Private to APS WL IB -- Will it be less grueling??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is currently a sophomore at wl and I do not think freshman year was bad in term if workload. There is a wide variety for workload between teachers though, so it is possible that you will draw a short straw and end up with very rigorous teachers. There is one ap class that is encouraged if you are pre-ib, otherwise they encourage all intensified classes. Intensified classes do not have a gpa bump, only ap and ib classrs do. I think that by junior year if you do full ib it is very intense.
College options from Gonzaga vs wl are very different. Most of my daughter’s friends (pre-ib and very driven) are aiming for state schools. When I was in highschool (went to Gonzaga), most of my friends were aiming top 20 college if not Ivy League. Just different trajectories.

You are in need of a serious reality check if you think college options for these schools are “very different.” Gonzaga grads these days do not get into better colleges generally than W-L kids. Not even remotely. The only real difference is that more Gonzaga kids go to Catholic colleges.

+1 and the attendance reports may look different because more Gonzaga kids can afford the expensive privates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your child is struggling now why do you assume you should be looking at AP and Honors classes?

This is my kids choice. If they go WL they want those classes.

You are having the wrong conversation with your kid. High school is very intense for kids taking the highest rigor classes. It’s not going to be magically better at another school in these type of classes and in fact you want him to learn the skill now of how to manage all of it, not junior year where grades count most. If it’s too much you work with your kid to drop down a level in classes.

We have friends who go and my kid thinks they have a test retake option, and things have to be somewhat easier with 30 valedictorians! But did they charge restating so you can only get a lower grade? What about turning in homework late?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your child is struggling now why do you assume you should be looking at AP and Honors classes?

This is my kids choice. If they go WL they want those classes.

You are having the wrong conversation with your kid. High school is very intense for kids taking the highest rigor classes. It’s not going to be magically better at another school in these type of classes and in fact you want him to learn the skill now of how to manage all of it, not junior year where grades count most. If it’s too much you work with your kid to drop down a level in classes.

We have friends who go and my kid thinks they have a test retake option, and things have to be somewhat easier with 30 valedictorians! But did they charge restating so you can only get a lower grade? What about turning in homework late?

In APS you can only retest up to an 80. It's also a bit rough once they are in high school to retest in rigorous classes. The class moves on and the student is trying to cover 2 sets of material. My kid took the option once in all of high school and it sucked. What my kid says is kids who test poorly end up still doing poorly on retakes. Prepare well the first time and take the grade you get. The whole homework late thing starts to really not apply. I don't even know what the official policy is (I think it is teacher dependent) but as an example, my child's intensified math class there was a daily quiz. If you didn't do your homework, you do badly on the quiz. They'd get so far behind in these classes with late assignments it would snowball. A high school kid not keeping up with homework in AP and honors classes will do badly. So does the official late homework policy even matter? A kid who can't turn homework on time shouldn't be in those higher level classes in high school.

In general I think APS has this rap as being super easy, everyone gets As, all students can do whatever whenever. That's a talking point I see on DCUM at least. I think that reputation is pretty fair through early middle school. By 8th grade in some classes and by high school in higher level classes, it's really not what goes on. The intensified math track is hard. AP classes in core subjects are a lot of work and hard. I know kids doing IB and it's a lot of work and hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your child is struggling now why do you assume you should be looking at AP and Honors classes?

This is my kids choice. If they go WL they want those classes.

You are having the wrong conversation with your kid. High school is very intense for kids taking the highest rigor classes. It’s not going to be magically better at another school in these type of classes and in fact you want him to learn the skill now of how to manage all of it, not junior year where grades count most. If it’s too much you work with your kid to drop down a level in classes.

We have friends who go and my kid thinks they have a test retake option, and things have to be somewhat easier with 30 valedictorians! But did they charge restating so you can only get a lower grade? What about turning in homework late?

In APS you can only retest up to an 80. It's also a bit rough once they are in high school to retest in rigorous classes. The class moves on and the student is trying to cover 2 sets of material. My kid took the option once in all of high school and it sucked. What my kid says is kids who test poorly end up still doing poorly on retakes. Prepare well the first time and take the grade you get. The whole homework late thing starts to really not apply. I don't even know what the official policy is (I think it is teacher dependent) but as an example, my child's intensified math class there was a daily quiz. If you didn't do your homework, you do badly on the quiz. They'd get so far behind in these classes with late assignments it would snowball. A high school kid not keeping up with homework in AP and honors classes will do badly. So does the official late homework policy even matter? A kid who can't turn homework on time shouldn't be in those higher level classes in high school.

