The Albert Lea High School counselors and administrators are working to improve how students register for classes for the 2024-25 school year. Changes are being made so things will run more efficiently in the coming year.

Counselors began by visiting science classrooms and introducing students to the new process. Each student will get the chance to attend a 15-minute one-on-one meeting with their counselor specifically focused on their educational and career goals. At this meeting, counselors will talk with the students about where they are at currently and where they want to be in the future.

Counselors typically do not get to meet with every student at ALHS and this change designates time for every student to connect once a year with their counselor. 

“They [counselors] each have roughly 400 kids on their caseload, and they don’t get to see all 400 of them,” said Assistant Principal Sean Gaston. Gaston explains that being able to connect with someone and have good conversations about classes and the future is important. Knowing you have support and guidance is also a big factor in wanting to push yourself to where you want to be.

“It’s been a lot of fun to get to know everybody on a more personal level,” said A-G counselor Jess Hatland.

Registration began during the second week of February. Similar to college registration hierarchies, Juniors were able to register for classes first, followed by Sophomores, and finally, Freshmen. Juniors and Sophomores have finished their registration. Freshmen began on February 23 and will wrap up before spring break. Before quarter four begins, every student will have registered for their classes and discussed their post-secondary plans.