Academic Advising
Academic Advising and Course Selection
From January 29 to March 14, students, teachers, parents, and counselors will work together to choose courses that align with each student's personal interests, career goals, and post-secondary aspirations as well as reflect the high expectations we have for all Titans.
Selecting an academic program must be given considerable thought. The Programs of Studies is a comprehensive planning tool that provides a wealth of information about course offerings and graduation requirements that students and families can use to make informed decisions as they plan for success in high school and beyond.
ACPS is committed to ensuring that all Titans graduate with workplace skills, a sense of civic responsibility, and post-secondary plans that align with their interests and goals. The academic advising process is a time for self-reflection as students imagine their futures. Academic advising is a student-centered, collaborative process. Counselors, teachers, administrators, and families work together to support students as they make important decisions. We encourage students and families to ask questions.
As students choose courses, it is important to remind them to consider the following:
- Graduation requirements;
- Career interests and post-secondary goals;
- Personal well-being;
- Balancing exploration with commitment and consistency; and
- Extra-curricular and other commitments that demand students' time and energy.
Academic Advising and Course Selection Process for 2026-2027
All Families
|
DATE |
TIME |
EVENT
|
AUDIENCE |
LOCATIONS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mon. Nov. 24 |
Period 5 |
Advisory Lessons: Naviance Self-Discovery Assessments Naviance and Advisory Lessons for Grades 9-11. Students will complete the AchieveWorks Skills assessment in Naviance. Lessons will be placed on Titan Student Resources, and Counselors’ Canvas pages, and Counselors will email students. |
Rising 10th-12th Students |
Classrooms (Minnie Howard & King Street Campuses) |
|
Mon. Dec. 1 |
Period 5 Advisory |
Academy and Pathway Overview Students will receive information about the Academic Academies and Pathways regarding course offerings related to their interests. Lessons will be placed on Titan Student Resources, and Counselors Canvas pages, and Counselors will email students. |
Rising 10th Graders |
Classrooms (Minnie Howard & King Street Campuses) |
|
Mon. Dec. 1 |
Parent Square Email |
Email communication via Parent Square outlining the Academic Advising timeline of events English Academic Advising, Spanish Academic Advising, Amharic Academic Advising, Arabic Academic Advising, and Dari Academic Advising |
Families |
Parent Square and ACPS Communication |
|
Mon. Dec. 8 |
Period 5 |
Academic Advising Process Advisory Lessons Students will understand course offerings and pathways related to their interests. A Google Form will be completed to document the courses and pathways of interest. Lessons will be placed on Titan Student Resources, and Counselors’ Canvas pages, and Counselors will email students. HS Elective Explorations Fair (Virtual) Students will have access to view descriptions of elective options online. |
Rising 10th-12th Students |
Classrooms (Minnie Howard & King Street Campuses) |
|
Mon. Dec. 15 |
Period 5 Advisory |
REPOST PREVIOUS ADVISORY Academic Advising Process Advisory Lessons Students will understand course offerings and pathways related to their interests. A Google Form will be completed to document the courses and pathways of interest. Lessons will be placed on Titan Student Resources, and Counselors’ Canvas pages, and Counselors will email students. HS Elective Explorations Fair (Virtual) Students will have access to view descriptions of elective options online. |
Rising 10th-12th Students |
Classrooms (Minnie Howard & King Street Campuses) |
|
Mon. Dec. 15 |
7:00 - 8:00 pm |
PTSA Meeting ACHS school counselors discuss the upcoming 2026-2027 Academic Advising and Course Selection season for all rising Titans and the Countdown to Graduation assembly for the Class of 2026. |
PTSA |
ACHS: King Street Campus Library |
|
Mon. Jan. 5 |
Period 5 |
New Year/New Me: Goal Setting |
ALL Students |
Classrooms (Minnie Howard & King Street Campuses) |
|
Mon. Jan. 12 |
5:30-8:00 pm |
ACHS Career Pathways Curriculum Expo (location: King St. & MH) An opportunity for current 8th-11th grade students/families to become more familiar with pathway options within the Academies at ACHS. Students and families explore courses within the pathways at ACHS and attend breakout sessions to learn and discuss academies/pathways, graduation requirements, course offerings, and sequencing. Additionally, program information will also be presented on the Academy of Finance (AOF), the Governor’s Health Sciences Academy at ACHS, AVID College Readiness, and post-secondary preparation provided by the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria.
