<p>Meda, the public schools in our area offer more than one diploma track. Most if not all students in honors/AP classes pursue the advanced diploma which requires four years each of English, lab science, history/social science, and math. Three years of one foreign language or two years each of two, one art/practical art, two years of Health/PE, and two electives are also required for the advanced diploma. The graduation requirements you describe for you local public sound like they could be requirements for a more standard diploma. Perhaps you could check to see if there are other diploma options.</p>
<p>Blueshoe it sounds like we are in a similar if not same district :). Those are our reqs too. Does your district also count math/language classes started in MS? Ours does so D will end up with 6 credits of math like D1 did. Technically sheâs done with math now but I wonât let her stop taking it although I may be convinced to let her avoid math her senior year as that is not where her passions lie, weâll see!</p>
<p>shilly, I think we might reside in the same state.
Yes, our school district counts both the grade and the credit earned for high school classes taken in middle school. My D took three foreign languages, two maths, and one science in middle school. She will finish up her foreign language this year after five years of study and could also be done with math, but she will continue on as well and finish with six credits of math. She will also finish high school with six science credits and 7/8 art credits. Due to her early start, she will graduate high school with 36 credits.:)</p>
<p>Hi all. I have been posting in the class of 2015 forum; D is graduating and off to a wonderful college. While there have been ups and downs along the way, the downs have been few and far between. S - class of 2017 - is a whole other story. Iâve only scanned the last few pages here, but I suspect I am not going to have much in common with most of you on this thread. S has not yet reached the âmagicâ (to me) 3.0 average mark, although per his teachers and standardized test scores he is more than capable of achieving far above that number. He excels in his ECâs (national speech tournament next month, top roles in school plays) but gets 0âs in class for not doing homework - and expresses surprise that this is happening. He is the only one of his friends without a drivers license, b/c I refuse to pay car insurance without a good student discount - which would require that 3.0 number to be hit. He is getting special ed âservicesâ such as they are b/c of executive function-type assessment, but so far, nothing seems to be working. At this rate, itâs going to be a community college for him, but he doesnât believe thatâs actually going to happen. Carrots, sticks ⊠nothing has worked. So - we are continuing to try new strategies. Not fun! I have no idea how this is going to play out, but it is beyond frustrating to feel so helpless and unable to provide the motivation/guidance that will get him on track. I thought maybe after a bad first year, things would turn around, but we are finishing year two, and the trend is not positive.</p>
<p>cookerâŠtake heart that CC (and perhaps especially this particular forum) is not representative of the average student out there. It can be discouraging if you value academics, are in a community that values academics and have a kid that is not at all interested in academic achievement. Remember that he is only 15 or so years old! And, in the case of my son, this matched the maturity level of my 11 year old daughter. My brother was just such a one with dyslexia as well and was dragged through high school by my motherâŠmainly Bs and Cs but did swing an athletic scholarship to Centre college in KY. By looking outside of the usual colleges/unis in our town and playing up his strength (sport) he found a place to take himâŠthen, after almost flunking out Freshman year, he slowly took ownership of his future and is now very successful engineer. As my son foundered (not as severely as my brother) but definitely downward grades and attention span in 8th grade we did the dramatic (and not always available option)âŠtook him abroad, forced him to repeat 9th grade on his return andâŠslowly but surely he took on more responsibility for his academics. 10th grade was pretty grim (did make the 3.0 but barely and with absolutely zero effort on his part (heroic on my part) and because we have a grading system that gives bonuses if you ace the annual state exams). Now, despite minimal effort in 9th and 10th grade and gradual improvement in 11th, and a ray of light in 12th he is doing well in college (still misses stuff sometimes, sleeps through lecturesâŠBUTâŠactually tells us about it and feels remorse and has improved each monthâŠ). His grades are mixed but the fact that he is doing it on his own and solving his own problems is what makes me think we have turned the corner. He is almost 20 but he really was not ready for college until nowâŠI wish he could have had one more year at high school, because I suspect next year he will really take off. </p>
