Counseling FAQ's
How does a student get to see his/her school counselor?
Students can come to the counseling office to see their counselors on a walk-in basis during lunch, before and after school. They can make appointments to see their counselors during these hours with Mrs. Goltz, the counseling assistant.
How does a student get ready for college?
The best way to get ready for college is to take the most rigorous program available in high school. Assistance with college selection is available from a student’s counselor. Computer college searches, career searches, and financial aid information are available in the College/Career Center. Help is available through our College Tracks Program as well.
What help is available to help students pay for college?
Information on sources of financial aid and scholarship information are available in the College/Career Center. The school counselors, the College/Career Coordinator and College Tracks are available to assist students in the search for financial aid.
How does a student make a schedule change?
Each winter students have the opportunity to select their classes for the following year. Students and counselors meet to discuss course selections. Students can make changes in their course selections until July 15th. After that date, there will be no course selection changes except for those instances when a student:
- Failed a prerequisite course and cannot continue in that course
- Attended summer school and can advance in sequence
- Registered for the wrong level, i.e. should be in French III and is incorrectly scheduled in French I.
During the first two weeks of a semester, students who desire a schedule change for one of the above reasons may come to see their counselor. Students are encouraged to add rigor of their program and to meet with their counselors for assistance in finding additional supports where necessary.
What can a student do if he or she is not doing well in a class?
Teachers are available during lunch and after school to help students. Students are asked to let teachers know they would like to meet with them, and they can schedule an agreed upon time.
The Time for Academic Progress (TAP) program is an after-school support program.
Math, English and Science teachers are available in these classrooms(Math C 213/English A311/Science B313) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 2:15 to 3:15.
They will help students in all levels.
The National Honor Society also provides tutors every Thursday during lunch in Counseling and in Room B226.
How can parents monitor a student's progress?
The school and MCPS Calendar lists the end of the marking period, distribution of interim reports, and distribution of report cards http://mcps.k12.md.us/info/calendars/
The purpose of the interim/ progress report is to inform parents about their child's academic progress in each subject area. The interims/progress reports are mailed out to all students at the midpoint of each of the four marking periods. As always, parents are encouraged to contact teachers with questions and concerns regarding their child's performance.
In addition, starting with the 2006-07 school year, B-CC parents and students have electronic access to information about students' academic progress. Edline, a component of MCPS' Online Achievement and Reporting System (OARS), is a Web-based classroom-to-home communication tool that allows parents/guardians and students to monitor students’ classroom performance online and to communicate with teachers. Grade book information such as individual assignment and assessment (class quizzes and tests) scores, and current course grades will be available for each class. For more information and login instructions on Edline. please go to the Edline webpage.
Teachers are available via e-mail. Teachers’ e-mail addresses are available in the student handbook. They can also be found here...Staff Email
Counselors are also available by phone or e-mail. Contact your child’s counselor to discuss your concerns.
How do students register for summer school?
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) offers high school courses at four schools . The MCPS summer school web site describes courses available, registration processes, and other information at: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/extendedhours/summerschool/
Summer school schedules are available in the Counseling Department, usually in May. Registration occurs through June, and summer school begins in late June/early July. Students may take two semesters of summer school earning a maximum of one credit. Courses failed during the year may need to be repeated in summer school. Students should consult with their counselor about course selection. Forms for summer school are available on the Counseling Home Page.
Many students take summer school to fulfill prerequisites or to allow them the opportunity to explore electives during the regular school year.
B-CC High School often offers Health Education for one semester during the summer.
How do students register for High School Plus?
Students should consult with their counselor about course selection.
What are things students should be doing each year to be ready for graduation?
Can a student receive high school credit for courses taken in middle school?
The awarding of high school credit while in middle school began with students entering Grade 9 in September 1997 and graduating in the class of 2001. Credit will be awarded after a middle school student has passed the final examination, passed the course, and successfully completed a higher level of the course sequence in high school. Questions should be directed to a student's guidance counselor.
MCPS Regulation ISB-RA,High School Graduation Requirements
What is a Certificate of Merit?
