"Challenging" A course in High school?

[bobohed]

OK. So, I'm going to be starting high school as a freshman in the fall.
The school has decided that starting this year, the freshmen will have their own "house" which is basically where we have most of our classes in an isolated area of the school, and well...think of Hogwarts, but even more isolated, and by grade.
So, as only freshmen will be taking the classes, they will only be offering freshman classes to us.
Now, I am a very advanced student. In our district, freshmen take Algebra 1&2, but I already took that class in my advanced placement classes in middle school. So the next step is Geometry. I would like to take that class.
Also, I have heard from people who are a grade ahead of me, but we also in the advanced classes, that the science class is incredibly easy, and from what I can tell, it is. So I also want to skip freshman science, and move on to sophomore science, which is Biology.
So, does anyone know the best way to go about challenging a course?

[hehe]

Does your school have any options for freshmen who want to take more challenging classes? For instance, does your school have a freshmen-only geometry class? Regardless, from my experience, here's the best way of getting what you want from the school:
1) Call up the office--sooner rather than later--and ask if you can switch to a more advanced math and science class. Mention that you've already taken algebra and that you're interested in the sciences.
2) If the person you talk to says you cannot switch, have your parents follow up with an email. They can emphasize the importance of you taking the advanced classes, and they as adults and taxpayers have more clout with the school administration. If someone says they'll get back to you or they don't respond to an email, call the school after a few days.
3) Hopefully it doesn't come to step three, but if this can't be resolved through you or your parents via phone or email, ask to schedule an appointment to talk to someone in the administration or a guildance counselor. There, you and your parents can talk in person about why this is so important. In addition, you should explore options such as contacting the school board or talking with your school district's administration if the school's administration is repeatedly not receptive to your concerns and educational needs. Also, talk with other students and parents to see if this is a common problem; issues like these have strength in numbers.

[Braxton]

Originally Posted by bobohed

OK. So, I'm going to be starting high school as a freshman in the fall.
The school has decided that starting this year, the freshmen will have their own "house" which is basically where we have most of our classes in an isolated area of the school, and well...think of Hogwarts, but even more isolated, and by grade.
So, as only freshmen will be taking the classes, they will only be offering freshman classes to us.
Now, I am a very advanced student. In our district, freshmen take Algebra 1&2, but I already took that class in my advanced placement classes in middle school. So the next step is Geometry. I would like to take that class.
Also, I have heard from people who are a grade ahead of me, but we also in the advanced classes, that the science class is incredibly easy, and from what I can tell, it is. So I also want to skip freshman science, and move on to sophomore science, which is Biology.
So, does anyone know the best way to go about challenging a course?

Didn't you take placement examinations before going to this high school? I would have thought for sure that all entering freshman would have taken some sort of assessment which would have provided the school administration on guidance to where you go? Did you do well on the assessment as sometimes folks who blow them off get put in remedial classes.

Basically, follow the advice above, and I would talk to the Academic Dean or your guidance counselor. My guess is judging by your school's policy it is not going to be easy or even possible to get put into upper level classes with sophomores, but I would think that your school does have honours or something higher for freshmen. My view is to trade e-mails to see what the procedure is in your school as the reality is that the Administration has the final say on these things.

[kdee]

freshmen take Algebra 1&2, but I already took that class in my advanced placement classes in middle school.

While I do not mean to understate your intelligence, I must say that I'm fairly confident that no middle-school level advance-placement course will suffice as any sort of a stand in for any highschool level mathematics. Highschool is just a whole new ball game...

So the next step is Geometry. I would like to take that class.

Honestly, Geometry was probably the most useless class I ever took. It's not that it's stupid or completely irrelevant, it's just that it's practical application to the real world pales in comparison to virtually every other form of math... Take it if you wish, but if you happen to really enjoy math, I might recommend that you take a different math course instead. You might find other math subjects a great deal more fulfilling...

that the science class is incredibly easy, and from what I can tell, it is. So I also want to skip freshman science, and move on to sophomore science, which is Biology.

If it is simply a "general science" course, it most likely is quite easy (and useless). However, you will most likely be fairly surprised initially at just how much more intense & difficult biology, or chemistry, or physics is compared to any other science courses you have taken in the past...And at that, highschool science courses are kindergarten reading compared to their university-level couterparts....

So, does anyone know the best way to go about challenging a course?

How about: Don't. Seriously, you are brand new to highschool. It is significantly different than middle school. Honestly, I think it is a bit premature to be already deciding that you can "easily master" your initial freshmen subjects. There is a fairly big jump in many ways from 8th grade to 9th grade, and you really do not know just yet what you are about to get into...

My suggestion is that you simply go along with the flow. Take the subjects that you would normally have to take as a highschool freshmen. If you are really as good as you thought you were, then this should very obviously be reflected in your grades, and your teachers will readily take the necessary actions to bump you up to the more appropriate learning level.. You won't need to do any of the work here yourself..

[Berserker]

^High school was pretty easy and I found that advanced classes were the best. In high school they would make normal classes easier for the slower students, so you wouldn't learn much and it felt like you were treated like a child.



I think it's probably best if you call your school's office, if they can't do anything they may be able to tell you who you can talk to. When I was in high school the guidance counselor would help people choose which classes they should take and tell them what was needed to get into those classes.

