What are your HS junior/senior's favorite electives and why?

[Anonymous]

DC has to make a choice for next semester and many classes look really interesting. I know some courses are only offered at certain schools but I would like to get a broad sense of what non-AP electives and non-foreign language electives your child took that they loved or found really eye-opening.

[Anonymous]

Its going to depend on the kid. Why do you care what strangers' kids chose? That seems insane. Focus on your own kid and ask THEM which ones appeal the most.

[Anonymous]

Insane is a weird word to use. Trying to cast a wide net and looking for opinions. If you don't have anything to add and are grumpy just don't bother responding.

[Anonymous]

Where does your kid go to school, OP? Not all schools offer the same classes. For example, Life 101 was one of my kid’s favorite classes at Wheaton. Blair’s ASL class is one our other kid likes a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Insane is a weird word to use. Trying to cast a wide net and looking for opinions. If you don't have anything to add and are grumpy just don't bother responding.

How is my response any more useful than knowing my DD took multiple languages and my DS took multiple APs in every humanities subject possible. They had to take Arts - and each chose Art History. They had to take Health which they did online, they had to take PE which they did in person.

[Anonymous]

Have kid ask upperclassmen, not just about elective class but whether teacher was good too. A bad teacher can kill the subject, no matter how interesting.

[Anonymous]

My kid has really enjoyed ceramics. With a heavy academic load, it’s nice to have a hands-on active class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where does your kid go to school, OP? Not all schools offer the same classes. For example, Life 101 was one of my kid’s favorite classes at Wheaton. Blair’s ASL class is one our other kid likes a lot.

+1 Heard the same about ASL and DD is planning to sign up next year.

[Anonymous]

What schools have dance? Our high school doesn't which was surprising.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Its going to depend on the kid. Why do you care what strangers' kids chose? That seems insane. Focus on your own kid and ask THEM which ones appeal the most.

+1 fwiw, my kid wants to take AP psych and forensics because they are interested in that area.

What does your kid want to try? What are they interested in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What schools have dance? Our high school doesn't which was surprising.

Get 15 or 20 kids to commit to taking it and you have a decent shot at getting it. Find a teacher willing to take it on and your odds go up even more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have kid ask upperclassmen, not just about elective class but whether teacher was good too. A bad teacher can kill the subject, no matter how interesting.

And not all HS offer the same electives, so it’s better to ask locally so you get responses that are actually viable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What schools have dance? Our high school doesn't which was surprising.

Get 15 or 20 kids to commit to taking it and you have a decent shot at getting it. Find a teacher willing to take it on and your odds go up even more.

In general, schools are cutting those really small elective classes in favor of more AP classes or having enough teachers for the core content classes. I think it is worth a try, but I would aim for 35 kids. Keep in mind that classes that meet only 1 period will have some students drop due to schedule conflicts.

Good luck. I hope your student finds a class they enjoy.

[Anonymous]

Horticulture

[Anonymous]

It's a year-long class, not semester-long, but mine loved Photography.

He also really liked the Quantitative Literacy class (technically a math). There were a variety of kids in QL, not just students who are "bad at math" and trying to fulfill a math requirement. I know he liked the investing and stock market part of QL and started paying attention to the market.