How Does Your HS Handle Honors, AP Classes?

[Dixie Luvr 98]

How do other high schools handle grading for AP and/or honors classes?
DS is a junior this year and taking Honors Biology and Honors Chemistry along with AP History. In past years, honors and AP classes have had a more relaxed grading scale than regular classes. (90-100 for an A rather than 93-100) Last year they decided to do away with that and go to a 5.0 scale rather than the 4.0 that has been used. This year it turns out they have tighened the grading scale to be the same as regular classes but stayed with the 4.0.
DS says a lot of the kids are feeling it isn't worth it to take the advanced classes. Just curious if this is the norm.

 

[ead79]

At my high school they used a 5.0 point grading system. For example, you would get 4.0 points for an A in a regular level class, 4.5 points for an A in an honors class, and 5.0 points for an A in an AP level class.

When I was a student there, A's were 92-100, but since then they have changed it to 90-100. It was definitely harder to get A's in honors and AP level classes than in regular level.

In my opinion, it is definitely worth it to take AP classes, even if your DS doesn't see it immediately reflected in his grades. From my experience, competitive colleges definitely look at the difficulty level of classes taken and give that higher weight. As an example, they would rather see A's and B's in honors and AP classes than straight A's in regular level (I think that colleges think that it shows that the student is willing to challenge his/her self). I was able to graduate from high school with over a 4.0 GPA, and I know that helped me get into the college of my choice.

Hope that helps!

 

[bsnyder]

I agree with Elisabeth.

I've done the college tour circuit the last few years (one son's a sophmore in college, the other is a senior in high school). Every school we visited said that strength of schedule is a HUGE factor in admissions. Some said it was the most important factor. Colleges and universities are looking for students that took the most demanding courses available to them. And that question is asked, of the school guidance counselor, on the application - "What are the highest level courses offered at your school?"

The public school my senior will graduate from handles it this way:

Honors courses - .04 added on to the semester average
AP courses - .08 added on to the semester average
The grades for the semester are the same in all classes - 90 to 100 = an A, 80-89 = a B, and so on.

Since it's added on, not averaged in, some of the kids are graduating with over a 6.0!

 

[Snowysmom]

My son is a college freshman this year. He took honors courses throughout high school and last year took 3 AP courses. His school uses 4.0 and does not weight the classes according to level. However, the colleges usually know this when reviewing the applications as they usually get an outline of the courses offered and how they are graded. What is important is that your child is taking challenging courses such as honors and AP. It is definately worth it.

 

[KrnB]

Well, it's been 10 years, but our HS added a .5 weight to honors classes so a straight A student that took mostly honors classes graduated with a 4.5 GPA. Our school also did not have a valedictorian but rather 3 honors levels similar to college. In order to graduate with highest honors, you had to take a certain number of honors classes, and I believe they had to be spread out over your time in school (taking them all one year didn't count).

My senior English class was also a "college in the schools" class, and I earned college credits for it. My score on the AP exam also counted. These credits helped me out a ton, enabling me to graduate in 4 years.

No matter what, I would say the honors classes are worth it because of the higher level of learning that occurs (I know, tough sell for HS kids). The teachers don't have to spend as much time on the basics because the students pick up on them quicker. The classes will do far more to prepare them for college.

 

[SoonerKate]

My high school didn't weight our grades at all. An A was an A, regardless of what class you got it in.

Of course, none of us really cared as the majority of colleges we applied to re-calculated GPAs according to their system once they received our transcripts. Most schools don't look at a weighted GPA, from what I know. Many of them also use a pared-down system where many electives aren't considered in the GPA for admissions purposes. My group of friends from high school goes to a wide variety of schools -- everywhere from Penn State and Texas to Meredith College in NC, Dartmouth, and Yale.

No matter what, though, it's nice to have that AP credit! It saved me a lot of money and time in boring classes once I got to college.

 

[sharbear]

I am glad that all the posters to this responded in the same way. HS's job is to prepare you for the next level. If what they teach prepares you for college, then the HS has done it's job. My opinion is the same as all of the other posters'. Honors and AP classes are important to college admissions.

Our school leaves the grading scale up to the individual teacher or department. The scale is 92-100 A but language and some science classes have a straight scale. My DS's honors chemistry class is 92-100 for an A, higher than Biology which had a straight scale. There is no weighted GPA, except for class rank which does us a weighted scale. So it is important to take Honors and AP classes if your class rank is important.

I know kids who were accepted to competitive colleges with lower GPA's because they were willing to challenge themselves in HS.

