Students: Come by before school, tutorial, lunch, or after school. If your counselor is not available, leave a note or send an email

Parents: Email or call to set up an appointment and have questions answered. And be sure to read our FAQs below to see if your question is on there!

Students may request a change from one course to another through the first two weeks of school. Requests can be either approved or denied by school officials depending on circumstances. Year-long classes cannot be dropped at the semester. Additionally, AP and Honors classes are a year-long commitment.

Meet with your counselor to discuss options, classes dropped after 6 weeks will receive an automatic Withdraw “F” on a student’s transcript.

If a student receives a D or F in a college prep (A-G) course, that course can be repeated to earn a higher grade for college eligibility. Options can be in class, online, or through outside programs/schools. Keep in mind that credit can only be given for the repeated course. Talk with your counselor for more information.

Progress grades are given every six weeks and are used to determine academic eligibility for athletics and work permits. Colleges do not see progress grades and these grades do not earn students credits.

Semester grades are final and are posted on transcripts and are a part of a student’s permanent record.

If you are plan to take an SRJC class while in high school, please review the steps below: 

Steps to enroll in an SRJC Class

• Apply to open CCC AND Santa Rosa Junior College and get Student ID# (9 digits). You must reapply EVERY term.
• Look at the online SRJC class schedule.
• Check for any prerequisites/assessments. The Guided Self-Placement is now available online and can be accomplished at home at the students’ own pace. This is needed for any English/Math class.
• If you are trying to challenge a class that has a prerequisite, you need to complete the Prerequisite Equivalency Form.
  • For language classes that are higher levels, you need to submit your transcripts as well, for example - Spanish 2 at SRJC means you need to have completed Spanish 1 and Spanish 2 at PHS.
• Complete the High School Dual Enrollment Online Request Form and submit it to the SRJC AND your PHS counselor.
• Register online during priority 6 registration.
• Show counselor proof of registration so we can adjust your schedule here if needed. Remember OFF PERIODS ARE NOT GUARANTEED.

Please note that SRJC classes can be used for dual enrollment - meaning a student can earn both college and high school credits. A 1.5 unit class is equal to 5 high school credits. A 3 or 4 unit class is equal to 10 high school credits. Keep in mind that junior college classes go on a student’s permanent college record. Talk with your counselor about what classes are right for your student.

A-G requirements are the minimum requirements a student must meet to be eligible for a CSU or UC college. Students must receive grades of Cs or higher in all A-G coursework and it must be completed by a student’s senior year. College preparatory courses are designed for academically proficient students to prepare them for their post-secondary education. For a current list of Petaluma High School’s approved A-G courses, visit the UC Doorways website

Semester grades of A, B, C, or D earn five credits. Grades of F do not award any credit and core courses must be repeated to earn credits. The following credits are recommended by the end of each school year:

• Freshman: 60+ credits
• Sophomore: 120+ credits
• Junior: 160+ credits
• Senior: 220 credits needed for graduation

The GPA computation is based off a grading system, which is as follows:

• A = 4 points
• B = 3 points
• C = 2 points
• D = 1 point
• F = 0 points

Advanced Placement (AP) and some Honors courses earn a grade bump as shown below. These courses are indicated with a + on the transcript.

• A = 5 points
• B = 4 points
• C = 3 points
• D = 1 points

Students must be enrolled in a total of six classes during their 9th, 10th, and 11th-grade year. In 12th grade, a student may have an off period if their credits are in good standing and must get permission from parent/guardian, counselor, and administrator. Seniors must be in at least five classes in the first semester and at least four classes in the second semester.

Petaluma High School offers a wide variety of Advanced Placement and Honors courses. The courses are designed to help enrich a student’s learning experience and in the case of AP classes, give the student a chance to earn college credits if they take (and pass) the AP exams given in the spring through College Board. All AP classes receive a grade bump and certain Honors classes receive a grade bump as well.

Students interested in taking multiple AP/Honors classes in the same school year are advised to talk with the teachers, parents, and their counselor on the rigor and time commitment of multiple courses as they are year-long commitments. All students who meet course prerequisites shall have equal access to Advanced Placement courses.

Student athletes must have taken and passed physical education in grade 9 with a grade of “C” or better.

Student athletes must score in the “healthy fitness zone” in five of the six fitness areas tested in grade 9 as measured by the FITNESSGRAM.

Student athletes must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA (Total GPA), for each grading period during the period of exemption.

The exempted physical education course must be replaced with another course, which cannot be an unscheduled (free) period, and student athletes must maintain a full class load, during the period of exemption. Students may only replace the exempted physical education course with Independent Work Experience (IWE) under special circumstances with administrative approval.

For each full season of sport completed in grades 10 and/or 11, student athletes will be exempted from physical education for one semester.

During the annual course registration window, or upon new enrollment, a student athlete must notify his/her counselor of his/her intent to apply for a Physical Education Exemption Based on Interscholastic Athletic Program Participation, so that the student athlete is scheduled appropriately.

At the conclusion of each season of sport, the student athlete must complete this application, which has been signed by the student athlete, and his/her parent/guardian. The athletic director will confirm completion of the season of sport and sign the application. Completed forms should be turned into the athletic secretary for review.

Starting with their sophomore year, students can waive a semester of PE (to be replaced with elective credits) for each season of a PHS sport that they play.

Students that want to participate in athletics at PHS must complete medical clearance and must maintain a 2.0 GPA.

Students considering participation in NCAA college-level sports need to register with the NCAA clearinghouse to establish eligibility. It is recommended that they start this by the end of their sophomore year. For more information visit the NCAA Eligibility Center.

The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) System will have a direct impact on the California State University's (CSU) Early Assessment Program (EAP).

The CAASPP test is used by community colleges and the CSU to determine readiness for college-level coursework. Students who do well on the CAASPP can avoid taking placement exams.

The EAP was developed by the CSU in collaboration with the California Department of Education (CDE) and the State Board of Education and is accepted by participating CCC campuses as well as the CSU. All grade eleven students who participate in the English and mathematics CAASPP examination will achieve a performance level that will be used for the EAP.

All students who are identified at achievement level 4 in English or Math are ready for college-level work and can register in college bearing courses upon entering a CSU or California Community College.

All students who are identified at achievement level 3 in English or Math are conditionally ready for college-level work and will need to take an approved English class (ERWC, AP English 12 or outside college course) or Math class (Math Analysis Honors, AP Statistics, or AP Calculus) to be exempt from placement testing after admission to CSU. Upon completion of these courses with a “C” or higher, students can enroll in college-level courses at CSU or CCC.