Course Planner
userEducatorXello productXello 6-12Time6 minutes
In this article

Students use the Course Planner to create a course plans that support intentional course selections.

For 8th grade and high school students, the planner includes prerequisite checking, graduation tracking, and suggestion mode.

For educators, help your students manage their plans, assign a course, apply an exemption, or optimize their plan for maximum benefit.

Middle school students and Course Planner

Using Course Planner in Xello, students can create their course plans for 7th and 8th grade. By picking their classes in middle school, they can gain confidence and familiarity for when it's time to build their high school course plans.

TipTip: Share the following guide with your students to help get them started with Course Planner in Xello: Add your classes to Course Planner new tab. This guide is also available in Spanish new tab.

How students in middle school build their course plans in Xello:

  1. They open Plans and click Course Planner.
    Student dashboard in Xello. The top menu dropdown called Plans is open and the cursor is highlighting Course Planner
    Click to enlarge
    Student dashboard in Xello. The top menu dropdown called Plans is open and the cursor is highlighting Course Planner
    noteNote: Students will only see Course Planner if the feature setting is turned on for their grade. Check out Change Course Planner settings to learn more.
  2. On the Course Planner page, there is a column for each grade. For previous grades, they'll be able to view their marks in each subject.
    A middle school course planner. There is a column for each grade with subjects. Grade 6 is complete and the student can view their marks. Grade 7 upcoming and ready for classes to be picked.
    Click to enlarge
    A middle school course planner. There is a column for each grade with subjects. Grade 6 is complete and the student can view their marks. Grade 7 upcoming and ready for classes to be picked.
  3. To simplify the page, they can click the Requirements dropdown and narrow the planner to one subject.
    A middle school student course planner. The dropdown menu called "Requirements" is open showing different subjects.
    Click to enlarge
    A middle school student course planner. The dropdown menu called "Requirements" is open showing different subjects.
  4. They click the plus sign next to a requirement to open a list of courses that satisfy that requirement.
    A middle school course planner. There is a column for each grade with subjects. A cursor is clicking the + sign next to "Add Math 7".
    Click to enlarge
    A middle school course planner. There is a column for each grade with subjects. A cursor is clicking the + sign next to "Add Math 7".
  5. They click on the course name to see information about the course including course description, required prerequisites, and future courses that students may take once they complete the course. Prerequisites in green indicate that the student has completed the required prerequisite.
    Math 7 course details. The algebra course description is open.
    Click to enlarge
    Math 7 course details. The algebra course description is open.
  6. Once they've chosen the course they want, they click Add. A green checkmark and tag confirm that the course was added to their plan.
  7. To navigate to the next requirement or elective, they click the subject name next to the current subject title.
    Math 7 course list. The cursor is clicking the next subject in the student's course plan: Science 7.
    Click to enlarge
    Math 7 course list. The cursor is clicking the next subject in the student's course plan: Science 7.
  8. When they're done adding courses, they click Done.
  9. When they've finished adding the courses for a grade, they click Ready to submit.
    • If there are any alerts or issues, they'll get a message before they submit with what needs to be fixed. Check out Course Planner alerts to learn which alerts they may get.

Use the resources below to learn more about Course Planner for middle school students and to help introduce it to them and their parents/guardians.

  • pdfPDF
    PDFAdd your classes to Course Planner - middle school student guide

    Share this quick guide with your middle school students to help get them started with Course Planner.

    English
    Spanish
  • short videoPDF
    PDFMiddle school course Planner parent/guardian approval

    A quick guide to be shared with parents/guardians of students in 6th and 7th grade to walk them through approving their child's course plan in Xello.

    English
    Spanish
  • recorded webinarrecorded webinar
    Recorded webinarHow students plan middle school courses in Xello

    Simplify middle school course selection! Master Xello's Course Planner with your 5th-7th grade students. Track submissions, manage requests, approve plans, and leverage key reports for seamless administration.

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High school students and Course Planner

In Course Planner, students can create course plans that satisfy the requirements of an assigned diploma or specialization.

Depending on their objectives, students can create their plans for the upcoming school year or for all 4 years of high school. They can also plan out just the upcoming school year.

TipTip: Share the Course Planner and Xello new tab orientation quick guide to help get your students started with Course Planner. This guide is also available in Spanish new tab.

