Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions of
students and parents.
- Who to contact at SHS?
- What are the SHS graduation requirements?
- What courses are required for OHLAP?
- What happens if my child fails a course required for graduation?
- What tests are required by the State of Oklahoma?
- Do students have to pass End-of-Instruction exams to graduate?
- When should my son/daughter take the ACT for the first time?
- Can my child take college classes while in high school?
- Are there really college courses taught at Shawnee High School?
- Does it cost to take college concurrent classes?
- What about concurrent at OBU and St. Gregory's?
- When can my child sign up for votech?
Who to contact at SHS?
Principal: Mr. Lee Hamilton 275-3084
Vice Principal: Mr. Harp 275-3084
Counselor: Donna Houston 275-3631
Attendance: Eileen Williams 275-0735
Driver License Forms: Sara Dale 275-3631
Cafeteria: (ask for cafeteria) 275-3084
Athletic Director: Mark Bowlan 214-7130
Special Services/Special Education: Billye Sue Hatch 273-6794
Homework requests: Homework requests will be honored when a student misses 3
consecutive days. To request homework, call the Guidance Office at 275-3631.
Students missing less than 3 days can collect assignments upon arrival back
at school.
Security/Safety:
Police Officer: Officer Huey
Truancy Officer:
EMAIL Addresses:
You are welcome to email staff at SHS. If you know the teachers first
initial and last name (names are provided on student schedules) add the
following ending:
shawnee.k12.ok.us
Example: Guidance Counselors email is:
dhouston@shawnee.k12.ok.us
What are the SHS graduation requirements?
SHS Graduation Requirements: Class of 2010
4 units English
4 units math
Algebra I, geometry, Algebra II, and one additional course
3 units lab science
One course must be Biology I
1 unit fine arts (competencies completed in World History)
3 1/2 units social studies
World Cultures (1 semester), Oklahoma History(1 sem), World History (2
semesters), American
History (2 semesters), and US Govt. (l sem)
1/2 unit health
8 1/2 units of electives
_______________________________________________
Total 25 units or 50 credits*
*1 Unit =2 credits
OR
What courses are required for OHLAP?
OHLAP Requirements
OHLAP requirements align with SHS requirements for graduation with the
addition of:
2 units of foreign language (two full years of the same language)
OR
4 one semester courses in computer science/technology
What happens if my child fails a course required for graduation?
Failure of classes required for graduation will have to be repeated in summer
school or the new evening credit recovery program offered at Jim Thorpe
Academy. Applications for the night program are available in the counseling
office. There is a per-credit cost for both programs. The cost is
$75.00 per credit failed.
What tests are required by the State of Oklahoma?
Students are required to take End-of-Instruction tests for the following
high school subjects:
--Algebra I
--Geometry
--Algebra II
--English 10 or English II (10th grade English)
--English 11 or English III (11th grade English
--US History (American History)
--Biology I
9th Graders entering high school during the 2008-09 school year will be
required to **PASS** 4 of 7 tests listed above to receive a high school
diploma!!! Students are required to pass Algebra I and English II and two additional tests.
Do students have to pass End-of-Instruction exams to graduate?
9th Grade students entering high school during the 2008-09 school year must
pass 4 of 7 tests to obtain an Oklahoma high school diploma.
When should my son/daughter take the ACT for the first time?
Students typically have the most trouble with the math portion of the ACT.
Math test questions on the ACT include material covered in Pre-Algebra,
Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry. Additionally, there are approximately
4 trigonometry questions. Waiting until a student finishes Trigonometry is
not advised. Students tend to have their highest score when
they complete Alg.1, Geometry, and Algebra II. Remember:
Students can take the test as often as allowed and colleges will take the
highest score.
Can my child take college classes while in high school?
Yes. Students may be "concurrently" enrolled in high school and college
classes, but they must follow Oklahoma State Department of Education
guidelines. Juniors must have a composite ACT score of a 21 to enroll in
college classes, and seniors must score a 19. In addition, students must have
a sub-score of a 19 on the ACT in the subject of the college course they plan
to take concurrently. In other words a high school junior would need to
score a 21 composite and a 19 on the math portion of the ACT to enroll in a
College Algebra course. Some colleges use the sub-score on the "Reading"
portion of the ACT to determine eligibility to take history, art, speech, and
other subjects not specifically tested on the ACT. The regulations are often
confusing. Call the counseling office if you have questions.
Are there really college courses taught at Shawnee High School?
Yes. Seminole State instructors teach college classes on the Shawnee High
School campus.
Fall Classes include: College Algebra, English Comp. I, American Federal
Govt., and Intro. to Communication (Speech).
Spring Classes include: College Algebra, English Comp. II, US Hist.
1865-present, and Art History Survey I.
Students could earn 21 college hours without ever leaving the Shawnee High
School Campus!
Does it cost to take college concurrent classes?
Yes. Seniors may enroll in up to 12 hours of FREE tuition* at a state college
or university, but there is a cost to families. (Seminole State will also
allow qualified juniors to take advantage of the free tuition.) Although the
tuition is free, there are always assessed fees and books to purchase.
Payment is made directly to Seminole State College.
Even though there are fees, the cost to take these classes is
significantly less than a full-time college student would have to pay. It is
a great bargain!
If you have questions, please feel free to call the guidance office at 275-3631.
*State legislation allows 12 hours free tuition for high school seniors at
state colleges and universities.
What about concurrent at OBU and St. Gregory's?
Students cannot take advantage of the free tuition because OBU and St.
Gregory's are private institutions; however, these schools allow high school
students to take courses concurrently at a significantly reduced rate.
Students must travel to the university to take the classes and must work
around their high school schedules. Call the counseling office if you would
like more information about concurrent classes at Oklahoma Baptist University
or St.Gregory's University.
When can my child sign up for votech?
Students make application during the spring of their sophomore year to attend
during their junior and/or senior years.
Gordon Cooper Technology Center sends representatives to interview interested
students. Students are not automatically admitted to the technology center.
Grades, absences, behavior and career interests are factors contributing to
selection to Gordon Cooper. Watch the website for more information about
deadlines for applications to GCTC.
