<p>What happens if he takes the county class and gets a C in the class? Do they replace the B with the C, keep the B or average the two?</p>
<p>And its not that the class taken in middle school is available for transcripts the colleges see but does your district put high school level classes taken during middle school on the high school transcript?</p>
<p>In other words is the Algebra 1 class grade figured into his high school gpa?</p>
<p>My kiddos did take summer classes after their 8th grade year, freeing up room in their 9th grade schedules for classes not offered during summer months. It allowed for more sciences, languages and electives. And they were allowed to take more than 1 class in the summer.</p>
<p>So they took maybe a math or history and then a PE or driver’s ed, comp class…ones needed for graduation vs. a science or language in the summer, esp. since it was free.</p>
<p>Made sure however not to conflict with any of their summer EC practices and activities.</p>
<p>I think the answer to your first question is “the higher of the two grades”, but I’m not sure. I’m planning on reaching out to the HS guidance counselor for more info.</p>
<p>As far as the transcript, my understanding is that he’ll have 2 middle school grades (Algebra and another class) on his HS transcript, but they aren’t labeled as such. They are simply listed as 9th grade classes. Now, I’m assuming that admissions staff will be able to look at it and figure out that he didn’t really take 9 classes in 9th. My understanding is that if he repeated a high school class in summer school, both grades would be on the transcript, but repeating a class taken in middle school results in the previous grade disappearing.</p>
<p>I would want to see that info in writing according to the district catalog or course guidelines for high school transcripts and gpa. Maybe it is online or the GC should have it. </p>
<p>Again I would want to see the “rules” about course repetition and ensuing grades in writing. Don’t assume the GC knows, don’t assume any of it. Have the GC give you a copy whatever they are using, or tell you where you can get a copy.</p>
<p>Kat
ps. And put it in a folder with all student’s other info and hold onto it.</p>
<p>Well if you’d put all that info in your first post, our answers might be more helpful. If you want to know how grading is done at your high school, you’ll have to ask the high school. Every school system does things differently. My son took Chemistry in the summer, but not at the high school. They were willing to give him a “Pass” on his transcript. He also took the NYS Regents Test which is also recorded on the transcript. And I think was factored as an extra semester into his GPA. IIRC. It might even have caused a .03 reduction in his overall GPA, but it didn’t stop him from getting into top colleges.</p>
<p>Sorry, CJ, but when your title is “How much of a difference does .03 points of GPA make?” of course many of us are going to think that you’re asking because of the “low” grade rather than because he missed 60 days or whatever. </p>
<p>If those are your options, I’d go with B or let him repeat in the fall (I lean towards the fall repeat). I agree that making a young teen get up at 6:40 just isn’t very pleasant.</p>
<p>It doesn’t matter whether he missed days, because my question isn’t “is it worth sending a kid to summer school?” I don’t mind the fact that people gave me advice on whether or not to send him summer school, but decided to provide some clarity since other people brought it up. </p>
<p>The question is: “If a kid is going to summer school, is it worth having him travel farther so that he has the possibility of getting a grade change worth 0.03 points in his final GPA?” The reasons why he’s attending summer school shouldn’t make a difference in that answer.</p>
<p>Thanks Mathmom! That’s how I’m feeling at this point.</p>
<p>He might still end up at Option A, because of the cost difference or if Option B turns out to be full, but I’m leaning towards the grade change not being enough of a reason. </p>
<p>Romani,</p>
<p>The reason we aren’t doing a fall repeat is that I’d like him to be able to make as much of the decision as possible. He’s got pretty strong opinions about everything (e.g. computer/class/tutor, and this summer/next fall) except the location, and I’d like to honor them. He feels strongly that it would be embarrassing to be in Algebra 1 next fall when his classmates know he took it this year. Otherwise, it wouldn’t bother me for him to repeat in the fall.</p>
<p>Second mathmom’s view. Seems like lots of logistical problems to get .03 difference in his GPA. IMO–not worth it. Lots of ways (as you point out) that he can work on math that he might not have covered due to illness.</p>
<p>I’m a big Aleks fan. S used it to catch up when he transitioned to his current school that has more rigor than his old one, and we use it at work with some of our kids who need an alternate program. S is using it right now as a way to try and keep up while he’s sick, although it works less well for that purpose.</p>
<p>However, his preference for summer is very much class over computer. He’s been home alone for days on end while I’m at work due to the illness, and would rather spend the summer in the company of people his own age.</p>
<p>I don’t think the difference in GPA is even worth considering. If the additional cost of private summer school is not an issue, that’s definitely the way to go IMO.</p>
<p>Not for the GPA. Like you said, he missed a chunk of practice there. He should feel comfortable with algebra since it will be the basis for analytical geometry, precalc, and calculus, physics, some chemistry, a little bio. </p>
<p>And these days, kids skype and tweet their friends anyway. He can hang out with his bros in person in the evening since the days are long. When he hits high school knowing algebra like the back of his hand, he’ll be feelin’ so swag.</p>
<p>OP: I’m sure your child is a great, great kid. I retract and apologize for using the term right stuff. But 8th grade is way too early to predict his success. If he has the ability it will come out in HS and college.</p>
<p>I don’t think in this case, as in most case, that it will make a bit of difference. As an 8th grader, it makes no difference at all for most anything. Did he miss a cut off for a specific program that an additional .03 in GPA would open up for him, and that is a program he really wants? That is the only possible reason i would do this.</p>
<p>My son did not get into the top level of courses for freshman year of high school. He was very sick when he took the placement tests and really should not have sat for them, but he did, and just missed the cut offs for the honors courses. I insisted that he get a retake on the math, as he did have Algebra and he missed the cut off not to retake it by 1 point, and he handily passed it (with distinction) on the retest. I suspect he would have done well enough to be in the honors courses fro everything, but in looking at the situation, I did not think it was worth it. He got a 4.0 freshman year which most of the honors kids did not, and is doing well sophomore year moved up into the honors track. I think things worked out just fine, in that case. If there were a true issue or differential, I would have looked at it differently. So unless there is something truly at issue, at stake, I would not bother with the summer school. Time will come soon enough when this sort of gauntlet needs to be run.</p>
<p>How much does he like math? My “mathy” D loved the on-line Thinkwell program, which has lectures, problems and a book. If he would enjoy that, it is a great program for the summer. Khan and AoPS are also reasonable and excellent.</p>
<p>If he would not enjoy math for it’s own sake, I would suggest not pushing it at this time - wait and see how geometry goes.</p>