<p>Typically, our HS's progression of English classes is 9th & 10th grade honors, 11th and 12th grade AP. Recently, the school introduced a 12th grade class taught in conjunction with a local college on Rhetoric. There would be no travel involved, because the class would be taught at the HS by HS teachers working with the college. The "most advanced" high school students are skipping 10th grade English and going directly to 11th grade AP, 12th grade AP and then taking Rhetoric their senior year. Is there a disadvantage to this progression? </p>
<p>(I posted this in the Parents Cafe by mistake)</p>
<p>Because the school is changing the entire accelerated progression, I doubt there will be much trouble with it. The main downside will probably be a more abrupt transition this year, and missing some of the classics they would otherwise be reading. I’m not quite sure why the hs decided to make rhetoric an entire year course, since it can be taught fairly well in much less time, but it will probably be valuable to know.</p>
<p>AS long as the English Department counts it towards the four English courses reqquired for graduation, it should be OK. The reason I raise that is that in our school system, the four years of English required for graduation = a track of four specific courses (regular/honors 9-12, and the only deviation is AP Lang and/or Lit in 11th and 12th). Shakespeare, creative writing, playwriting, etc. don’t count as credit towrds fulfilling the English requirement.</p>
<p>Additionally, make sure that the state recognizes the Rhetoric class as an English class. In MA, students must have 4 years of English to graduate. If Rhetoric doesn’t count, that could be a problem.</p>