(Alternate date: Monday, January 15, 2026) |
8th to 11th Grade Students & Families | KS and MH |
| Jan. 7 - Jan. 16 |
Class Periods |
Academic Days of Emphasis Teachers meet individually with students during class to discuss content options and course sequencing. Teachers make suggestions on course selections in PowerSchool. Teachers talk with 12th-grade students about college courses and careers in their subject areas. (Teaching staff reminder email of recommendation process) |
Teachers |
ACHS |
|
Jan. 7 - Jan. 8 |
ALL DAY |
School Counseling Meeting/Curriculum Chats Department Chairs/APs meet with school counselors to provide an overview of courses in their department and emphasize proper placement for students. Q & A regarding any scheduling discrepancies from the previous year. |
Assistant Principals, APs, and Counselors |
ACHS Rotunda |
| Jan. 8 - Jan. 30 | Link/QR code |
Qualtrics Survey: Academic Academies Survey Students will access the survey through a link/QR code and answer five questions that pertain to their Academic Academy Primary Choice. To acknowledge that their parent/guardian is aware that there is a |
Rising 9th Graders | Link/QR Code |
|
Wed. |
Link/QR code |
(pending a final decision) Application Only Programs: The Online application is "live" for families to complete for GWHS and AOF Online application is released to families to complete between Jan. 8 - Jan 31 |
Rising 10th-12th Students |
Link/QR Code |
|
Jan. 20 - 26 |
PowerSchool | Teacher Recommendation PS will be "live" for teacher recommendations. Closes at 4 p.m. |
Teachers |
ACHS |
| Jan. 30- Feb. 4 |
PowerSchool |
Families Enter Course Request Selections in PowerSchool Parent/Student Courses Entered in PS Jan 30 to Feb. 4 |
Rising 9th-12th Students & Families |
PowerSchool |
|
TBD |
School Day |
Class of 2026: Countdown to Graduation Assembly (Contact: Jessica Gilbert & Cassandra Ford) Seniors are briefed on important upcoming events, including Senior Experience, Prom, and the Annual Graduation March! |
Current Seniors |
Auditorium |
| Feb. 9 - Mar. 13 |
School Day |
Academic Advising & Course Selection Conferences Counselors meet individually with students to review grad requirements and post-secondary aspirations and finalize course selections. (March 18-21: counselors meet with students who missed AA and finalize entry of course requests) Rising 10-12th Grade Students Through English 9, English 10, and US/VA History classes |
Rising 10th-12th Students |
Counseling Offices & Learning Academies |
|
Wed. Feb. 25 |
Early Release |
Second Semester Parent Conferences Teachers discuss current progress. Counselors are also available for 10-minute appointments to meet with families. |
Rising 10th-12th Students |
Various Locations (MH & KS Campuses) |
Events Just for Rising 9th Graders
|
DATE |
TIME |
EVENT |
AUDIENCE |
LOCATIONS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Nov 10 - Nov. 25 |
Advisory |
Advisory Lessons: Naviance Self-Discovery Assessments Naviance and Advisory Lessons for Grade 8. Students will complete the Strengths Explorer assessment in Naviance. Students will understand course offerings and pathways related to their interests. Lessons will be placed on Titan Student Resources, Counselors’ Canvas pages, and Counselors will email students. |
Rising 9th Graders |
All Middle and K-8 Schools |
|
Dec 2 - Dec 10 |
Classroom Guidance |
Academies and Pathways (in-class lesson) |
|
|
|
Mon. Jan. 12 |
5:30-8:00 pm |
ACHS Career Pathways Curriculum Expo (location: King St. & MH) An opportunity for current 8th -11th grade students/families to become more familiar with pathway options within the Academies at ACHS. Students and families explore courses within the pathways at ACHS and attend breakout sessions to learn and discuss academies/pathways, graduation requirements, course offerings, and sequencing. Additionally, program information will also be presented on the Academy of Finance (AOF), the Governor’s Health Sciences Academy at ACHS, AVID College Readiness, and post-secondary preparation provided by the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria.
