<p>Our kids take the tests at the high school. Most of the kids in their classes are taking the same tests so they usually take the tests in their actual classroom for that class. I think the kids that are not taking the tests go to a study hall or something. We pay for the tests but if they kids score a 3 or better the school reimburses you for the test fee.</p>
<p>I think I am paying outrageous taxes and getting screwed :-/. My school bill total for two kids in PUBLIC school last year was $900. I have to pay for textbooks that my kids can’t bring home (non-AP classes). Ridiculous. This year I refused to pay the bill in total until April. Just to protest. Next year will be about the same. ugh.</p>
<p>Walker - do you pay separate taxes for school? Other than the portion that is included in our property taxes we don’t pay for anything. The kids are even given the AP study prep books.</p>
<p>It’s illegal in our state to charge for textbooks. Even the high school kids that take the post-secondary option in high school get books for free. We buy school supplies (notebooks, pencils, etc) but that is it for “educational materials”. We have to pay fees for playing sports, etc. and our marching band is fully self-supported so we pay to participate in that–but those are optional.</p>
<p>Socialdrama- I hope you will be pleasantly surprised by the scores. </p>
<p>Megp- love the circular thinking. I too am blamed for most of the stress. I am always fighting with D to take things off her plate. D recently called me a “non-asian tiger mom”. Hmmmm- it it makes you feel better. </p>
<p>Wherenext- what is STARS testing? The cheating story is crazy. Poor kids- but I agree it is extra practice. </p>
<p>Congratulations Mommiedearest. No mail here from Wittenberg. We have a lot of math offerings at Ds school. Most kids at this school will start HS math in 7th or 8th grade. </p>
<p>Enjoy the bike a thon Longhaul! </p>
<p>SAT 2’s- Count us as another kid that is not taking SAT 2’s. None of D’s schools require it. D was a bit stressed about not taking it. She is concerned about being seen as a slacker. I told her not to worry. She just saved me 45.</p>
<p>Vandy- love the idea of prama! </p>
<p>Great options on your classes mommiedearest.</p>
<p>AP Tests- Our kids take the tests during the school day. School does not pay for APs but does for IBs. I think that kids on free/reduced lunches get the fees waived. We pay for our own study guides and some text books. </p>
<p>Good luck to all the test takers out there! Do your best.</p>
<p>To add to D’s stress this week, as she was parking at the mall she hit a car. She is permitted, no license yet. No damage to either car, but it was a big mistake- she basically hit the gas instead of the brake. She was panicked, cried, and put on an oscar winning performance. It took forever to calm her down and tend to her bruised ego. She thought she was doing a better job driving. I am just grateful that she learned that 1)accidents happen and you must be vigilant, and 2) she really isnt that great of a driver. </p>
<p>One last thing that I think is crazy- the school is holding orientation for new students and D was pulled out of her afternoon classes to give parent tours and answer questions about the school- HELLO- she is in the middle of prepping for APUSH and IBECON. </p>
<p>As if that isnt bad enough- the school is planning a joint cleanup day with a community group in a low income neighborhood. D will have to get out of school early one day to participate. Mom- “No, you can’t. School comes first.” D-“I have to, I planned the event with teacher X and Reverend Y.” </p>
<p>Shouldn’t there be a May hiatus until this is all over? I love D’s sense of community involvement, but I wish she were just a bit more selfish. </p>
<p>Done ranting. Off to make popcorn to watch the Voice. </p>
<p>Good luck all.</p>
<p>Mommydearest, Both my kids did StarTalk Chinese programs last summer and both of them won NSLIY China scholarships this year. I would say there is still no guarantee - the Chinese program is the most competitive- but chances are low without demonstrated interest. Also, he would probably need to continue Spanish to demonstrate commitment to foreign language… He’s got some great choices.</p>
<p>Ama308, NYU has been on our radar for a couple years. Incredibly competitive and very small new liberal arts college in UAM but phenomenal financial aid. If you are granted an interview, they fly you out and put you up for a weekend scholarship event/visit, all expenses paid. My D13 will apply just in hopes of getting the scholarship trip.</p>
<p>I haven’t talked to my D13 in a couple weeks. She’s busy enjoying her last month of school at UWC USA. She doesn’t realize that her family would like to hear from her, too. I’ll be glad to have her home for a few weeks before she goes to China. Fortunately, her volunteer plan for the month of June on the Mexican border didn’t work out this year.</p>
<p>S is another one on the fence regarding SAT 2. Probably unlikely he will apply anywhere that requires them but really don’t have a list yet and would hate to miss out by not taking. Just realized today is last day to register for June test date. Waiting until fall would need studying on subjects he has already finished with. Hmmm - what to do …</p>
<p>The schools our kids are looking at only use the SAT 2’s for placement so they can wait until next spring to take them if needed. The only one they will take would probably be Spanish. The other ones would be in their major and they can’t place out of classes in their major. AP tests work for placement so if they do ok on the World History AP and the Lit AP’s they are taking they won’t need to take the SAT 2’s. DS will want to take history in college as he loves that, DD would prefer to test out because she hates history class :D.</p>
<p>Asked him and he does not want to take in June. Would not expect him to use for placing out of intro classes. Will register for fall if he finds he needs them.</p>
<p>Hi everyone! Sorry, I can’t keep up. lol</p>
