My son is just starting grade 9, honors math and physics, regular English and history. I have no data yet on the non honors classes, but math and physics look headed for the B-B plus range. With our scale, that would be a 4.0 or 4.3. This seems average for the class as far as I can tell. They always say, choose the level you can be assured he will thrive in. There is no way I see my son at a top school, but are consistent B’s in honors a problem?
“My son is just starting grade 9”
Can you really tell this early what his year long grades will be and whether or not he’ll be a good candidate for a top school?
Many freshman take awhile to adjust to a new school (often bigger), a new level of rigor, independence, etc.
My suggestion would be to give it some time.
I mention the top schools because I’m definitely not looking for perfection. Yes I’m pretty sure I know already. The reason I’m asking this early is because we have one week to make a level change.
Some kids thrive at the top of their group. Some kids thrive in the middle. This is a kid-specific issue, not a matter of grades. There are plenty of good schools for B students, and plenty more for kids who get mostly As with some Bs.
FWIW, my kid’s school considers a B in the prior year sufficient to recommend continuing at the current level in the following year.
I think a B at the beginning of freshman year is fine. I had one kid who got B+'s in easy classes, and hard classes, so it was better for him to just be in the hard classes. He got A’s when he loved the class. And his friends were in the hard classes too. We did make one exception - senior year after years of really hating honors English he asked to take an English elective senior year instead of either the AP or honors class. The theme was “mysteries” and the class was not very demanding. (They watched TV mysteries every Thursday.) But he loved the class, got very interested in the process of writing, and started listening to podcasts about the writing process from some of his favorite writers. In college he took three creative writing classes. He’s not writing now (he’s in the Navy), but I would not be at all surprised if someday he went back to it. Ultimately I think getting an A+ in a regular level English class was better than a B in honors or AP.
I understand where the OP is coming from. My 9th grade D was in honors English, Biology, and Geometry, as well as advanced Spanish+ electives. (She is also in a club sport/schedule very tight.) D dropped down to regular geometry after the first two weeks. The teacher started the first week on abstract proofs/symbolic logic(??) D said the teacher acted impatient/annoyed when didn’t understand something. D switched out with an A-, but before a test she thought she wouldn’t do well on. She is glad–the new class is less stressful. For D it was more about the amount of homework, the teacher, and the rest of her schedule than the grade. Something had to go. I would say let your kid switch down a level if he wants to. Does he feel like he is “getting it,” or does he feel like he is always trying to catch up with classmates?
I suggest your son talk to his teacher and get his/her input.
What Honors math course is he taking in 9th grade? Is this an accelerated level course, or the regular math course kids take in 9th grade?
thanks for the feedback all! his accelerated classes are just the regular honors. as in, not algebra 2 like a dozen or so kids are taking. it seems like both of these classes have kids with an average of B+. he went in to talk to the physics teacher who seemed surprised that he thought his 84 was at all a problem and was helpful etc. i guess i’m trying to understand if this is the average grade for the average honors classes. my friends in towns elsewhere seem to think these averages are low, but we are on a 5 point scale. he says he’s not overwhelmed. so i think he should stay where he is.
He is a 9th grader-- just chill out
Um, if you’re a parent and “can’t see your son at a top school” when he’s getting B’s and B+'s in honors classes, then your son must go to a terrible high school.
Regarding grade distribution, my guess is that an 84 probably is an average grade. My kid’s school lets teachers choose to hide or display the class average, and for the teachers who make it visible, it’s been somewhere between the high 70s and the high 80s, with low to mid 80s most typical for both honors and AP classes.
Don’t focus so much on grades. There are other factors to consider, like workload and stress. And in some schools, the social climate is different in honors versus regular, and your son can weigh in on that too. I hope you are not thinking about college already. Let him enjoy high school in whatever way helps him thrive, and think about college in mid-junior year. Believe me, thinking about college this early can ruin the high school experience.
If he wants to drop down, fine and if he wants to stay, that’s fine too. Up to him and whatever the teacher advises. Sounds like he is doing fine with an 84 unless the workload is tough and he is feeling insecure in class.
What does your son think? That matters more than the A or the B.