How students build their course plans in Xello:

  1. They open Plans and click Course Planner.
    Student dashboard in Xello. The top menu dropdown called Plans is open and the cursor is highlighting Course Planner
    Click to enlarge
    Student dashboard in Xello. The top menu dropdown called Plans is open and the cursor is highlighting Course Planner
    noteNote: Students will only see Course Planner if the feature setting is turned on for their grade. Check out Change Course Planner settings to learn more.
  2. They can click the diploma dropdown menu to select a different diploma or specialization. This section will always default to their assigned diploma. Changing to a different diploma or specialization allows them to build their course plan according to the specific requirements of their selected program.
    A grade 10 student course planner. The Diploma dropdown menu called "High school graduation diploma" is open showing the other diploma and specialization options
    Click to enlarge
    A grade 10 student course planner. The Diploma dropdown menu called "High school graduation diploma" is open showing the other diploma and specialization options
  3. They can either start in Grade 12, if they are creating a 4-year plan, or in their grade for the upcoming school year. If they start in Grade 12, Xello will present course options in earlier years based on their Grade 12 selections.
  4. They click the plus sign next to a requirement to open a list of courses that satisfy that requirement.
    A grade 10 student course planner. The cursor is about to select the English requirement for grade 11
    Click to enlarge
    A grade 10 student course planner. The cursor is about to select the English requirement for grade 11
  5. They click on the course name to see information about the course including course description, required prerequisites, and future courses that students may take once they complete the course. Prerequisites in green indicate that the student has completed the required prerequisite.
    English 11 course details. There is a description of English 11, a list of prerequisites, which course was selected, and how that course impacts future course selections
    Click to enlarge
    English 11 course details. There is a description of English 11, a list of prerequisites, which course was selected, and how that course impacts future course selections
  6. Once they've chosen the course they want, they click Add. A green checkmark and tag confirm that the course was added to their plan.
  7. To navigate to the next requirement or elective, they click the subject name next to the current subject title.
    English 11 course list. A checkmark indicates a course has been added. The cursor is clicking the next subject in the student's course plan: Math 11
    Click to enlarge
    English 11 course list. A checkmark indicates a course has been added. The cursor is clicking the next subject in the student's course plan: Math 11
  8. When they're done adding courses, they click Done.
  9. From the bottom of the upcoming grade column, they click Ready to submit when their course plan is complete.
    • If there are any alerts or issues, they'll get a message before they submit with what needs to be fixed. Check out Course Planner alerts to learn which alerts they may get.

Check out the resources below to learn more about Course Planner for high school students. Download and share the guides and videos to help introduce it to students and their parents/guardians.

  • pdfPDF
    PDFCourse Planner and Xello - high school student guide

    Share this quick guide with your high school students to help get them started with Course Planner.

    English
    Spanish
  • short videoShort Video
    Short VideoManaging students' high school course plans New

    In this short video, you'll see how Xello’s Course Planner lets students manage their course selections to meet diploma requirements.

  • live webinarXello Academy
    Xello AcademyCourse Planner for high school counselors

    Are you a high school counselor who works with Course Planner in Xello? Learn how to understand your course guide, available courses, and diploma requirements; and how to support students with Course Planner.

  • pdfPDF
    PDFWork with high school course plans

    Follow this guide for tips on how to make your high school course planner review process a breeze. Learn how to review, track, action, and approve student course plans.

  • short videoPDF
    PDFHigh school Course Planner parent/guardian approval

    Share this guide with parents/guardians of students in 8th grade and high school to help walk them through approving their child's course plan in Xello.

    English
    Spanish
  • recorded webinarrecorded webinar
    Recorded webinarHow students plan high school courses in Xello

    See how Xello's Course Planner helps students build out their high school courses to support their goals. In this session, you'll learn how it works and what your role in managing their course plans will be.

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Educators and Course Planner

Meanwhile, as an educator, you'll view student course plans, assign courses to students, apply exemptions and specializations where necessary, and view and share the course guide.

When students have finished filling out their course plans, learn how you can send the plans for Course Planner parent/guardian approval.

Finally, keep on top of submissions, how many courses, specializations, and diplomas have been added by students, and which plans require either parent or educator by running Course Planner reports.

For all of our Course Planner Knowledge Base articles, check out Course Planner in Xello 6-12.