<p>*So is it “normal” for all kids to take a basic or advanced/honors/pre-AP Physics, Chemistry and Biology course and then choose ONE AP/II science, unless doubling up?</p>
<p>Does anyone’s school let them do AP science as the first course of study in that science? *</p>
<p>At D’s school, it looks like you can’t do any AP science as the first course of study in that science. I believe they do offer some of the science courses (I know this is true at least for Chem I) over the summer so kids who want to accelerate their science track can do that.</p>
<p>Our HS seems to be changing in this regard. When D1 went through (graduated 2012) all kids had to do bio or h.bio before APbio and h.chem before APchem, but they were allowed to go directly into APphys if they had competed h.precalc. They actively discouraged kids from taking any of the pre-reqs out-of-district. Indeed, kids who inquired about taking math or science class off-campus (e.g., at the CC) were told that they would not be allowed back into the higher-level HS class. </p>
<p>(This is why, when my D1 was looking to move something out of her HS curriculum, she limited her choices to non-sequence classes. She took health, APUSH, and econ online, and also limited herself to 3 years of SocSci. That cleared room in her HS schedule for 4 years of orchestra and 4 years of Latin – which she chose over extra science classes or summer STEM internship. At the time I thought she was making odd choices for a budding engineer, but it didn’t seem limit her college admissions much.)</p>
<p>Now our school district seems to be changing their tune. I know several kids who took bio or chem at the CC or through a private option, and the HS subsequently allowed them into the commensurate AP class.</p>
<p>The reason for this policy change may be that state budget cuts have basically gutted all funding for summer school other than for remedial classes (to make up credit for a failing grade and keep on-track for graduation). In-district options for acceleration no longer exist, other than doubling up. And doubling-up isn’t always possible, because they give priority to kids registering for their first science class and only take extra kids on a space-available basis. </p>
<p>It’s troubling that so many kids need to look outside the public school system to find academic challenge. In our state, the CCs are also stretched to the breaking point, and HS kids get lowest priority for registration so are often blocked out. Private options are available, but they’re pricy. It really challenges the ideal of a level playing field! Sometimes it seems like our commitment to a “Free and Appropriate Public Education” is nothing more than lip-service. :(</p>
<p>Thanks for dropping in mihcal. D’s GC discouraged her from using a summer course to skip ahead in anything, said she’d have to test out with an 85 or higher with the HS midterm and final exam. </p>
<p>Seems our HS also prefers kids take everything there, in sequence. Some summer courses are offered (like Health and Wellness, a required course that is taking a full period this year) but for a lot of $$. </p>
<p>We are lucky in this regard, our school district actually will pay for dual enrollment at the CC or regional campus of our flagship U (the two share one campus). To get that free tuition students need a certain GPA and may need to pass a test, and must take the class for both high school and college credit. A handful of CC courses are taught AT the high school by a CC professor but most require traveling to the campus (10 minute drive). </p>
<p>If a student wants to attend a nearby private LAC the school has agreements with two that allow them to pay 1/5th tuition. Not cheap, but a lot better than paying full I suppose.</p>
<p>OHMomof2- The teachers that teach gen Bio and Chem also teach the advanced classes. No AP Bio or AP Chem here. They teach advanced topics in those courses so they want the students coming in to have a good knowledge of the general courses. I am not sure about why Physics is set up like that here. The AP Physics teacher also teaches AP Calculus AB and BC. The AP Physics students usually register for AP Calculus at the same time.</p>
<p>suzy100- It can be so frustrating sometimes. I hope my S realizes soon that I can only help in the process, but it is still his world to navigate.</p>
<p>The rule at our local HS is that the student must take the honors course as a pre-req for the AP course. BUT any kid can test out of the honors course, so lots of science-y kids take the equivalent of the honors course in the summer and then test out of the honors course and into the AP course. Kids can also test out of math courses (and into the next higher). Kids don’t get credit for the course they test out of, but it does allow kids to take more advanced/AP classes. It’s for the kid who wants to study more of a topic, not for the kid who wants to find a way not to take the subject.</p>
