Incoming 9th Grade

As your child prepares to transition to high school, we are excited to support them in planning for their 9th-grade year! Counselors from North Thurston High School visited our middle schools (Chinook, Salish, and Aspire) to meet with all incoming 9th-grade students. They will give a presentation and submit their course requests for the 2026-27 school year. It is very important for students to attend school on that day!

North Thurston Counselor Visits

• Aspire Performing Arts Academy: Monday, April 13, 2026
• Chinook Middle School: Tuesday, April 14, 2026
• Salish Middle School: Thursday, April 16, 2026

Help your student with pre-registration:

• Access the North Thurston High School course catalog to explore available classes and requirements.
• Discuss potential course choices that your student might enjoy with them.

At NTHS, our students expand their experience with extracurricular activities like athletics, clubs, performing arts, and student organizations.

Athletics

Interested in playing a sport in high school? Visit the NTHS Athletics website for information on fall sports! Go Rams!

Clubs

NTHS offers a wide variety of clubs for students to join. See our current list of clubs and activities and get involved.

NTHS has many higher-level course offerings that are available to students of all grade levels. Students who have an aptitude for a certain subject, would like to challenge themselves, or would like to earn college credit during high school are encouraged to take an honors, Advanced Placement (AP), or College in the High School (CiHS) course. Learn more about earning college credit in the high school.

Language Learning is for Everyone! All incoming freshmen are encouraged to sign up for a world language course, especially if you are considering attending a 4-year university after high school. The world languages that are taught at NTHS are:

• French
• Spanish
• German
• American Sign Language

We also offer a heritage Spanish course for students who have been exposed to Spanish at home or in their community.
 
Starting a language in 9th grade opens the door to advanced courses, college credit, and the opportunity to earn the Washington State Seal of Biliteracy. This seal appears on your transcript and comes with a special medallion to wear at graduation! Did you know that learning another language strengthens your skills in all subjects? Research shows it boosts cognitive abilities, improves academic performance, and enhances test scores. In today’s global world, language skills are more valuable than ever—start your language journey at NTHS!