Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SJC mom here. If you want to send your kid to your in-state flagship, it will be difficult from SJC without the honors starting freshman year, unless they are athletes. But once they are in college, they will be Dean’s List all the way. The rigor, discipline, and executive functioning
at SJC will position them to succeed. My kid without many APs (I think two) ended at UMBC and Loyola-equivalent schools but is well positioned for grad school and landed a great job after completion of summer internship junior year in college.

Thanks for this. I agree with what you are saying about what SJC will prepare kids for and I think that’s great. And if my son ends up going to a smaller less prestigious school than a state flagship or similar, that’s ok. But I feel like by staying there it’s pretty much already decided that he will not be able to aim high. And I’m not ok with that.

If your son is getting B+ grades as a freshman, these options are already off the table.
It's not going to be the courses that limit him, it's his grades.

We turned down a private school when we learned of that policy because our very bright kid was always a master at the 89.4 grade, no matter the class level. Personally, I would switch to a school that allows students to take whatever class they desire and understands not all Bs are caused by lack of understanding or intelligence (especially for boys). This kid had so many B+ grades in high school, but was in the APs that were right for him and math beyond AP; in college is more mature and rocking it in a very difficult computer engineering program.

Anonymous wrote:SJC mom here. If you want to send your kid to your in-state flagship, it will be difficult from SJC without the honors starting freshman year, unless they are athletes. But once they are in college, they will be Dean’s List all the way. The rigor, discipline, and executive functioning
at SJC will position them to succeed. My kid without many APs (I think two) ended at UMBC and Loyola-equivalent schools but is well positioned for grad school and landed a great job after completion of summer internship junior year in college.

Thanks for this. I agree with what you are saying about what SJC will prepare kids for and I think that’s great. And if my son ends up going to a smaller less prestigious school than a state flagship or similar, that’s ok. But I feel like by staying there it’s pretty much already decided that he will not be able to aim high. And I’m not ok with that.

SJC mom here. If you want to send your kid to your in-state flagship, it will be difficult from SJC without the honors starting freshman year, unless they are athletes. But once they are in college, they will be Dean’s List all the way. The rigor, discipline, and executive functioning
at SJC will position them to succeed. My kid without many APs (I think two) ended at UMBC and Loyola-equivalent schools but is well positioned for grad school and landed a great job after completion of summer internship junior year in college.

Anonymous wrote:…do we push now for Honors level freshman placements or do we let her have an easy year. The risk with this is if she is not able to transition into honors level sophormore year. Any feedback?

Push now, politely but firmly, and support DC during the school year so it is a successful year and so the school does not remove DC from that upper track. At any school, this will be more school work for DC, but it will pay off at college admissions time. College admissions is a lottery right now, so one wants DC to have the best odds which are possible.

At almost any school, it is hard to move from a lower track to a higher track later on.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Use the extra time from being on the easier track to have the kid self-study and take the AP exam on his own.

Can you do that outside of school? If so that’s not a bad idea. Would this still go on a transcript somehow if the exam was passed?

You can do that. The AP score would be included with any other AP scores and SATs in the College Board’s data package sent to whichever colleges one sent that to, so college admissions would see it (which is what matters).

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assume JR is Jackson Reed.
What private is this that gatekeeps APs like this?

The Cathedral schools do.

Yes. My DD had a 95% in precalculus and they wouldn’t allow her to take AP Calculus because she wasn’t in the advanced precalculus class. Took “college prep” calculus instead.

This is exactly the policy at my DD's school...there are three levels of precalc and the middle level and above can go into AP Calc AB and only the highest level can do BC.

So for anyone who has had kids on the cusp and interested in taking more rigours classes but not allowed to, how did it shake out when time to apply to college? What do good grades in non weighted/rigorous classes get you? My child has goals and I do not want to have to forget those after freshman year. The school is not worth that.

If your kid is on the bubble, one option is to take a class or get a tutor over the summer and submit results from that (or ask for a placement test) to bump up to the higher track. Also, if it’s just that your kid tracks into AB instead of BC, that’s not that big a deal.

If your kid has all A’s in standard-level classes, colleges are going to think they coasted and didn’t challenge themself enough. But if your kid is making a mix of A’s and B’s, and taking the highest level classes they can get into, that still looks good. It doesn’t help to take a higher level class than they can succeed in.

This is OP and yes my kid is on the bubble but there is zero negotiating even if a point or so away. I have asked about taking independent courses over the summer and then taking their placement tests and that’s also a no. Not sure how this helps my kid or any other but now I am nervous to stay in case he ends up on the bubble again next year.

