Summer Classes

Parents Forum
1

I wasn’t really sure what category to post this in, but I was wondering if anyone knew of some good, accredited online high school (or college/AP) courses that I could take over the summer (or maybe even starting now). I’m currently a freshman, and I’d like to free up some room in my schedule/get ahead. So far, these are my ideas on how I could do that:
1.) Take Algebra II online: I’m currently taking Geometry, and have found it to be really (almost too) easy. I got a 100% in the class first semester, and I often times find myself being a bit bored when I finish problems early in class. I’d really like to have a bit more of a challenge in math next year, so I thought it might be a good idea to take Algebra II online so that I could go ahead to Pre-Calc next year. However, I gather that Algebra II has lots of concepts that can be difficult to conceptualize without a good teacher, and since math builds upon itself, I don’t want to get confused now and be lost in later math classes. Would taking Algebra II online put me at risk for such a disaster?

2.) Take Spanish II online: I’m taking Spanish I now, and although it’s probably my most challenging class, it’s one that I think I could definitely handle taking online because I already pretty much teach myself the material from the book. (My teacher doesn’t do a ton of teaching and I get extra credit for working ahead). Then, I could take Spanish III in school next year, or, since my school only requires 2 years of a foreign language, another class. My counselor mentioned I could take AP Computer Science, which sounds interesting to me. However, I would like to speak Spanish well, so I’d probably continue with online classes if I didn’t move on to Spanish III, and, even if I did, I don’t want to have not learned enough in the online Spanish II course to be prepared for Spanish III.
3.) Take English online: I don’t really have any concerns about this one since English is a fairly easy subject for me and every year tends to teach very similar concepts.
5.) Take AP Computer Science online: I mentioned earlier that I’m interested in taking AP Comp. Sci., but I don’t know if there are any online versions of the class or wether it’s a good one to take online.

Anyways, sorry for the long post. Do any of you know of good online courses? Are any of the options I listed above good ones? If not, do you have any better suggestions? Thanks so much for any feedback.

2

BYU offers online high school classes, some that you can take any time of year, though that may vary by the format. Accredited and reasonably priced. Check with your high school to see if they accept the credits toward graduation requirements.

https://is.byu.edu/site/courses/index.cfm

3

First things first, look in your own state for such programs, free online accredited programs through your school district, make up actual summer classes might be offered to the student who can feasibly do a math jump (not AP but to get in the advanced math track, here make up classes are for 3 weeks and kids can use them to jump). and your 4 yr U might offer summer high school accredited classes. Don’t take minimal foreign language, know the reqs of your target university. 2 yrs for high school graduation may well not be adequate for a competitive university. Personally I think you take as many years of a foreign language as possible. Do you have dunderhead classes that block your schedule that you can complete on line or in summer rather than actual academic classes? (here that is finance, PE, health, etc). If you have to take gov, that might be an online option to get rid of.

4

To be competitive plan on FOUR years of the Spanish (or another language). Minimum requirements will eliminate students but they are not usually enough when compared to the majority of students applying for so many colleges and universities.

Check with your HS regarding policies for taking summer classes. They may or may not count for meeting HS graduation requirements or being able to take a HS class. Also- be wary of advancing so far in math you have no courses available to you your final years of HS.

You are likely a gifted student. Be sure to discuss your boredom with both your parents and guidance counselor. You deserve to have your educational needs met just as much as other students.

Perhaps use your summer to explore areas you can’t take classes in during the school year. You should aim for breadth instead of just depth in your learning. Be wary of accomplishing too much during the summer that will leave you even more bored during the school year. You don’t need to get credits with your summer endeavors- it sounds like you want to keep your brain active. Many ways to do this- you are lucky personal computing has advanced so much compared to my son’s day.