MS grades on HS transcript

[Anonymous]

DS has taken two years of HS level math classes in MS, as well as Spanish 1-3. Can someone who knows please tell me *exactly* how these five (or 10 semester-long?) classes will appear on his HS transcript, given that he will also have 4 years each of math and Spanish? I've never seen an MCPS HS transcript, so don't know how and where the info about class, semester exam, final grade, and "year taken" will appear, so would love it if someone could break it down for me. And will the MS grades contribute to the HS GPA? TIA.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I believe that the MS grades will be factored into the GPA, but sorry I don't exactly know how.

[Anonymous]

I've seen my son's high school transcript and I don't recall that the exam grade and year taken were listed. It just lists the classes, the grades and the number of credits for the class. The overall GPA is listed as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've seen my son's high school transcript and I don't recall that the exam grade and year taken were listed. It just lists the classes, the grades and the number of credits for the class. The overall GPA is listed as well.

Thanks, PP. Are all classes/grades one semester in length?

[Anonymous]

If your kid is getting "HS Credits" for any class they take in MS, that will be on their transcript for college admissions and be factored into the GPA.

I personally feel that there were some such classes in our MS, but were taught very poorly. (Especially Geometry)

Even though my kid got an "A" in all of these classes, I should have not allowed him to take the final exams and drop the class. That would have wiped out the scores from the transcripts as well have allowed him to retake the course with better teachers in HS.

[Anonymous]

np here. i am confused. so will op's kid's hs transcript look as if he took 6 years of math (the 2 yrs from middle school and 4 yrs in high school) - don't colleges wonder how kids took 6 yrs of math in high school?

also, what is the rationale for middle school grades counting towards high school gpa? in college, if you are eligible for level math (bc of APs), the college doesn't count your high school ap class grade into your college gpa. it seems really odd that a class take. when one is 12 years old counts toward the highh school gpa.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:np here. i am confused. so will op's kid's hs transcript look as if he took 6 years of math (the 2 yrs from middle school and 4 yrs in high school) - don't colleges wonder how kids took 6 yrs of math in high school?

also, what is the rationale for middle school grades counting towards high school gpa? in college, if you are eligible for level math (bc of APs), the college doesn't count your high school ap class grade into your college gpa. it seems really odd that a class take. when one is 12 years old counts toward the highh school gpa.

+1
I don't know the answer to OP's question, but I find it hard to believe that middle school grades will ever be calculated into the high school GPA. The advanced classes in middle school should only be for placement into advanced classes in high school.

[Anonymous]

I am finding that it actually worked out really well for my son to get some of his math and foreign language credits out of the way in MS. He is headed to Thomas Edison School of Technology and due to the time he will spend there, if he hadn't already completed those credits he would either have to go to summer school at my expense or start at Edison in 12th grade instead of 11th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:np here. i am confused. so will op's kid's hs transcript look as if he took 6 years of math (the 2 yrs from middle school and 4 yrs in high school) - don't colleges wonder how kids took 6 yrs of math in high school?

also, what is the rationale for middle school grades counting towards high school gpa? in college, if you are eligible for level math (bc of APs), the college doesn't count your high school ap class grade into your college gpa. it seems really odd that a class take. when one is 12 years old counts toward the highh school gpa.

+1
I don't know the answer to OP's question, but I find it hard to believe that middle school grades will ever be calculated into the high school GPA. The advanced classes in middle school should only be for placement into advanced classes in high school.

In MCPS this is true -- high school courses taken in middle school go on the HS transcript and are factored into HS GPA. And, why not? If my DC took French 1 in MS, got an A for all 4 quarters and another child didn't take French I until 9th grade, why should my child be penalized from having his/her good grades contribute to the HS GPA? In MCPS there are many bright kids who are taking high school level languages (Language 1-3) or HS level math (Algebra, Geometry, Algebra II) in MS. They take learn the same course material, take the same exams, earn the same credit and take the same risks as high schoolers, therefore they experience the same consequences -- good (or bad) grades go on the high school transcript.

If the MS child gets a low grade in a HS class, he/she is allowed to repeat the course and the better grade goes on the transcript.

