High School Credit for Middle School Students

High school credit is awarded to students who complete yearlong high school courses while in middle school after the student has passed both semesters of the course and passed the semester B high school final examination. The credit and grade are recorded on a student's transcript during the first year of high school. Grades 6–8 students may retake a high school course taken in middle school and receive the higher grade earned.

http://apps.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/coursebulletin/Home/Introduction#hscreditmsstudents

Repeating a Course to Earn a Higher Grade

Students graduating in 2014 and beyond may retake a course to work towards a higher grade than they first earned. Students must take the exact same course to take advantage of this opportunity. Upon completion of the course, their official transcript and GPA/WGPA will reflect only the higher grade earned. To learn more about this opportunity, contact the student’s counselor or High School Programs in the MCPS Department of Enriched and Innovative Programs, 301-279-5632.

Taken from MCPS WebSite

My 6th grade DC received an AAB =A first semester in a foreign language. This semester its A for 3rd marking period and currently 88/89 percent that the teacher is not bumping up for 4th marking period (the B was based on grades entered during this current exam week) and would now need an A on the final. So I plan on having my kid repeat the class even though basically had an A grade all year long - do i also need DC to skip the semester exam so it doesn't impact high school GPA too? Based on info on this thread that appears to be the case. The final is such a crap shoot with no textbooks given to the students and different teachers not covering the material the same. Help !

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I do allow my kids to take advanced classes, under one condition- if you will not be able to master it, you have to retake it the next year.

I assume a B doesn't cut it in your household? Wow. That's a lot of pressure to put on a child. I'm 100 percent sincere: What core value, to your mind, does this illustrate? That--nevermind failure!--anything less than an A is simply not an option? Aren't you the least bit worried that your children will internalize the notion that even if they do their best but earn a B grade that they're not good enough?

Absolutely not!

If I see that subject is difficult for child and he/she worked really hard, B is absolutely enough. (Like Chemistry or Advance Computer Programming)
I myself had several B and C in school and college. That were in cases of very difficult subjects not directly from my field or extremely difficult teachers.

If child did not study enough and got low B for the class, he/she did not master material and can do better.

You can't judge without knowing situation. However when MS child takes HS class and can't get an A that means that child is not ready for that class and did not master material.
If the same child would take the same class in 11th grade, worked very hard in it, and got just B. Good job! That means that B is limit for that child in this subject.
You know your child and his/her limits. Yes sloppy Bs and Cs do not work in my family. However, it does not mean that I will make my child's life miserable for getting B and C in very hard subject in field that is not easy for my child, when I see that my child did all possible (studied hard, turned all work in time, asked for help from teacher and parents etc.)

Anonymous wrote:If my child can't get A for Final Exam, consistently gets B and C. That means he/she did not master the material.
This is language, not Social Studies.
Future info is based on previous knowledge.
I do not want gaps in knowledge, if you do - then it is your problem.

If my child gets B in Algebra, that means that he/she cannot get A in PC without extensive study outside of school or repetition.
that probably will mean even lower grade in PC (without extra help.)

I have taught math in college. I had business major girl with such huge gaps in elementary math that she was unteachable.
That was the only case when I could not help. I felt sorry for girl and for the society.
I do not understand how she got to 4th year in very competitive college, and how she can get degree in business with such lack of elementary math...
I do not believe in just good grades...

For my oldest, things sort of came together later as he matured. His last two years in HS grades were significantly higher than the first two. Including math and languages. Good thing he did not grow up in your house! I don't believe that grades define a child's learning experience. Obviously you have a very different view.

Anonymous wrote:
Actually, the GPA does not naturally shake itself out. The only way to get a 4.0 (or a 5.0 as the case may be) is to get straight As. Please, please educate yourself. For those groups of students who will face a very high level of competition and high standards in college admissions, please read this article -

http://collegeapps.about.com/od/theartofgettingaccepted/f/weighted-gpa.htm

Unweighted GPA is important--agreed. But so is the rigor of one’s course load. It's a balance.

Anonymous wrote:
I do allow my kids to take advanced classes, under one condition- if you will not be able to master it, you have to retake it the next year.

I assume a B doesn't cut it in your household? Wow. That's a lot of pressure to put on a child. I'm 100 percent sincere: What core value, to your mind, does this illustrate? That--nevermind failure!--anything less than an A is simply not an option? Aren't you the least bit worried that your children will internalize the notion that even if they do their best but earn a B grade that they're not good enough?

If my child can't get A for Final Exam, consistently gets B and C. That means he/she did not master the material.
This is language, not Social Studies.
Future info is based on previous knowledge.
I do not want gaps in knowledge, if you do - then it is your problem.

If my child gets B in Algebra, that means that he/she cannot get A in PC without extensive study outside of school or repetition.
that probably will mean even lower grade in PC (without extra help.)

I have taught math in college. I had business major girl with such huge gaps in elementary math that she was unteachable.
That was the only case when I could not help. I felt sorry for girl and for the society.
I do not understand how she got to 4th year in very competitive college, and how she can get degree in business with such lack of elementary math...
I do not believe in just good grades...

There is no way that child can get A in French 3 and 4. What is the point to push that child to go further?

What evidence is this based on? My children's grades go up and down all the time. Bad teacher, tough semester, whatever. They have both A's and B's in upper language classes.

Well.
If your child gets B in French 2. And child is in MS. Considering real B. Not just messed up on one test and lowered the grade.
There is no way that child can get A in French 3 and 4. What is the point to push that child to go further?
On the other hand if you will make child retake French 2 you provide:
opportunity to close gaps and learn language better
opportunity to get better grade

Your child will have plenty hard subjects that he/she will no like in HS with definitely more than several Bs.
So this is not about perfect GPA, but it is about knowledge and good grades...

I do allow my kids to take advanced classes, under one condition- if you will not be able to master it, you have to retake it the next year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
No, B is not an acceptable grade when you are accelerating a child.

Are you for real? A bright child who gets a B in an accelerated class is ... unacceptable? To whom, exactly? (Besides you, of course.)

A MS student taking a HS credit class and getting Bs and Cs in it is not exhibiting mastery in that class. Considering he will be placed in progressively harder class in HS because he took the accelerated class in MS, he should show that he has mastered the content. Else, why would you accelerate this child? Let them learn at the regular pace.

A MS student taking HS credit classes and getting Bs shows me that that student is challenging herself, and not just skating by at grade level unchallenged. Yes, these grades will go on her HS transcript and affect her overall GPA, but she is also on track to further challenge herself by take many honors-level courses which are weighted higher. It seems to me the GPA will naturally shake itself out.

Actually, the GPA does not naturally shake itself out. The only way to get a 4.0 (or a 5.0 as the case may be) is to get straight As. Please, please educate yourself. For those groups of students who will face a very high level of competition and high standards in college admissions, please read this article -

http://collegeapps.about.com/od/theartofgettingaccepted/f/weighted-gpa.htm

Right ... If a perfect GPA is a requirement for your child..the B is a BIG problem...for everyone else it is not.

Anonymous wrote:The class is by semester. Nothing can change the grade for the first half....except retaking it. It is a separate class.

Good point. You are graded by Semester. So, Q1 and Q2 + Semester end exam = Grade in that class. The second semester is another grade, even if the class title is the same and the teacher is the same as in the first semester.