That’s not really how language learning works, unfortunately, especially not in the early years. You need a SOLID foundation in the basic topics before you build onto them with more complex topics. A shaky language foundation can be very, very difficult to overcome in later courses.
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My kids conferenced with their teachers, met with guidance, and took the classes that were right for them. I stayed out of it.
But….I would have intervened if they wanted to replace a core class with acting (not dismissing acting as a valuable EC).
I don’t see how your son can have it both ways. Has he spoken to his guidance counselor?
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Please keep the conversation on-topic for an 8th grader considering 9th grade online/in-person classes. Do not stray off course to discussing top engineering and CS schools. That is premature for an 8th grader; much can change over the next few years before applying to college. Thank you for your understanding.
I can only compare to our HS. Language is one area where kids at our HS might fulfill their requirement at a local CC, online, or otherwise outside of the regular school day… but ONLY if they are taking a language not offered at the school. (For example, German or American Sign Language.) And in that case, these kids seem to do fine in college admissions.
If the same language is offered at the high school (at the same level that the kid is taking) I don’t think it would be seen the same way.
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You asked the question, so feel free to dismiss the advice. However users responding have had experience on the topic.
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@ivymcginnis you have started three threads trying to figure out ways to work around the requirements of your now 8th grader’s high school. I’m quite sure there have been other students who wanted to have it all, like your student. But they realized that they needed to satisfy high school requirements as they were presented at YOUR high school.
I don’t think any of these courses online are going to be considered rigorous by selective colleges…and anyway…college applications are almost four years away for your kid. Until they have a HS junior year GPA, and in some cases an SAT or ACT score, you have no way to even know if selective colleges will be appropriate application targets.
You are WAYYYY putting the cart before the horse.
If you aren’t happy with the structure of this high school, have you considered private or parochial school options where there would be enough time for in person courses in everything?
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I could be wrong that why I would love to hear others’ opinions who have more experience. Just want to share my original thoughts.
Please tell me how the labs would be soundly structured in an online biology course? The labs are a very important component, not to be dismissed lightly.
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It sounds like the opinions and advice are the same in this thread as the other threads.
- Prioritize the core courses in his schedule.
- In any remaining slots in his schedule, choose elective(s).
All high school students (at least the ones I personally know) would like to have more space in their schedule for multiple electives to fit in all their wonderful interests. But at least at our HS, and especially if they want to keep their options open for college, they have to make choices.
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Generally speaking, selective colleges won’t consider on-line classes to be as rigorous. They prefer to see kids take classes in-person if they are available (it is a different story when a class isn’t available - ie. high level math).
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My kids were choir kids, plus ds16 was in band freshman year. Before the HS switched to block scheduling, my kids never had a lunch period, since they wanted to stay in choir (which was a class). Here in NJ, 4 years of PE are required (except for the marking period they do health instead). One of my youngest had to quit chambers senior year because of an AP CS class her calculus teacher thought she should take before college (he was more of a mentor, she still emailed him questions from college). NJ also requires at least 2 arts classes (choir covered 1, my kids took culinary as their practical art). I believe all biology classes have labs (when they switched to block all labs were done during the lunch period).
Can you also keep in mind the time commitment for the school plays, AP courses, and band? When exactly do you think this kid will have time for online or college courses?
Please consider the time commitments for all of the things you want your kid to do. You want them to have time to do well. Not cram things in just because…they can.
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I am not personally a fan of students taking AP classes in 9th grade.
High school students in the US are under an insane amount of pressure. As parents we should be cautious about piling pressure on our kids. Some kids take this better than others. Some very, very smart kids can break down under too much pressure (I have seen this happen once, and do not want to see it again – a solid recovery did happen in the once case I witnessed). There are a lot of high school students in the US who are taking medication to deal with the consequences of all of this pressure.
I would be cautious.
I think that I would drop an AP class in 9th grade before I would take either biology (or any lab science) or a foreign language as an on-line class.
I am curious about what your guidance counselor would recommend.
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Will the transcript actually say “online”?
Or adding to my own suggestions…homeschooling would give you open ended options. Drama could be done via civic theater. Look for a youth orchestra or wind ensemble…and have him audition. Then you can do the courses anyway you choose.
Is there any way to do band without using a class period? Our HS band teachers used to let certain kids stay in band even when they didn’t have room in their schedule. Of course they usually knew them well (same teachers middle and high school so even by 9th grade they knew who they could trust to learn the pieces on their own) ) and the kids gave up lunches and study halls when necessary to ensure they knew the music or to practice with others. Otherwise I agree with others he has to choose between theater and band and do the other outside school.
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Does the school not offer summer sessions? My kids’ high school offers a small but useful roster of courses in the summer. My kids planned their schedules such that they take a class or two in the summer, which frees their schedule up during the year. I wouldn’t take foreign language or core science courses online, personally. Your kid is making choices, and they will have to understand the tradeoffs.
I wish our HS offered summer courses!
Ours only offers summer courses for credit recovery if you’ve already taken the class once, but received a D or F in it.
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Many communities have summer youth theater programs where students can really enjoy a summer (usually musical) production with a like minded cohort of others. Explore this option too. The acting doesn’t have to happen during the school year at the school.
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