Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy Questions to ask during prospective HS meeting

Hope your open house went well, Ania.

Our meeting was interesting:
Credit for work done in middle school toward HS placement and/or graduation.

The local district says they'll accept courses taught by "pre-AP" trained teachers teachers for placement. Assessments will be required for credit. They have not developed assessments beyond Alg 1, but will start working on it (maybe in time for my 7th grade DS). Our MS teachers will begin "pre-AP" training this spring.

District says no online courses in core subjects will be given credit if done in MS. Online or Community College credit will be credited in HS IF not offered at the HS, or IF they conflict with the student's schedule, or IF they are not same level of "rigor" (e.g., only honors offered, but student wants AP level--we would elect to do this when we know there is a weak teacher for a required course).

GPA calculation issues were not addressed, but our HS transfers grades and assess honors level to college level courses. AP level ONLY for AP designated courses (would have to be Online stuff that conflicts with schedule or is not offered by HS). So complicated/exhausting!

The meeting was very educational. The people in charge of the school did really a nice job being very truthful about what they are offering. No help with AP as this would be in direct conflict with early college. But basically if you are smart , you can take an entire course load at the college starting in 11th grade, 10 grade if you pay for it. Funny situation arose when Ghost asked the P if he would be allowed to take college level math in 10 grade, if he comes with Calculus under his belt. The P asked where would you have taken Calc. BUY - was the reply. Well, in order to take college class in 10th grade you would have to take the ACT and score at least 26 (or 23??) in math. Then he proceeded to explain to my DS all about the ACT and how difficult it would be to obtain a score like that, and that it costs money, etc, etc. I was petrified about my son bursting out that he wrote SAT last year and what his scores were, but he just looked at the P nicely and listened. He is growing up! I was relieved!
Bottom line - a good option if you have a very good college working with the school.