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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My kid is a sophomore this year and likes SJC pretty well. I wanted to comment on the requirements for honors/Ap English and also math if your 9th grader takes (or has to repeat from 8th grade) Algebra 1.

A B+ in non honors 9th grade English gets you grade level 10th grade English. You have to have an A in 9th to move into honors in 10th. (I think its a B if you start in honors) Then in 10th, you need an A to move into 11th honors, and a 95 or above, which is near impossible, to move to AP.

In math if you don't start in honors you need to be in the top 5% of all Algebra 1 students (last year that grade was about a 95) to qualify for summer Geometry and then be on track for honors Algebra II as a sophomore.

All a bit frustrating esp since teacher difficulty and grading policies vary depending on who you get.[/quote]

THIS!!!!  My kid is a Senior.  We made a massive mistake choosing SJC and it is going to impact his options for college. I have an A student who struggled as a Freshman due to two back to back death the first month of his freshman year at SJC. SJC never allowed him to recover academically.  Please parents realize that it they gate keep their classes for honors kids and it WILL impact your child’s future! My son was in accelerated math going into SJC.  SJC forced (and I mean forced) him off of it.  He wasn’t allowed into Honors classes with a B plus (about .7 point away from an A).  He was not allowed to take more than two APs his Junior year.  He is now is pre calc because he was forced out of the accelerated program.  The college he wants so badly’s rep told him he didn’t have a shot and they won’t even look at him even though he is an A student because of his APs and Math over which he had no control because he had no control. The school is rigid, too big and doesn’t care about each kid wholelistically.  They care about sports. Period.  The resentment I have towards what this school has done to my kids future is deep. If they take your kid off the honors/college math path, get out!!!!!  I have so much regret for my hard working good kid.  It is devastating!!!![/quote]

So…my son was in a similar situation but my outlook is different. Hear me out…and don’t despair for your son. I disagree wholeheartedly with your advice.

Son came to SJC from one of the Episcopal middle schools, was in public beforehand.

It was a sophomore first semester 1.6 that tanked his GPA to a 3.4 by end junior year. Same as you, could not take calc, but he took pre calculus over the summer of junior year at St. Alban’s so he could take calculus senior year. (We had the class pre-approved; I’m so sorry you did not think to do the same. Class at St. Alban’s was “amazing,” per my son.)

Same as you, he was limited to just two APs.

Yes, college outcomes were affected despite 1440 SAT. The only top 30 school he got into was my alma mater, and we passed on that. His choices were safeties.

He chose a safety and went reluctantly. He excelled, graduating this spring magna cum laude and as a student leader (contrary to his time at SJC). The same kid who struggled to get an A in “regular English” at SJC  before advancing to Honors was told by his professors that he was one of the best writers in his classes.

Decided to pursue a very competitive career field and worked his ass off. Landed a nationally competitive internship, not in his dream field, but adjacent. Networked into another spot one degree away from desired dream field and had employment in August of senior year, starting salary over $100k plus bonus. Now working, he is in a large training group alongside grads of far more prestigious schools. Top 30s and Ivy’s are the norm. He is doing extremely well.

I firmly believe he developed the grit necessary to succeed at SJC. He learned to be humble, work hard, and never give up.

Similarly, his younger brother, whom I posted about before, did some stupid things and was a hair’s breadth away from being kicked out of SJC. While I was shocked and have never been more angry with him than when he was suspended, I let him take his lumps. It was really hard to keep up with his studies and his grades tanked when he was not allowed to communicate with his teachers during suspension. But he worked hard and raised his GPA over the next semesters and will apply to colleges with a 4.3.

Our society needs more humble, resilient, hardworking young people. Those are the traits that bring success in life, and those are the traits Saint John’s College High School helped to instill in my kids.

I could have easily left them both in public schools where they would have graduated with vastly inflated GPAs and a superior sense of self. I could have sent them to more progressive private high schools, that frankly would have better matched my politics. My old Hillary bumper sticker was lonely in the SJC parking lot in 2020!

But I am grateful everyday for SJC’s refusal to compromise on discipline and standards. Their HS diploma means something.

Please stop despairing and don’t feed a victim mentality with your son. He can do whatever he sets out to do with the benefit of SJC’s preparation and the right attitude. I know it is hard now, and I hope my story gives you optimism. Good luck to you and your son.

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