Anonymous
Post 10/04/2022 16:40     Subject: Guidance for selecting HS classes
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have an 8th grader who will go to Blair next year. How much guidance is there for choosing classes, such as which APs to take and when since there seems to be so many options across each department.

Also, can someone post a typical 9th grade schedule for a college bound kid that wants to show rigor but not be totally overloaded.

Assume Algebra 2 (not honors), Spanish 3 and band.

Thanks!


I would say check w/ the counselor on this. Most at Blair are good, but there is one counselor at Blair who is terrible. The resource teacher for counseling at Blair is excellent, so reach out to her if you can't get answers.

I'd say a good schedule that shows rigor would be:

Alg II
APUSH
AP Physics A or Hons Physics (if not so math inclined)
Hons Eng
Hons Span 3
Band
??? Chorus? Art? Theatre? PE? Would not add another AP just yet



Alg II
AP NSL
AP Physics A or Hons Physics (if not so math inclined)
Hons Eng
Hons Span 3
Band
AP CS Principles (easiest AP class that exists and fills tech req)
Anonymous
Post 10/04/2022 14:57     Subject: Guidance for selecting HS classes
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have an 8th grader who will go to Blair next year. How much guidance is there for choosing classes, such as which APs to take and when since there seems to be so many options across each department.

Also, can someone post a typical 9th grade schedule for a college bound kid that wants to show rigor but not be totally overloaded.

Assume Algebra 2 (not honors), Spanish 3 and band.

Thanks!


I would say check w/ the counselor on this. Most at Blair are good, but there is one counselor at Blair who is terrible. The resource teacher for counseling at Blair is excellent, so reach out to her if you can't get answers.

I'd say a good schedule that shows rigor would be:

Alg II
APUSH
AP Physics A or Hons Physics (if not so math inclined)
Hons Eng
Hons Span 3
Band
??? Chorus? Art? Theatre? PE? Would not add another AP just yet


This looks much more reasonable but I would check to see if DC has enough math for Honors Physics. AP physics 1 is fine but at our W hs they want Algebra 2 completed before Honors Physics. Not sure if it’s required though.


You are also required to take English.
Anonymous
Post 10/04/2022 14:09     Subject: Guidance for selecting HS classes
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have an 8th grader who will go to Blair next year. How much guidance is there for choosing classes, such as which APs to take and when since there seems to be so many options across each department.

Also, can someone post a typical 9th grade schedule for a college bound kid that wants to show rigor but not be totally overloaded.

Assume Algebra 2 (not honors), Spanish 3 and band.

Thanks!


I would say check w/ the counselor on this. Most at Blair are good, but there is one counselor at Blair who is terrible. The resource teacher for counseling at Blair is excellent, so reach out to her if you can't get answers.

I'd say a good schedule that shows rigor would be:

Alg II
APUSH
AP Physics A or Hons Physics (if not so math inclined)
Hons Eng
Hons Span 3
Band
??? Chorus? Art? Theatre? PE? Would not add another AP just yet


APUSH is not available for 9th graders at Blair.
Anonymous
Post 10/04/2022 12:40     Subject: Guidance for selecting HS classes
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have an 8th grader who will go to Blair next year. How much guidance is there for choosing classes, such as which APs to take and when since there seems to be so many options across each department.

Also, can someone post a typical 9th grade schedule for a college bound kid that wants to show rigor but not be totally overloaded.

Assume Algebra 2 (not honors), Spanish 3 and band.

Thanks!


I would say check w/ the counselor on this. Most at Blair are good, but there is one counselor at Blair who is terrible. The resource teacher for counseling at Blair is excellent, so reach out to her if you can't get answers.

I'd say a good schedule that shows rigor would be:

Alg II
APUSH
AP Physics A or Hons Physics (if not so math inclined)
Hons Eng
Hons Span 3
Band
??? Chorus? Art? Theatre? PE? Would not add another AP just yet


This looks much more reasonable but I would check to see if DC has enough math for Honors Physics. AP physics 1 is fine but at our W hs they want Algebra 2 completed before Honors Physics. Not sure if it’s required though.
Anonymous
Post 10/04/2022 11:54     Subject: Guidance for selecting HS classes
Anonymous wrote:I have an 8th grader who will go to Blair next year. How much guidance is there for choosing classes, such as which APs to take and when since there seems to be so many options across each department.

Also, can someone post a typical 9th grade schedule for a college bound kid that wants to show rigor but not be totally overloaded.

Assume Algebra 2 (not honors), Spanish 3 and band.

Thanks!


I would say check w/ the counselor on this. Most at Blair are good, but there is one counselor at Blair who is terrible. The resource teacher for counseling at Blair is excellent, so reach out to her if you can't get answers.

