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Academics & Graduation

Course Selection & Placement Tests

Course Selection – Class of 2030

Questions?

Have a question about Course Selection? Complete this form and a Northfield High School counselor will follow-up with an answer!

9th Grade Counselors

Optional Placement Tests – Math and World Languages

All incoming freshmen are automatically placed into Level 1. Those freshmen wishing to place into a higher-level course must take and pass a Northfield course placement assessment.

Math

World Languages

Core Courses – Class of 2030
English
All freshmen are enrolled in English 1 Honors
Science
All freshmen are enrolled in Biology 1 Honors
U.S. History
All freshmen are enrolled in U.S. History Honors
Math
All freshmen are placed into Integrated Math 1 Honors unless they complete an optional Northfield High School placement test to be placed into a higher level class.
World Language
Freshmen may only request level 1 of a World Language unless they complete an optional Northfield High School placement test to be placed into a higher level class.
-Spanish 1 (for non-native speakers)
-Spanish Language Art 1 (for DLS grads & native Spanish speakers)
-French 1
-Mandarin Chinese 1
Advisory/Comprehensive Health
All freshmen are enrolled in Advisement/Comprehensive Health for one semester each.
Electives – 2
Freshmen choose two electives, one from each category:
Physical Education
-Team Life, Fitness, Dance and JROTC.
-Sports Waiver – Students who complete two years of a CHSSA sport can opt of PE and take another elective instead.
Additional Electives:
-Visual Arts, Theater, Music, Biomed, Business, Engineering, Computer Science, Debate, or additional PE Classes.
Sample Ninth Grade Schedule

DepartmentSample Course Selection
EnglishEnglish Honors 1*
MathIntegrated Math 1 Honors*
ScienceBiology Honors*
Social StudiesU.S. History Honors*
Advisory/Comprehensive HealthAdvisory/Comprehensive Health
World Language (recommended)Mandarin Chinese
PE (recommended)JROTC
ElectiveBeginner Guitar
*Freshmen are placed in the Honors courses and have the opportunity to ‘opt in’ to complete the extra honors level work for weighted credit.

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Graduation Requirements

DepartmentUnitSpec. Department Requirement
English4 UnitsIB L/L 1 & IB L/L 2 (Jr/Sr Year)
Social Studies3 Units– 0.5 Civics
– 0.5 Intro to Ethnic Studies
– 0.5 History of Power & Conflict
– 0.5 Personal Finance
Science3 Units2.0 Lab Science
Mathematics4 Units1.0 Alg 1 or Int. Math 1
PE1 Unit
Health0.5 UnitsEmbedded within Comprehensive Health
Fine Arts or CTE1 Unit
World Language2 Units
Electives6 UnitsAny & all overflow from other depts count toward elective
requirements.
Overall: 24 units (IB L/L + 1 more IB Course) + English/Math Competencies & ICAPs; 30 hrs community service

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International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Requirements

Course Selection

To qualify for the diploma, students must complete coursework in six subject groups:

  • Group 1: Language and Literature
  • Group 2: Language Acquisition (Foreign Language)
  • Group 3: Individuals and Societies (Social Studies)
  • Group 4: Sciences
  • Group 5: Mathematics
  • Group 6: The Arts (or an additional course from Groups 1–5)
Level Requirements
  • 3 to 4 courses must be taken at the Higher Level (HL).
  • 2 to 3 courses must be taken at the Standard Level (SL).
  • Total courses required: 6
Assessment & Scoring

Students must achieve a minimum of 24 points overall. Each exam is scored on a scale of 1–7.

  • Minimum Score: 24 points total (including bonus points).
  • Failing Grades: Students cannot receive a “1” in any subject.
  • Grade 2 Limits: No more than two “2s” awarded (HL or SL).
  • Grade 3 Limits: No more than three “3s” awarded (HL or SL).
  • HL Total: Minimum 12 points across HL subjects (the top three scores count if four HL courses are taken).
  • SL Total: Minimum 9 points across SL subjects (if only two SL subjects are taken, the student must gain at least 5 points).
  • Bonus Points: Up to 3 additional points may be earned through the TOK/EE matrix.
The IB Core

All three core components must be completed to be eligible for the diploma:

  • Theory of Knowledge (TOK): Complete the course and assessments with a grade of D or higher. A grade of “E” is failing, and an “N” (no grade) results in disqualification.
  • Extended Essay (EE): Complete an independent research essay with a grade of D or higher. An “N” results in disqualification.
  • Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS): Complete the required learning outcomes and a collaborative CAS Project.
Results and Recognition

Official diploma results are released in July following graduation.

Note: Even if a student does not earn the full diploma, they benefit from rigorous college-level coursework and improved academic skills. Many universities award college credit for individual IB exam scores of 4 or higher, making these certificates valuable for college applications and credit transfers worldwide.

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Mandatory District Registration & Northfield Enrollment

District Registration – Annual Requirement

All new and returning families must complete the mandatory Denver Public Schools (DPS) online registration process via the DPS Parent/Student Portal.

How to Register: Log into the Parent Portal, select ‘See All Apps’, and click ‘Online Registration’ to verify or update your student’s information.

  • Early Bird Window: May 4 – May 22
  • Summer Window: July 27 – Late August

Residency Verification Required for Some

If you are new to DPS or have recently moved into the Northfield boundary, you must verify your residency to finalize enrollment:

  • Standard Process: During your Online Registration in the Parent Portal, you will be prompted to upload your proof of residency (e.g., a utility bill or lease agreement) directly to the system.
  • Alternative Option: If you are unable to upload documents through the Portal, you may Download and Print the Residency Verification Form (PDF). This completed form and your three documents required for proof of residency can be emailed to our registrar or dropped off at the Main Office.

Registrar Support & Accessibility

If you have questions regarding the enrollment process, please contact our registrar, Ana Bustos Soto, at ana_bustossoto@dpsk12.net.

  • Parent Portal: Contact Ana if you need assistance creating a Portal account or resetting your password.
  • Accommodations: If you require assistance completing enrollment documents due to a disability or accessibility barrier, please reach out to Ana directly for support.
Northfield Enrollment – Mandatory

All incoming students must attend an in-person enrollment session at Northfield High School.  During this time, students will receive their class schedule, student ID, Chromebook and textbooks. Guardians may drop off medications and speak to representatives about 504/IEP. Students may attend independently, though parents and guardians are welcome to join.  We ask all students to please come during their prescribed date/time.  

Last Names
starting with
9th Grade
August 13, 2026
10th Grade
August 13, 2026
11th Grade
August 14, 2026
12th Grade
August 14, 2026
A-IA majority of 9th grade registration takes1 p.m. – 2 p.m.8 a.m. – 9 a.m.1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
J-Rplace during 9th Grade Academy. Parents, please 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.9 a.m. – 10 a.m.2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
S-Zjoin from 11am-12pm to finish registration.3 p.m. – 4 p.m.10 a.m. – 11 a.m.3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Students who are not attending NGA should attend make-up registration- Date TBD (likely August 21)

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Ninth Grade Academy

To assist in the transition from middle school to a successful high school experience, Northfield High School, along with the other DPS high schools, will be hosting a Ninth Grade Academy for incoming freshmen students. This exciting, fun, and informative program will last four days, and all of Northfield’s incoming ninth grade students are encouraged to attend.

Students who are not attending NGA should attend make-up registration- Date TBD (likely August 21)

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Daily Life & Logistics

General Information:

First Day of School

Calendar & Bell Schedule

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Get Involved & Connect

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Questions?

Email nhscommunications@dpsk12.net