I did get one (albeit in the mail), but it never mattered either. That's why I'm not concerned if my son doesn't graduate from high school. I'm liking the auditing idea more and more. Once he gets his foot in the door and shows what he can do, I think many more will start opening.

Also in the dark ages, I had all I needed to graduate from high school except one year of English and one year of Gym class. The high school canceled all of the AP classes. Thus, I enrolled in the local state university on the basis of great 11th grade SAT scores and showed up only enough to fulfill the requirements for the two classes. First semester, I took French advanced grammar and composition, introductory Biology, and second semester calculus. Second semester, I took an advanced French literature course conducted entirely in French, with fellow students who were seniors or graduate students. I took Microbiology with juniors and seniors, and third semester calculus.

The following year, I went away to Harvard, which gave me no credit for any of my previous college courses, and where I had to argue for appropriate placement. The French department adviser wanted me to take a 4th semester language course,so in fluent French, I told her it would be useless - and I never took any more French classes. I talked my way, over the adviser's objections, into fourth semester calculus. I took a more advanced general biology class, and advanced general Chemistry and Physics there. Thus it was an advantage in the end, even without credit.

My daughter is 11 now and two years ago in 5th grade her ACT composite score was 19. She may start her first college course when she is in 9th grade. We will have to look at our options at that time.

@pelsteen & @lanfan:

Thanks for sharing your experiences.

I had no idea what things were like back in the "dark ages," and it gives me hope for the future.

I've been reading more & more about specialized early-entrance programs at many universities designed to provide enhanced support to the younger college students -- and these look quite promising.

Our son is slated for HS graduation at 15 or 16 and I'm working hard to wrap my mind comfortably around that concept so that I don't spend the next several years doubting our current decision to skip another grade.

Don't wrap it too comfortably! You're still early in the game. Up until the beginning of this year, I thought DS would be in high school until 16 or older also. I had great plans of him taking many credits and "going horizontally" for a few years before colelge. Since starting school this fall however, he's told me that he has no intention of sticking around high school for more than another year or so. He's the one that started the college class search. One of the things I didn't realize back when DS was in the trenches in elementary school was that I wouldn't be calling the shots on his education forever. He's started taking the reins. While it's hard to relinquish that role, it's actually quite a load off! After all these years of fighting the system on his behalf, the process of handing over the role of advocator and facilitator has begun, and so far he's doing a good job.

Just as an aside I think many kids would benefit from beginning college at 16 instead of sticking around in high school. The social environment in more forgiving and the classes are more interesting. I am certainly not PG and neither are my kids but I assume they would benefit. I have often wondered about the wisdom of AP classes in general. Why not just take the actual college courses and get the actual college credits. I tend to think it has more to do with state politics and funding than it does with kids.

Thank you, thank you!!! There is so much HOPE in this statement! After getting the following comment from our high school principal, I needed to read that, .


It seems to be the "statement de jour" for all of my recent meetings/negotiations. My favorite though was when the assistant super described it as perhaps not doing "a traditional K-12 experience". Um....that ship already sailed!

DS is 10...and his situation at the moment is extremely sweet. It's not ideal, but it's probably the best possible compromise that an "average" public school could offer. I want to bask in that warmth for a bit before considering the scary "g" word (graduation).

You have a little time to bask! For us the scary "g" word did not come up until after the scarier "p" word (puberty)! 10 year olds take kindly to mom telling then what's what. Almost 13 year olds - not so much!

Is there a way to 'go fast' through the prerequesite classes using online courses? Sometimes courses are designed for kids who took the class once and flunked to 'get up to speed quickly' - I think the catchphrase is 'credit recovery' - not very deep, but designed to get kids their credentials quickly.

I don't think that it is a nescessity, but if it helps, why not?

Smiles,
grinity

Oh, gee. Thanks for adding something else to my list of concerns.

Although, considering how little he appreciates my advice now (@ 8yrs), I certainly hope it can't get much worse after "p" arrives. Delusional, I know -- but one can hope, right?

Hi Dandy,
How close is your DS to age 9? I found that DS had a 'mini-puberty' at age 9. Mostly mental, but some physical changes (odor) as well.

The problem with 'p' is that DS is just as unimpressed with my advice as always, but he acts much less wise. So in the 8-11 years, I could ask a few pointed questions and DS would head in the right direction, by consensus.

Now, DS13 really does appear 'stupider'than he used to be in many basic life skills. I figure that the hormonal changes are a bit like having a buzzing flourescent lightbulb that is constantly driving DS to the edge misery. I'm still hoping that it will calm down soon.

Smiles,
Grinity