Tower View raises the bar

It's a ripple effect. This year, Red Wing High School started using a block scheduling system. With that came the opportunity for students to take more classes. And with that, the number of credits students need to graduate was raised from 22 to 28.

Now, Tower View High School is feeling the waves. Because the high school and Tower View have always had the same credit requirements, Tower View had to raise its graduation credit requirements.

"Tower View will not be less than what's required at Red Wing High School," Kathy Radmer, the district's instructional services director, said.

Bu, the limited space and staff at the alternative high school can't support the same requirements.

That's why Tower View will now require students to have 24 credits to graduate. On top of that, the school is increasing the rigor of its program by putting more restrictions on elective classes.

"It's laying more of a framework for [students]," Tower View teacher Heather Finholm said.

Previously, students needed to take three credits of math and science and three and a half credits of social studies. Under the new requirements, students will need four credits in each of those subjects. To fulfill the additional credits, students will be able to choose a math, science or social studies elective.

"[Before], they had much more flexibility in what they wanted to take," Finholm said. "Now, we're saying, you need three required credits of math. In addition, you need one elective credit of math."

Finholm says the new requirements will keep students from running away from a subject they don't like.

It also allows teachers to better prepare students for their post-graduation plans. Finholm said that helping students select which math, science and social studies electives they want to take will create opportunities for conversations that might not have otherwise taken place.

"It gives us as teachers a door to open, to ask what [they're] planning on doing after high school," she said.

The new requirements will go into effect starting with this year's junior class.

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