<p>If there is any way to slow your S down to give him time to grow up? âŠtry itâŠrepeat a grade, repeat a class, summer schoolâŠtake classes with some younger kids⊠I think your car decision is EXCELLENT! not because of the grades, but the apparent lack of maturity and careful thinking⊠We all understand why some kids are potty trained later than others, read later than others,âŠwhy do we expect all of these kids to develop organizational skills and maturity at the same time? What is critical is that if they donât have the maturityâŠdonât give them the responsibilities that go along with itâŠdriving, taking AP classes, 10th grade,âŠyou shouldnât have to fail a grade to show that you arenât really ready for the next step⊠My son had 2.8 in 8th grade and was an exceptional math student. The year abroad he was placed in 10th grade classes. We returned to the States, I explained to the administrators why my 15 year old (while on paper academically prepared for 11th grade materials) should be placed in 9th grade and they were very supportive! His counselor often commended us for overriding our sonâs fear of embarrassment at being put back âŠhe almost certainly would have done poorly and been a complete disaster in college. </p>
<p>Your son has found something he excels atâŠbuild off that and slow him down in other areas so he can grow up. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>First time post on this thread, been reading for awhile now and itâs nice to see so many parents are going through similar issues. My daughter has always been great in school, a little unmotivated but has always gotten Aâs - until this year. She had two Bâs on her first semester report Latin III (is now high enough the end of year grade should be an A) and AP Euro.<br>
The AP Euro class has been the ONLY class that she studies a minimum of one hour every night (and most weekends for) and sheâs desperately trying to hold onto a B in it. They had a test the other day and she got a 62 on it, another girl who we carpool with was in the car (she has the highest overall grade in the class) and she got a 58. NO ONE got a C or higher on it. This has happened routinely throughout the year. Iâve been extremely frustrated that thereâs no curving (Iâm O.K. with that in itself) and no allowed extra work. Over half the class is getting Câs or lower.<br>
They had a âMockâ AP exam using an old test and DD got a 4 on it. The teacher told her she was really close to a 5. Iâve been telling her that âIt wonât matter in the long run that you have a B on your report card if you can get a 5 on the test.â Thankfully that seems like a real possibility.
This experience has really been a test for DD as she is getting strong Aâs in all her other classes (as usual) and has been taken to the shed by this one class. Trying to talk to the teacher has been horrible. Asking for guidance on what to study is futile, she wonât tell the kids.<br>
DD is in a private school that is challenging. There is no class ranking. I donât understand WHY a teacher would make a class so difficult and not allow any extra work. GC stated at semester end âProf XXX does allow for a lot of extra creditâ. The Prof was copied on that reply and when DD asked about any extra work, she was told âDonât worry about that, I know youâll be able to get your grade up to an A.â Well, that hasnât happened, itâs actually gone down in spite of buying TWO AP Euro study guides that she does each night on top of her normal text/notes review.
I told the other girl in the car, âIt would seem to me if the Prof would allow for/assign extra work, kids would obviously take up the opportunity and thus raise their grade. Additionally, if theyâre doing all that extra work to get their grade up a letter, they MIGHT actually do better on the AP exam in two weeks.â<br>
As DD wants to do engineering, itâs hopefully not going to hit her as hard in the eyes of Admin officers. Math/Science scores are always at the top.</p>
<p>BigBadDad - I hear you - for my D is was AP Stats. She had never received a C in her life - she got As, in AP Calc, AP Physics, and AP EngâŠbut has stuggled with the teacher and teaching style for AP Stats (supposedly the easy AP)âŠthe good news is that she got into all of the schools that she applied to as well as her specific program that had a 7% acceptance rate. I think that when adcoms see a strong student with one class that âdoesnât fitâ they must take into consideration other issues like the teacher. My D would go to her Stats teacher and ask her why did I get this wrong and her reply would be - âI donât remember.â So what is up with thatâŠat this stage in the game one tough class wonât impact her GPA that much as long as she keeps her grades up next year. The other thing I have learned is that many schools wonât take the AP Credit if it falls into the core of your major. For example, if you are a Chem Major and you got a 5 on the AP Chem test,they still may require your to take Chem 101.</p>
<p>BigBadDad: D is in AP Euro now and it is kicking her butt. Test scores have been a shock to her class. HOWEVER, her teacher has them do unit reviews for each class. If you are a diligent student, it is easy (but time consuming) to get a 100 on them. So itâs possible to get Câs and Bâs on tests (and the occasional lower grade as well) and still get an A. </p>
