Wilson HS honors classes question

[Anonymous]

After looking carefully at the courses for my rising 9th grader, it appears to me that Wilson offers an "honors" level class for Freshman English and Biology, and math and a second language at flexible levels. The big question is History. I believe all students are required to take World History, for which I see no honors class. Since 40% of Wilson students are reading below grade level, does this mean that my DS is taking the first two years of history in a classroom where close to half of his classmates are not reading proficiently? I was surprised by this because the school offers a really impressive array of AP classes in social sciences and history. I wonder how well students can be prepared for those upper level classes if the first two years are by necessity working at a remedial level.

Anyone have personal experience of this situation which they can share?

[Anonymous]

You are correct that there is not an honors version of 9th grade history. It worked out fine for my DC who went on to take many AP classes.

[Anonymous]

And you incorrectly assume that advanced students will work at a remedial level if a classmate is below grade level.

But I agree, there seems to be no good reason why all core classes wouldn't have an honors track.

[Anonymous]

True, honors level freshman have some classes with the "masses" but therein lies the beauty of Wilson.
My child (who is an honors student) fully enjoyed and learned a lot in non-honors classes freshman year. First of all, all honors would be incredibly stressful and we are mostly interested in having our teenager be happy while getting her work done. And teachers are professionals, they are not in the business of putting the brakes on their entire class
She gained some valuable insight:
She learned that she is in fact a really good student by being in classes with kids who are not as academically prepared. Interesting reality check for a 14/15 year old. Kind of a "hey, I know stuff, I get this, I'm a good writer, I know how to study, etc". Sometimes, kids asked her for peer help, she was happy to share.
She found herself doing group projects with kids that on paper may seem to not have a lot to offer academically, but she learned from them, appreciated their perspectives, found some to be "really smart" others to be "so funny" and all to have something to add-even if they don't ace all the tests.
We feel really lucky that our kid gets to gain this very important perspective early on. Not everyone comes from the same kind of house or has a family where all the adults have advanced degrees, but it's all ok and it is so important to be able to relate to people who are not all just like you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:True, honors level freshman have some classes with the "masses" but therein lies the beauty of Wilson.
My child (who is an honors student) fully enjoyed and learned a lot in non-honors classes freshman year. First of all, all honors would be incredibly stressful and we are mostly interested in having our teenager be happy while getting her work done. And teachers are professionals, they are not in the business of putting the brakes on their entire class
She gained some valuable insight:
She learned that she is in fact a really good student by being in classes with kids who are not as academically prepared. Interesting reality check for a 14/15 year old. Kind of a "hey, I know stuff, I get this, I'm a good writer, I know how to study, etc". Sometimes, kids asked her for peer help, she was happy to share.
She found herself doing group projects with kids that on paper may seem to not have a lot to offer academically, but she learned from them, appreciated their perspectives, found some to be "really smart" others to be "so funny" and all to have something to add-even if they don't ace all the tests.
We feel really lucky that our kid gets to gain this very important perspective early on. Not everyone comes from the same kind of house or has a family where all the adults have advanced degrees, but it's all ok and it is so important to be able to relate to people who are not all just like you.

Exactly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:True, honors level freshman have some classes with the "masses" but therein lies the beauty of Wilson.
My child (who is an honors student) fully enjoyed and learned a lot in non-honors classes freshman year. First of all, all honors would be incredibly stressful and we are mostly interested in having our teenager be happy while getting her work done. And teachers are professionals, they are not in the business of putting the brakes on their entire class
She gained some valuable insight:
She learned that she is in fact a really good student by being in classes with kids who are not as academically prepared. Interesting reality check for a 14/15 year old. Kind of a "hey, I know stuff, I get this, I'm a good writer, I know how to study, etc". Sometimes, kids asked her for peer help, she was happy to share.
She found herself doing group projects with kids that on paper may seem to not have a lot to offer academically, but she learned from them, appreciated their perspectives, found some to be "really smart" others to be "so funny" and all to have something to add-even if they don't ace all the tests.
We feel really lucky that our kid gets to gain this very important perspective early on. Not everyone comes from the same kind of house or has a family where all the adults have advanced degrees, but it's all ok and it is so important to be able to relate to people who are not all just like you.

