Frequently Asked Questions
Q: My high school student is interested in being on a sports team, how would that work at SLCSE?
A: We offer a wide variety of physical activities at SLCSE including kayaking, biking, climbing and snowshoeing. SLCSE even has its own award winning mountain bike team and a small Ultimate Frisbee team. We have a small group of students interested in playing competitive sports during high school. SLCSE does its best to accommodate this desire by flexible scheduling of classes in the afternoons so that students can be released early from school to make practice and games at their neighborhood high school. Currently, we have students who leave early for baseball, volleyball, swimming and football.
Q: Do you have AP classes?
A: We offer a rigorous curriculum that focuses on high-level thinking and processing skills, collaboration and reflection. All of our science classes allow for hands on experiences, authentic research projects and real world applications of the sciences. Faculty adheres to these guiding principles when teaching our limited offering of AP classes. Currently, Juniors and Seniors can take AP classes in Psychology, Calculus, Statistics, Physics, and Environmental Science.
Q: Does SLCSE have a Prom?
A: At SLCSE, we believe that students need social outlets in which they can engage with their peers. Students organize a cultural evening through MESA club, participate in camping trips, snowshoeing trips, a Junior class trip to Washington DC and numerous service projects. In previous years, the Prom was organized by students under the guidance of a teacher. The Prom is 100% inclusive reflecting SLCSE’s belief that we are kind and welcoming of all students.
Q: What if my student fails a class? Do you offer make up packets to remediate credits?
A. First and foremost, teachers work hard so that students don’t fail classes. Our small school environment means that each student is well known and closely monitored for signs of academic failure. As a school, SLCSE is opposed to packets as a way to remediate grades. Each student is treated individually and an educational plan tailored to the needs of the individual is developed that may include after-school seminars, summer school and independent study.
Q: Does SLCSE offer concurrent enrollment classes?
A: We currently do not have concurrent enrollment. SLCSE students have the opportunity to enroll at the Salt Lake Community College provided they have their own transportation and space in their school schedule.
Q: I have heard that SLCSE doesn’t offer a lot of elective choices.
A: We are a small school that does not have the teaching capacity to offer the array of electives found at a larger high school. For example, we do not offer woodworking, cooking, fashion design, cosmetology, theatre or an orchestra. However, we do offer engaging, academically focused, high-quality electives that make connections with the core classes taught at our school. Over the years we have offered Medical Anatomy and Physiology, Biotechnology, Digital Media, Marketing, Sculpture, Psychology, Sociology and Bike Shop. Please check with the school counselor for current elective classes. What we lack in quantity we strive to make up for in quality.
Q. Will my student be able to get Driver’s Ed?
A. Every year we try to address our students’ need and interests and the staff is always willing to help facilitate Driver’s Ed at one of the larger high schools. Any SLCSE student is welcome to attend one of the district high school Drivers Ed programs and may be able to qualify for fee waivers under regular district policies.
Q. How do you get my student ready for college?
A: SLCSE offers a rigorous and relevant curriculum taught by dedicated and highly qualified teachers. Students work in a safe learning environment that encompasses critical thinking, collaboration, reflection and an emphasis on academic writing. Our counseling department and faculty track and mentor each student in preparation for college applications. Additionally, we offer many opportunities for students to interact with University faculty and students through guest speakers, scientist in the classroom programs and campus visits. Our alumni are currently enrolled at Mills College, Kettering, University of Utah, Westminster College, Utah State University, Webster University and Salt Lake Community College.
Q: What extracurricular options are there for my student?
A: We have a wide variety of afterschool programming funded through a grant from the Department of Workforce Services and a collaborative grant with the University of Utah. Homework hall is open every day after school where students can meet with tutors from the University of Utah to get academic help. We have an active MESA club, drama group, mountain bike team, and social action association.
A: We offer a wide variety of physical activities at SLCSE including kayaking, biking, climbing and snowshoeing. SLCSE even has its own award winning mountain bike team and a small Ultimate Frisbee team. We have a small group of students interested in playing competitive sports during high school. SLCSE does its best to accommodate this desire by flexible scheduling of classes in the afternoons so that students can be released early from school to make practice and games at their neighborhood high school. Currently, we have students who leave early for baseball, volleyball, swimming and football.
Q: Do you have AP classes?
A: We offer a rigorous curriculum that focuses on high-level thinking and processing skills, collaboration and reflection. All of our science classes allow for hands on experiences, authentic research projects and real world applications of the sciences. Faculty adheres to these guiding principles when teaching our limited offering of AP classes. Currently, Juniors and Seniors can take AP classes in Psychology, Calculus, Statistics, Physics, and Environmental Science.
Q: Does SLCSE have a Prom?
A: At SLCSE, we believe that students need social outlets in which they can engage with their peers. Students organize a cultural evening through MESA club, participate in camping trips, snowshoeing trips, a Junior class trip to Washington DC and numerous service projects. In previous years, the Prom was organized by students under the guidance of a teacher. The Prom is 100% inclusive reflecting SLCSE’s belief that we are kind and welcoming of all students.
Q: What if my student fails a class? Do you offer make up packets to remediate credits?
A. First and foremost, teachers work hard so that students don’t fail classes. Our small school environment means that each student is well known and closely monitored for signs of academic failure. As a school, SLCSE is opposed to packets as a way to remediate grades. Each student is treated individually and an educational plan tailored to the needs of the individual is developed that may include after-school seminars, summer school and independent study.
Q: Does SLCSE offer concurrent enrollment classes?
A: We currently do not have concurrent enrollment. SLCSE students have the opportunity to enroll at the Salt Lake Community College provided they have their own transportation and space in their school schedule.
Q: I have heard that SLCSE doesn’t offer a lot of elective choices.
A: We are a small school that does not have the teaching capacity to offer the array of electives found at a larger high school. For example, we do not offer woodworking, cooking, fashion design, cosmetology, theatre or an orchestra. However, we do offer engaging, academically focused, high-quality electives that make connections with the core classes taught at our school. Over the years we have offered Medical Anatomy and Physiology, Biotechnology, Digital Media, Marketing, Sculpture, Psychology, Sociology and Bike Shop. Please check with the school counselor for current elective classes. What we lack in quantity we strive to make up for in quality.
Q. Will my student be able to get Driver’s Ed?
A. Every year we try to address our students’ need and interests and the staff is always willing to help facilitate Driver’s Ed at one of the larger high schools. Any SLCSE student is welcome to attend one of the district high school Drivers Ed programs and may be able to qualify for fee waivers under regular district policies.
Q. How do you get my student ready for college?
A: SLCSE offers a rigorous and relevant curriculum taught by dedicated and highly qualified teachers. Students work in a safe learning environment that encompasses critical thinking, collaboration, reflection and an emphasis on academic writing. Our counseling department and faculty track and mentor each student in preparation for college applications. Additionally, we offer many opportunities for students to interact with University faculty and students through guest speakers, scientist in the classroom programs and campus visits. Our alumni are currently enrolled at Mills College, Kettering, University of Utah, Westminster College, Utah State University, Webster University and Salt Lake Community College.
Q: What extracurricular options are there for my student?
A: We have a wide variety of afterschool programming funded through a grant from the Department of Workforce Services and a collaborative grant with the University of Utah. Homework hall is open every day after school where students can meet with tutors from the University of Utah to get academic help. We have an active MESA club, drama group, mountain bike team, and social action association.
Salt Lake Center for Science Education | 1400 W. Goodwin Avenue | Salt Lake City, Utah 84116 | (801) 578-8226 | (801) 578-8677 Fax
Salt Lake City School District | Disclaimer
Salt Lake City School District | Disclaimer
