Do HS students have to get teacher approval to enroll in higher-level classes in MCPS?

[Anonymous]

Our district has open enrollment, so students are free to chose any level class they want (Honors, AP, even regular when they need remedial etc.) as long as it's in sequence, even if their current teacher doesn't think it's a good idea.
I teach math and every year in the fall we have to go through this huge rigmarole to show that the student can't keep up in the class they selected and would be better off in a class they can handle. If the lower-level class is full or the schedule change won't work, the kid is stuck and will eventually fail after a year of sitting around completely lost in our class.

Wondering if you guys have to deal with the same thing.

[Anonymous]

So long as you meet the prereq, wide open. Caveat emptor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So long as you meet the prereq, wide open. Caveat emptor.

This.

However, at my high school it really isn’t a free for all. Teachers make recommendations on placement level for next course in sequence and separately, students make their requests. Counselors meet with each student and they discuss courses that the student asked for something different than the teacher. Student doesn’t always get their choice. There’s still a lot of changes anyway at the start of the year when kids realize they aren’t ready for a higher level course or are willing g to put in the time needed.

[Anonymous]

Parents had to sign a firm for a higher class than recommended. Counselor meetings were very minimal to just signing the former and handing it back. My kid estimated 10 minutes total over 4 years with 3 different people.