Is this an example the "two Wilsons" that people speak of so ominously? If so, it doesn't sound so bad.

[Anonymous]

On behalf of my kid, who comes from a solidly middle-class home, with two parents with advanced degrees, and who will most certainly not be in honors classes next year at Wilson, I want to thank the two previous posters for their compassion--and for raising kids who have empathy for those with challenges both apparent and invisible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:True, honors level freshman have some classes with the "masses" but therein lies the beauty of Wilson.
My child (who is an honors student) fully enjoyed and learned a lot in non-honors classes freshman year. First of all, all honors would be incredibly stressful and we are mostly interested in having our teenager be happy while getting her work done. And teachers are professionals, they are not in the business of putting the brakes on their entire class
She gained some valuable insight:
She learned that she is in fact a really good student by being in classes with kids who are not as academically prepared. Interesting reality check for a 14/15 year old. Kind of a "hey, I know stuff, I get this, I'm a good writer, I know how to study, etc". Sometimes, kids asked her for peer help, she was happy to share.
She found herself doing group projects with kids that on paper may seem to not have a lot to offer academically, but she learned from them, appreciated their perspectives, found some to be "really smart" others to be "so funny" and all to have something to add-even if they don't ace all the tests.
We feel really lucky that our kid gets to gain this very important perspective early on. Not everyone comes from the same kind of house or has a family where all the adults have advanced degrees, but it's all ok and it is so important to be able to relate to people who are not all just like you.

My DD is 80 the 9th grade too and is in Honors Algebra 2 and Honors English. I could have written the same exact post as PP. It has made for a well-rounded experience. Math is kicking her but though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:True, honors level freshman have some classes with the "masses" but therein lies the beauty of Wilson.
My child (who is an honors student) fully enjoyed and learned a lot in non-honors classes freshman year. First of all, all honors would be incredibly stressful and we are mostly interested in having our teenager be happy while getting her work done. And teachers are professionals, they are not in the business of putting the brakes on their entire class
She gained some valuable insight:
She learned that she is in fact a really good student by being in classes with kids who are not as academically prepared. Interesting reality check for a 14/15 year old. Kind of a "hey, I know stuff, I get this, I'm a good writer, I know how to study, etc". Sometimes, kids asked her for peer help, she was happy to share.
She found herself doing group projects with kids that on paper may seem to not have a lot to offer academically, but she learned from them, appreciated their perspectives, found some to be "really smart" others to be "so funny" and all to have something to add-even if they don't ace all the tests.
We feel really lucky that our kid gets to gain this very important perspective early on. Not everyone comes from the same kind of house or has a family where all the adults have advanced degrees, but it's all ok and it is so important to be able to relate to people who are not all just like you.

Exactly.

My DD is having this same experience as well. Learning many valuable lessons, which quite honestly will be more useful to her than one more honors class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:True, honors level freshman have some classes with the "masses" but therein lies the beauty of Wilson.
My child (who is an honors student) fully enjoyed and learned a lot in non-honors classes freshman year. First of all, all honors would be incredibly stressful and we are mostly interested in having our teenager be happy while getting her work done. And teachers are professionals, they are not in the business of putting the brakes on their entire class
She gained some valuable insight:
She learned that she is in fact a really good student by being in classes with kids who are not as academically prepared. Interesting reality check for a 14/15 year old. Kind of a "hey, I know stuff, I get this, I'm a good writer, I know how to study, etc". Sometimes, kids asked her for peer help, she was happy to share.
She found herself doing group projects with kids that on paper may seem to not have a lot to offer academically, but she learned from them, appreciated their perspectives, found some to be "really smart" others to be "so funny" and all to have something to add-even if they don't ace all the tests.
We feel really lucky that our kid gets to gain this very important perspective early on. Not everyone comes from the same kind of house or has a family where all the adults have advanced degrees, but it's all ok and it is so important to be able to relate to people who are not all just like you.

Exactly.