In general I think APS has this rap as being super easy, everyone gets As, all students can do whatever whenever. That's a talking point I see on DCUM at least. I think that reputation is pretty fair through early middle school. By 8th grade in some classes and by high school in higher level classes, it's really not what goes on. The intensified math track is hard. AP classes in core subjects are a lot of work and hard. I know kids doing IB and it's a lot of work and hard.

Isn’t the retest limit to 80 new?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your child is struggling now why do you assume you should be looking at AP and Honors classes?

This is my kids choice. If they go WL they want those classes.

You are having the wrong conversation with your kid. High school is very intense for kids taking the highest rigor classes. It’s not going to be magically better at another school in these type of classes and in fact you want him to learn the skill now of how to manage all of it, not junior year where grades count most. If it’s too much you work with your kid to drop down a level in classes.

We have friends who go and my kid thinks they have a test retake option, and things have to be somewhat easier with 30 valedictorians! But did they charge restating so you can only get a lower grade? What about turning in homework late?

In APS you can only retest up to an 80. It's also a bit rough once they are in high school to retest in rigorous classes. The class moves on and the student is trying to cover 2 sets of material. My kid took the option once in all of high school and it sucked. What my kid says is kids who test poorly end up still doing poorly on retakes. Prepare well the first time and take the grade you get. The whole homework late thing starts to really not apply. I don't even know what the official policy is (I think it is teacher dependent) but as an example, my child's intensified math class there was a daily quiz. If you didn't do your homework, you do badly on the quiz. They'd get so far behind in these classes with late assignments it would snowball. A high school kid not keeping up with homework in AP and honors classes will do badly. So does the official late homework policy even matter? A kid who can't turn homework on time shouldn't be in those higher level classes in high school.

In general I think APS has this rap as being super easy, everyone gets As, all students can do whatever whenever. That's a talking point I see on DCUM at least. I think that reputation is pretty fair through early middle school. By 8th grade in some classes and by high school in higher level classes, it's really not what goes on. The intensified math track is hard. AP classes in core subjects are a lot of work and hard. I know kids doing IB and it's a lot of work and hard.

I think my DS thinks they can skip homework and make it up on weekend. The will probably do fine on math quizzes; they are very good at math just ADHD and disorganized so executing has been hard. We were hoping Gonzaga would have better support for that than it has; any feedback on WL supports ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your child is struggling now why do you assume you should be looking at AP and Honors classes?

This is my kids choice. If they go WL they want those classes.

You are having the wrong conversation with your kid. High school is very intense for kids taking the highest rigor classes. It’s not going to be magically better at another school in these type of classes and in fact you want him to learn the skill now of how to manage all of it, not junior year where grades count most. If it’s too much you work with your kid to drop down a level in classes.

We have friends who go and my kid thinks they have a test retake option, and things have to be somewhat easier with 30 valedictorians! But did they charge restating so you can only get a lower grade? What about turning in homework late?

In APS you can only retest up to an 80. It's also a bit rough once they are in high school to retest in rigorous classes. The class moves on and the student is trying to cover 2 sets of material. My kid took the option once in all of high school and it sucked. What my kid says is kids who test poorly end up still doing poorly on retakes. Prepare well the first time and take the grade you get. The whole homework late thing starts to really not apply. I don't even know what the official policy is (I think it is teacher dependent) but as an example, my child's intensified math class there was a daily quiz. If you didn't do your homework, you do badly on the quiz. They'd get so far behind in these classes with late assignments it would snowball. A high school kid not keeping up with homework in AP and honors classes will do badly. So does the official late homework policy even matter? A kid who can't turn homework on time shouldn't be in those higher level classes in high school.

In general I think APS has this rap as being super easy, everyone gets As, all students can do whatever whenever. That's a talking point I see on DCUM at least. I think that reputation is pretty fair through early middle school. By 8th grade in some classes and by high school in higher level classes, it's really not what goes on. The intensified math track is hard. AP classes in core subjects are a lot of work and hard. I know kids doing IB and it's a lot of work and hard.

Isn’t the retest limit to 80 new?

