Academic Planning
- Enrollment
- Graduation Requirements
- Program Planning Guide
- Real World Learning
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Signature Programs
- Dual Credit
Enrollment
Continuing SME Students
Please consult information on our Enrollment Resources page.
Students New-to-East
See the district's Enrollment site first for instructions on first steps to enroll.
Information about transfers can be found on the SMSD Transfer page.
Counseling Secretary Carolyn Cahill will schedule an enrollment appointment with the student's counselor upon receipt of completed enrollment forms and required documentation.
Graduation Requirements
Listed below are the minimum credit requirements to earn a diploma from the Shawnee Mission School District.
Consult the SMSD Program Planning Guide for complete information.
The Shawnee Mission School District as well as the Kansas Board of Regents strongly recommend that to be well-prepared for the academic rigors of post-secondary education students should take additional classes beyond the minimum requirements, particularly in the areas of math and science.
English (4 units)
Social Studies (3 units)
- World Regional Studies (9th grade)
- Social Studies elective (.5 unit) (taken anytime during grades 10-12)
- United States History (11th grade)
- American Government (.5 unit) (12th grade)
Math (3 units)
- College admissions requirements often require a fourth year of math and/or specific math courses for admissions. Check admissions websites of college and universities for details.
Science (3 units)
- Biology
- Physical Science (Physical Science, Chemistry or Physics)
- Science elective
Physical Education (1 unit)
- Students may take any two PE classes to fulfill the 1.0 credit requirement. They repeat any class except the online (virtual) Fitness for Life class, which may be taken only once.
- Foundations of PE is no longer a required course, but students may still take it and it will count as one-half credit toward the PE requirement.
Health (.5 unit)
Financial Literacy (.5 unit)
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May be taken in grades 10-12
Fine Arts (1 unit)
- See list of approved courses in the Program of Studies
Electives (7.5 units)
Total Units Required: 23.5
Program Planning Guide
For complete course descriptions, including grade level, prerequisites, course fees, GPA calculation, and College & Career planning information, see the SMSD Program Planning Guide.
Real World Learning
SME Real World Learning website
SMSD Real World Learning website
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a "unit of credit?"
- How can I check my credits to make sure I'm on track to graduate?
- How can I find my GPA?
- How is my GPA calculated?
- How is a student placed on the Honor Roll?
- How do I know which Honors or AP classes would be right for me?
- How do I know which courses have prerequisites?
- Do I need to take a world language in order to graduate from SME?
- How can I earn college credit during high school?
- Which classes count toward the 1.0 Fine Arts graduation requirement?
What is a "unit of credit?"
A unit of credit represents the equivalent of a year’s work with a passing grade.
A full-year course receives one unit of credit per period.
A semester course receives a half unit of credit per period.
Select courses offered at the Center for Academic Achievement (CAA) and TBD may earn one unit of credit per semester based on a double-block class time schedule.
How can I check my credits to make sure I'm on track to graduate?
How can I find my GPA?
Your GPA is based only on your final grade in each class at the end of each semester.
At the end of the semester the final grade in each class is placed on your transcript and then those grades are calculated in with all of your previous high school semester grades to produce a cumulative gpa.
Your cumulative weighted GPA can be found on Skyward on the Gradebook page (look for the small "GPA" in blue letters to the right of the student's name).
Your transcript includes both your weighted and unweighted GPA. You can get an unofficial copy of your transcript from the SME registrar, Melanie Lowe, between 7:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Complete information can be found in the SMSD Program Planning Guide.
If you have questions about your grades or GPA, contact Mrs. Lowe.
How is my GPA calculated?
See pages 12-14 of the SMSD Program Planning Guide for complete information.
How is a student placed on the Honor Roll?
See pages 12-13 of the SMSD Program Planning Guide for complete information.
How do I know which Honors or AP classes would be right for me?
How do I know which courses have prerequisites?
The SMSD Program of Studies includes a complete description of every course offered, including its grade level and any prerequisites.
Do I need to take a world language in order to graduate from SME?
World Language credit is not required for graduation from SME and it is also not required for admission to a state university in Kansas.
However, it is recommended for college preparation, and many other colleges and universities in the U.S. recommend or require two-to-four years of world language for admission. (For example, U of Missouri-Columbia requires two years.)
Students can also earn a Seal of Biliteracy, which is added to a their SME transcript and can benefit them in their chosen college major or in a future career.
See KU's Foreign Language placement policy as an example and check individual college websites you're applying to for details on their requirements and placement policies.
How can I earn college credit during high school?
See pages 19-25 of the SMSD Program Planning Guide or contact Real World Learning Counselor Jodee Merriman, jodeemerriman@smsd.org.
Which classes count toward the 1.0 Fine Arts graduation requirement?
All Visual Arts and Performing Arts courses apply toward the fine arts graduation requirement.
Students may also earn their required Fine Arts graduation credit by taking certain courses in Business, Family and Consumer Science, Industrial Technology, English Language Arts/Digital Media, and some Signature Program courses at the Center for Academic Achievement.
A complete list of all courses that count toward the Fine Arts graduation requirement can be found in the SMSD Program Planning Guide.
Signature Programs
Dual Credit
Dual credit, or concurrent credit, is college credit that is earned concurrently with high school course credit in a particular class.
There are two main ways to earn dual credit: College Now, through Johnson County Community College (JCCC) and taking Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses and tests.
The type and amount of college credit awarded by a particular college or university varies widely. Students are encouraged to check the websites of colleges they're interested in to determine what type of credit they might earn from College Now and AP & IB courses.
For more information, contact SME Real World Learning Counselor Jodee Merriman, jodeemerriman@smsd.org.
College Now (JCCC)
Advanced Placement (AP)
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Any course offered at SME with "AP" in its title is an Advanced Placement course. See the College Board for more information about the benefits of taking AP courses and deciding which AP courses may be right for you.
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Taking an AP course in high school does not automatically earn college credit. Schools award credit based on the score you earn on the AP test, which is taken in May and scored from 1 to 5.
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The type and amount of credit awarded varies tremendously from state to state and school to school. It also depends on what you are majoring in and the type of courses a particular program or major requires.
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Use the College Board's credit policy search tool to find colleges and universities that offer credit or placement for AP scores.