My DD is having this same experience as well. Learning many valuable lessons, which quite honestly will be more useful to her than one more honors class.

I know pre-Cahall kids, now adults, who say the same thing. Wilson really prepared them well, in ways their sheltered Ivy league counterparts had not experienced. A big, diverse, school like Wilson isn't for everyone, but those who thrive there benefit greatly from their experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:True, honors level freshman have some classes with the "masses" but therein lies the beauty of Wilson.
My child (who is an honors student) fully enjoyed and learned a lot in non-honors classes freshman year. First of all, all honors would be incredibly stressful and we are mostly interested in having our teenager be happy while getting her work done. And teachers are professionals, they are not in the business of putting the brakes on their entire class
She gained some valuable insight:
She learned that she is in fact a really good student by being in classes with kids who are not as academically prepared. Interesting reality check for a 14/15 year old. Kind of a "hey, I know stuff, I get this, I'm a good writer, I know how to study, etc". Sometimes, kids asked her for peer help, she was happy to share.
She found herself doing group projects with kids that on paper may seem to not have a lot to offer academically, but she learned from them, appreciated their perspectives, found some to be "really smart" others to be "so funny" and all to have something to add-even if they don't ace all the tests.
We feel really lucky that our kid gets to gain this very important perspective early on. Not everyone comes from the same kind of house or has a family where all the adults have advanced degrees, but it's all ok and it is so important to be able to relate to people who are not all just like you.

I have no kids at Wilson so this is not about the school per se. However, I've got to say I don't think the "insight" above is actually so valuable. I went to a decent but not great school where I did well without having to do very much. So much so that I didn't learn that I needed to put some serious effort into my studies. I learnt this the hard way much later when I was in a harder program with more advanced students and by then I'd say too many poor habits were set.

So...I think there's a sweet spot between feeling overwhelmed by school and feeling like you're a star. I don't think either of those two extremes is good for kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:True, honors level freshman have some classes with the "masses" but therein lies the beauty of Wilson.
My child (who is an honors student) fully enjoyed and learned a lot in non-honors classes freshman year. First of all, all honors would be incredibly stressful and we are mostly interested in having our teenager be happy while getting her work done. And teachers are professionals, they are not in the business of putting the brakes on their entire class
She gained some valuable insight:
She learned that she is in fact a really good student by being in classes with kids who are not as academically prepared. Interesting reality check for a 14/15 year old. Kind of a "hey, I know stuff, I get this, I'm a good writer, I know how to study, etc". Sometimes, kids asked her for peer help, she was happy to share.
She found herself doing group projects with kids that on paper may seem to not have a lot to offer academically, but she learned from them, appreciated their perspectives, found some to be "really smart" others to be "so funny" and all to have something to add-even if they don't ace all the tests.
We feel really lucky that our kid gets to gain this very important perspective early on. Not everyone comes from the same kind of house or has a family where all the adults have advanced degrees, but it's all ok and it is so important to be able to relate to people who are not all just like you.

I have no kids at Wilson so this is not about the school per se. However, I've got to say I don't think the "insight" above is actually so valuable. I went to a decent but not great school where I did well without having to do very much. So much so that I didn't learn that I needed to put some serious effort into my studies. I learnt this the hard way much later when I was in a harder program with more advanced students and by then I'd say too many poor habits were set.

So...I think there's a sweet spot between feeling overwhelmed by school and feeling like you're a star. I don't think either of those two extremes is good for kids.

Right -- and a lot of kids don't go to either extreme -- and there are many lessons to be learned in life that are not necessarily learned at school or that don't sink in the first time around -- can't blame the kids' school for that.

[Anonymous]

Do the math 40% of an entire school population of 1600 is about 640 students divided by 4 grade levels around 160 students...that is about one teacher's average class load. I am assuming the paths of the achievers and non-achievers will hardly ever mix in a classroom setting. So, stop worring you little self, you will not have reactivate the force shield. Sheesh!!!

[Anonymous]

Two Wilson's?

[Anonymous]

That has been the look of Wilson HS for years of the two Wilson's... You can see the separation before you can see the diversity.