Course Guide

Course offerings and the number of sections available are dependent upon budget requirements and student registrations.  Some of the listed courses may not be offered, therefore, students maybe asked to postpone taking a given course if the sections are full or if the course is not offered.  Administration reserves the right to make all final decisions regarding course additions, drops or changes.

Fees listed have been proposed/projected to cover the cost of consumable materials.  They are subject to change with school board approval.

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Graduation Requirements

The responsibility for completing all graduation requirements at the proper time rests with the student.  While faculty and counselors will assist students in planning their program, they are not expected to relieve the student of their responsibility.

Twenty three credits are required for graduation from Wausau West High School.  Course and testing requirements, including certain required courses, are outlined below.

• Requirement: 1.5 Credits
• PE 9 and 4 semesters of PE Electives

• Requirement: .5 Credits
• 1 Semester

• Requirement: 4 Credits
• English 9, English 10, and 4 semesters of additional English to include: 1 semester each of Composition and Literature, plus 2 additional English courses.

• Requirement: 3.5 Credits
• US History I, US History II, World History and .5 credits of Social Studies Elective

• Requirement 3 Credits
• Physical Science 9, Biology 10, and additional courses must be then selected to meet Science graduation requirements.

• Requirement: 3 Credits
• Int Math 1, Int Math 2 or Math in Construction, and additional courses must then be selected to meet Math graduation requirements.

• Requirement: 7 Credits

• Requirement: .5 Credits
• Passing one of the following 3 courses will fulfill this requirement:
  • Personal Financial Management - Business Education
  • Economics - Social Studies
  • Money Matters - Family & Consumer Education

Note: Wausau West High School graduation requirements are not college admission requirements.  Specific requirements can be found in each college handbook or online.  Please see your counselor or Career Center Coordinator for more information.

Note: By meeting these minimum graduation requirements without taking additional rigorous courses, you may be unprepared for future jobs, education, or military opportunities.  Our recommendation is that each student take the most rigorous selection of courses, based on their future goals, which they can successfully manage.

Note: Students who are excused from Physical Education for medical reasons will find it necessary to earn additional credits to obtain the required number for graduation.  A physician statement that excuses the student from Physical Education needs to be on file in the Nurse's Office.  If you have questions please see your counselor.

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Dual Credit Courses

Dual Credit course offerings allow high school students to earn high school credit, college credit and save money on tuition.  These courses are taught in high school by college-certified high school instructors.  Please see the department for details about West dual credit course offerings and grade requirements.  Transferability of these credits is determined by the receiving college.

Technical Colleges and Universities of Wisconsin participating; Fox Valley Technical College, Nicolet College, Northcentral Technical College, University of Wisconsin Green Bay, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh

Note: Typically grade 10 must earn an "A" grade and meet college requirements to earn dual credit.

Note: Typically grade 9 is not eligible for dual credit.

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Project Lead the way: Pre-engineering academy

Project Lead the Way (PLTW) is a national pre-engineering program established to help schools give students the knowledge they need to excel in high-tech fields.  Studies of PLTW curriculum have proven that PLTW students become prepared, competent, high-tech employees U.S. industry needs to stay competitive in the global market.  With its strong partnership concept, PLTW leverages the collective knowledge and efforts of secondary schools, colleges and universities, and industry to give students rigorous, relevant, reality-based knowledge to better prepare them for college and careers.  Furthermore, the research shows, and continues to confirm, that students introduced to engineering principles, concepts, and real-world problems in high school are better prepared for college engineering programs – and more likely to be successful.  Introduction at the high school level will allow students to determine if engineering is a desirable career for their future.   

PLTW is a sequence of courses which, when combined with college preparatory mathematics and science courses in high school, introduces students to the scope, rigor and discipline of engineering and engineering technology prior to entering college.  The PLTW courses offered at Wausau West include: Principles of Engineering, Civil Engineering and Architecture, and Engineering Design and Development.

Classes can be taken in sequence over four years or taken as schedules allow.  Why should students take Project Lead the Way classes?  Because PLTW is a hands-on, project-based approach to learning that better prepares students for the rigors of college. The pre-engineering program incorporates Math, Science, English, and Technology skills needed for success.  Real world problem solving is used to answer the students' age-old questions, "Why do I need to know this?" and "When am I ever going to use this?"  In addition, PLTW students from certified schools such as Wausau West High School can take the PLTW/National Affiliate final exams. If a student successfully passes the final exam, he or she earns the option of purchasing college credit.  For additional information visit the PLTW website: www.pltw.org.