Class Schedules,gpa And Ranking

Parents Forum
1

<p>Anyone from Texas willing to share their schools method for GPA and class ranking? Our school is small with a weighted system and a strong focus on athletics. Schedules are a nightmare for the school with weighted classes structured around athletics, but not band. Students have difficulty taking the weighted classes desired because of scheduling conflicts. If students desire to take all the advanced classes possible, it creates scheduling problems for them in the next year.</p>

<p>There has to be a better way. Are there any schools that can maintain the same basic schedule from year to year? The school has an eight period day from 8-4. It makes sense to weight or distinguish advanced classes from the basic academics, but how do you provide the same opportunities for each student to excel by offering advanced classes and yet protect the opportunity to participate in band or athletics?</p>

2

<p>I can share with you two examples from the two districts we straddle. My oldest two graduated from a 4x4 block, the youngest two will graduate on a 7 period day. Both districts use weighting, but far differently.</p>

<p>In the district that uses the 4x4, the AP classes are weighted to much IMO. They are weighted 1.3 and the pre-AP 1.15. That means you can make darn close to a C, and still skitter above someone making As in unweighted classes--and you don't have to take the AP exam. In fact, most do not. Many of these students do not work as hard as their peers in the unweighted classes. Furthermore, some students mange to get their counselors to put them ahead of the game by letting them take some APs before their peers. (Our 9/10 campus is separate, you need special permission to travel to the 11/12 and you have to know how to obtain it.) In this same vein are the kids that are allowed to push the unweighted into the last quarter of the senior year where it does not impact final rank. Again, most students are forced to take those unweighted as freshmen and sophomores.</p>

<p>Then we have kids that are allowed to count dancing as PE, Fine Arts, Health, and Foundations of Fitness--the problem being that those are all unweighted classes--therefore dancers ascend the ranks quickly, while band members and athletes do not. Band can get one PE and one Fine Arts, Athletes the PE but not the health or Fine Arts.</p>

<p>Add in that the kids who can afford to take on-line classes, classes at the community college, or buy the materials to study for Credit By Exam can also avoid getting those classes chunked into the GPA. This is a good strategy for those who would make lower in an AP, or the unweighted classes.</p>

<p>As you can see, it is a recipe for disaster with the top ten percent rule in Texas. If you have the money, and the ability to persuade the counselor, you can inch your GPA up. And since the top ten kids are separated by about 2 points, every little trick helps.</p>

<p>There are still some either, or decisions to be made with some APs that are offered only once per year.</p>

<hr>

<p>Compare this to district #2. On the seven period a day schedule, there is no room to push off courses until the last nine weeks. Only the core classes are counted in the GPA, tie break is SAT scores. Of the core classes the AP are only weighted 5 points onto the grade, so a student who makes a 90 in an AP gets the same grade as a student that makes a 95 in the unweighted equivalent. And you are required to take the exam. Thus the AP classes tend to have students that are serious about the material, not just the GPA. It doesn't behoove them to take the class unless they are willing to work. The unweighted classes do not count for or against you in your GPA....so all electives, district and state requirments for health and PE etc...do not enter into the equation, and thus cannot be used in the gaming process.</p>

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<p>Now what is very interesting is that the 4x4 district is actually the one that puts a premium on athletics, chasing the elusive 5A state title in any athletic event they can. But the athletes that must eat two blocks of unweighted athletics for four years get hurt in class rank.</p>

<p>In the second district, they give a speech at the beginning of each year that tells the students how many Div 1 athletic scholarships are given and how many local kids get (few to none), and so athletics should be something you do because you enjoy it. Then they show how many academic scholarships are available. Most of the kids participate in at least one athletic/band/drama extra curricular and many do several. In fact there was just an article about how between the junior high and high school there are only 24 students that do not participate in at least one UIL athletic/band/or academic event. So, they do respect the activities, but they don't overtake the academics.</p>

3

<p>This is a hot-button topic at my Ds hs. The kids in marching band and chorus are shut out of many AP/honors courses. A group of parents are planning to go and meet with head GC to try to work out the master schedule for those who would like the challenge of AP courses but still enjoy music class (or art),etc. </p>

<p>We live in a district that LOVES its standardized tests---results make the district look fabulous. It is all of those bright kids that raise the bar on those results too. In return, the district should try to accomodate its brighter students. This is not the way it is presently. Those with LD needs are the priority--as they should be--but the high achievers might be due for more consideration as well.</p>

4

<p>This is fascinating - my kids go to a 600 student private high school, but since such a high % of the upper kids are in band and/or chorus, their needs drive the scheduling. Only the football players, baseball players, and maybe basketball, have to take in day "weight room" - conditioning classes, and it is a rare one of those guys who takes predominantly honors/AP. DD's classes were with the same group of kids over and over - there were several athletes, but they were in softball, soccer or track/cross-country (really big at her school). Interestingly, volleyball and girls' basketball is underrepresented in the AP classes, and overrepresented in the homecoming court - maybe that's a scheduling thing, too.</p>

5

<p>Thanks so much for your input Texastaximom and Momnipotent!
I agree that taking an advanced class should not overwhelm the system. Our advanced classes are on a 10 point scale verses a 7 point scale for regular classes. It essentially makes the schedule a top priority because missing a few weighted classes compared to other top students will drop your rank.
The top 10% rule is a critical factor in Texas. It has taken the "Honor" out of being a top student, because of the desperation level created in students. They already have an enormous amount of pressure and inconsistent systems of a school create more pressure.
I am also unsure that the advanced classes really deserve the weight given...too many inconsistencies in teaching styles/material covered/complexity/etc. Our current system makes it hard on everyone, especially the students and teachers committed to excellence, because it takes the focus off the material and on the grade.
Students deserve a consistent system that rewards excellence, but it is clear very specific guidelines need to be established to stabilize the schedule, create a safe learning environment for students by having a zero tolerance for cheating and a grading system that will provide a clear standard in which students know the expectations. Another school only calculates core classes that all students take, any advanced,elective,or remedial is not included. Maybe that is the better way...however,it doesn't reward those who take the advanced classes.</p>

6

<p>Thanks so much for your input Texastaximom and Momnipotent!
I agree that taking an advanced class should not overwhelm the system. Our advanced classes are on a 10 point scale verses a 7 point scale for regular classes. It essentially makes the schedule a top priority because missing a few weighted classes compared to other top students will drop your rank.
The top 10% rule is a critical factor in Texas. It has taken the "Honor" out of being a top student, because of the desperation level created in students. They already have an enormous amount of pressure and inconsistent systems of a school create more pressure.
I am also unsure that the advanced classes really deserve the weight given...too many inconsistencies in teaching styles/material covered/complexity/etc. Our current system makes it hard on everyone, especially the students and teachers committed to excellence, because it takes the focus off the material and on the grade.
Students deserve a consistent system that rewards excellence, but it is clear very specific guidelines need to be established to stabilize the schedule, create a safe learning environment for students by having a zero tolerance for cheating and a grading system that will provide a clear standard in which students know the expectations. Another school only calculates core classes that all students take, any advanced,elective,or remedial is not included. Maybe that is the better way...however,it doesn't reward those who take the advanced classes.</p>