to compete in Division I or II athletics must have taken NCAA-approved curriculum in high school.  Please make sure you meet the requirements!  Register and see a list of approved courses for Sauk Rapids-Rice High School here.

Students are able to take college-level, nonsectarian courses at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School, on the campus of the postsecondary institution and potentially online. Each participating college or university sets its own requirements for enrollment into PSEO courses. Eleventh- 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 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. Students must meet the PSEO residency and eligibility requirements and abide by participation limits specified in Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.09. If a school district determines a pupil is not on track to graduate, she/he may continue to participate in PSEO. Funds are available to help pay transportation expenses for qualifying students to participate in PSEO courses on college campuses. Schools must provide information to all students in grades 8-11 and their families by March 1, every year. Students must notify their school by May 30 if they want to participate in PSEO for the following school year. For current information about the PSEO program, visit the Minnesota Department of Education’s Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) webpage.

Registration Requirement

Students interested in the program must register for 15 credits and circle PSEO on their registration forms to indicate an intent to participate.  Because St. Cloud State University and St. Cloud Technical and Community College are on semesters and we are on trimesters, it is required that students commit themselves to the program for the entire year.

Students must notify the district/school of their intent to participate in PSEO by May 30 for the upcoming school year.

Parent Meeting 

The student and parent must attend a mandatory SRRHS PSEO meeting that is held each spring. Watch the SRRHS announcements for the date and time of the meeting. 

Complete Forms 

The student will need to complete and sign the appropriate forms. Applications are time-sensitive. There are strict deadlines that need to be followed. 

Meet with Post-Secondary Institution 

Meet with the admissions staff from your chosen PSEO institution. Additional forms may be required by the post-secondary institution. The post-secondary institution determines whether or not you are accepted. 

Any eleventh- or twelfth-grade student may enroll either full-time or part-time in nonsectarian courses or programs at an eligible post-secondary institution. Tenth graders may take one career/technical PSEO course.

While enrolled in PSEO, you may register for one or more classes.  However, you  cannot attend high school full-time and participate in this program. Students receive both high school and post-secondary credit.

It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all Sauk Rapids-Rice High School graduation requirements are met.

St. Cloud State University (SCSU)

Twelfth-grade students must rank in the top 50% of their class or have an ACT of 25 or higher.

Eleventh-grade students must rank in the top 33% of their class or have an ACT of 25 or higher. 

St. Cloud Technical & Community College (SCTCC) 

Open admissions. Minimum scores on the Accuplacer exam are required.