I am an eighth grade student in the 2.2 square mile town called Orange. I will embark on my high school journey in September. In May 2016, I got accepted to Science Park High School, a magnet school rated 8 out of 10 by most school websites, 99% proficiency in math and ELA, and sends students to Ivy Leagues, or Little Ivies every once in a while. My current school is a prep school, and I’ve been doing well, Honors Algebra 1 in 8th grade and will continue the process with Pre-Calc. in the summer of 11th grade. The thing about my school is the prep school is 8-9, and then you go to Orange High School, which isn’t as high performing. I imagine that I’ll be around the top of my class if I continue going here, but I don’t know which high school to attend, Science or Orange?
I’ve talked to other counselors and they told me that a) I should continue shining where I am or b) Go to the good school, because API (Academic Performance Index) matters and IB classes are better than AP classes.
Here is the dilemma, the magnet school serves 7-12, and I’ve recently talked to a student who attended since 7th and she will start freshman year with all honors courses. If I go to the magnet school, I will start over with regular algebra 1. I cannot seem to make a decision. I would appreciate if users from College Confidental can overlook my age and help me out…
Thank you!
Not only that, I’ve been recommended to ALL honors at my current school, I do not want to give that up…
From what I hear about IB, the workload is heavy because it’s writing intensive, and the program probably isn’t as good as AP for students interested in science.
Why would the magnet school force you to take regular algebra 1 when you’ve already completed honors algebra1? That makes no sense. Please don’t get your info from an 8th grader. Contact the counselor at the school and get an official answer. And if they say you have to repeat algebra 1, ask why you can’t be placed into geometry since you’ve already complete algbra1.
Which school do you want to attend? Will commuting to the magnet chew up a lot of time that could be better spent? Will transferring schools after 10th grade disrupt your ECs and social life? Research the IB and AP alternatives–either one could work but which do you like better?
I wouldn’t worry so much about what colleges think. They aren’t accepting schools, they are accepting individuals. Choose the school where you think you will thrive best. You only get to do high school once–do it for yourself, not for what you imagine some stranger in an office somewhere might like better.
Useful advice - please don’t give out so much personal & identifying information on the inter-webs. This place is called College “Confidential” for a reason.
From what I heard from the student attending the school since 7th is, the school believes that newcomers have not been taught the algebra 1 cirriculum