Anonymous wrote:I would recommend to just suck up to it and pick an available option, which can include testing into a higher level of Spanish. "My kid doesn't like the language options and would prefer some other random language" is just a bad attitude. MCPS can't accommodate all languages. I'm sure some kids would prefer Italian or Russian or Japanese.

+1

Your kid can take German in college.

I would recommend to just suck up to it and pick an available option, which can include testing into a higher level of Spanish. "My kid doesn't like the language options and would prefer some other random language" is just a bad attitude. MCPS can't accommodate all languages. I'm sure some kids would prefer Italian or Russian or Japanese.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your student does not need to take foreign language. They can fulfill the credit requirement with CTE courses

Thanks for this tip on the CTE courses. He will go to WJ. How can I see which courses qualify for CTE?

CTE is an option, but most colleges want 2 years while in high school. You can opt to take 2 semesters at MC. MCPS will pay for it as long as not summer school. Plus, 2 semesters MC = 2 credits MCPS. Good luck!!

Anonymous wrote:You can request a COSA to move a school that offers the language you'd like. There is an option on the form for that for now (but that will go away once each region has a magnet language program, I'd expect). I have no idea how often MCPS approves a COSA for this reason, though.

According to the OLO report, there aren't any schools that offer German. Besides French and Spanish, the other languages offered at some schools include ASL, Arabic, Chinese, Italian, Japanese, and Latin.

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/OLO/Resources/Files/2026_Reports/OLOReport%202026-2.pdf (pages 194-196 list what languages are offered where)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your student does not need to take foreign language. They can fulfill the credit requirement with CTE courses

Thanks for this tip on the CTE courses. He will go to WJ. How can I see which courses qualify for CTE?

If your kid is college-bound I'd be careful with this, colleges that are at all selective tend to want to see foreign language in HS.

I think a kid who complements their CTE program of studies with a certificate of biliteracy and college coursework in a third language would do fine on admissions. Taking CTE instead of taking language would look bad.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your student does not need to take foreign language. They can fulfill the credit requirement with CTE courses

Thanks for this tip on the CTE courses. He will go to WJ. How can I see which courses qualify for CTE?

If you start at page 43, this document lists all the CTE programs in MCPS.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteassets/district/curriculum/coursebulletin/2026-27/0468.26_202627_hs_coursebulletin.pdf

Not every option is available in every school. It looks like the following are at WJ:

Hospitality and Tourism

Child Development

Computer Science

Mobile Applications and Software Development

There are many other options that would require him to be bussed to Thomas Edison, plus options at the Fire Academy.

I don’t know if wanting a specific CTE program is a cause for a COSA.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your student does not need to take foreign language. They can fulfill the credit requirement with CTE courses

Thanks for this tip on the CTE courses. He will go to WJ. How can I see which courses qualify for CTE?

Towards the bottom of this page, look for programs of study in computer science, hospitality, career development, etc.

https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/walterjohnsonhsregistration/departments

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your student does not need to take foreign language. They can fulfill the credit requirement with CTE courses

Thanks for this tip on the CTE courses. He will go to WJ. How can I see which courses qualify for CTE?

If your kid is college-bound I'd be careful with this, colleges that are at all selective tend to want to see foreign language in HS.

You can request a COSA to move a school that offers the language you'd like. There is an option on the form for that for now (but that will go away once each region has a magnet language program, I'd expect). I have no idea how often MCPS approves a COSA for this reason, though.

Anonymous wrote:Your student does not need to take foreign language. They can fulfill the credit requirement with CTE courses

Thanks for this tip on the CTE courses. He will go to WJ. How can I see which courses qualify for CTE?

Your student does not need to take foreign language. They can fulfill the credit requirement with CTE courses

He could take AP Spanish Lang in 9th, and AP Spanish Lit in 10th, and then do German online or at a college or community college. Since he wouldn't need the German for graduation, he could take it at literally any college. Someone will have a schedule that works.

He could also skip the AP, test for the seal of biliteracy, and then do the career option, and then take whatever online or in person classes he wants. Colleges want to see that he took a language that he wasn't a heritage speaker of, so I'd make sure that he has a transcript to show, but there are many options that will give that.

All of this assumes he didn't take anything in middle school. If he has 2 credits from middle school in a language, the graduation requirement is filled.

Anonymous wrote:DS is not interested in the foreign language options offered at his high school. He has a particular interest in another foreign language (German). Are there any options for studying this on his own or over the summer and getting credit by exam? Or could he take it at a different high school or something?

He is also heritage spanish speaker - not sure if he could test out on that?

Any creative ideas for high school foreign language completion would be much appreciated!

There will be a languages magnet through the regional programs starting in fall 2027-- you could check if the one for your region already offers German? Not sure if they will take transfers as sophomores but I think in theory they are supposed to. And/or you could consider applying for a COSA to a school that offers German and see if it works?

Similar boat. My kid wants ASL which is not taught at her school, unfortunately.

DS is not interested in the foreign language options offered at his high school. He has a particular interest in another foreign language (German). Are there any options for studying this on his own or over the summer and getting credit by exam? Or could he take it at a different high school or something?

He is also heritage spanish speaker - not sure if he could test out on that?

Any creative ideas for high school foreign language completion would be much appreciated!