A/B Student with no AP classes until senior year

[Anonymous]

My son started a at a private high school this year after being in public. It has been a good fit school in many ways for him, but the testing and grade structure has been an adjustment. Grades are fine...mostly B+'s which I am ok with freshman year, but his school will not let him take honors classes his sophomore year without A's for the year. He will have to excel in 10th grade for honors to be an option in 11th and then AP most likely will have to wait until 12th.

I feel like this is very likely going to really hurt his changes for a competitive college (NOT looking at ivies but more like the good state schools.Va Tech, Penn State, etc). I am really considering pulling him and sending him to JR where he can be challenged and take the courses he wants and needs. At this point moving up to take Calculus his senior year isn't even an option at the private which really concerns me. He wants to stay but will likely be really mad in 2 years if I let him. Not to mention I am paying all of this money for them to hold him back. Not sure what to do. And no we are not IB for JR so would have to rent there which is a whole different stress.

[Anonymous]

^ OP again. Not that he isn't challenged now, if he wasn't he would have A's but the school weighs tests and exams extremely heavily so for example the 6 mid terms he had all in one week brought almost all of his semester grades down. Just not his strong suit and I don't see this significantly changing.

[Anonymous]

If he's happy, I would not have -- moving him back to public -- be your idea.

[Anonymous]

What study skills help does he have? Colleges will require test taking skills. I would focus less on the prestige of a future college and more on making sure he's learning now.

[Anonymous]

What’s JR?

[Anonymous]

Assume JR is Jackson Reed.
What private is this that gatekeeps APs like this?

[Anonymous]

I think you're focusing on the wrong thing. If he's happy and challenged, then let him be.

BTW, you knew he placement before the school year started. And their policies re: leveling must have been spelled out in their curriculum or US guide. Next time, do your homework.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Assume JR is Jackson Reed.
What private is this that gatekeeps APs like this?

I know in my son's private school years ago and now at my daughter's school, students must be approved to take honors and AP classes. It is not that unusual. And yes, usually they require an A in the class to be approved. One class almost disqualified my daughter because she had an A minus, but she talked her teacher into supporting her, and she did get into the class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Assume JR is Jackson Reed.
What private is this that gatekeeps APs like this?

The Cathedral schools do.

[Anonymous]

This is OP, so yes its a Catholic school and the initial course assignments were a little more in the air since he requested certain classes but they weren't assigned/approved until close to the start of freshman year. So he expected to be starting in honors and a level up in math but they suggested he work his way in at grade level. I listened and did not do sufficient HW at that point which I am really kicking myself for. So now moving up is hard and the teachers (at least say) they can't override the grade.

As far as the actual work, what he is learning and study skills - that's all positive. His homework skills are great but his study skills where there isn't tangible work to hand in are not great. A school like this will definitely help him learn what is needed and that is a good thing for him for sure. I will add that he wants to stay at the school because he thinks he will get great grades next year (which won't happen unless he ups his study game) but if he knew that he wouldn't get into honors/AP he would want to switch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Assume JR is Jackson Reed.
What private is this that gatekeeps APs like this?

I think every private school limits access to APs. My DC’s school requires an A in the class below, an application, in person essay test, teacher approval, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assume JR is Jackson Reed.
What private is this that gatekeeps APs like this?

The Cathedral schools do.

Yes. My DD had a 95% in precalculus and they wouldn’t allow her to take AP Calculus because she wasn’t in the advanced precalculus class. Took “college prep” calculus instead.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t worry about it. Usually a student can petition to take a higher class if you try
Also my daughter didn’t take an AP until senior year and now goes to UVA fyi

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t worry about it. Usually a student can petition to take a higher class if you try
Also my daughter didn’t take an AP until senior year and now goes to UVA fyi

No, not at most privates. The ones my kids attend are incredibly firm. They won't budge. The courses are heavily game kept.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assume JR is Jackson Reed.
What private is this that gatekeeps APs like this?

The Cathedral schools do.

Yes. My DD had a 95% in precalculus and they wouldn’t allow her to take AP Calculus because she wasn’t in the advanced precalculus class. Took “college prep” calculus instead.

This is exactly the policy at my DD's school...there are three levels of precalc and the middle level and above can go into AP Calc AB and only the highest level can do BC.