<p>but I will do a happy dance at 4pm on May 6th ;)</p>
<p>AP Euro is a junior class at DS high school, he will be moving down to honors. He is currently in AP Govât and the only student in 2 periods currently getting an A, even so the teacher said AP Euro is the hardest course in the HS and since DS is a science math kid he decided to pass.</p>
<p>Cooker â I am right there with you. My son is high IQ (aroung 140), inattentive ADD with major Executive Functioning issues.</p>
<p>I cried yesterday & today. No idea what to do. The kid is currently FAILING English because of 2 missed assignments. Missing 3 assignments in History. </p>
<p>Since January we have been adjusting his ADD meds and working with an ADD coach. NOTHING is helping.</p>
<p>Son even missed a family vacation last week to stay home and get caught up. I thought he was caught up, only to find out from his English teacher that he wouldnât except the work late and even if he would son didnât hand it in. Last night son told me all is well with History. Today I learned he is still missing assignments â He did stuff, just not the stuff that was assigned!</p>
<p>If I try to take away something (ie guitar), then he fails into a depression and the coach and doctor both tell me he needs that outlet. He doesnât often play video games. He has only been out with friends twice since Christmas break. I have no idea what else to do.</p>
<p>He is in private school. I am very torn if I should keep him in a school which is more than I can really afford, but is providing him some support and has teachers that at least stay in touch with me or send him to our public. Off the record, our public has told me there is no math course for him - Heâll be assigned a statistics course. The public has no APs and will no longer offer any dual courses. The district has never been easy to work with, but for this kid I think it will be miserable and result in LOWER GPA than his current school because homeworks count for a lot. The other option is cyber school, but for a kid who is lacking the attention to detail, I donât know if cyber school is good.</p>
<p>The worst part in all this is that son DOES seem like he cares. My parents had him last week while I was away and they thought I was crazy with all my complaints lately. They saw him as a pleasant little worker. Then I forwarded all the e-mails from this week and missing assignments to my Mom and she is as dismayed as I am. Short of sitting next to him each night and doing the homework with him and physically walking it to the teachers, I donât know what to do! </p>
<p>Any ideas are appreciated.</p>
<p>Longhaul - I am so sorry you are going through this with DS. My DD is ADD inattentive. However, medication helps her tremedously. Iâm sure you have done all the ârightâ things. The only thing I will ask is if you are working with an EXPERT doctor who specializes in ADD kids? Many doctors âdabbleâ and they really have no idea what they are doing. A doctor who specializes in ADD kids is worth their weight in gold. We have had to switch meds every 2 to 3 years due to DDs body changing. Currently she is on Vyanase 50mg. Seems to work well, but after 7 pm she is working without meds and that is hard. Otherwise, using a planner is very, very important for these kids. My DD writes down EVERYTHING in her planner. She has developed a system so that she can even remember long term assignments. It really is crutial that these kids learn to do that. He absolutely needs to develop this skill. Planners that are used will stop the missed assignments. Do all of his teachers have websites with assignments on them? Can you track those on a large calendar visual type calendar at home? </p>
<p>If none of this works, then I would stress that it is important not to ruin your DSâs self esteem. Part of succeeding in school is to do the homework and the daily grind. It does not matter how brilliant you are if you canât do what is required of you. If he really can not succeed in school because of the executive function issues, then consider honors rather than AP so he can develop those skills without feeling like a failure. Hopefully those skills will come in time. Getting into a #50 ranked school and doing well is MUCH better than getting into a top 20 and failing out b/c you canât remember to hand in the HW. I wish you the best. Everyone has limitations. Focus on the positive!</p>
<p>Longhaul - I feel your pain, I know how hard it is to work with a school system with a 2-E kid if they are not interested or prepared. If he doesnât have the math classes to keep his interest, I think he would loss interest and fall behind in everything - at least thatâs what my dear Aspie does.
Is he interested in Cyber School, it would give him the freedom to go at his own speed and try different things, I also wonder if he would be more organized if all the work was on a computer and he just had to press send, instead of physically hand something in.
