Eckstein Middle School

Eckstein
Middle School
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Eckstein Middle School/Academics/Registrar

Registrar

Eckstein Registrar

Find information about announcements and news from the Registrar, Eckstein’s courses, electives, PE waivers, how to request records (outgoing students and private school requests), schedules, and course registration.

2026-2027 Electives and Course Information for Current 6th and 7th Graders

This is a reminder that electives requests for the 2026-2027 school year is open to your student. This is for current 6th and 7th graders (rising 7th and 8th graders). Requests must be submitted by January 14, 2026. Review the course catalog for course descriptions.

  • Elective Requests for Current 6th and 7th Graders: This process is only for current 6th and 7th grade students to request electives for next year when they are in 7th or 8th grade (school year 2026-2027). This information was shared in the January 9th S’Mores / family communications. 
  • The Elective Request Form is available on your student’s Counselors’ Schoology Page: (Mr. Hoff is 6th grade; Ms. Ziadeh is 7th grade)
    • Students must log into Schoology and submit their requests on this form after authenticating with their SPS district email address.
    • The course on their grade-level Counselor’s Schoology page is called “Program Support A.” We encourage parents/guardians to review elective choices with their student prior to submission.
  • Save a Copy of Responses: Students are encouraged to save a copy of their responses so they can have a record of what they requested for next year. There is an option in the Form to save responses. Your student may edit their responses before the deadline if they change their minds.
  • Fine Arts Requirement: Every student will be required to take at least one (1) semester of fine arts each year in middle school. This is a WA State Requirement. Music (band, choir, orchestra, guitar), theater, visual arts, and ceramics are considered fine arts. 
  • Music Placements: Music level placements can be requested but will be confirmed by our music faculty.
  • Student Government B: Students must have completed Student Government A and an interest form for Student Government B to be considered. More information about the interest form and process will be available in Spring 2026.
  • Elective Choices Matter: Elective requests submitted by students are all possible options that may be on their schedule. We do our best to honor student preferences but due to our complex master schedule, FTE/budget constraints, and class sizes, students may not get their top elective choice.
  • Alternate Elective Choices Matter Too: Students should select different Alternate electives than their primary requests. Requesting the same elective multiple times does not increase their chances of getting that elective. It simply reduces your choices with repeated requests.
  • World Languages (Spanish and French) are high school level courses. Grades and credits will be reflected on SPS high school transcripts. 
    • World Languages are very popular. In the event you do not get scheduled for a World Language, you can request to be put on a waitlist. 
    • Please note that Nathan Hale does not offer French. 
  • Math in 7th grade: This week, Math 6 teachers will speak with students about math choices in 7th grade (Math 7 or Math 7/8). During the week of January 19, parents/guardians will receive an email from Ms. Tai about how to indicate which math they’d like their student to take in 7th grade. This is only for 6th graders who are taking Math 6 in 2025-2026. 
  • TA (Teacher Assistants): TA positions are limited and require an application, which will be available in Spring 2026. This elective form is only to indicate that you’d like to be a TA. Final TA assignments are not done until much later in the school year and only students who submit a TA application will be considered. Please note that classroom teachers typically only have 1 TA per period and we typically assign 2 Attendance TA’s per period.
  • PE Waivers for 2026-2027: PE Waivers will be available in Fall of 2026. On this elective request form, please indicate your intent to take PE or waive it. Final scheduling will depend on availability and FTE.
  • Theater: Students who have taken beginning theater and would like the opportunity to take advanced/intermediate theater next year should select theater for 2026-2027. If there is enough interest, we will follow up.

2025-2026

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Important Dates

  • 9/2/25
    • New Student Orientation (WEB Day, “Where Everyone Belongs”)
    • Student schedules are available online in the Source
      • Note: student schedules for the full year will be available in the Source in 2025-2026. This means your student will be able to see their classes for semester 1 and semester 2 in September.
  • 9/3/25: First Day of School
  • 9/3 – 9/5/25
    • Changes to core class errors (e.g. student is missing a core class)
    • Schedules for newly assigned and enrolled students
    • Note: Ms. Tai will not process any elective changes during the first week of school
  • 9/8 – 9/10/25: Semester 1 elective change request process opens.
    • All changes must be done online.
    • Please visit your grade-level counselor’s Schoology page to access the online request form.
    • All requests are due by 9/10/25.
  • 11/5/25: Quarter 1 ends
  • 11/6/25: Quarter 2 begins
  • 12/1/25
    • PE waivers and documentation due
    • Quarter 1 grades are available in the Source
  • 12/5/25: Private school transcripts and recommendations must be requested by 12/5/25
  • 1/9-1/14/26: 2026-2027 Elective Request Process for Rising 7th and 8th graders opens.
  • 1/20 – 1/22/26: Semester 2 elective change request process opens. Closes on 1/22/26, 11:59 P.M.
  • 1/27/26: Semester 1/Quarter 2 ends
  • 1/28/26: Semester 2/Quarter 3 begins
  • 2/18/26: Semester 1 grades available in the Source
  • 4/7/26: Semester 3 ends
  • 4/8/26: Quarter 4 begins
  • 6/17/26: Semester 2/Quarter 4 ends
  • 7/9/26: Semester 2 grades available in the Source
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Fine Arts Requirement Applies to All Students in Grades 6-8 for 2026-2027 School Year.

  • Starting in 2026-2027 School Year, Fine Arts is required for at least one semester in grades 6-8.
  • Fine Arts is not required for 8th graders only in 2025-2026. It is required for students in 6th and 7th grades (2025-2026 school year).
  • Fine Arts courses include: music (band, choir, orchestra, guitar), visual arts, ceramics, and theater.
  • New as of September 2025: STEAM Innovation Lab A and STEAM Innovation Lab B will count towards the fine arts requirement. They were formerly known as STEM Innovation Lab.

How is a Student Schedule Made?

Think of a student schedule as a simple math problem. There are 6.0 worth of credits:

  • Core classes make up 4.0 credits (Math, Language Arts, Social Studies, Science).
  • Electives make up 2.0 credits (year-long and semester-long, including PE)
    • Students can take 2 year-long electives (example: band, world language), waive PE
    • Students can take PE (0.5), 3 semester-long electives (0.5 x 3) = 2.0 credits
    • Students can take 4 semester-long electives (0.5 x 4), waive PE = 2.0 credits

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