It's not that new. For the first half of school year 2023-24, APS rolled out a retake policy where retakes had to be offered for everything. The teachers literally revolted and could not keep up with it. They ended the policy before the school year was over. It's been retakes up to 80 since then. I believe prior to 2023-24 school year, there was no official APS policy on retakes so it was case by case basis with teachers whether they were allowed. My kids were young enough then I wouldn't have been paying attention to retakes though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your child is struggling now why do you assume you should be looking at AP and Honors classes?

This is my kids choice. If they go WL they want those classes.

You are having the wrong conversation with your kid. High school is very intense for kids taking the highest rigor classes. It’s not going to be magically better at another school in these type of classes and in fact you want him to learn the skill now of how to manage all of it, not junior year where grades count most. If it’s too much you work with your kid to drop down a level in classes.

We have friends who go and my kid thinks they have a test retake option, and things have to be somewhat easier with 30 valedictorians! But did they charge restating so you can only get a lower grade? What about turning in homework late?

In APS you can only retest up to an 80. It's also a bit rough once they are in high school to retest in rigorous classes. The class moves on and the student is trying to cover 2 sets of material. My kid took the option once in all of high school and it sucked. What my kid says is kids who test poorly end up still doing poorly on retakes. Prepare well the first time and take the grade you get. The whole homework late thing starts to really not apply. I don't even know what the official policy is (I think it is teacher dependent) but as an example, my child's intensified math class there was a daily quiz. If you didn't do your homework, you do badly on the quiz. They'd get so far behind in these classes with late assignments it would snowball. A high school kid not keeping up with homework in AP and honors classes will do badly. So does the official late homework policy even matter? A kid who can't turn homework on time shouldn't be in those higher level classes in high school.

In general I think APS has this rap as being super easy, everyone gets As, all students can do whatever whenever. That's a talking point I see on DCUM at least. I think that reputation is pretty fair through early middle school. By 8th grade in some classes and by high school in higher level classes, it's really not what goes on. The intensified math track is hard. AP classes in core subjects are a lot of work and hard. I know kids doing IB and it's a lot of work and hard.

I think my DS thinks they can skip homework and make it up on weekend. The will probably do fine on math quizzes; they are very good at math just ADHD and disorganized so executing has been hard. We were hoping Gonzaga would have better support for that than it has; any feedback on WL supports ?

Any large public school has limited support for daily management of school work. These issues are going to follow him where ever he goes. Deal with it head on is my advice. Get him an executive function coach, etc. Or drop down in level of classes. Those are the options.

[Anonymous]

I have 2 boys at Gonzaga and can confirm there’s a HUGE difference between regular and honors courses at Gonzaga. Maybe he can bump one or two down to regular for 2nd semester? Might give him some breathing room and time to ramp up before sophomore year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have 2 boys at Gonzaga and can confirm there’s a HUGE difference between regular and honors courses at Gonzaga. Maybe he can bump one or two down to regular for 2nd semester? Might give him some breathing room and time to ramp up before sophomore year.

True but even a non honors class like religion is a lot more work than we expected. Every class has a lot of quizzes, honors or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have 2 boys at Gonzaga and can confirm there’s a HUGE difference between regular and honors courses at Gonzaga. Maybe he can bump one or two down to regular for 2nd semester? Might give him some breathing room and time to ramp up before sophomore year.

True but even a non honors class like religion is a lot more work than we expected. Every class has a lot of quizzes, honors or not.

Does your son have friends at W-L? If so it may be a very easy transition mid year or next. If he dislikes academic structure of Gonzaga this much to consider leaving mid-year, the school may not be a good fit. At least at W-L there's a couple years to decide whether or not to pursue the IB diploma program or choose a more AP oriented path, or another academic path entirely, e.g., taking a double-period Career Center course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have 2 boys at Gonzaga and can confirm there’s a HUGE difference between regular and honors courses at Gonzaga. Maybe he can bump one or two down to regular for 2nd semester? Might give him some breathing room and time to ramp up before sophomore year.

True but even a non honors class like religion is a lot more work than we expected. Every class has a lot of quizzes, honors or not.

Does your son have friends at W-L? If so it may be a very easy transition mid year or next. If he dislikes academic structure of Gonzaga this much to consider leaving mid-year, the school may not be a good fit. At least at W-L there's a couple years to decide whether or not to pursue the IB diploma program or choose a more AP oriented path, or another academic path entirely, e.g., taking a double-period Career Center course.

