Reply to Magnet HS results and the waitpool

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[quote=Anonymous]A few more notes….

If your kid is trying to pack more in their GE schedule a few recommendations.

First take health A/B over the summer through Central Office online. My son did this. The Health Classes are just common sense/ busy work and better to get them over in 6 weeks than a full school year. Actually, I’d recommend taking them over the summer and filling their time with anything else. I’ve never met a kid who enjoyed their Health classes and my kids both found them boring.  I think students can take them before 9th grade but double check as when they can take them has varied from year to year. Check the Central Office bulletin to see when you can register. You’ll have to register as soon as the portal opens to have the best shot. My son didn’t have to pay for the classes due to COVID money but just be aware that there is a cost now that COVID money is gone. I can’t remember what it costs (since we didn’t have to pay) but I remember thinking it’s not too much.

Secondly there are opportunities to take Art class too over the summer. Mine didn’t do that but a friend at RMIB did. I’m not sure if they are offered through Central Office or just through schools. If not offered through Central Office, try RMIB or some of the other larger local school. Generally the local schools will prioritize their own students but if you are organized enough you can probably get in.

I would recommend taking the Health etc classes as early as possible summer before 9th and 10th as when they get older, there are more things to available to them including studying for the SAT, college prep programs, internships, driving school etc.

One other note,  do NOT take PE as a freshman. The counselors will recommend it but freshman year is the easiest. I’d advise either junior or senior year when they could use a break in their schedule.  They’d hate me for writing this but PE is the only required class that’s not weighted so if you wait till senior year, your child could potentially apply to college with a 5.0 GPA for EA (which would be reduced senior year because PE is unweighted).  My older one took PE as a senior.

In terms of required “easy” classes, my kid took Art as a sophomore, PE as a junior and none as a freshman/ senior.

Finally, it’s good to write out a tentative 4 year plan.  If the rigor is too much, you’ll know and the school will work with you to adjust during the change period. For my son, we found that with the “SMCs CS class” after AP CS A.  If your kid is rocking everything, there are always more opportunities for additional rigor in future years. There are so many smart kids at PHS, they’ll be challenged no matter how smart they are.

Good luck again!

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