All colleges understand if kids have multiple years of math, in the same way they understand why a kid ends up in French 7 in high school (or AP foreign language).

[Anonymous]

So the lesson is: don't push your average or slightly above average kid too hard in ms because some of those grades will follow them to HS and affect their gpa.

My kid is entering ms next year. He will NOT take a foreign language in 6th grade. Instead, he will take Spanish 1 in 7th and 8th grades (the slower, easier version spread out over two years). Then he can take Spanish 2 in freshman year (because you don't want your kid in Spanish 1 in HS with the lowest performing kids...trust me).

[Anonymous]

I just saw my sons. It lists the class and when taken and the final grade for each semester. No exam grades. It looks exactly the same as the ones taken in HS but college would see the early dates. It is also calculated into the GPA.

[Anonymous]

There are very few classes offered in MS that earn HS credits. Usually they are Math and Foreign Language credits.

There is no downside to these because these classes are offered to kids who are advanced to begin with in MS. However, if you feel that your child is not going to do great in them because of lack of interest or substandard teaching - just do not take the semester exams. The scores get wiped out. Ask your counselor about it.

Doing HS courses in MS means that your child will be placed in more and more advanced classes in HS. Colleges notice that you have taken advanced classes in HS.

Remember that when your kid does apply to colleges, they have just started in their Senior year. So, the colleges are seeing the grades of 9th, 10th and 11th grades mainly. If you have done Geometry or Algebra II in MS, you would be doing Calculus by 10th or 11th grade. That is pretty impressive - especially if your grades are good too. So, there are pros too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So the lesson is: don't push your average or slightly above average kid too hard in ms because some of those grades will follow them to HS and affect their gpa.

My kid is entering ms next year. He will NOT take a foreign language in 6th grade. Instead, he will take Spanish 1 in 7th and 8th grades (the slower, easier version spread out over two years). Then he can take Spanish 2 in freshman year (because you don't want your kid in Spanish 1 in HS with the lowest performing kids...trust me).

Just responding to the last part of your post in parentheses, you do realize, pp, that the lower performing kids in MS will be taking the path your DS plans to take. The higher performing kids are going into HS with 2 or 3 years of completed foreign language credits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So the lesson is: don't push your average or slightly above average kid too hard in ms because some of those grades will follow them to HS and affect their gpa.

My kid is entering ms next year. He will NOT take a foreign language in 6th grade. Instead, he will take Spanish 1 in 7th and 8th grades (the slower, easier version spread out over two years). Then he can take Spanish 2 in freshman year (because you don't want your kid in Spanish 1 in HS with the lowest performing kids...trust me).

Just responding to the last part of your post in parentheses, you do realize, pp, that the lower performing kids in MS will be taking the path your DS plans to take. The higher performing kids are going into HS with 2 or 3 years of completed foreign language credits.

You're in a sad place when you refer to students in grade-level classes to be "lower performing".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:np here. i am confused. so will op's kid's hs transcript look as if he took 6 years of math (the 2 yrs from middle school and 4 yrs in high school) - don't colleges wonder how kids took 6 yrs of math in high school?

also, what is the rationale for middle school grades counting towards high school gpa? in college, if you are eligible for level math (bc of APs), the college doesn't count your high school ap class grade into your college gpa. it seems really odd that a class take. when one is 12 years old counts toward the highh school gpa.

+1
I don't know the answer to OP's question, but I find it hard to believe that middle school grades will ever be calculated into the high school GPA. The advanced classes in middle school should only be for placement into advanced classes in high school.

It's a pretty common thing. My midwestern rural high school did this 20 years ago when I was in school. Colleges are accustomed to seeing this if kids take HS classes early. The basic reason is, it's a high school level class with high school level material, so if they're doing the work they should get the credit. The high school and middle school are within the same school system, so it makes sense for grades, credits, etc. to carry over. High schools have no connection to colleges, so their credits cannot transfer directly into GPA usually. What does happen is that college level classes taken in high school and reported to the college will often end up on the college transcript with a notation of credit given but no grade.

Students know the stakes going into the classes, and they or their parents can always opt not to take HS level classes in MS if the student isn't ready for a class that will impact the HS transcript and GPA.