@whataboutcollege, thank you for explaining it, it sounds like a very solid foundation curriculum for teenagers to have good overview and fundamental skills! Does “everyone” in that HS all getting these components or just for kids who are interested in STEM? What happens if kids don’t like it and leaning toward literature, humanities and art?
@crowlady Demonsamurai has mentioned that they plan to enroll Ethan in pricey summer SAT prep every summer and plan to send him to Korea for additional martial arts training. There is a younger sibling but will not overlap in college. OP stated that plan B was seeking ROTC scholarship. Based on what was disclosed so far I doubt OP has a very low EFC. I could be wrong but my impression is that he will have a high EFC.
@jjkmom The Magnet high school is specifically geared towards technology and engineering. And these components are for every 9th graders. The math and spanish are placed based on placement test. The rest are assigned automatically. I think starting 10th grade, there might be some flexibility on individual choices. I would think kids do not like STEM will not apply to this school. Kids can always transfer back to home district HS if they decided Magnet is not for them. There are always several kids go back to our local HS after first semester. Not everyone likes the method there. I am having S20 pay close attention to see whether he should adjust asap. It is interesting our Physics is having prereq of Chemistry, don’t know why is that?
So happy that dd20 is loving her first week of cross country practice. 5 to 6 miles a day in the summer would not make every 14 year old happy but it does her.
Yeah, I guess you are right @3scoutsmom . In any case, I don’t have any problem with wunderkinds applying to a good list of lottery schools as long as they also apply to some matches and safeties. Never too early to plant that idea in parent’s heads.
@crowlady - I agree. My oldest actually got in everywhere including fancy-schmancy, but safeties, including financial safeties, cannot be overstated in importance.
D20 is finishing up her summer school class at the local junior college and loves it. She ended up choosing American Sign Language instead of Spanish. I was on the fence as to whether to let her take American Sign Language (ASL) instead of Spanish, as we live in California and Spanish is so widely spoken here. My daughter REALLY wanted to take sign language, though, so I let her follow her heart, and I’m so glad I did. She has already gotten to know several influential ASL teachers and people within the deaf community in our area and has a real passion for sign language. Fortunately, the CSU and UC schools in Calif. accept ASL for their language requirement, as well as Stanford. I have yet to check to see if other schools accept ASL. In any case, it is great that she has enjoyed her first introduction to the college life. Hope you are all having a nice summer!
On the topic of foreign language, did you see that Florida now allows coding to be counted as a foreign language? http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2016/03/01/florida-senate-approves-making-coding-foreign-language/81150796/
@lkg4answers - I did see that! It was something we used to say as a joke in college, “hey, Pascal should count as a foreign language!”
Ugh. It makes me sad when all parents seem to do is push. I hope Ethan enjoys high school.
QOTD from yesterday’s cross country parent meeting: we are a no-cut sport, the girls quit all by themselves
^^ Funny! My kids are swimmers which is also a no cut sport at our school.
DD17 does volleyball in the fall and swim in the spring. DD20 will do CC and swim, so they will be on swim together for one season. They don’t always get along (what sisters do?) but are both very excited for that.
ACK! DS20 just decided he wants to start the on-line portion of the drivers ed course this summer so he’ll be ready to take the written test for his learner’s permit as soon as he turns 15 in October. I am so not ready for this. DS18 is taking his driving test this weekend for his regular license.
I have a driving kid DD17, and it is a gift from God. Trust me, you will love it.
Hello. I am late joining the party. My DD20 (that’s the convention for daughter graduating in 2020?) is starting her high school this Fall, after being homeschooled all life. She is a sculptor, rock climber and horse rider. She is also very interested in programming and hacking, and will take a programming course this Fall.
Welcome @SculptorDad ! My DD16, DS18 and DS20 were all homeschooled until 9th grade. The older two had a smooth transition into public school and I don’t think that DS20 will have much of a problem.
@3scoutsmom. Thanks! We are all excited and can’t wait to see how it works. Only a month now.
@SculptorDad all schools are different but my biggest surprise about sending kids to public school was the expense! We had material fees, orchestra fees, robotics club fees, lunch fees, parking fees, ipad insurance fees and don’t get me started on test fees and senior fees! I never dreamed a free public education would cost so much!
@3scoutsmom, thanks for the info. I have no delusion about it. She is going to a private boarding school with a truly generous scholarship so I would call it nearly free. But still I am expected to spend a lot compare to my income. At least we can save on groceries now. 