graduating early

[Anonymous]

DC is a current junior in MCPS. They want to graduate as early as possible. Once graduation requirements are completed is this possible? What are possible options for this? TIA !

[Anonymous]

Talk to the counselor tomorrow and ask if he can take an English course through OPTG (it’s mostly asynchronous but with two zoom meetings in the evening a week). Once he has his additional English credit, he should be able to graduate in June with the seniors (unless he’s missing something else like health or another graduation requirement- which is why you need the counselor).

[Anonymous]

There is also this form:
https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/forms/pdf/280-97.pdf

But yes, PP is correct. The English class needs to be taken for graduation. Presumably, your child has the requisite health and math credits already.

[Anonymous]

You can also opt to take the English credit through summer school, and graduate in August.

If your child wants to go to college next year, you need to put a rush on this as applications are due now (for EA).

My DS did OPTG last year, graduated with the “real” seniors, and is a happy college freshman this year. No regrets! The format of college (fewer classes, more choice) works way better for him.

Our guidance counselor was the one who made everything happen (he was amazing- so grateful!). The plan has to be agreed upon by administration, too, and there needs to be a plan for the future- not just sitting home and watching TV. But his school was great and made sure that his college profile, recommendation letters, and everything else got completed in time. You really want school support.

[Anonymous]

You can also do dual enrollment through MC. You can get your English credit that way

[Anonymous]

Yeah it is possible. We had a few kids do it back when I graduated in 2002. There are currently a few high profile athletes in the county that are graduating anywhere from a semester to a full year early in order to start college sports sooner.

[Anonymous]

May I ask why some kids want to graduate like a semester or a year ahead? To start college early?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:May I ask why some kids want to graduate like a semester or a year ahead? To start college early?

Baba Oladuton of Blake is one of the ten best HS basketball players in the country. He is reclassifying a year early and graduating as a junior so he can get to the NBA a year earlier. It is a move that could potentially result in an extra 100 million dollars in career earnings.

Chris Tangelo and JJ Williams both left Bullis last month and enrolled in their home school of Northwest HS so they can graduate in December and attend Vanderbilt and Maryland in January for spring football workouts. Bullis would mot allow them to graduate early and their future college programs asked them to go public instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:May I ask why some kids want to graduate like a semester or a year ahead? To start college early?

Yes. The structure of college is easier for some kids.

[Anonymous]

I also have a kid who doesn’t thrive in the HS environment. Some combination of dual enrollment, a reduced schedule, and internships, could be an interesting senior year if early graduation doesn’t work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is a current junior in MCPS. They want to graduate as early as possible. Once graduation requirements are completed is this possible? What are possible options for this? TIA !

Have you made a plan for what your child could do next year to continue their growth?

College, career, vacation year?

You're quite late to apply to any selective college for starting next year.