<p>limulus, I agree that life is much more than AP grades. My two girls had heavy duty ECs every afternoon, evening, Saturday and Sunday (including sports). These were very important to them. We are so glad that they were so involved in these activities. For one of my kids, her main EC even became her college major and career. My other kid was very active in ECs in college as well and did one of her sports on the varsity level at college (not recruited) and this was a huge part of her enjoyment of college. </p>
<p>But both girls still were very good students. They balanced these endeavors with their school work. </p>
<p>For the OP’s kid, I still think he should do sports (I value sports/ECs and it doesn’t matter if a kid is never recruited for college). But if he has an F in a class, he needs to pull that up and take a break (if it comes to that) from the sport, until he does bring up the grade to at least a C. Most high schools even demand that of their athletes in order to participate. It is reasonable. I don’t care how many APs the OP’s son takes, but doing well in school is important. ECs are very important to me too (and even to colleges). But the grades should not suffer so much due to the ECs. Perhaps the kid could drop down from an AP level. The issue is finding a way for him to succeed in class (at least a C) while still doing his passionate ECs. That’s what they need to address. Failing a class just is not OK for a college bound student. I would hope the OP son’s CAN maintain his sport. But they do need to do whatever they can to get him to be passing with at least a C in math…either help with time management, a math tutor, a change in math level, whatever it takes. That still must be the priority. Yes, life is so much more than grades. But grades can’t be discounted when it comes time to apply to college. Ideally, a kid will have decent grades AND enjoy EC pursuits. I know my kids did and so do many others.</p>
<p>I agree with others that I don’t think the athletic activity is the problem. 3 hours 6 days a week is typical. In fact, studies show that kids who participate in sports do better academically than those who don’t. I suspect that if he was taken out of the sport, his grades will still suffer. I agree with mrsref that the real problem is his lack of inclination towards school work. But, is also sounds as if college athletics, unless at a D3 school, are not in his future.</p>
<p>Is my kids’ high school the only one that has requirements to be eligible to play a sport, be in the school musical etc.? Here, if you have an F on the mid-marking period progress report or the report card, would have you sitting out a certain number of weeks until the grades get pulled up. It doesn’t even matter what parents think. It just is the policy.</p>
<p>We talk all the time about the importance of fitness and good health and excercise. There is also evidence that excercise is, in fact, good for the brain. Mostly, though, and I don’t know if this has been said, but why on earth would you assume he would do better in school because he now can’t do the other thing he loves to do?</p>
<p>Well, sports or no sports, they do need to address math class and have a meeting as to what to do so son can improve his standing in that class.</p>
<p>If he really loves the sport, let him keep playing. Once he quits it, it may be gone forever. You can only play for your high school when you are in high school. If he gets an F, he cannot play. playing will be his motivation to get his grades up. 3 hours per day is what it takes. That is what all of our kids are doing.</p>
<p>This is true…only if…he knows he cannot play unless he has a C or better. So, most schools would have something in place to be eligible to participate and I’d see what that school has but a parent can also say you have to sit out until your teacher says you are averaging a C and then you can rejoin.</p>
<p>‘PS…just a small request…please do not call college counselors/consultants: “so called,” thanks!’