Is this SJC? We have a DD attending next year and this has been my concern--do we push now for Honors level freshman placements or do we let her have an easy year. The risk with this is if she is not able to transition into honors level sophormore year. Any feedback?

Omg YES. Push for honors freshman year. Even just one so there is a foot in the door. We were encouraged to ease in, especially with a sport and that as long as my kid “did well” moving into honors was easy. It’s not. But my kid is a boy and he has had some times of unfocus and a bad grade here and there that coukd have been better with more consistent effort. So while he has done well, exams weren’t great for him and he likely could have had As if he worked harder in some classes. There was definitely an adjustment period. Some classes are disruptive also so if your dd is used to honors kids who are focused that matters too. It has definitely had a negative impact on my son to not be in a class full of kids who care about their grades. I’m not sure how many kids who want to be in honors are shut out. Maybe it’s not a lot.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assume JR is Jackson Reed.
What private is this that gatekeeps APs like this?

The Cathedral schools do.

Yes. My DD had a 95% in precalculus and they wouldn’t allow her to take AP Calculus because she wasn’t in the advanced precalculus class. Took “college prep” calculus instead.

This is exactly the policy at my DD's school...there are three levels of precalc and the middle level and above can go into AP Calc AB and only the highest level can do BC.

So for anyone who has had kids on the cusp and interested in taking more rigours classes but not allowed to, how did it shake out when time to apply to college? What do good grades in non weighted/rigorous classes get you? My child has goals and I do not want to have to forget those after freshman year. The school is not worth that.

In terms of the in-state public college, one was a spring admit to UMD. This was with 3.7/3.8 UW after getting a high A in 9th grade Algebra 1, end of year placement test and qualifying to take geometry over the summer and honors science/math afterwards. The other kid with an even higher UW GPA, but lower weighted GPA was denied from UMD. We definitely had to make sure their safeties were true safeties like they accept at least 70% of applicants ad GPA. IMO you can find a school that will fit your kid’s profile but will it be affordable and have what your child is looking for.

OP, what subject is your kid’s strength? What classes are they getting As? If they have A’s in English or their 9th grade history there could be a path to taking honors English and history in 10th - maybe even AP World History.

Thank you this is very helpful. We are also at SJC and this is what I am afraid of. He unfortunately won’t qualify for any honors programs next year. A/B+ quarters in math but not high enough for the summer program, same with English, will end year with a high B+ so no go there for honors. His history class has been incredibly demanding and he has worked hard for a B there. A in bio but it doesn’t matter without the math. A in scripture which gets him nowhere. So here we are. He came in a straight A advanced middle school student (from public which was def easier) but this was not the expected path.

Do you mind sharing what schools accepted your non honors child?

My kid that had Algebra 1 in 9th went to SJC. My kid that had the lower weighted GPA attended a different school that really limited the number of honors and AP classes but they did take honors starting in 10th and was an A/A- students with only two Bs. Their likely schools were Michigan State, Delaware and Towson.

My opinion is that it will be harder admission at some of the colleges without being on the honors/AP track at SJC given that it is offered earlier and the top x % are taking those classes. If your child stays the course at SJC, besides bringing up their grades to have more As in the core subjects it will help if they do well on SAT/ACT , have meaningful ECs (not just to put something down) and good college essays. That still might not be enough for VT OOS but there will be a college where they can get a good education and that fits what they are looking for in terms of size, urban/city /rural and intended major. There just might be compromises in cost, geographic location and prestige of the college or prestige of intended major at the college. Look at A+ schools for B students https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/a-plus. We have family the Midwest that attended some of the schools on the list - good students in high school and are doing well post college.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assume JR is Jackson Reed.
What private is this that gatekeeps APs like this?

The Cathedral schools do.

Yes. My DD had a 95% in precalculus and they wouldn’t allow her to take AP Calculus because she wasn’t in the advanced precalculus class. Took “college prep” calculus instead.

This is exactly the policy at my DD's school...there are three levels of precalc and the middle level and above can go into AP Calc AB and only the highest level can do BC.

So for anyone who has had kids on the cusp and interested in taking more rigours classes but not allowed to, how did it shake out when time to apply to college? What do good grades in non weighted/rigorous classes get you? My child has goals and I do not want to have to forget those after freshman year. The school is not worth that.

If your kid is on the bubble, one option is to take a class or get a tutor over the summer and submit results from that (or ask for a placement test) to bump up to the higher track. Also, if it’s just that your kid tracks into AB instead of BC, that’s not that big a deal.

If your kid has all A’s in standard-level classes, colleges are going to think they coasted and didn’t challenge themself enough. But if your kid is making a mix of A’s and B’s, and taking the highest level classes they can get into, that still looks good. It doesn’t help to take a higher level class than they can succeed in.