He definitely wants IB; he hopes to study in Europe. He’s just more math oriented so all this reading and writing, I wish it was metered out and I expected more help from teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have 2 boys at Gonzaga and can confirm there’s a HUGE difference between regular and honors courses at Gonzaga. Maybe he can bump one or two down to regular for 2nd semester? Might give him some breathing room and time to ramp up before sophomore year.

True but even a non honors class like religion is a lot more work than we expected. Every class has a lot of quizzes, honors or not.

Does your son have friends at W-L? If so it may be a very easy transition mid year or next. If he dislikes academic structure of Gonzaga this much to consider leaving mid-year, the school may not be a good fit. At least at W-L there's a couple years to decide whether or not to pursue the IB diploma program or choose a more AP oriented path, or another academic path entirely, e.g., taking a double-period Career Center course.

He definitely wants IB; he hopes to study in Europe. He’s just more math oriented so all this reading and writing, I wish it was metered out and I expected more help from teachers.

If he's certain about the IB diploma, you should get in contact with the W-L IB Coordinator asap to confirm prerequisites prior to transferring. Do this soon with xmas break around the corner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have 2 boys at Gonzaga and can confirm there’s a HUGE difference between regular and honors courses at Gonzaga. Maybe he can bump one or two down to regular for 2nd semester? Might give him some breathing room and time to ramp up before sophomore year.

True but even a non honors class like religion is a lot more work than we expected. Every class has a lot of quizzes, honors or not.

Does your son have friends at W-L? If so it may be a very easy transition mid year or next. If he dislikes academic structure of Gonzaga this much to consider leaving mid-year, the school may not be a good fit. At least at W-L there's a couple years to decide whether or not to pursue the IB diploma program or choose a more AP oriented path, or another academic path entirely, e.g., taking a double-period Career Center course.

He definitely wants IB; he hopes to study in Europe. He’s just more math oriented so all this reading and writing, I wish it was metered out and I expected more help from teachers.

I would recommend talking to the person at WL who directs the IB program if you can. It is very reading and writing heavy, so if that’s an issue you might want to reconsider. I’ve heard many people suggest that IB isn’t necessarily great for people who are more STEM oriented. I have no opinion on that other than I know my kid is doing a lot more writing than she was in 9th and 10th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have 2 boys at Gonzaga and can confirm there’s a HUGE difference between regular and honors courses at Gonzaga. Maybe he can bump one or two down to regular for 2nd semester? Might give him some breathing room and time to ramp up before sophomore year.

True but even a non honors class like religion is a lot more work than we expected. Every class has a lot of quizzes, honors or not.

Does your son have friends at W-L? If so it may be a very easy transition mid year or next. If he dislikes academic structure of Gonzaga this much to consider leaving mid-year, the school may not be a good fit. At least at W-L there's a couple years to decide whether or not to pursue the IB diploma program or choose a more AP oriented path, or another academic path entirely, e.g., taking a double-period Career Center course.

He definitely wants IB; he hopes to study in Europe. He’s just more math oriented so all this reading and writing, I wish it was metered out and I expected more help from teachers.

Full IB is non stop reading and writing starting junior year. Strong students say it’s a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have 2 boys at Gonzaga and can confirm there’s a HUGE difference between regular and honors courses at Gonzaga. Maybe he can bump one or two down to regular for 2nd semester? Might give him some breathing room and time to ramp up before sophomore year.

True but even a non honors class like religion is a lot more work than we expected. Every class has a lot of quizzes, honors or not.

Does your son have friends at W-L? If so it may be a very easy transition mid year or next. If he dislikes academic structure of Gonzaga this much to consider leaving mid-year, the school may not be a good fit. At least at W-L there's a couple years to decide whether or not to pursue the IB diploma program or choose a more AP oriented path, or another academic path entirely, e.g., taking a double-period Career Center course.

He definitely wants IB; he hopes to study in Europe. He’s just more math oriented so all this reading and writing, I wish it was metered out and I expected more help from teachers.

If he's certain about the IB diploma, you should get in contact with the W-L IB Coordinator asap to confirm prerequisites prior to transferring. Do this soon with xmas break around the corner.

I’m sorry but I just have to laugh. You really think there’s any possibility that the IB program at W-L is easier and less work than Gonzaga?