<p>So, my school's honors program (actually the education system in general) pretty much sucks, so I've decided to stop complaining and do something about it.</p>
<p>I want to get our honors revamped. I need help. If you like your school's honors program please post what your school does, how competitive it is, and what ever important information you feel inspired to share. If you feel even braver (Is that a word?) post the link to your school (If your school has info about the program online, mine doesn't.)</p>
<p>Oh and why do you like it?</p>
<p>Just wondering, what is it that sucks about your high school's honors program?</p>
<p>Several things. :)</p>
<p>First, my school offers "open enrollment". Normally I wouldn't fine this overly bad (although I don't particularly agree with the concept of it), except that it's getting to the point where there are more students in our honors classes than in our normal classes. Let me just clarify, I do not go to a competitive school by any means. We're a feeder for the local university with the 80% (or higher) acceptance rate. We have students who (although it was just covered for about a month in the normal biology class) don't know what an autotroph is. We have students in the honors English class that don't know what the word "bias" means, and students who complain on a normal basis because they have so much work, when their work consists of a small powerpoint to do in history, and an essay in science. </p>
<p>The standards set in our "honors" classes are ridiculous. The only thing that differentiates an honors English course from a normal one is a supplement reading list that isn't even required of teachers to teach. I still haven't been able to figure out the difference between the history and science classes, and neither have my teachers. </p>
<p>It just goes on from there. I think it's horrible. I get worse grades in my normal required classes than I do in my honors. </p>
<p>I know I should be grateful we have honors, but when the honors are at the same level as the regular courses I don't see the point of having both. In my opinion either revamp them, or get rid of them.</p>
<p>Your teacher has to sign you into an honors class. If you have a C- or so in let's say an honors math class this year, she/he won't give their consent for you to take honors/AP the following year. I like that since it weeds out the non honors kids, but some still find a way into honors sometimes if their teacher likes them or whatnot. but it's better than nothing. And for some classes you must apply to be in it such as Honors Language Arts. You need an A in regular for honors the next year or if you're an honors already, you need an A or B to continue. Same with AP classes.</p>
<p>What does the "application" consist of?</p>
<p>I agree with honor student, or possibly limit the class to class rank? Or in simplier terms, just require the student to have a certian gpa. so its high enough so stupid people don't get it.</p>
<p>A average in a regular class or B+ average in an honors class to move on to / stay in honors. Then you have to have your current teacher sign his or her approval (not really a letter of recommendation, but an approval). </p>
<p>The curriculum itself doesn't differ much, but the intensity in which it is covered is much greater in an honors/AP course. (Many teachers teach both regular and honors/AP).</p>
<p>The main difference is that people in an honors / AP class want to learn. They talk to the teachers, stay after school, tutor, read relevant books in their spare time, etc.</p>
<p>Okay, my Honors program is application-based. The application is based off of your first two quarter & midterm grades, a writing prompt, teacher recommendations, etc. If you get it, you have to attain a B- or better to stay in. If you get a C+/C/C-, you'll be considered on academic probation. Another C+/C/C- and you're out. Any one D+/D/D-/U will be an automatic out. That's about it really, ask if you have any questions.</p>
<p>Our school is getting ridiculously lax with the honors/AP policies. It's kinda saddening, but at the same time understandable if people really want to go for challenging schedules they can't handle.</p>
<p>But our policy used to be tests to get into the class for APs and teacher recommendations for honors and a minimal grade. For AP Chem, it was an open test and the top 30 people got into the class (I remember being 7th on that list). For AP Bio, they had to answer several multi choice and answer a FRQ about the immunity system (A packet was given to them to study from 1 week prior to the exam) and the top 90 got into 3 separate classes. </p>
<p>For things like math, it went on a different system. There were 4 requirements and 3 of them you had to hit before moving on -- one was a B or higher, teacher rec, B or higher on the entrance exam (for the next level class) and one more thing I can't think of.</p>
<p>For English, once you get into Adv. English in 9th grade, you automatically stay on that track onto Adv. 10, Honors 11, and AP 12th unless you opt out of it. Getting back INTO the track, though, is ridiculously hard through testing. </p>
<p>But now, our school no longer advocates testing to get into APs based on that "Full Opportunity" thing CollegeBoard has been preaching lately (to suck more money out of us) and now people are getting into AP Bio classes but failing miserably. The traditionally "hardest and most prestigious class" of AP Chem has now fallen to shambles with people I KNOW shouldn't have gotten in had they still had the testing this year.</p>
<p>Kinda bummed about it, but yeah. I guess school cultures change with time. =\ I remember standing outside the counseling office in the rain sometimes squeezing past people to see if I made it into my AP classes. Now the freshmen don't even have to worry about that. lol and thing is, I don't go to a private school at all. In fact, I go to a pretty crappy school that sends 60% to comm. college and 30% to state and 10% to UC level and <5 Ivies (sometimes even less) every year.</p>
<p>My school is kind of similar, musicallylatin.</p>
<p>We have open enrollment for honors and AP classes, the exception being a select few AP classes that require teacher recommendations. Then again, EVERYONE gets the teacher recommendations, they're not hard to get at all.</p>
<p>I've been noticing that a lot of people in my honors classes should not be in honors, and my honors classes have been made a lot easier.</p>
<p>The only difference between our schools is, I go to a competitive, top-ranked public high school. I've heard that my school system is trying to phase out Honors classes completely and have just regular and AP classes only!</p>
<p>Also, I forgot to say that just to GET an application you need all A-/A/A+s on the first two quarters and midterm grade, and since they reject people, it really means mostly A/A+s</p>
<p>Oh woah, open enrollment in AP classes is a no-no. I'm really surprised about that.</p>
<p>At my school, there's:</p>
<p>Regular: Everyone can get in</p>
<p>Enhanced: Everyone can get in</p>
<p>HP: You have to get your parents to sign a waiver</p>
<p>AP: 2.5 GPA OR top 50% of the class</p>
<p>FE: Need to have a 3.8+ GPA, 2 teacher recs, and write 3 essays. You'll have all FE classes and stay in the FE room for every period.</p>
<p>So basically thew open enrollment is what's screwing you over. There's not much you can do about that alone, but just find some people who agree with you.</p>
<p>To the person who put forth the idea of GPA req.'s. I don't personally agree with GPA/Test scores. I think it's a ridiculous way of deciding.</p>
<p>I'm trying to find research to support my idea that an application should be required. There would be a question/answer essay page in it. I also want two teacher recomendations for students also. It's not overly strict, but it would increase the level of our classes by about 10 times. </p>
<p>I also say revamp the curiculum. That would take more than our district would want to do, but I think it's needed.</p>
<p>Our apps to get into honors classes suck.</p>
<p>WHY ALL THE ESSAYS!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!</p>