<p>Hi, first post. So I'm taking advanced geometry and I have maintained a 96 average through the first 2 trimesters. However, geometry is made very difficult by my teacher and I'm the only one the class with an A. </p>
<p>Anyways, last week was midterms for geometry and we went over it in class Friday... I got a 90, the highest in my class. Here's the problem: I need a 95 average and 95 on the midterm to get into Honors Algebra 2. I worked SO hard to keep up my average and now I can't get into Honors Algebra 2 because of ONE FREAKING TEST SCORE. And this one class IS a big deal to me because I need to raise my weighted GPA and math is my strong suit. Also, I heard that the course isn't too difficult and if you get a 90 in honors algebra 2 you can skip precalculus (also very easy at my school and I am already self-studying).</p>
<p>I talked to my counselor and she said that prerequisites can't be waived under any circumstances and I'm forced to take the normal Algebra 2 course. Also, Algebra 2 summer courses are outside of my family's financial reach, so that's ruled out.</p>
<p>This is really depressing. I had my math for the next 2 years all planned out, but now it just got flushed down the toliet. All that hard work in geometry for nothing. I feel like crying. What do I do?</p>
<p>You might want to get your parents involved. Angry parents are the fastest way to get what you want from the school in my experience. Other than that I don’t know what to say. If a lot more kids met the requirements last year than this year, then you can talk about how maybe they should use a curve to place students in honors classes rather than a set grade.</p>
<p>How is the honors class still there if no one qualifies for it? Anyway, I agree that getting your parents involved might get things done faster. Convince the GC that you deserve to be in the honors class because you are the top student in geometry.</p>
<p>Yup - I agree with the above posters. You’d be amazed at how quickly school administrators will bend over backwards to appease a few upset parents. Countless prerequisites (and even trivial graduation requirements) have been trumped by a visit to the Guidance Counselor’s office by peeved parents at my school. Have your parents testify on your behalf, and maybe even your Geometry teacher if he/she is willing to prove to the administration that you are capable of honors level course work.</p>
<p>At my school if you’re not on the advanced/honors track for math, sometimes you’re allowed to take a test to try to move to the honors track. Do you know if that’s possible at your school?
Or, if your geometry teacher likes you, maybe he/she can write a letter of recommendation to the counseling department explaining that you’re the only person in your class to get an A and are capable of doing the work for Algebra 2/Trig honors.
I don’t know about making your parents come to the school and make a fuss. You want to keep a good relationship with the school administration - you’ll need them for guidance counselor recs and stuff like that when you apply for college.
I understand you’re really upset - a similar thing happened to me in 8th grade with Algebra 1 - but I mean, rules are rules and they don’t have to give you a spot in the honors class if you didn’t make the grade cutoff. Be super polite in whatever you decide to do, and if they still say you can’t get in, just take the highest level class you can and move on.</p>
<p>Yeah, IMO parents should only be involved as a last resort. </p>
<p>If you got the highest grade in Honors Geometry and you’re not allowed to take Honors Algebra II, who <em>is</em> taking that class then? Have you talked to your geometry teacher? Does the guidance department know how harshly the teacher grades, and that you have the highest grade?</p>
<p>However, taking regular Algebra II wouldn’t be the end of the world as long as you’d still end up with calculus in your senior year. Colleges don’t care too much about your numerical weighted GPA as long as you’re getting As and taking advanced classes. It might matter indirectly if your school uses it to calculate class rank, but that’s all. </p>
<p>There are people taking Honors Geometry, it’s just that they are all juniors and seniors. Each teacher is supposed to write a recommendation for next year’s course that guidance counselors take into consideration, so I don’t know if she recommended me for honors next year and she isn’t allowed to answer until I get the official courses for next year. So… should I ask my parents to talk to my guidance counselor? FWI they are definitely not the type to get angry at people they don’t know - especially school administrators. However, they value my education and they would probably just email or have a phone conversation. I feel like I should ask but wait until I get the official courses. Thoughts?</p>
<p>So the grade requirements are waived if your teacher recommends you? Considering you have the highest grade in the class I’m pretty sure they’re recommend you. I agree parents are a last resort considering being known as the kid who they bent the rules for isn’t really a reputation you want in your school. If there would still be time to get a schedule change after you get your courses, then definitely wait until then. Missing the first few days of H. Algebra 2 won’t hurt you.</p>
<p>I disagree with waiting to get your parents involved. I would have them come and meet with the guidance counselor now. Note: I am a parent. They shouldn’t e-mail–they should call the counselor and ask for an appointment to meet in person.</p>
<p>If you are unable to fix the problem then next year could you double up on algebra II and precalculus next year? At my kids are able to double up with the two classes.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, you need a teacher recommendation AND the right scores. My parents really want to avoid a fight and a meeting even though they’re angry at me for not getting into the class. </p>
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