FAQs

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Scottsdale schools allow course changes within the first five days of a semester for only three reasons, as outlined in the district High School Planning Guide (HSPG):

1. A senior needs a course to fulfill a graduation requirement

2. The course was completed in summer school

3. The student did not meet a prerequisite

Counselors are unable to make teacher or period changes. If a student has a concern about a teacher or course, please follow the concern chart and see student suggestions.

Summer school is the preferred option for retaking a class. However, please contact your counselor to discuss additional possibilities. You must receive approval before taking any course outside of SUSD.

• Regular classes are scored on an unweighted 4.0 GPA scale. No summer work is expected.
• Dual Enrollment (DE) classes are college-level courses taught at Chaparral by certified DE instructors.
• Honors classes are scored on a weighted 5.0 GPA scale and are more rigorous than regular courses. Summer work is sometimes required.
• AP (Advanced Placement) classes are also college-level courses and are scored on a weighted 5.0 GPA scale. Summer work is often required. Students have the option to take AP exams in May to earn possible college credit.

ECAP is the Education, Career, Action Plan required by the State of Arizona for all high school graduates. Counselors work with students each year to meet ECAP requirements through Major Clarity. 

Visit StudentVUE/ParentVUE, then select “Course History” and click “Unofficial Transcript.” Current students can access their unofficial transcript at any time.

Chaparral provides a free ACT for all juniors each spring. Students are automatically registered and take the test during the regular school day.

If students wish to take additional ACT or SAT exams, they must register themselves online.
• SAT registration: collegeboard.com/sat
• ACT registration: actstudent.org

Registration takes about 20–30 minutes. For help, please contact the College Board or ACT directly.

Students typically begin college applications at the start of their senior year. Counselors meet with all seniors within the first few weeks of school, as well as with senior parents, to review the college application process.

If you plan to compete as a college athlete, you must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center (Clearinghouse). Please visit www.ncaaclearinghouse.com for more information.

Most scholarship funding comes directly from the colleges and universities students apply to. Once admitted, students can access each school’s scholarship portal to view available opportunities. In addition, Fastweb.com and Scholarships.com are popular scholarship search websites. Please visit our College & Career website for additional scholarship resources and opportunities.

Federal Student Aid, a part of the U.S. Department of Education, is the largest provider of student financial aid in the nation. Students and their families must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and meet eligibility requirements to receive federal student aid. The FAFSA typically opens on October 1 each year and should be completed during a student’s senior year. For more information, please visit www.fafsa.gov.