In addition to the Maryland High School diploma, students who meet the following requirements may be awarded the MCPS High School Certificate of Merit:
- At least 12 credits must be earned in advanced courses identified by MCPS as applicable to the Certificate of Merit.
- Students must obtain at least a 3.0 unweighted cumulative grade point average. All courses counted toward the Certificate of Merit must be taken for a letter grade.
What is the Student Service Learning Requirement?
Maryland State Department of Education graduation requirements contain a student service learning (SSL) component. MCPS students are required to complete a minimum of 75 SSL hours.
Middle school students complete 30 SSL hours through the infusion of service learning experiences in the middle school curriculum.
New students enrolling in MCPS as second semester juniors are required to accumulate 15 SSL hours; those enrolling anytime during the senior year are required to complete 10 SSL hours.
All documented SSL hours from any school system will be accepted toward the MCPS graduation requirement.
Students who earn 260 or more SSL hours are eligible to receive a certificate of Meritorious Service.
Hours may be accumulated through the following:
- Curriculum - Courses with service learning outcomes and activities are identified in the course descriptions. Students may earn all, part, or none of the identified hours based upon evidence of attainment of the service learning outcomes for the course.
- Co-curricular - A list of approved school activities and organizations that include SSL is available in schools.
- Community Organizations - Students may complete SSL hours through activities offered by approved organizations outside the school setting and day. The MCPS listing of approved organizations is available to students in media centers, career centers, and guidance offices, from the SSL coordinator, James Tapley by e-mail, and at http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/siteHead.asp?page=/mc/services/volunteer/index.html
- Special Student Service Activities - A student must present a written proposal for approval to the school service learning coordinator before performing service learning activities not approved as described above.
Verification of service is required for hours earned through co-curricular activities, community organizations, and special activities.
Visit the B-CC SSL web page Questions should be directed to the SSL coordinator, James Tapley .
For more information see:
- The MCPS Student Service Learning web page at: http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/departments/pupilservices/studentservicelearning/index.htm
- Montgomery County Volunteer Student Service Learning web page at: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/siteHead.asp?page=/mc/services/volunteer/index.html
How is grade point average computed?
All semester grades (A-E) appear on the transcript and are used in determining the cumulative grade point average (GPA) and the cumulative weighted grade point average (WGPA) in accordance with the procedures set forth in MCPS Regulation IKC-RA, which can be read/downloaded from http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/departments/policy/pdf/ikcra.pdf An additional quality point is added to grades of "A" and "B" in all honors courses and to a grade of "C" in advanced placement and advanced level courses to determine WGPA. MCPS does not rank students.
How does a student obtain Age of Majority?
Age of Majority can be requested whenever a student has attained 18 years of age or is married; the permission or consent required of and the rights accorded to the parents of the student shall thereafter be required of and accorded to the student.
Forms to obtain Age of Majority are available in the Counseling Department and students may request this form when they reach age 18.
How many Advanced Placement classes should a student take?
Students should consider the increased time needed to successfully handle the rigor of AP courses, and not select more AP courses than they can realistically handle. AP courses are college level courses. AP Exams are given during the second week of May. Fee waivers and other assistance are available at B-CC if families experience hardship in paying for these exams. Students who score well on the exams are able to earn college credit for AP courses. See http://www.collegeboard.com/ap/students/index.html
It is the responsibility of the student to contact the College Board @ www.collegeboard.com to have the credit from the AP exams added to their college transcript.
How can a student obtain a work permit?
Work permits may be obtained from the secretary in the counseling department. A work permit is needed for each job held by a student until they reach the age of 18. Students should have the promise of a job before requesting a work permit.
http://www.dllr.state.md.us/labor/wages/empm.shtml
If a student fails courses for the year, is he or she retained?
MCPS Graduation Credits At A Glance
Students are promoted to the next grade based on the total number of credits earned.
To be promoted to 10th grade, students must have 5 credits.
To be promoted to 11th grade, students must have 10 credits.
To be promoted to 12th grade, students must have 15 credits.