[BHS Etree] FRESHMEN: Important Message to Universal 9th Grade Families - LC Lottery and Course Requests
BHS Etree
bhs at lists.lmi.net
Fri Mar 13 08:21:26 PDT 2026
This message has been sent out several times. It is being sent again today
as it is the deadline for any changes to a student's lottery preferences.
Please do not reply to this email. Contact your 9th grade School Counselor
if you have any questions.
Hello U9 Families,
We would like to inform all BHS 9th grade families and students about some
important details related to the Learning Communities (LC) Lottery process
for the 10th grade, as well as the 10th grade course selection process.
The goal of the computerized lottery assignment system is to provide a fair
and equitable method for school assignments while prioritizing individual
choice and ensuring student diversity across the enrollment of all of
Berkeley High School’s Small Learning Communities.
In the upcoming weeks, 9th grade students will participate in a number of
activities to learn about our Learning Communities so they can make an
informed decision in the upcoming Learning Community Lottery:
- Learning Community Education Assembly & Video - On Wednesday, January 2
8, all 9th grade students attended a live assembly about BHS’s five
Learning Communities - Academic Choice (AC), Academy of Medicine and Public
Service (AMPS), Arts and Humanities Academy (AHA), Berkeley International
High School (BIHS), and Communication Arts and Sciences (CAS). Staff and
students from each LC discussed the academic offerings and experiences in
their communities. You can review this assembly by accessing the slide
deck
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1CsRgXbaw18McjmHktb6U6AQW5rpPh0d1jjZNBciD_cA/edit?usp%3Dsharing&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1773412855435364&usg=AOvVaw03oLmdMzLiqoduxNMmh0H8>
from
the presentation. That slide deck also has a link to a live video of one of
the assemblies.
- BHS Course Catalog Scavenger Hunt Activity - During the last week of
January, all 9th grade students participated in a course catalog
‘scavenger hunt’ in their Freshman Seminar class. This activity guides
students through the Course Catalog, paying close attention to the
requirements and offerings within each LC. The 2026-27 BHS Course
Catalog will be available on the BHS website starting in late
February/early March. Until it is posted, folks are welcome to
review our 25-26
BHS Catalog
<https://bhs.berkeleyschools.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/BHS_CourseCatalog-25-26.pdf>
on the BHS Website <https://bhs.berkeleyschools.net/> (See Documents
section).
Learning Community Lottery Selection for 9th Graders
During the week of February 16, BHS Counselors joined 9th grade classes to
assist students in submitting their lottery rankings. This was a quick
process but was absolutely required. If students were absent for this
presentation, they should notify their Freshman Seminar teacher and Hive
Counselor so that alternate arrangements can be made.
Learning Community Lottery Guidelines
During this Lottery Selection with the School Counselor, your student will
enter the Learning Community Lottery. Your student will rank the LCs that
they desire to be placed in for the duration of 10th-12th grade. Please
have a conversation with your student about their learning community
ranking prior to the Lottery Selection.
The ranking rules are as follows:
- Your student will rank their choices in order of preference: top
choice as #1, second choice as #2, and so on.
- Your student MUST rank BOTH AC and BIHS (our two largest LCs)
- Your student does not have to rank any of the three smaller learning
communities (AHA, AMPS, CAS) if they do not want to be placed in a smaller
learning community. In that case, they may rank only AC and BIHS.
- If your student does choose to rank one of the smaller learning
communities (AHA, AMPS, CAS), that is optional and must be in addition to
ranking both AC and BIHS. Please note that if your student chooses to rank
any of the smaller learning communities (AHA, AMPS, CAS) even as their #3,
#4, or #5 choices they may end up being placed in one of those smaller
learning communities.
- Because the three smaller LCs have limited seats, not every student
who ranks a smaller LC will be placed there. This is why your student must
rank both AC and BIHS. If your student chooses to rank AHA, AMPS, and/or
CAS (which is optional), they DO NOT need to rank all three of these
smaller LCs, only the LC(s) they actually want to join.
- Your student MUST NOT rank any of the smaller LCs (AHA, AMPS, CAS)
that they are not interested in joining.
See below for example rankings to avoid common mistakes:
✅ Correct ✅ Correct ✅ Correct
❌ Incorrect
❌ Incorrect
❌ Incorrect
1. AC
2. BIHS
1. CAS
2. AHA
3. AC
4. BIHS
5. AMPS
1. AMPS
2. CAS
3. BIHS
4. AC
1. AHA
2. CAS
3. AMPS
1. BIHS
2. CAS
3. AHA
4. AMPS
1. AMPS
2. AC
Ranking ONLY required LCs
Ranking required LCs and all smaller LCs
Ranking required LCs and some smaller LCs
Required LCs (BIHS and AC) not ranked
Required LC AC not ranked
Required LC BIHS not ranked
Sibling Priority for LC Placement
If your student's #1 choice is a LC that an older sibling currently
attends, and that sibling will STILL be enrolled in that LC next year, your
student will be given priority in the lottery for that LC.
If this applies to your student, they must provide the sibling's student ID
number and BUSD email address when entering the lottery with their School
Counselor.
Only actual siblings qualify (not cousins, family friends, “play siblings”,
etc.) and that sibling cannot be a current senior who will be graduating at
the end of the school year. All sibling entries and LC assignments will be
verified.
What Happens Next?
This week received an email containing an LC Lottery Report detailing your
student’s ranking. As the parent/guardian, you will have the opportunity to
edit the ranking and email it to your student’s Hive Counselor no later
than Friday March 13th @ 3PM..
After our parents/guardians have had the opportunity to review and edit
their student’s lottery choices (after March 13th @3:00 PM) the lottery
will be run and your child will receive their LC placement in late March,
just before spring break. While we try to accommodate most students’ top
choices, please note that there is no guarantee your student will be placed
in their first, second or even third choice. THE LC LOTTERY RESULT IS FINAL
. Students will then sign up for next year’s classes; more information
about course selection will be provided at that time.
Course Requests/Scheduling
In April, after your student has been assigned to a Learning Community (LC)
and notified of their placement, they will attend a presentation with their
new LC counselors to submit 10th-grade course requests, including any LC
specific electives.
After course requests are submitted, you and your student will have your
course requests sent to you as well. If you would like to request changes,
your student will contact their new LC counselor. Change requests will be
accepted through April 17, as long as they meet the requirements of the LC.
Your child will receive their schedule of classes during Registration in
August, just prior to the start of next school year.
If you have any questions about the lottery process, please do not hesitate
to contact your student’s school counselor.
Thank you
-------------------------------------------
Chaghig Walker, Charlotte Le Liboux, Shirley Hudacko, and Maria Kong are
the parent-volunteer facilitators of the E-tree; please direct any
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BHS E-tree archives <http://lists.lmi.net/pipermail/bhs/>
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BUSD 2025-26 Calendar
<https://www.berkeleyschools.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2025-2026-Tk-12-Calendar-Final-8-6-25.pdf>
BUSD Non-Discrimination Statement / la Política de No Discriminación
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