Creating A Better Honors Program

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>At the school I go to it is against policy for students to take AP's until they are a Junior. Up until then they just hang out in Honors, and by hang out, I really mean it.</p>

<p>Honors here are a joke. It's just a padding for those who actually care a bit about college, and a class that garuntees they'll be with friends if not. I'd probably learn more in a normal class. It's open enrollment here. They can't deny anyone. </p>

<p>I believe my school needs a reformation, although I'm not a fan of blocking students out due to GPA or test scores, so I'm coming up with ideas and options. </p>

<p>My idea is that each student wanting to be in an honor course must fill out an application and get teacher recs. This way it'll seperate those who really want it from those who don't. From there the applicatn pool could be broken even farther down until there's few enough students, or students that would work well in the program.</p>

<p>Anyone else agree or disagree, and what do you think they need to do, without basing everything off GPA's and test scores, but with creating a system that actually challenged students?</p>

2

<p>Well Honors Programs at my school just require an extra semester project.</p>

<p>So instead of the usual 80% class + 20% final = final grade, it is:</p>

<p>60% class + 20% project + 20% final = final grade.</p>

<p>So in that sense, honors is a lot easier to get a higher grade with.</p>

3

<p>^ I don't like that idea either really. Is the curriculum harder?</p>

4

<p>The only honors course my school offers is in English, and we can't take AP classes until junior year.</p>

<p>But the honors english classes at my school are definitely far more rigorous than the regular ones.</p>

5

<p>^ I am in the same course as others without Honors but I get the semester project and they don't.</p>

<p>So it is such an easy GPA booster.</p>