Sorry, soozievt, didn’t mean it that way! And I am thankful to be getting a counselor’s take on this! so cool…</p>
<p>thanks to all replies… I do see that my view point is a little lop-sided. Reading all posts makes me feel better about S1 (slightly) that he is not throwing it all away, but I just found out interims are due in about a couple of weeks and if his F stands, then he needs to sit out until next season starts, school policy is atleast a D. S1 is down in the dumps right now, H trying to cheer him up, lol! He is very smart, I think he can strategize and come up with something to help him study and better his grade by then, he knows he has to pull his act together soon, which is fine by me!</p>
<p>OK, then your school DOES have a policy. So, your son has reason to pull up the grade in order to be allowed to participate in sports by his school. The thing now is to possibly call a meeting with the math teacher and son and discuss what he needs to do to pull up the grade. Is he behind? Does he need tutoring? Is there extra credit work? Make up tests allowed? Then, possibly set up math homework/study periods in his schedule to get him back on track and eventually wean from your intervention. But you might need to intervene now on a plan of how to improve in math and what it takes to do that. You might have to be aware of assignments and when they are due and when test dates are so that you can oversee it a bit to help him get on track again.</p>
<p>^^ S just talked about possible tutoring. But he will also talk to math teacher tomorrow - he said he will ask for help in the half hour gap after school and before practice starts for a few days. dont know about makeup test, thanks for the suggestion, will have S check with teacher. Also, I will make a call to GC to see if school can help in any way. yes, S showed a long list of assignments and another test is in two weeks as well. Looks like he wants to try a little harder than before.</p>
<p>Is the math class grade based solely on tests? That seems pretty harsh for high school. Is your son getting all of the homework done, and does he understand it? Tutoring might be a good option, if he had some difficulty with math last year.</p>
<p>you may also want to let your son know that even though his grades are ok (except the F) there are thousands of student athletes, fine art students, etc that spend at least as much time on their EC and taking as many if not more AP’s as your son on his and they pulling straight A’s. These are the kids your son will be compared too.</p>
<p>This is an excellent point and one that I run into as a college counselor. Many of my advisees have heavy duty EC commitments. I have seen too many kids say that their grades suffered because of their hours in the ECs as if that is an excuse and all I can think of is how many other students I have had (not to mention my own children) who had extremely heavy EC time commitments and still got excellent grades. It can be done. And yes, if applying to competitive colleges, these are the applicants one is going to be up against. A college is not going to say, “oh, you had so many ECs and so it is understandable that your grades are not your personal best,” when they see others who did many ECs and still managed to get very good grades. It is about time management. And at selective colleges, they are looking for kids who will participate in ECs on campus and still do well in academics. It should not be an either/or proposition.</p>
<p>Do check with the math teacher about tutoring and about grading systems. Mannnnny bright students loose a lot of points in math class (and other subjects) because they don’t turn in the homework. Ditto for busy students. Homework is the “low hanging fruit” - easy points. </p>
<p>For many students 4 APs is too much - but sadly there is not much you can do about it now. I think a lot of students get into trouble junior year because by the time they know they are in over their heads, the add/drop period is over.</p>
<p>I do not know how add/drop works at your high school. I don’t recall any add/drop policy at our high school. If the level of a student’s class is such that he/she is struggling, it seems that a meeting with a guidance counselor to try to switch to a non-AP level of the course is warranted. </p>
<p>While not the same issue at all, but I recall in ninth grade science in which my D was having an awful experience with the teacher, we were able to have meetings and had her science class changed. </p>
<p>I would think if a student is failing at the AP level (is his math class even AP as a junior or is it Honors?), that it would be justifiable to have him move down a level in math. But perhaps that is not possible at some schools. That kind of thing could happen at our school. </p>
<p>But perhaps the level of class is OK and it is a matter of your son doing the work and needing intervention to oversee that his assignments are being done, that study times are carved into his daily schedule and so on, and if tutoring would help, that may be an avenue to pursue.</p>
<p>For some reason the fall sports are rough. The kids have been out of school all summer and then… wham… they loose 3 (or more hours) each day. I think the teachers are more “energetic” with the homework in the fall than in the spring LOL. My son just dropped a “fluff/enrichment” class because it had much busy work, he doesn’t need it and he was running out of time at night for homework on the core classes. He was able to replace that class with a “study hall.” I know he does get up an hour earlier some mornings and finishes up work. He’s much fresher in the morning than at night and he’s a morning kid. He’s also pretty much a straight A student but fall is always “tough” with the practices, games, etc. Sometimes he doesn’t get home until almost 10 on away “game” night.</p>
<p>Definitely look into some tutoring or if there is another teacher teaching the same class a different teacher might help. Perhaps he can drop this class and take it a semester when he doesn’t have a sport. Make sure he’s getting to sleep at a decent hour and suggest some extra time in the morning before school for some catch-up studying.</p>