Reply to Blair magnet accelerated comp sci path

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My kid says there are kids that come to school and talk about learning a new coding language over the past week for fun. If that is your kid, acceleration seems like a great idea and I love that they have the option. For my kid who didn’t go to TPMS, I’m glad he likes CS but can take the normal 2 years that are required and hopefully a few electives. It’s a great program because you can do it either way.[/quote]

It’s required all four years of high school if you are in the magnet. It is a computer science magnet as well as math and science.[/quote]

A maximum of 5 semesters of CS is required for the magnet. Four if you skip one. You do not have to take more CS after AoA. In your junior and senior year, you may choose from a wide range of magnet electives. These can include CS but it isn't necessary.[/quote]

This years 9th graders were told that if they accelerate they would be expected to do it to make space for another computer science elective in their junior or senior year, not an elective on a different subject.[/quote]

This sounds strange, and I would advise anyone whose kid is considering the accelerated CS path to verify this with the magnet coordinator. Historically, science and computer science classes in the first two years are fixed, with two options for CS. Both CS pathways require four semesters of CS. After that there are no required science/CS classes, except, some advanced classes may have prereqs.

Requiring students to take a CS elective in the junior/senior years just because they took the accelerated CS path seems very uncharacteristic of the program.

-- DP[/quote]

I didn’t say it is required. However it is *expected* that if they do this it is to focus on comp sci and to take additional comp sci electives. This is the clear messaging my child has received. I don’t need to check with Mr O as I trust my kid.

Also if you review the magnet pathway it clearly shows comp sci electives, as well as science electives in Junior and senior year. [/quote]

Statements like "This years 9th graders were told that if they accelerate they would be expected to do it to make space for another computer science elective in their junior or senior year, not an elective on a different subject" cause uncertainty and doubt among those that have to make a decision now. So, thanks for clarifying that taking a CS elective is not required.

Having had a couple of kids go through this program, all I can say is this - there will always be students that take the fastest math path available because they are quite capable of handling it, but end up doing only the minimum math required ((i.e.) one math course every semester since the state requires it, and no math elective on top of that) in junior and senior years because by that time they have realized that their interests lie somewhere else, say Biology or whatever. Similarly, there will be students that take the accelerated CS path, because they are capable of doing it, but then end up not taking any CS electives in junior and senior years. But nobody is going to come after the students in the junior year with a pitchfork.

My suggestion to those who are considering this path would be, do it if you are capable of it and don't worry about what somebody is expecting you to do in the junior and senior years. (My understanding is that last year they offered three sections of the accelerated path and one section of the regular path, and the demand I hear was at least partly because a more popular teacher was in the accelerated path. It is very possible Mr. O said something like what PP's kid heard hoping to discourage it from happening again, but they can not enforce it.)

-- DP[/quote]

Well, now that ADSA has started the students have to sign a document stating that they are taking the accelerated pathway so that they can take additional comp sci electives in junior and senior year. So whether you think that caused “uncertainty and doubt” or not, it was correct.[/quote]

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