(Alternate date: Monday, January 15, 2026) |
8th to 11th Grade Students & Families | KS and MH |
|
Wed. Jan. 7 |
Link/QR code |
Qualtrics Survey: Academic Academies Survey Students will access the survey through a link/QR code and answer five questions that pertain to their Academic Academy Primary Choice. To acknowledge that their parent/guardian is aware there is a |
Rising 9th Graders |
Link/QR code |
|
Wed. Jan. 21 |
Link/QR code |
Application Only Programs: The Online application is "live" for families to complete for GWHS and AOF Online application is released to families to complete between Jan. 7 - Jan. 31 |
Rising 9th |
Link/QR code |
|
Fri. Jan. 9 |
9-10:30 am PH 1:00-2:15 pm JH |
Titan Rising: High School Here We Come! Middle and high school counselors and staff meet with students to share information about transitioning to high school, course offerings, high school programs, school-life balance, timelines for applications and what to expect as rising Titans |
PH & JH Rising 9th Graders |
PH and JH |
|
Mon. Jan. 12 |
9:00-11:00 am |
Titan Rising: High School Here We Come! Middle and high school counselors and staff meet with students to share information about transitioning to high school, course offerings, high school programs, school-life balance, timelines for applications and what to expect as rising Titans |
George Washington Middle School Rising 9th Graders | George Washington Auditorium |
|
Tues. Jan. 13 |
9:00-11:00 am |
Titan Rising: High School Here We Come! Middle and high school counselors and staff meet with students to share information about transitioning to high school, course offerings, high school programs, school-life balance, timelines for applications and what to expect as rising Titans |
FCH Rising 9th Graders |
F.C. Hammond Auditorium |
|
Jan. 20-26 |
PowerSchool |
Teacher Recommendation PS will be "live" for teacher recommendations. Closes at 4 p.m. |
Teachers |
GW/FCH/K-8 |
|
Wed. Jan. 21 |
5:30-7:00 pm |
Middle School Curriculum Night Rising 6th grade, and current 6th and 7th grade families are invited to attend this event as we share our course offerings and engaging electives for the 26-27 school year. |
FCHMS Rising 6th-7th Graders | F.C. Hammond Middle School |
|
Thur. Jan. 22 |
5:30-7:00 pm |
Middle School Curriculum Night Rising 6th grade, and current 6th and 7th grade families are invited to attend this event as we share our course offerings and engaging electives for the 26-27 school year. |
GWMS Rising 6th-7th Graders |
G.W. Middle School |
| Jan. 29 - Feb. 3 |
PowerSchool |
Families Enter Course Request Selections in PowerSchool Parent/Student Courses Entered in PS Jan 29 to Feb. 3 |
Rising 6th - 12th Students & Families |
PowerSchool |
| Feb. 9 - Mar 13 | School Day |
Academic Career Plans & Academic Advising: Rising 9th Graders Middle School Counselors meet with students to complete Academic Career Plans. Counselors meet individually with students to review goals, finalize course selections & enter course selections in PowerSchool. For specific information, contact your child’s middle school counselor. |
All Rising 6th - 12th Students |
All Middle and K8 Schools |
|
March 12 JH: 1-3 pm
March 18 PH 9-12 pm |
School Day |
Review of Courses with High School Counselors HS counselors meet with 8th-grade students to review selected courses |
JH FCH GWMS PH |
All Middle and K8 Schools |