This is OP and yes my kid is on the bubble but there is zero negotiating even if a point or so away. I have asked about taking independent courses over the summer and then taking their placement tests and that’s also a no. Not sure how this helps my kid or any other but now I am nervous to stay in case he ends up on the bubble again next year.

Is this SJC? We have a DD attending next year and this has been my concern--do we push now for Honors level freshman placements or do we let her have an easy year. The risk with this is if she is not able to transition into honors level sophormore year. Any feedback?

^ not willing

Anonymous wrote:It’s disappointing when you see that at MCPS any kid can pretty much take any AP they want at any time, starting 9th grade. I’m not saying that’s the correct way to go about it, I think some gatekeeping of who can take AP and at what year is appropriate, but being stuck in the regular tract with little hope of being able to take APs if you’re interested isn’t the right way.

I agree and it makes me really sad (not to mention stressed!) to have to consider changing schools. My kid does not want to switch either but also doesn’t want to be stuck without options or a school that is willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

It’s disappointing when you see that at MCPS any kid can pretty much take any AP they want at any time, starting 9th grade. I’m not saying that’s the correct way to go about it, I think some gatekeeping of who can take AP and at what year is appropriate, but being stuck in the regular tract with little hope of being able to take APs if you’re interested isn’t the right way.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assume JR is Jackson Reed.
What private is this that gatekeeps APs like this?

The Cathedral schools do.

Yes. My DD had a 95% in precalculus and they wouldn’t allow her to take AP Calculus because she wasn’t in the advanced precalculus class. Took “college prep” calculus instead.

This is exactly the policy at my DD's school...there are three levels of precalc and the middle level and above can go into AP Calc AB and only the highest level can do BC.

So for anyone who has had kids on the cusp and interested in taking more rigours classes but not allowed to, how did it shake out when time to apply to college? What do good grades in non weighted/rigorous classes get you? My child has goals and I do not want to have to forget those after freshman year. The school is not worth that.

In terms of the in-state public college, one was a spring admit to UMD. This was with 3.7/3.8 UW after getting a high A in 9th grade Algebra 1, end of year placement test and qualifying to take geometry over the summer and honors science/math afterwards. The other kid with an even higher UW GPA, but lower weighted GPA was denied from UMD. We definitely had to make sure their safeties were true safeties like they accept at least 70% of applicants ad GPA. IMO you can find a school that will fit your kid’s profile but will it be affordable and have what your child is looking for.

OP, what subject is your kid’s strength? What classes are they getting As? If they have A’s in English or their 9th grade history there could be a path to taking honors English and history in 10th - maybe even AP World History.

Thank you this is very helpful. We are also at SJC and this is what I am afraid of. He unfortunately won’t qualify for any honors programs next year. A/B+ quarters in math but not high enough for the summer program, same with English, will end year with a high B+ so no go there for honors. His history class has been incredibly demanding and he has worked hard for a B there. A in bio but it doesn’t matter without the math. A in scripture which gets him nowhere. So here we are. He came in a straight A advanced middle school student (from public which was def easier) but this was not the expected path.

Do you mind sharing what schools accepted your non honors child?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assume JR is Jackson Reed.
What private is this that gatekeeps APs like this?

The Cathedral schools do.

Yes. My DD had a 95% in precalculus and they wouldn’t allow her to take AP Calculus because she wasn’t in the advanced precalculus class. Took “college prep” calculus instead.

This is exactly the policy at my DD's school...there are three levels of precalc and the middle level and above can go into AP Calc AB and only the highest level can do BC.

So for anyone who has had kids on the cusp and interested in taking more rigours classes but not allowed to, how did it shake out when time to apply to college? What do good grades in non weighted/rigorous classes get you? My child has goals and I do not want to have to forget those after freshman year. The school is not worth that.

In terms of the in-state public college, one was a spring admit to UMD. This was with 3.7/3.8 UW after getting a high A in 9th grade Algebra 1, end of year placement test and qualifying to take geometry over the summer and honors science/math afterwards. The other kid with an even higher UW GPA, but lower weighted GPA was denied from UMD. We definitely had to make sure their safeties were true safeties like they accept at least 70% of applicants ad GPA. IMO you can find a school that will fit your kid’s profile but will it be affordable and have what your child is looking for.

OP, what subject is your kid’s strength? What classes are they getting As? If they have A’s in English or their 9th grade history there could be a path to taking honors English and history in 10th - maybe even AP World History.

Anonymous wrote:Use the extra time from being on the easier track to have the kid self-study and take the AP exam on his own.

Can you do that outside of school? If so that’s not a bad idea. Would this still go on a transcript somehow if the exam was passed?