High School

Class registration for the upcoming school year typically begins in January. During Connections class, students will explore available course options, learn about program requirements, and receive guidance to help them select classes that align with their academic abilities, interests, and future goals. 

Each student will receive an academic planning guide. This guide was created to help students and families navigate the many opportunities at SSP High School. With the support of families, teachers, and our school counselors, this guide can help students find the courses and activities that best match their interests and aspirations.

When using this guide, please consider:

• Which course and activities will best prepare you for a career or college?
• How will your transcript show how you challenged yourself with a wide range of classes?
• How will you find balance between succeeding academically while being a part of one of the many SSP High School activities.

High School Course Registration Guide

Students currently enrolled in grades 9-12 who wish to earn a diploma from South St. Paul Secondary must meet the South St. Paul Secondary credit requirements for classes and the State of Minnesota’s Graduation Requirement Assessments.

BARR schools focus on building relationships with students to help better understand where they need support to succeed. As a BARR District, all schools in the SSPPS School District follow the BARR model.

The BARR model uses eight interlocking strategies to help build intentional relationships. Using commonalities, students feel more comfortable communicating with each other and their educators. The eight interlocking strategies are:

• Focus on the whole student: SSPPS educators know that students don't leave their lives at the door. Building relationships helps the teacher work with each and every student's academic, emotional, social, and physical needs to make sure they are ready and able to learn.
• Provide professional development for school staff: Educators are also life-long learners. Regular hands-on training and coaching ensures staff feel comfortable and supported with the BARR model.
• Social emotional learning (I-Times and U-Times): SSPPS staff facilitate a weekly 30-minute social emotional learning lesson focused on helping students learn the life skills that help them foster meaningful relationships.
• Create cohorts: Cohorts help educators foster staff-to-staff, staff-to-student, and student-to-student relationships. By breaking into smaller groups educators are more likely to cultivate connections that allow for more effective teaching and learning.
• Cohort teacher team meetings: Teachers meet weekly to discuss students from a strength-based perspective. This allows staff to work together to identify struggling students and effective interventions; it also helps identify students who should be accelerated.
• Risk review meetings: When a student is identified as struggling, they are moved to a structured risk review process that helps teachers develop an action plan to help the student succeed.
• Engage families in student learning: As the saying goes "it takes a village." SSPPS educators improve communication with families to recognize them as active partners in the student's education. 
• Engage administrators: Each BARR school is connected through a community that networks with one another for ideas on how to effectively lead their schools and engage their students.

TriDistrict CAPS (Center for Advanced Professional Studies) gives juniors and seniors real-world learning experiences in fields like healthcare, business, education, and IT. Through hands-on projects, mentorship, and industry partnerships, students explore careers, build professional skills, and can earn college credit before graduation. In partnership with Simley High School and Two Rivers High School, the program expands career and college readiness opportunities for students across all three districts.

Visit the College and Career webpage

Career and Technical Education (CTE) at SSP High School offers hands-on learning and industry-aligned programs that prepare students for success in today’s workforce. Through real-world experiences and specialized courses, CTE develops technical skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities. Whether students aim to enter the job market after graduation or pursue further education, CTE equips them with the tools and confidence to thrive in a competitive, evolving global economy.

The International Baccalaureate (IB) at South St. Paul High School combines the strengths of a traditional public school education with a globally focused, academically rigorous curriculum. Through challenging coursework, independent research, critical thinking, and the CAS (Creativity, Activity, and Service) program, students develop the knowledge, skills, and compassion needed to succeed in college and beyond while preparing to become engaged, globally minded citizens.

Learn more about the IB Diploma