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Well, isn't that interesting? I don't know anybody's age at D's school so I can't easily see if we follow suit. D was 18 and 5 months. I think the sal was a good bit younger. I'll look into this. It would be interesting if it held true.</p>
<p>Off subject but sort of related, a few years back a family member (from Texas!) said it was becoming sort of de rigueur to "hold back" little boys from starting school for one year, so as to give them an athletic advantage later on. This especially helps in 7th-11th grade, when the boys start growing into men and the early bloomers have a definite head start.</p>
<p>Val of S's class was 17, didn't turn 18 until middle of Sept. by which time she was a freshman at Wake Forest. S (#6 in class) was 18 and 4 months.</p>
<p>Packmom- well see? The 17 year old was a girl! ;)</p>
<p>My other anecdotal evidence-
My bro was 17 and 5 months upon graduation. Went to a private military school where he had "structure" so did fine (but had not been doing so well in hs). My h was 17 and 7 months. Waited before entering college because he had no clue what he wanted to do in college.</p>
<p>At the competitive private schools here, there's no question that they encourage parents to hold kids back and start them late - especially boys - and sometimes the schools would effectively make them take two years for first grade. This is for academic, not athletic, maturity later on.</p>
<p>Doing two years of first grade here is common for boys. "Transitional Kindergarten" classes are filled with mostly boys. Hence, its common to see boys with late summer or fall birthdays graduating at 19, since they are starting first grade at the age of 7-going-on-8. Those kids usually do just fine later on. It's the kids, especially boys, whose birthdays are in the late summer/fall and started earlier, because they were so intelligent, precocious, "ready", that struggle later in high school when they're trying to take APUSH at the age of 15.</p>
<p>Late summer birthday for my oldest, so he is very young in grade. That's one reason we haven't seriously considered a grade skip for him. He gets most of the effect of a grade skip by living in a world of "kindergarten red shirt" boys. At least his youth soccer league looks at actual birthdates and birth years--but again he is one of the younger guys on his team.</p>
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[quote]
Off subject but sort of related, a few years back a family member (from Texas!) said it was becoming sort of de rigueur to "hold back" little boys from starting school for one year, so as to give them an athletic advantage later on. This especially helps in 7th-11th grade, when the boys start growing into men and the early bloomers have a definite head start.
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<p>Yeah, this probably isn't the right community for that school of thought, but I'll confirm that I've heard the same thing. I'm in a "girl sport" but it's heavily based in Texas and lots of the people I've heard from there are just as heavy into the football thing with their sons, and I've heard this more than once. If you don't hold your kid back and he isn't big or an early bloomer, if he's especially young then he can get blocked out early because you essentially either make the teams and keep training and improving at that critical age or you don't.</p>
<p>Junebug,</p>
<p>There was a thread on cc 11/2/2006 about Towson University's admissions program targeting high test score but w/lower grade types of students. A couple of articles on Towson's focus were linked there as well. </p>
<p>I'm curious how your son does in math/science? Are his test scores higher in math and science than in english? </p>
<p>I noted that he has a 232 psat as a junior. Do you know what the cutoff was for this year's National Merit Finalists in your state? There should be some threads here on cc where you can check. If he is named a national merit semi-finalist or finalist, he'll have many opportunities ranging from partial and full-tuition to full-rides. I'd suggest looking closely at some of the schools that actively recruit National Merit students to their schools. Check out their honors programs/honors colleges. Maybe there are some summer programs at these schools that would be of interest to your son. I'm betting that he is bored in class and that's why he doesn't do the homework. It's a homework thing..........not that he doesn't know the material. You might also look at the math/science career fields and colleges for those programs if he's leaning towards math/science. </p>
<p>Keep us posted. Good luck !!!</p>
<p>Junebug,
I just sent you a PM with some information, and a story, that might interest you. I can't share it publicly for privacy reasons, but the bottomline is that I wouldn't give up the ship just yet. If you make sure your son understands in a very real and specific way the effect his grades will have on his college options, he may surprise you. Some kids - especially of the male persuasion - need to have a clear reason to put their nose to the grindstone. :)</p>
<p>My nephew is a smart slacker. I'm not sure how it's going to play out acceptance-wise, but he really liked St. Johns. They had some sort of group intro to the school where the kids got to play admissions officers and apparently they are looking for kids who are bright, but didn't necessarily jump through the hoops it takes to be an A student at many schools.</p>
<p>thanks, Mathmom.</p>
<p>Dear Condor30, thanks so much for the suggestion about Towson. I wondered if a university or two kind of specialized in this kind of kid. </p>
<p>You asked about math and science and you're right, he is really good at math and enjoys it. Science--he likes too, but the teachers are so-so at his school. He scored high in writing and the other test, but he dislikes that kind of analysis/deep thinking (or so he says).</p>
<p>i didn't think to look at that cutoff. I'd heard that those finalists had great grades and had to apply, so I didn't pursue this. But i will look into that now. </p>
<p>Again, thanks for your help.</p>
<p>Junebug,
you are welcome. I think your son has a very bright future. He just needs to find the right fit for him. You might look at acceleration within the subject area for your son, in math, for example. There are online courses available. Check out some gifted and talented websites for suggestions, i.e., Duke Talent Search, etc. Visit with the gifted counselor at your school. </p>
<p>My guess is that his needs aren't being met in the regular classroom and that's why his grades are falling. He is bored. </p>
<p>Good luck to you and please let us know how he does.</p>