[Suzanne]

Call or have one of your parents call (they'll take parents more seriously) before school starts and talk to someone who deals with scheduling. To go ahead in math, they'll most likely want you to take a placement test or talk with one of the math teachers to make sure that you're at the same stage as other students taking Geometry. If you're able to prove your ability, I'm sure they'll let you advance. It's a pretty common practice at the high schools in my area.

Originally Posted by bobohed

Also, I have heard from people who are a grade ahead of me, but we also in the advanced classes, that the science class is incredibly easy, and from what I can tell, it is. So I also want to skip freshman science, and move on to sophomore science, which is Biology.
So, does anyone know the best way to go about challenging a course?

It may be harder to skip science. At least with the math, you have already taken the class, so you won't be missing out on anything. Even if it's a general science class, they may require you to have taken it before taking a more advanced science. If they don't let you skip it, I would suggest asking if you could take both sciences in your freshmen year, so that you could potentially take more challenging science classes down the road. This would mean taking an extra class, but many schools allow that.

[bobohed]

While I do not mean to understate your intelligence, I must say that I'm fairly confident that no middle-school level advance-placement course will suffice as any sort of a stand in for any highschool level mathematics. Highschool is just a whole new ball game..

Trust me when I say not only does it suffice as a sort of stand for the high school level classes, but we go much farther than the class does. We use the same books that the high school uses.

Honestly, Geometry was probably the most useless class I ever took. It's not that it's stupid or completely irrelevant, it's just that it's practical application to the real world pales in comparison to virtually every other form of math... Take it if you wish, but if you happen to really enjoy math, I might recommend that you take a different math course instead. You might find other math subjects a great deal more fulfilling...

It's a prerequisite to all upper level math classes.

If it is simply a "general science" course, it most likely is quite easy (and useless). However, you will most likely be fairly surprised initially at just how much more intense & difficult biology, or chemistry, or physics is compared to any other science courses you have taken in the past...And at that, highschool science courses are kindergarten reading compared to their university-level couterparts....

It is called "Integrated Science". I really don't know about any of the other classes, but I'm pretty sure that this class is.

How about: Don't. Seriously, you are brand new to highschool. It is significantly different than middle school. Honestly, I think it is a bit premature to be already deciding that you can "easily master" your initial freshmen subjects. There is a fairly big jump in many ways from 8th grade to 9th grade, and you really do not know just yet what you are about to get into...

I KNOW I've mastered Algebra. I have taken it for two years (not because I failed the first time, but because our middle school didn't offer anything higher). You sound as if you believe I am being arrogant, for stating that I have gotten 8 A's in a high school level algebra class over the course of the past two years. My question was in regards to challenging a course, not my personality.

If you are really as good as you thought you were, then this should very obviously be reflected in your grades, and your teachers will readily take the necessary actions to bump you up to the more appropriate learning level.. You won't need to do any of the work here yourself..

Not really, no. Sorry, but in my school district, things are just plain bad. We're a pretty poor school, so they try to avoid having to work harder for us freshmen.

Didn't you take placement examinations before going to this high school? I would have thought for sure that all entering freshman would have taken some sort of assessment which would have provided the school administration on guidance to where you go? Did you do well on the assessment as sometimes folks who blow them off get put in remedial classes.

Um, we don't take a test for all subjects, just math and reading. Compared to other students my grade across the country, I scored in the 99-100 percentile range. According to the test, I am at college level reading, and 11th grade math (obviously this isn't true, as I have never been taught Geometry, Trigonometry, or Calculus). As for science though, I believe they look at our WASL scores, but they don't generally test us to see if we are ABOVE grade level on that test.



Anyways, thank you for all your advice, and I'll be sure to talk to the guidance counselor to see what I can do. By the way, I have found out I have already been placed in Geometry, though.

[Hordes_of_Chaos]

Originally Posted by kdee

While I do not mean to understate your intelligence, I must say that I'm fairly confident that no middle-school level advance-placement course will suffice as any sort of a stand in for any highschool level mathematics. Highschool is just a whole new ball game...



Honestly, Geometry was probably the most useless class I ever took. It's not that it's stupid or completely irrelevant, it's just that it's practical application to the real world pales in comparison to virtually every other form of math... Take it if you wish, but if you happen to really enjoy math, I might recommend that you take a different math course instead. You might find other math subjects a great deal more fulfilling...



If it is simply a "general science" course, it most likely is quite easy (and useless). However, you will most likely be fairly surprised initially at just how much more intense & difficult biology, or chemistry, or physics is compared to any other science courses you have taken in the past...And at that, highschool science courses are kindergarten reading compared to their university-level couterparts....



How about: Don't. Seriously, you are brand new to highschool. It is significantly different than middle school. Honestly, I think it is a bit premature to be already deciding that you can "easily master" your initial freshmen subjects. There is a fairly big jump in many ways from 8th grade to 9th grade, and you really do not know just yet what you are about to get into...

My suggestion is that you simply go along with the flow. Take the subjects that you would normally have to take as a highschool freshmen. If you are really as good as you thought you were, then this should very obviously be reflected in your grades, and your teachers will readily take the necessary actions to bump you up to the more appropriate learning level.. You won't need to do any of the work here yourself..

Geometry is very important for the SAT though.
To the O/P. I suggest you get in contact with the school like the others have said. I'm sure arrangements can be made. BTW, I admire how seriously you take your education. It will take you far in life.