<p>I hope all the AP test-takers are surviving. It sounds like there’s so much going on - I wish that the schools would lay off some things now!</p>
<p>SAT 2s -DD is considering one school that recommends them, but isn’t taking them this season. If that school stays on her list, she’ll have to take them in the fall. Not perfect, but actually, this year wasn’t great for them either, with her current schedule. </p>
<p>I need to lay-off the college stuff for a while. I’m starting to stress out that DD needs to raise one score (for merit aid potential) and it’s gotten bad enough that DD is picking up on it. It doesn’t help that her current #1 school will definitely need some aid $$ to make it work. Time for mom to chill, and take a break. In the scheme of things, this is all so unimportant. I’m just happy that I have a healthy, wonderful kid with a good head on her shoulders and a great set of values. With all that, the rest is just icing on the cake!</p>
<p>Our HS never gives the AP and IB tests at the school. Not enough room. Depending on the year they’ve been given at: various large churches with enormous classroom space or the community college. This year they’re all at the community college. </p>
<p>D2 is at an APUSH study session as I type. She looked really wiped out when she came downstairs this morning. There are only 10 1/2 school days left but she’ll be off site for 2 days for AP testing (so only 8 1/2 days) then one day of finals she doesn’t have to report because the periods testing are her study hall & one of the AP classes (they don’t have to take a final if they’re taking the AP test; so only 7 1/2 days) and there aren’t regular classes on the rest of the final days so only 5 days of regular school left. Hope we all make it ;)</p>
<p>CGBMass- property and school taxes to the tune of $4,500 a year. I have no idea what they are doing with the money but it such isn’t being spent on materials or school my kids go to! The other two high schools in our county seem to be getting more resources than we are even though we are rated higher academically. I sub and I can’t believe the difference in the facilities. Oh well, still less expensive than private school in the state we lived in before. We would have had to spend $100k for two kids through HS. Yikes.</p>
<p>SAT IIs - hedging our bets and signed up DD13a today for US History and Math II. I doubt we will need them and she may bomb them (really didn’t do that hot on the SAT; great on ACT) but its in our pocket one way or another.</p>
<p>NYU AD - man, you peeps are brave! I would not be in favor for my independent and headstrong daughters to go to the middle east to study. That would make me have to mainline Valium on a daily basis! Good luck!</p>
<p>Anniezz, you are so right about the icing on the cake analogy! When we are thrown curveballs or the kids are stressed, I need a glass of wine or watch a Downton Abby to calm down and remember that(:</p>
<p>Nellie-STAR testing is statewide testing that all students grades 2-11 have to take in May. </p>
<p>We pay out of pocket about $1300 per HS student not including AP tests or sports uniforms. We also pay measure whatever taxes for our schools. AP tests taken at our school, high % take them. </p>
<p>Update on cheating retest. D thinks she did well on this test but felt that she aced the last one, well not as much as the cheaters but close(: Today was supposed to be a free day after all their STAR testing in the morning…thanks cheaters! D’s on to the next thing and not bitter.</p>
<p>Mommydearest-cool and different options! I like that the chinese program sounds so out of the box and dedicated! The tip-toppers one sounds like a great opportunity too!</p>
<p>Vandy-loving your Prama! keep us up dated!</p>
<p>Walker-love the valuim comment.</p>
<p>@wherenext- I will stop kvetching about my HS bills now that I know somebody pays more! </p>
<p>I’m glad your daughter thought the test went okay. I am sorry she had to retake. Last year there was a problem with proctoring the AP Lit test. It was voided and the students had to retake. There was a lot of freaking out. Don’t blame them. It wasnt the kids fault. #firstworldproblems right?</p>
<p>I am new to this site/forum. Reading through all this, I wish I had found you years ago. My d is “freaking out” and therefore so am I. I am so tempted to say “stop, don’t bother” with all this testing; but I know that won’t work out in the end. Anyone have any good strategies to keep kid and parent “sane” while watching the stress just build? Our school doesnt end till late june!</p>
<p>Drmom - I prescribe copious amounts of wine for you. For your daughter I recommend curling up in a fetal ball in a corner for short amounts of time. It seems to work here :)</p>
<p>Really encourage breaks with exercise. Running or some other endorphin inducing activity is great.</p>
<p>Why won’t it work out in the end?</p>
<p>Walker1194- yeah. I appreciate those ideas. this is a much more “crazy-making” time than I imagined. I see her stress affecting so much of her life. I don’t remember it being this way for me…It would be nice if we could all just sit back a bit! thanks,</p>
<p>Welcome drmom! Take a nice deep breath. Don’t worry about not starting earlier because you can’t change that now. Be happy that you’re aware in junior year because a lot of people don’t start making connections till the beginning of senior year & then it’s a major scramble. </p>
<p>For the vast majority of students at D2’s school, they will happily end up at one of the state schools & it doesn’t involve taking multiple tests. If you spend a lot of time here on CC, it’s easy to believe that everyone is taking the ACT 3x and the SAT 3x plus winning an Intel science competition & entertaining at nursing homes 5 nights a week. Not true. </p>
<p>We’re here to vent and to listen so we don’t make our kids crazy 
If you’re comfortable, feel free sharing what your D has done GPA & testing wise, where she’s interested in attending and her academic pursuits. And we can try and advise. </p>
<p>It will all work out fine in the end!</p>