senior is messing up and will probably fail this year

[Anonymous]

Just wondering if anyone else has faced this and was able to successfully dig their kid out.

My school-hating child has everything he needs to graduate, except for one required class. He got a D last quarter in it and will likely fail this quarter. So that means he's done for the year, doesn't it? Is there anything else we can do to try to save this? Any way to double up in the spring, maybe?

My concern is he has school avoidance issues already, and if he knows he's killed his ability to graduate in May, he will just quit.

The teacher, understandably, doesn't want to help. This is 100% on my kid. The counselor doesn't seem concerned.

[Anonymous]

Get a tutor. If he can pull it up next semester he should be ok.

[Anonymous]

Talk to the guidance counselor about doubling up. Also about summer school options.

[Anonymous]

What about OPTG?

[Anonymous]

What required class is it?

[Anonymous]

Are you sure D is a failing grade?

[Anonymous]

How did he fail without you knowing? If he has documented school avoidance issues, shouldn't he be on an IEP or 504 Plan, which would mean you'd be very involved in all of his school actions?

Also, what's the plan for him post-graduation? I hope it's not college, cause he's clearly not interested or invested if he's failing high school.

[Anonymous]

I think a D and an F net to a D. A D is not failing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you sure D is a failing grade?

It's not, but OP is saying he got an E this marking period, which would be failing according to MCPS formula, I believe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about OPTG?

I'm fairly certain he'd be able to do this and get credit for the class. Either this or High School Plus.

OP, inquire with the counselor about High School Plus for your son.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How did he fail without you knowing? If he has documented school avoidance issues, shouldn't he be on an IEP or 504 Plan, which would mean you'd be very involved in all of his school actions?

Also, what's the plan for him post-graduation? I hope it's not college, cause he's clearly not interested or invested if he's failing high school.

Slow down. I'm not OP, but my kid was failing AP Calc BC in senior year (he should never have picked that class, but by the time we realized it, it was too late to drop it). He'd taken a dozen AP classes and had straight As, except with an E in math. He clawed his way back up to a D, which was not a failing grade. He's now in a top 10 university program.

The reason the counselor isn't concerned is that D is not a failing grade. But it's getting close, so maybe hire a tutor or something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think a D and an F net to a D. A D is not failing.

I think that changed. An F and a D is passing. But under the current rule, a D followed by an F is an F.

OP I went through this with my son. He had excellent support in school and got through. You need to see if you can find any resources within the school or outside to get him through. Unless you have an IEP or 504 in place I think your best bet is a tutor.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, all. I will ask the counselor.

He has a 3.6 GPA but just stopped doing work this year. He doesn't have an IEP or 504. He doesn't need a tutor; now that he's actually doing the work, he's getting decent grades. I just think it's too late for this quarter.

We rent and our lease is up in June. I don't think we will stay in the county and I wasn't sure whether summer school would work. I didn't know about OPTG - I will ask about that.

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Definitely talk to the school. they don't want him to fail, either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, all. I will ask the counselor.

He has a 3.6 GPA but just stopped doing work this year. He doesn't have an IEP or 504. He doesn't need a tutor; now that he's actually doing the work, he's getting decent grades. I just think it's too late for this quarter.

We rent and our lease is up in June. I don't think we will stay in the county and I wasn't sure whether summer school would work. I didn't know about OPTG - I will ask about that.

Thank you.

Oh, it's the technology class requirement. If that matters.