Elective Registration
Elective Registration for the 23-24 School Year
Elective registration is done each year to determine student schedules for BOTH semesters of the following year. Students will get the chance to choose which elective courses they would like to take. Core classes (LA, Science, Social Studies and Math) will be selected automatically by the registrar’s office.
The courses you choose during this process determine how we staff electives next year. Please be thoughtful with your decisions. Changes to your choices at a later point are difficult and seats may not be available. We will try to place students in their requested electives but choices are not guaranteed.
If you have any questions about course registration for the 2023-2024 school year at Eckstein, please contact registrar, Toni Morgan tmmorgan@seattleschools.org.
Step 1: When and How to Register
Please look at the table below to find which “Circumstance” you or your child fall under and read the corresponding tasks for “When and How to Register.”
| Circumstance | When and How to Register |
| Current 5th Grader, Enrolled in SPS AND Lives in Eckstein Boundary | When: For TWO weeks in late April, exact Dates TBD. How: Most students will register via their source accounts. Students that miss this online registration window should email the registrar to register via PDF. |
| Current 5th Grader, Enrolled in SPS but lives outside Eckstein’s boundary | You need to contact enrollment. Read more information about the School Choice Form and Open Enrollment. Once they give you an assignment, if it is Eckstein, you will be contacted by the registrar to choose electives and will not be able to access online registration in the Source. |
| Currently Enrolled at Eckstein 6th and 7th Graders | When: For ONE week. March 17 to 24. (via Source) How: Most students will register via their source accounts. Students that miss this online registration window should email the registrar to register via PDF. |
| Current 6th and 7th Graders wanting to switch to Eckstein | You need to contact enrollment. Read more information about the School Choice Form and Open Enrollment. Once they give you an assignment, if it is Eckstein, you will be contact by the registrar to choose electives and will not be able to access online registration in the Source. |
| New to the district in the 23-24 School Year, any grade level | The District continues to send new student assignments to middle schools weekly. When we receive the notification from the District of a new student getting assigned to Eckstein, we will reach out to you to have them complete course registration by email/mail/phone. No deadline for elective registration. |
| Currently attending another public or Private School outside of SPS and would like to Attend Eckstein | Please contact our District Enrollment Offices if you have not done so already. Once they give you an assignment, if it is Eckstein, you will be contact by the registrar to choose electives and will not be able to access online registration in the Source. |
| I will NOT be attending Eckstein in the 23-24 school year | We’re sad to see you go! Please email the registrar so we can plan accordingly. |
Step 2: How Many Classes Can be Chosen
Step 3: Which Classes Can Be Taken, By Grade
Not choosing enough electives will result in the registrar’s office choosing for you and that may not be very exciting.
Students with an IEP or who are receiving ELL services may have less electives in their schedule depending on support classes. Contact case manager for more information. If in doubt, follow directions below and we will reach out if there is an issue with electives. It is always better to have too many choices than too few.
Please know we will do everything we can to get you in the classes you picked first, but we cannot guarantee placement for next year in ANY class besides core. Placements are not guaranteed because of class sizes, teacher availability and budget constraints. It is very important that you pick alternates and that they are relevant to you. There is always a chance you get placed into your alternate choices.
The courses you choose now determines staffing at Eckstein for next year. It is very important that you choose only what you truly want to take. You may not be able to have your schedule changed later.
Read our Course Catalog for full course descriptions and prerequisites.
Step 4: How to Submit Decisions
*We will email YOU specifically when it is time to register your student via the Source. not everyone has Source access.
Online registration is only open for a one week period determined by next year grade level. You will not be able to register online if you are brand new to the district, try to register outside of the window, or if Eckstein is not officially your next school.
There is no way to rank your elective choices. You are telling the computer that you either want this course (checked) or you do not (not checked). Make sure you chose an appropriate number of courses (read directions!) and make sure you choose alternates/back-up classes in case your desired courses fill up. The system will not let you submit without choosing a required PE course and alternates.
Eckstein Middle School Elective Registration FAQs
Here are some answers to our most often-asked questions.
Q: Why can’t I register my student for electives in the Source?
A: You will only be able to register through the Source during very specific time periods. If you are certain you should be able to see it and cannot, please log out completely and have your STUDENT log in with their credentials. If you still cannot see it follow directions in Step 4 to submit electives via email. Anyone may submit their electives via email, phone, or mail.
Q: When will my incoming student be able to choose their exploratory/elective classes?
A: Current 5th graders can register starting in mid-April. Current 6th and 7th graders will begin registration in early March.
Q: What will my middle school schedule look like?
A: We have a 6-period day at Eckstein Middle School. All students are assigned to 4 year-long core classes: Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, and Math. The remaining 2 periods are filled with a required semester of PE (unless waived) and 1 and a half periods of electives. Two periods of electives if PE is waived. 6th graders also have one semester of Technology A, a computers course.
Q: Can my student choose to waive PE?
A: 6th graders cannot waive the PE requirement unless it is for medical or religious purposes. 7th and 8th graders can choose to waive PE for medical and religious reasons as well as for athletic participation.
Q: How do we place 6th grade students in the right Math class?
A: Students are enrolled in Math class based on the next course in sequence from the course they are enrolled in for 5th grade.
Q: When is 6th Grade Orientation?
A: We will have our 6th Grade Orientation in late August. We will send you the date as soon as possible.
Q: Are there any opportunities for Math Acceleration?
A: At Eckstein the acceleration pathway we offer is for 7th graders only who have not been granted any other acceleration opportunities yet. The course is titled “Mathematics 7/8 Compacted” and it is a condensed curriculum to accelerate students through Math 7 and Math 8 within one school year instead of two.