Academics

Alter High School has a professional staff of 55 who have a combined average of over 14 years teaching experience. A Masters Degree is held by 54% of the faculty, and the student to faculty ratio is 11:1. We believe that the key to high performing students is high performing teachers. Our generous and gifted educators encourage students to dream big and reach higher.

In addition, our caring staff of intervention specialists work closely with classroom teachers and parents to help students who need additional academic support find success. Alter faculty and staff members continue to teach long after the bell has rung. Their dedication to our students’ needs extends beyond the classroom as they mentor students through various clubs and other co-curricular activities.

COURSE LEVELS

Alter’s comprehensive curriculum offers more than 120 courses across 13 departments at the college preparatory, as well as Honors Level. Eight Advanced Placement Courses are offered. In addition, students are permitted to independently study for AP examinations in subject areas for which there is no course offered. Our Catholic faith is integrated into every class, promoting the school’s mission to educate students in spirit, mind, and body.

For incoming freshman, placement in Honors courses is based upon student achievement on the high school placement test, teacher recommendations, Iowa Basic Scores, and academic grades earned in junior high.

Scheduling

Freshman

A committee composed of the department chairs and guidance counselors review the incoming freshman academic records. Courses are recommended after reviewing the student’s placement test performance, elementary school records including standardized test scores, and elementary school teachers’ recommendations.

Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors

The guidance counselors oversee the student scheduling process. Each year the students review and evaluate his/her program of studies with their parents/guardians, teachers, and guidance counselor.

Updated scheduling information for the following school year is provided in the second semester. While students may choose elective courses, certain upper-level courses have a prerequisite for enrollment.

During the second semester, students secure signatures for all classes with a prerequisite from their current subject teacher or the teacher of the course they are requesting. All course request forms must be signed by a parent. Forms without required signatures will not be processed.

Schedule Changes

Since student scheduling requests are used to plan the
master schedule and hire teachers for the following year, once scheduling is completed, changes are not ordinarily permitted. As a rule, schedule changes are made only:

  • If the student has been academically misplaced by the teachers and/or has not met the requirements of the course or
  • If there is an irresolvable scheduling conflict.

Students must confer with teachers, parents, and their Guidance Counselor prior to requesting a change in schedule. The fee
for dropping a class is $100 and must accompany the parent permission. The Guidance Counselor will not process the schedule change without the $100 fee and parent permission in writing.

All schedule changes must be requested within the first two full weeks of the classes of each semester. After that, the course will appear as withdrawn on the student’s transcript. If the student is passing at the time of withdraw, the transcript will state WP, or withdrawn while passing. If the student is failing at the time of withdraw, the transcript will state WF, or withdrawn while failing. Students with a C or above in a particular class may not drop to a lower level class until the end of the semester.

ParentsWeb

RenWeb School Management Software gives you, the busy parent, an opportunity to get more involved in your child’s academic progress and future success – all via the Internet!

RenWeb’s ParentsWeb is a private and secure parents’ portal that will allow parents to view academic information specific to their children, while protecting their children’s information from others. You can see your child’s grades, attendance, homework and conduct, as well as other useful school information. You can also communicate with teachers and other school staff online whenever necessary. All you need is an Internet-capable computer.

Here’s how to access our easy-to-use RenWeb ParentsWeb:

  •   First, you need to make sure that the school has your email address in RenWeb.
  •   Next, go to www.alterhs.org and find the QuickLinks hyperlink at the top right. Click on this.
  •   In the window click the button located to the right of the Renweb topic.
  •   Click Create New ParentsWeb Account in the new window.
  •   Type your email address and click the link, Create an Email Address. An email (like the one below) is sent to you.

In the email, click the Click to create your Parents Web login link. This link is only valid for 6 hours.

A web browser displays your Name and RenWeb ID number.

You can now log into ParentsWeb using your new User Name and Password. You will access your Parents Web by starting at the Alter homepage and clicking on the QuickLinks link, just as you did at the beginning of this document.

We look forward to your participation. Together we can continue to improve our children’s academic development as well as communication between our school and your home.

Alter Scholars

Alter Scholars is a program designed to help students develop their academic, ethical, and cultural understanding of what it means to be a true scholar. Any freshman with a GPA of 3.6 or higher may apply at the beginning of the second semester.  Acceptance into the program is based on teacher recommendations and submitted essays.  Each year students are required to complete a variety of activities and reflect on what they have gained from participating in them.  Freshman year is focused on exploring what Alter has to offer.  Sophomore year’s emphasis is on ethics and what it means in the world of academia.  During a student’s Junior year, they will have opportunities to job shadow and make connections between their academic world and outside world.   Lastly, during Senior year Alter Scholars will concentrate on a particular field of study and work on their final Scholar’s project.

Moderator: Mrs. Jennifer Schlangen Jennifer.Schlangen@alterhs.org