<p>Interesting. We actually only have AP Bio of the “big 3”. The advanced Chem and Physics classes are Chem II and Physics II (though often kids who take those do well on the corresponding AP exam). The schools says they don’t want to have to adhere to the AP curriculum for those. AP Environmental Science is also offered.</p>
<p>Our AP classes (bio, Chem, PhysicsC) have pre-reqs and grades required, but increasingly students are accelerating (particularly in math) and meeting the pre-reqs in middle school. My D enjoyed AP Bio in 8th grade, and used it as a springboard to genetics research at our local Univ. for the summers.</p>
<p>At the school my older girls attended, AP science classes were not available to students unless they’d taken the basic or honors version of the basic class first and the classes had to be taken at the school. I’m pretty sure that this was pretty universally enforced. Lots of kids doubled up in sciences in order to take AP Chem, Bio and Physics and took classes like US History over the summer in order to free up a block during the year. In the school my youngest girl attends, things seem to be all over the map. Everyone is required to take freshman physics. Beyond that, it seems that kids work out all sorts of back room deals to take the classes they want. It’s pretty typical to see kids taking Physics B AP along with honors chem during sophomore year but next year, there are all sorts of arrangements and the junior schedules vary tremendously. The school does not offer summer classes but seems pretty liberal in allowing kids to take classes elsewhere or to pass tests to place into higher math and science classes. Interestingly, this school does not offer AP Biology at all.</p>
<p>2prepmom, how awesome that your D is doing genetics research! Does she love it? Is she working in a lab? D looked at some really cool science internships for summer but all that are lab based require that she be 16 and she won’t until just before school starts so she stopped pursuing that for this summer, may pick it up again next summer.</p>
<p>Love to hear more about what your D is doing if you are willing :)</p>
<p>PLAN test went well. What is amazing to me is that both of my boys have eerily similar test scores. No more big tests until WHAP in the spring for us.</p>
<p>S got into All-state orchestra. He didn’t initially get in, but over the weekend his teacher emailed saying a spot opened up for him. This is just so terrific, as there is a relatively large and talented bass population in our state, some really good juniors and seniors right now. :D</p>
<p>Congrats to your S momsings - that’s awesome!</p>
<p>My D takes the PLAN test this Saturday. momsings, did your S already get his scores back? When did he take it?</p>
<p>The school has D’s PSAT results, but they aren’t giving them out until next Tuesday. I have the patience of a pea, so it’s driving me crazy that they just aren’t giving them out. I can’t imagine how the juniors feel.</p>
<p>suzy–PLAN was the first week of November, and he got his test scores back Monday; it was a pretty quick turn around. Good luck to your D on the test Saturday! What the heck? Give out the PSAT scores already!! :)</p>
<p>DS is in high school and he is doing honors level work in all subjects except English. His learning seems to be asymmetric, doing really well in all subjects except English. What can he do to improve his reading comprehension, literary analysis, and writing? Have you used a tutor in such situations? Did it help? Are there some good Summer English Programs that can help him? How do top colleges look at an honors student with a B in English? Thanks in advance for your help.</p>
<p>FloraFauna–Hi! I would say, if you have the means for a little tutoring, go for it. If your S has a B in honors English, a little outside help will probably go a long way.</p>
<p>Congrats on All-State! My son made that and it was a wonderful experience-well done!</p>
<p>My daughter is tired all the time! She has been checked previously with these sypmtoms and always checks out OK. I would have thought with soccer done she would have perked up but nope. I don’t remember being tired at 15 years old-anyone else have this issue?</p>
<p>Her classes are all going well with the exception of Biology. She hates the class and told me it is useless information-she told me she was doing fine in her life before she learned about the amount of nitrogen in the world! She is a kid who isn’t interested in learning anything unless it has some real life meaning to her so it’s going to be a long year. I am glad we already got that first B out of the way in that class since I think it’s going to be a recurring theme!</p>