Do any FCPS High Schools offer AP Music Theory?

Anonymous wrote:I don't want my child to be that obsessed with GPA. So no, I wouldn't encourage her to game the system. We also encouraged her to take non-weighted electives that interested her. And now that I've been through the process, I think colleges see through it. If a kid takes gym pass/fail to boost GPA, are they also only taking the teachers who grade highest? I just think it looks questionable.

My kid is taking online PE pass/fail.

She took online PE so she could take two fine arts credits on top of a rigorous schedule (advance math track plus highest offerings in history, science and English, and a foreign language).

Online PE gave her an extra class beyond what most kids take (8 vs 7 graded classes).

We chose pass/fail so efforts could be devoted to the core classes and fine arts that she loved and not wasted on a worthless class like PE. She is still carrying an A in PE (grades are recorded) but if she has a challenging week or two in say pre calc and chem, she can focus all her energies on those classes that matter and put PE on the back burner.

We really need to keep PE in perspective as to what it really is, an opportunity for the kids to relax and socialize (not a bad thing) and mostly a way to employ coaches who maybe are not qualified to be teachers.

PE ahould be optional in high school in my opinion.

I don't want my child to be that obsessed with GPA. So no, I wouldn't encourage her to game the system. We also encouraged her to take non-weighted electives that interested her. And now that I've been through the process, I think colleges see through it. If a kid takes gym pass/fail to boost GPA, are they also only taking the teachers who grade highest? I just think it looks questionable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are in Fairfax County. Does an A versus B is pe make a difference in GPA? How about if you take it pass/fail. Thinking of doing that, unless the easy A would benefit the gpa!

Thanks

An A in PE hurts your GPA because it adds an extra class to your gpa that is not weighted and brings it down slightly.

Lets say you get all As including PE with 3 classes weighted a full point, two weighted 1/2 point and PE and band unweighted.

5 (3) = 15
4.5 (2) = 9
4 (2) = 8

Total 32/7 = 4.59

Vs PE p/f


5 (3) = 15
4.5 (2) = 9
4 (1) = 4

Total 28/6 = 4.66

It is a nominal difference but if you are fighting for higher class rank or valedictorian, it might make a difference.

Google the ted talk about how band cost me valedectorian.

Thank you for that calculation. Really interesting. I'm wondering if it would be a different outcome if my DC was taking mostly unweighted classes, just one AP and one honors per year. Still better to avoid PE as a grade, or at that point is the A helpful?

^^ same PP. my post was in response to ted talk. Also, should have clarified that nand is not weighted. (I personally think 3rd and 4th years should be). My DD is still a senior and not Asian, so it’s not her I’m talking about. I just know how hard everyone is on Asians and NOVA and UVA and gpa arms races.

A few things....FCPS does not rank so would not make a difference on Valedictorian. Schools recalculate or actually look at the actual classes taken. Counselor sends school profile with transcript, Most colleges know that PE is mandatory (some states/districts have mandatory fine arts classes)

I posted this anecdote in another thread recently.
My DDs good friend is a freshman and some sort of “scholar” at UVA this year and she took band all 4 years. She happens to be Asian and from FCPS high school known for being highly competitive. I’m sure she had 2 PE units in her gpa as well.

It is choir cost me valedictorian, not band. My mistake.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DGZVxA0J5g28&ved=0ahUKEwjJ1NrG4rPZAhVNxWMKHZkCD-oQwqsBCCcwAA&usg=AOvVaw0OZymjPFxtEOEG0wnEr8sy

Anonymous wrote:We are in Fairfax County. Does an A versus B is pe make a difference in GPA? How about if you take it pass/fail. Thinking of doing that, unless the easy A would benefit the gpa!

Thanks

An A in PE hurts your GPA because it adds an extra class to your gpa that is not weighted and brings it down slightly.

Lets say you get all As including PE with 3 classes weighted a full point, two weighted 1/2 point and PE and band unweighted.

5 (3) = 15
4.5 (2) = 9
4 (2) = 8

Total 32/7 = 4.59

Vs PE p/f


5 (3) = 15
4.5 (2) = 9
4 (1) = 4

Total 28/6 = 4.66

It is a nominal difference but if you are fighting for higher class rank or valedictorian, it might make a difference.

Google the ted talk about how band cost me valedectorian.

Anonymous wrote:Are we allowed to do PE pass/fail?

You can do online PE pass/fail.

Not sure about regular PE.

Are we allowed to do PE pass/fail?

Anonymous wrote:Who gets a B in PE?

This! And yes. It shows up it a GPA. Health and Drivers Ed are also included in the grade. Various colleges might recalculate, take it out, whatever. But your official, FCPS GPA includes PE.

Who gets a B in PE?

Counted in you HS GPA, but discounted by most Colleges. I’d worry more about what a B in gym might say about my kids attitude.

No- this is not counted when colleges re-calculate your GPA (according to our guidance counselor)

We are in Fairfax County. Does an A versus B is pe make a difference in GPA? How about if you take it pass/fail. Thinking of doing that, unless the easy A would benefit the gpa!

Thanks