Average student and middle school tracking

[Anonymous]

Kid loves school, is about average academically. Their public elementary school does not separate kids by abilities.

Next year kid will start middle school, and they start separating kids into two tracks.

Are there pros/cons for an average kid to be in the low vs high track?

[Anonymous]

The high track for humanities is almost always better because it’s just more interesting stuff and more engaged students.

The high track for math is more questionable. If you get behind it’s depressing and Fri is testing. Plus it is hard to get off it — it puts you in track of calculus junior year and lots of kids don’t really need to be that advanced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The high track for humanities is almost always better because it’s just more interesting stuff and more engaged students.

The high track for math is more questionable. If you get behind it’s depressing and Fri is testing. Plus it is hard to get off it — it puts you in track of calculus junior year and lots of kids don’t really need to be that advanced.

I agree 100%.

Lobby for them to be on the higher track in their areas of strength. Most kids benefit from being in class with the more highly motivated kids.

But my kids ALL had to jump off the accelerated math track, and that sucks. I wish they'd stayed on the lower track and gotten As.

[Anonymous]

Totally depends on the school and the tracks.

[Anonymous]

In general, I would say the “normal” track is below average and the “honors” track is more in line with average. I would do everything possible to help my child get into the honors track if they were on the cusp.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In general, I would say the “normal” track is below average and the “honors” track is more in line with average. I would do everything possible to help my child get into the honors track if they were on the cusp.

This is the mentality at our public HS too. However it often results in classes being watered down or kids being in over their head.

[Anonymous]

In my kid’s experience, it was difficult to move to the higher track once you were in the lower track.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In general, I would say the “normal” track is below average and the “honors” track is more in line with average. I would do everything possible to help my child get into the honors track if they were on the cusp.

Middle schools have tracks? It’s not 1980.

See how he does in classes that his teachers recommend. Learning is the priority. If the class isn’t working out then discuss a change.

[Anonymous]

Most schools do not offer Algebra 1 in 7th grade, FCPS is rare in that it does. Taking Algebra 1 in 8th grade will help your kid get to Calculus as a Senior.

I would aim for the honors track at your school if your child is doing well in ES and isn't struggling or at grade level. If your child struggles with all honors, you can ask for them to move to the regular class during the school year if it is really bad, like Ds, or move to regular classes the following year if they have Cs. I don't think it is problematic to have Bs in MS.

If your child is not struggling to be on grade level or is above grade level in math, you should be aiming for Algebra 1 in 8th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In general, I would say the “normal” track is below average and the “honors” track is more in line with average. I would do everything possible to help my child get into the honors track if they were on the cusp.

This is the mentality at our public HS too. However it often results in classes being watered down or kids being in over their head.

Yeah there really should be three tracks, which is what I had growing up. The very advanced track, the average/above average, and the below grade level track.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In general, I would say the “normal” track is below average and the “honors” track is more in line with average. I would do everything possible to help my child get into the honors track if they were on the cusp.

This is the mentality at our public HS too. However it often results in classes being watered down or kids being in over their head.

Yeah there really should be three tracks, which is what I had growing up. The very advanced track, the average/above average, and the below grade level track.

PP and I agree we need 3 tracks. But then they let parents choose and that was the end of that.

[Anonymous]

Honors classes these days are more about organization, behavior, and motivation than ability. Is your DC motivated and engaged in classes or are they more "meh" about school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honors classes these days are more about organization, behavior, and motivation than ability. Is your DC motivated and engaged in classes or are they more "meh" about school?

Sorry, forgot you said your kid loves school. I think you should go with the advanced track then and drop down if it becomes unmanageable.

[Anonymous]

I struggled with this for my kid who is bright but has ADHD and struggles intensely with writing and organization. We ended up going all honors in 6th grade based on advice from his teachers/counselor which was basically focused on two things:
1) peer group--being with kids who are more academically oriented is a better environment for a kid who might otherwise get distracted or influenced by kids who don't care about school. Obviously there are kids in honors classes who don't care, and kids in regular classes who do; but this is true in a general sense.
2) you can go from honors to regular easily, the reverse is not always true

[Anonymous]

For a kid who loves school, go with honors in middle school. He may reach a point in high school where a mix of honors, regular and AP classes is appropriate depending on how his academic strengths evolve. It's hard to predict when they are 11 or 12.