Yorktown intensified classes

[Anonymous]

How much work are the intensified classes really? How much are your kids doing at home generally?

Rising 9th grader.

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How much work are the intensified classes really? How much are your kids doing at home generally?

Rising 9th grader.

Thanks.

Since nobody seems to have a response, I'd assume it's not a big deal.
We're at another HS and intensified classes really aren't that scary. They're what used to be/should be baseline.

[Anonymous]

My daughter is taking all intensified classes except for PE and one AP class. She gets a bit stressed some nights, in part because she also has a 2-hour sports practice most nights. She says the workload can really vary between teachers too. She's decided that next year she will only take AP classes in STEM subjects and not for history or English.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is taking all intensified classes except for PE and one AP class. She gets a bit stressed some nights, in part because she also has a 2-hour sports practice most nights. She says the workload can really vary between teachers too. She's decided that next year she will only take AP classes in STEM subjects and not for history or English.

My general understanding is AP classes are genuinely a lot more work and intensified classes are just…not dumbed down classes with zero effort outside of school ever.

It is strange to me that baseline high school classes now have a stated policy of no homework or work outside of class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is taking all intensified classes except for PE and one AP class. She gets a bit stressed some nights, in part because she also has a 2-hour sports practice most nights. She says the workload can really vary between teachers too. She's decided that next year she will only take AP classes in STEM subjects and not for history or English.

My general understanding is AP classes are genuinely a lot more work and intensified classes are just…not dumbed down classes with zero effort outside of school ever.

It is strange to me that baseline high school classes now have a stated policy of no homework or work outside of class.

A friend who is an APS high school teacher basically said the bolded above. Intensified is the baseline for competent or above average kids. The regular version of the class is for those who are at the bottom half of the curve for whatever reason.

[Anonymous]

My DS at Williamsburg reported that in the explanation given by the counselor, said counselor emphasized that intensified would have homework. And he almost made it seem as if regular classes would have very very little homework. They did talk about going in more depth but the crux of the message was about differences in homework.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS at Williamsburg reported that in the explanation given by the counselor, said counselor emphasized that intensified would have homework. And he almost made it seem as if regular classes would have very very little homework. They did talk about going in more depth but the crux of the message was about differences in homework.

They say that the basic classes they do nothing outside of school. Which is kind of crazy to me in high school.

[Anonymous]

If you don’t take the intensified classes you’re a loser. End of story. You need them for UVA admissions.

[Anonymous]

Anyone with a kid in high school knows the gen ed classes are a joke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone with a kid in high school knows the gen ed classes are a joke.

+1
And that some intensified classes are also a joke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone with a kid in high school knows the gen ed classes are a joke.

That’s what is 8th grade parents are trying to figure out and why folks are asking. Isn’t like the counselor comes out and says they are a joke with no homework.

[Anonymous]

My kids were advised by counselors as part of a large group that it was not advisable to take all intensified classes at Yorktown. I asked them (2 kids during different years) to check in with their teachers and a counselor before registering for classes. The teachers and the counselor both said “oh, no. That wasn’t meant for you. You could easily do it.” My kids are smart but not special. I don’t know why the counseling staff scares kids and parents off these classes. Unfortunately, I can’t report back because neither kid ended up going to Yorktown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids were advised by counselors as part of a large group that it was not advisable to take all intensified classes at Yorktown. I asked them (2 kids during different years) to check in with their teachers and a counselor before registering for classes. The teachers and the counselor both said “oh, no. That wasn’t meant for you. You could easily do it.” My kids are smart but not special. I don’t know why the counseling staff scares kids and parents off these classes. Unfortunately, I can’t report back because neither kid ended up going to Yorktown.

I am OP and yes it's this exact dynamic that happened to my daughter.

Smart kid, nothing over the top. Recommended for all intensified and they tried to scare the crap out of her. Why are you recommending them for these classes then?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids were advised by counselors as part of a large group that it was not advisable to take all intensified classes at Yorktown. I asked them (2 kids during different years) to check in with their teachers and a counselor before registering for classes. The teachers and the counselor both said “oh, no. That wasn’t meant for you. You could easily do it.” My kids are smart but not special. I don’t know why the counseling staff scares kids and parents off these classes. Unfortunately, I can’t report back because neither kid ended up going to Yorktown.

I am OP and yes it's this exact dynamic that happened to my daughter.

Smart kid, nothing over the top. Recommended for all intensified and they tried to scare the crap out of her. Why are you recommending them for these classes then?

You will find the counselors at WMS (1 in particular) create WAY too much stress for these kids. Everything is dramatic, they stress that 12 yo MS students need to be concerned about college now, advanced diploma is a must, etc. I have been blown away at how awesome our YHS counselor is. They truly believe in balance and what's right for the individual kid. My DS has all As at WMS and struggled with all intensified classes at YHS (particularly the English/History block). I met with the Counselor and they said kids didn't all learn proper homework and study skills in MS. Most were doing their HW during class, never had to study and still got As. Then they go to YHS and first quarter is a whole new world, and some of them struggle- because they lack those skills. We got him back on track quickly thank goodness but if your kid doesn't have good study/HW skills in MS, be prepared to be on them first quarter in HS!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids were advised by counselors as part of a large group that it was not advisable to take all intensified classes at Yorktown. I asked them (2 kids during different years) to check in with their teachers and a counselor before registering for classes. The teachers and the counselor both said “oh, no. That wasn’t meant for you. You could easily do it.” My kids are smart but not special. I don’t know why the counseling staff scares kids and parents off these classes. Unfortunately, I can’t report back because neither kid ended up going to Yorktown.

I am OP and yes it's this exact dynamic that happened to my daughter.

Smart kid, nothing over the top. Recommended for all intensified and they tried to scare the crap out of her. Why are you recommending them for these classes then?

You will find the counselors at WMS (1 in particular) create WAY too much stress for these kids. Everything is dramatic, they stress that 12 yo MS students need to be concerned about college now, advanced diploma is a must, etc. I have been blown away at how awesome our YHS counselor is. They truly believe in balance and what's right for the individual kid. My DS has all As at WMS and struggled with all intensified classes at YHS (particularly the English/History block). I met with the Counselor and they said kids didn't all learn proper homework and study skills in MS. Most were doing their HW during class, never had to study and still got As. Then they go to YHS and first quarter is a whole new world, and some of them struggle- because they lack those skills. We got him back on track quickly thank goodness but if your kid doesn't have good study/HW skills in MS, be prepared to be on them first quarter in HS!

I have an 8th grader and World Geo and intensified math were the reality check for him this year (thankfully with very dedicated and pretty demanding teachers) that he needed to develop some new habits and study skills. I agree with this so much though. First quarter with these teachers was a shock. Be prepared parents if they have have always just gotten As and never really had to work at it or study. Reality hits at some point.