On Wednesday November 17th, course registration for the 2023-2024 school year was opened to students at Kaiser High. As students choose their classes for the school year 2023-2024, it’s important to stay informed about your options and keep up to date with new courses and opportunities.

This year presents several new opportunities. For seniors, a new class “American Problems & Economics” is available. The class gives a credit in social studies, meaning it can substitute for more traditional social studies classes such as Psychology+Sociology. The class is focused mainly on American economics and personal finance. 

For folks interested in courses more oriented towards career experience, Kapiolani Community College is offering a pharmacy technician course to Juniors and Seniors, with the intent of earning a Certificate of Competence, and training students to be able to get a job as a pharmacy technician straight out of highschool. However, the course is a big commitment compared to almost any other class offered. It replaces periods 7 and 8, with period 7 being a class taught at Kaiser High, while period 8 is taught off campus at CVS. Tuition is also $1,650, and applications are due by December 1st.

Even if incoming seniors are not interested in participating in the new courses offered at Kaiser, it would be foolish to pick easy classes and slack off. Although colleges may not be able to see your senior year grades when you apply, they can still see your classes and do notice if you slack off. Additionally, your GPA from all four years will still be used to determine things like merit scholarships.

For the Sophomores, one of the most important decisions available is that of the IB program. Students have the option of taking either the IBDP program or the IBCP program.

The CP program focuses more on preparing for work after high school, requiring classes in career pathways, while the DP program focuses on academics. Both programs and IB classes in general require IB exams for each course. Contrary to what many may tell you, it is definitely possible to have both a social life in the IB program.

Ultimately, the choice of whether or not to enroll in the IB program depends on whether it’s the type of program for you. A huge advantage of the IB program is the 5 point GPA scale, which allows you to get a much higher GPA than the normal track offers. However, this comes at the drawback of losing the freedom to choose your classes and electives.

If one would like to take rigorous courses without having their schedule locked, they may choose to take one of the 10 AP classes offered at Kaiser High. These classes come with the 5 point scale, without the commitment of the IB program (although some classes may require work over the summer). However, to be graded on that 5 point scale and earn college credit, you are required to take an AP exam. In general, most colleges will require a 3 or 4 on an AP exam minimum to give credit. Ultimately whether AP or IB is better isn’t objective; it depends on whether you intend to go to college, and what kind of learner you are. 

General course registration is due December 2nd for all students. Applications turned in after this date do not guarantee the student’s first-choice electives. Alternate courses will be chosen for them.