When my DS started HS after 6 years in private Special Ed schools my plan was for him to take 5 years to get his diploma, that way it would give him time to mature and have the Executive Function skills hopefully kick in. I donât think we are doing that, but would it be an option to move your son to a different private school (that would be willing to work with late assignments) and repeat the grade.
We had to do a lot of mixing and changing of medicine to get to the right combination, do you trust the doctor. Every few years we would do a medication consult with a guru at JHU or somewhere else.
It sounds like your son wants to do well and has the intelligence, it never is a straight path with kids like ours, but he has the desire, that will serve him well.</p>
<p>Mom of Boston & RobD - exactly, weâve gone to the teacher to ask for extra work, âThere is none.â You just have to study better next time. DD goes in and asks about guidance before a test just to make sure sheâs studying the right thing, Prof says, âSounds good, you should be fine.â then gets the test and sees that the bulk of the test was on something else. WAY TOO Frustrating for her/us. Sheâs actually also in Latin IV and I wrote that Prof today to ask if there might be any extra work available to her these last weeks and he was like, âSure!â Since sheâs barely holding an A for the year in that sheâll be taking advantage of the offering. I told my wife, âItâs such a more pleasant experience when the teacher seems willing to at least consider extra work.â Again, not asking for curves, but an extra opportunity for work shouldnât be discouraged. IMHO</p>
<p>Our latest strategy - Starting next week, all of Sâs teachers will be required to write that nightâs homework assignment (and/or notice of upcoming test or quiz) in his assignment notebook and initial it. If there is no homework, they will write that in and initial that as well. Then, S will be required to produce the notebook, and the completed assignments, to me at end of the day, at which time I will check it and if it matches the assignment, initial the entry. That doesnât ensure that the homework will be done well, or that it will be turned in (although turning in seems to be less of an issue) but I am hoping that this tightened structure will improve his rate of homework completion. It seems so simplistic - but we havenât had the teacher requirement imposed until now and the higher-ups in Sâs high school have agreed to impose this requirement as an accommodation to Sâs [somewhat undefined] learning disability. We will see if this leads to any improvement.</p>
<p>Just here to commiserate with BBD, MofB, RobD, and anybody else whose child is taking AP history of any kind this year. My D is taking AP World History and it has been difficult with up and down results. There is no extra credit in the class, but test grades are curved most of the time. They just took a practice AP exam this week with no curve allowed. D got a 62 and this was a pretty good grade among her cohorts. Quarter grade took a big hit and so didnât her confidence for May 12. Found out today that they will be three chapters short of finishing the material for the AP exam which the teacher is going to test them on after the exam! Even worse than the test grades have been the DBQ, CoT, and comparison essay grades. They have been brutal at times. My D has put hours of time into study and writing for this class and has managed to stay in familiar territory with her quarterly grade, but her grade so far this quarter is lower than it has ever been. I hope she is able to finish strong. Good luck to everyone taking AP tests in the coming weeks!</p>
<p>Great news in the geohome! DD13 was accepted to the Currie Academy at Cornell for a one week introduction to engineering for girls. I am so excited for her! Meeting engineers in âreal lifeâ is very different than research engineers. Now she gets to see what that is all about. Plus she gets to spend a week with a bunch of smart and motivated math and science girls! Yeah!!! </p>
<p>DD is also studying for the AP World exam. At this point she is on the A-/B+ edge for this class. It is not her strong suit. I am hoping for a 4 on this exam. We shall see. </p>
<p>In the meantime, we are all doing a happy dance!</p>
<p>Congrats to geodd!</p>
<p>Congrats to your D geo! That is so cool!</p>
<p>Congrats to geo!</p>
<p>Back onthe AP rant - D1 is just finfiahing up her senior year - only one her AP credits âmayâ be accepted next year in college. It may not be acceptedâŠso, with all the stress and frustration over the past several years, I have to wonder if the AP track was worth it. I am not sure her college acceptance outcome would have been any different if she had just taken all honors and aced them. She has a friend that took mostly honors and one AP. She was a NMF tons of ECs etc. She got into three Ivies. So, my question is, since when is it expected that kids finish most of their core college requirements in high school in the form of APs?</p>
<p>I would like to help my son choose a college that has a good rep in a broad base of things he might be interested in. Then if he does choose to change majors then he wonât have to change schools too.</p>