I'd say a good schedule that shows rigor would be:

Alg II
APUSH
AP Physics A or Hons Physics (if not so math inclined)
Hons Eng
Hons Span 3
Band
??? Chorus? Art? Theatre? PE? Would not add another AP just yet
Anonymous
Post 10/04/2022 10:20     Subject: Re:Guidance for selecting HS classes
Anonymous wrote:I think Honors US History in 9th makes the most sense. They will have had 8th grade US History/American Studies which only covers up to Reconstruction, then 9th grade picks up there and continues to the recent times. Then, start AP classes in 10th with US Government.


I think the issue is that APUSH is a much harder class than AP NSL and giving students a year to acclimate to high-school with a softer ramp up yields better results.
Anonymous
Post 10/04/2022 09:47     Subject: Re:Guidance for selecting HS classes
I think Honors US History in 9th makes the most sense. They will have had 8th grade US History/American Studies which only covers up to Reconstruction, then 9th grade picks up there and continues to the recent times. Then, start AP classes in 10th with US Government.
Anonymous
Post 10/04/2022 08:20     Subject: Re:Guidance for selecting HS classes
Anonymous wrote:Confirmed tonight at Blair open house that APUSH is not currently an option for 9th graders.


Interesting they must've finally changed it. Other schools had Government in 9th and USH in 10th but Blair had done it the opposite in years past. This is likely a change for the better.
Anonymous
Post 10/04/2022 08:05     Subject: Guidance for selecting HS classes
Anonymous wrote:Not sure about Blair but my kids HS has a number of programs and sample schedules for both. Most kids get their PE out the way freshman year. Then you fill with arts elective or tech class. And English. The big choice is whether to take AP history/government. Applying to college is a bit crazy these days. Most kids are overloading themselves with AP.


AP teacher here - if your child has a choice, take U.S. Government BEFORE APUSH. Freshmen can pass APUSH, but do so with lower scores and with less frequency than GoPo.
Anonymous
Post 10/03/2022 20:57     Subject: Re:Guidance for selecting HS classes
Anonymous wrote:Confirmed tonight at Blair open house that APUSH is not currently an option for 9th graders.


Then do AP USG
Anonymous
Post 10/03/2022 20:51     Subject: Re:Guidance for selecting HS classes
Confirmed tonight at Blair open house that APUSH is not currently an option for 9th graders.
Anonymous
Post 10/03/2022 18:59     Subject: Re:Guidance for selecting HS classes
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Blair's science pathway recommendations:

https://mbhs.edu/departments/science/Pathways%20for%20recommendations%205.pdf


Thanks. This doesn’t show AP Physics as an option for 9th graders.


It may be on recommendation only but wasn't uncommon. Again my info is a couple years out of date.


The usual pathway is something like Hon Bio, Hon Chem, and Hon/AP Physics, AP Science
Anonymous
Post 10/03/2022 18:59     Subject: Re:Guidance for selecting HS classes
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Blair's science pathway recommendations:

https://mbhs.edu/departments/science/Pathways%20for%20recommendations%205.pdf


Thanks. This doesn’t show AP Physics as an option for 9th graders.


It may be on recommendation only but wasn't uncommon. Again my info is a couple years out of date.
Anonymous
Post 10/03/2022 18:58     Subject: Guidance for selecting HS classes
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have an 8th grader who will go to Blair next year. How much guidance is there for choosing classes, such as which APs to take and when since there seems to be so many options across each department.

Also, can someone post a typical 9th grade schedule for a college bound kid that wants to show rigor but not be totally overloaded.

Assume Algebra 2 (not honors), Spanish 3 and band.

Thanks!


Hon Algebra 2
Spanish 3
AP Comp Sci Principes (Satisfies Tech Req but relatively easy)
AP Physics (recommended at Blair for kids in Algebra2 honors)
AP or Hon US Hist (hard course so may want to just take hon if you got a lot else going on)
Hon Eng 9
PE / Band


Blair says it doesn’t offer AP USH for 9th graders.


APUSH was in 9th at Blair at least a few years back but at other schools they reverse AP NSL and APUSH which some feel is easier for the kids.
Anonymous
Post 10/03/2022 18:56     Subject: Guidance for selecting HS classes
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have an 8th grader who will go to Blair next year. How much guidance is there for choosing classes, such as which APs to take and when since there seems to be so many options across each department.

Also, can someone post a typical 9th grade schedule for a college bound kid that wants to show rigor but not be totally overloaded.

Assume Algebra 2 (not honors), Spanish 3 and band.

Thanks!


Hon Algebra 2
Spanish 3
AP Comp Sci Principes (Satisfies Tech Req but relatively easy)
AP Physics (recommended at Blair for kids in Algebra2 honors)
AP or Hon US Hist (hard course so may want to just take hon if you got a lot else going on)
Hon Eng 9
PE / Band


Wow, that seems hard. If kid is stronger in humanities than math would it be better to take APUSH and and bio or chem instead of AP Physics? Wow does Blair want 9th graders to take AP Physics?


Yes if they're in Algebra2 in 9th.