Newbie looking for some guidance

<p>Well, that is my question. According to him, the current school has told him that if he can pass the semester world history he failed in 9th grade, they’ll move him into the 10th grade class. I don’t understand how they can do that, as he was a full 2.5 credits short of being advanced. He is taking Geometry, but he hasn’t taken Algebra II as he failed Algebra I and had to retake it second semester, so he is also a credit behind in Math - he has to have full 4 credits of math to graduate or be accepted into any NC state universities. So until I can sit down with a GC and get the straight hoey from them, I don’t know what the overall plan should be. </p>

<p>Short answer - I would assume yes to your question, but I think his school is doing something hinky and he’ll pay the price for it when he tries to get into college - he won’t have the prerequisites.</p>

<p>Doesn’t your school offer summer classes? That’s usually how kids in my neck of the woods make up for lost time…but in NY they’re required to pass those state Regents exams or they don’t graduate! Every year there are a few “super-Seniors” who didn’t want to go the summer route (or failed to pass the course on the second try). That gets their attention and they normally manage to graduate by the end of August!</p>

<p>Not the school that he is currently attending - but hey, they don’t have enough books to send home with students either for many classes. And the Home EC class he took in 9th grade didn’t have enough funds to buy supplies, so instead of learning to cook, they studied nutrition the whole semester. He was bummed and failed it. Mom wouldn’t let us have him moved into a foreign language. Said it would harm his overall record.</p>

<p>Is it possible for him to start from scratch, at the new school? I mean, so that only the transcript from the new school counts? I have no idea, so it is a question.</p>

<p>It seems as if there should be no big hurry about graduating, with the number of adjustments this boy is facing this year. I think his emotional adjustment should be the priority, and if he goes to college a year later, that might even be a good thing, giving him more time to mature.</p>

<p>We live in NC. Our kids went to a big public h.s. and then to NC state u’s.
Our county school system no longer offers summer school for anyone except seniors who failed to graduate in June.</p>

<p>Gennymac, how many total credits are required to graduate from your county’s h.s.?
Our school system requires 28 to graduate but a kid who never failed anything would end up with 32 (8 credits/yr) so there is some wiggle room.</p>

<p>I’d start at your high school. Do you know who’ll be his guidance counselor? Ours was great and always acted like our kids’ advocate. I don’t know NC requirements, but also check to see what an appropriate list of college-ready courses:
4 yrs Eng.
4 yrs language
Social Sci: World His, European His, US His, Govt,
Math- usual sequence is, starting in middle school: Alg I, Geo, Alg II, pre-Calc, Calc A/B, Cal B/C
Science: Bio, Chemistry, Physics
P/E</p>

<p>Assume those failed courses will just be repeats. Understanding why he failed is the challenge.</p>

<p>Compmom - I actually have that same question on my list for the GC, if they will talk to me. I think it might be easier in the long run to just let him start over and take a deep breath rather than heap the added stress onto him to try and catch up.</p>

<p>PackMom - we are in Wake County - I believe the requirement is 26, but a couple of those are not required for Graduation, but are required for the state colleges. Yes there is some wiggle room, but I’m afraid he’s used that up with the 2.5 he missed in 9th grade.</p>

<p>Limabeans (BTW - my favorite veggie) I have located the Graduation Requirements - which are the base for graduation. Now I have to determine what he’ll need to take and when to make up the History, Algebra I, and another course he failed. Since the current school put him in Geometry and passed over the Algebra II (WTH) I’m thinking he may have to double up with an Advanced Math and Algebra II in one year. But, that is also on my list for the GC if they’ll talk to me.</p>

<p>Thanks so much every one - still working through this, but have a call on my calendar for the GC on Monday morning.</p>

<p>“What I am really struggling with - and this is where I desperately need some assistance. I need to make sure he’s got the right classes, right class levels, for him to make graduation.” </p>

<p>Try starting with the GC (Guidance Counselor) at the new high school. If you are in the situation where you are considering several school choices, start with the GC at the assigned neighborhood HS to learn the state requirements etc. </p>

<p>CC parents can give you pros/cons once we know the options, but there is a lot of variability between different states, districts etc.</p>

<p>I have a friend at work who had a very bright son that did terribly freshman year. He had goofed off on MS and did not get placed into honors in HS. He’d get bad grades for things like coloring the map wrong (blue outline for the ocean instead of coloring the ocean area blue). She had to work dilligently with the GC to arrange a honors course trial for 10t grade. It sounds like he is doing well in 10th grade! He just needed the stimulation of more interesting classes. </p>

<p>Good luck in the custody battle. If you have a way to introduce the SS to a few kids at the new school, that will make his transition easier. </p>

<p>Hmm… just thought about something. Depending on the new HS policy, the old grades might not count in the new HS GPA.</p>