<p>from reading some of the helpful cc threads, i noticed postings on math acceleration for middle schoolers at the high school level. i haven't been able to find much on science acceleration. ds may possibly be allowed to take high school classes next year (math, science). he's now in 7th and it appears as though his needs were not met in the regular classroom this year. acceleration within the subject area in the 8th grade classroom does not seem to be a viable option............only enrichment seems to be the norm. the usual curriculum.... even for gifted students..........is 7th grade - pre-algebra........and in 8th grade - algebra 1................ours is a rural district.</p>
<p>other possible options .........are distance learning, independent study, virtual schools, homeschooling, or private school. ds participated in DUKE tip.</p>
<p>S got concerned that 8th grade science would be too boring (the 7th grade science teacher told him so). So during the summer, he took the CTY Fast-Paced High School Physics class (equivalent to Honors Physics) which he could do since the had already started studying AP-Calc. He did well in the class and was allowed to audit AP-Physics C at the high school. His k-8 teachers tweaked his schedule so he could go to the high school in the afternoon.</p>
<p>If your child is not quite so accelerated, it may still be possible to ask for some similar accommodation so that the can take science classes at the high school. It would depend on the relative location of the two schools, the flexibility and compatibility of the two sets of schedules and the willingness of teachers to accommodate. Now is a great time to ask, as this is when schools draw up schedules.</p>
<p>Both my kids dealt with insufficient challenge in the middle school science courses by doing science fair projects. They weren't required for school, but they did them on their own. Both did quite well and it was a help in HS admissions to selective programs.</p>
<p>We also found summer programs that would let them pursue their interests. One did some two-week programming classes until he started doing (free) Olympiad training curriuculum; the other did some hands-on environmental research through a state summer gifted program. It was residential, often with a historical bent (but mainly scientific), and the cost was less than day camps in our area.</p>
<p>counting down - thanks for the info......... ds has been doing some projects on his own at home but not at school.<br>
i'll be sure to take a closer look at your suggestions. the olympiad training sounds interesting.</p>
<p>My local homeschooling group has helpful moms who look all over town for lab space, and hire teachers with good backgrounds to lead joint science classes. </p>
<p>Our middle school offers Regents (high school level) biology to about 1/3 of the kids. Other schools in the area offer Regents Earth science. The grades and credit appear on the high school transcript. It makes it easier to fit in more AP courses for kids who are interested. Even the non-science types may be able to fit in more electives in high school or non science APs. I only know of one kid whose parent advocated for him to do the 8th grade bio class as a 7th grader. If I had it to do over again, I'd do it for my kid. He was already double accelerated in math - there were several kids in the same boat and we carpooled for a first period math class at the high school.</p>
<p>thanks mathmom...........what does the term "double" acceleration mean?</p>
<p>in your school's case with high school credit and grade being given...............is this then what is referred to as "dual" enrollment in middle school/high school?</p>
<p>has anyone heard of part-time enrollment at the middle school and part-time enrollment elsewhere.........say another district's virtual school?
just throwing this question out there........things are changing so fast now with the emergence of virtual schools, some of which are district run.</p>
<p>Our school system considers it "normal" to take Algebra 1 in 9th grade. So if you take it in 8th you are "accelerated", in 7th "double accelerated". It's a little more complicated in math, but in the old days the college prep kids did Bio in 9th, Chem in 10th and Physics in 11th. So regular acceleration is starting the sequence one year early, double acceleration two years early.</p>
<p>My 12 yo niece (7th grade) is taking three high school courses (English, Alg I and Bio) at her local high school. It's a walkway across from the middle school. She lives in an area that is up-and-coming, and there's a whole cohort (about 20 kids) who have been way ahead for so long, that when they got to middle school, the administration finally decided to do something for them.</p>
<p>Condor, if your S took the SAT for talent searches (CTY/Duke), there's a possible source of accelerated coursework, too.</p>