High school is a time for students to explore a variety of interests. The district uses a seven-period day which gives students additional opportunities to explore subjects outside their required courses.

• View the 2024-25 Program Planning Guide for the Classes of 2025, 2026, 2027 (PDF) to learn more about courses offered for ninth through 12th-grade students
• View the 2024-25 Program Planning Guide for the Class of 2028 and Beyond (PDF) to learn more about courses offered for ninth through 12th-grade students
• View the Amendments to the Qualified Admissions Criteria (PDF)
• Guia Criterios de Admision Calificados Modificados (PDF)
• Family Guide to English Language Arts - Grades 9-10 (PDF)
• Family Guide to English Language Arts - Grades 11-12 (PDF)

These documents are PDFs and require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader you can download it here.

High School Curriculum Standards

Olathe Public Schools' course curriculum standards are approved by the Board of Education. They parallel national and state standards and are consistent across the entire district to provide a road map for all educators as they plan to teach what students need to know and do. Standards are designed to assess students' individual strengths and needs for growth and success, providing a solid foundation of skills and learning experiences to fulfill the district mission of Students Prepared for THEIR Future.

View the high school curriculum standards

Several specific courses are available to support both high school and post-secondary credit, or dual credit goals. Additionally, students may choose courses that provide a weighted grade option.

Open Access Policy

The Olathe Public Schools support an Open Access philosophy. Open Access allows students desiring to take an advanced course offering, honors or Advanced Placement class, admission into that class. The Olathe district encourages each student to take the most challenging courses for which the student is capable. Student interests, abilities, goals, and past record of achievement should guide course selection.

Advanced Placement

Advanced Placement (AP) is an internationally recognized standard of academic excellence that provides the following benefits to students:

• AP curricula have been successfully mastered by students who are hardworking and dedicated to excellence and typically rank in the upper 25 percent of their class.
• AP can enhance a student's opportunities for scholarships and career possibilities.
• AP can enhance the student's opportunities to receive admission into recognized universities and post-secondary programs.
• AP can reduce college costs and the time required to obtain a degree by providing post-secondary credit for courses and examinations completed successfully in high school. AP exams are given in May and scored by the Educational Testing Service. Students are encouraged to take AP exams to demonstrate successful AP course completion.

NOTE: Each college or university determines which AP examination/score will be accepted.

Courses that may be taken for Advanced Placement are:

• AP English Language and Composition and AP English Literature and Composition
• AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, AP Physics I, AP Physics II
• AP Calculus AB and BC, AP Statistics
• AP College Physics I, AP Physics C
• AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science Principles
• AP/Honors United States History, AP U.S. Government and Politics, AP European History, AP Psychology
• AP Studio Art
• AP French 5, AP Spanish 5
• AP Music Theory

College Now

Tenth-, 11th- and 12th-grade students have the opportunity to take academic courses which have been identified by the school district and Johnson County Community College as college-equivalent courses (College Now). All College Now students must have appropriate ACT or other placement test score. (See your school counselor for more information.) Upon payment of specified tuition and fees and successful completion of the courses, college credit can be earned. Only students admitted to designated college equivalency courses can apply for this college credit option.

JCCC will charge an amount not to exceed that charged to any student as tuition for enrolling in similar campus-based courses. No additional charge beyond those authorized for high school rental fees and materials used for classroom activities will be made.

Enrollment information will be distributed in all high school courses designated as college credit classes. 

Weighted Grades

Olathe high schools' grading system is reflective of a weighted grade system. The weighted grade system is used to determine all Olathe student honors and distinctions.

The high school Program Planning Guide has specific information regarding computation of weighted grades.