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

FYI I went to a private school but we did not have any AP classes or Honors classes. I did however take 2 AP Exams through the school. We also did not have GPA or Class rank. I loved it but it got really hard when applying to colleges and trying to explain it to them. Our college counselor wrote a letter to every school we applied to explaining it.

 

[caitycaity]

my high school (NY state public school) graded all classes (ap, honors, regents, non-regents) on the same scale.

the ap classes were still full, and it never even crossed my mind that the ap classes should be graded differently. honestly, i think that's a little wierd. maybe i should also say that our high school had a 99% college acceptance rate the year i graduated, and about 50 people were accepted to ivy's.

regardless, it is definately worth it to take ap classes. i was able to have like 16 credits transfer in - some got me out of required college classes and others only counted as electives, but it still reduces the number of classes you have to take (and therefore tuition is less) in college.

Of course, none of us really cared as the majority of colleges we applied to re-calculated GPAs according to their system once they received our transcripts. Most schools don't look at a weighted GPA, from what I know. Many of them also use a pared-down system where many electives aren't considered in the GPA for admissions purposes.

this has been true in my experince as well. many application forms actually have YOU recalculate your gpa based on their own formula.

 

[my3kids]

No extra points for honors or AP in our district. 96(!) to 100 = A

 

[Patch'sD]

In our High School, AP, Honors, Advanced Courses, Regents Courses are all Weighted. We are based on a Percentage Scale (ie 100%). The only courses that are not weighted are Regular non regents courses. Weighting can never get you above 100% Formula is (100 - Grade) X factor (.5,.4,.3....) + Grade = Weighted Grade. The only reason I can think the reason for this is to compress as many kids as you can above 90% for PR Purposes. I agree take more challenging courses, looks better on College Application, My Son is a Senior and we are in that process now. He will have six AP Courses when he completes High School.

Another reason to take the challenging courses is that is where the best teachers are. Entry level and Middle of the Road Students get stuck with the new and lesser qualified teachers. These are the kids that need it most and get the worst.

 

[Kirby]

Our school system doesn't have honors classes anymore, just AP and Pre-AP. Maybe the Pre-AP takes the place of honors. As far as I know, grades are still the same as they have always been, an A being 90-100. They do add 10 points when figuring your GPA though. A report card may reflect a 75 in an AP or Pre-AP class but they add 10 points making it an 85 for your GPA.

My niece took some of the AP and Pre courses here and then moved to Chicago. I don't know if she took any there but when she applied to college last year (somewhere in Iowa), those classes hindered her more than helped her. I don't remember much of the details but that is the gist of it. And there was something about the classes taken here in Texas that also caused a problem.

 

[Dixie Luvr 98]

Thanks for the replies.
DS really hasn't considered droping any of the classes even though some students are. He has always enjoyed history and biology and is loving the chance to go into them in more depth. I don't think your could pry him out of those classes! He has a solid B in honors chemistry, which he was a little nervous about taking. From talking to some parents, the students considering dropping are ones concerned about their GPA or ruining a 4.0.

Very interesting information about the college admissions. We are just starting to really look at this and information has been hard to get. Their regular counselor was called up by the reserves and has been in Iraq. The replacement is only part-time and seems pretty clueless.

Thanks again.

 

[sharbear]

I picked up a book from Newsweek called How to get into College. It gave a lot of good advice and was pretty informative about certain college admissions standards. I recommend it. How sad that parents are more concerned about that perfect 4.0 than challenging their children. Just remember that many class valedictorians and perfect SAT's are turned down for Ivy's every year.

 

[Kirby]

sharbear, did you get that book at the bookstore? My son is a sophomore and we are beginning to look at colleges. He doesn't want to go to a large one. He has a learning disability (dyslexia)and the "regular" classes can be a challenge all on their own to him. He is considering trying a Pre-AP class next year if all goes well this year. Last year he placed in the top 35% of his class. This year has been a little more of a struggle but he is keeping his grades up.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Originally posted by sharbear
I picked up a book from Newsweek called How to get into College. It gave a lot of good advice and was pretty informative about certain college admissions standards. I recommend it. How sad that parents are more concerned about that perfect 4.0 than challenging their children. Just remember that many class valedictorians and perfect SAT's are turned down for Ivy's every year.

I would think a perfect SAT would put your foot solidly in the door. So why not???
I know you need to be well rounded & practically an Olympiad or am I off base on that too?
I'll have to pick up that book, thanks.

As far as the OP, our High School does the 5.0+. The more college classes you take the higher the GPA goes. So in order to graduate in the top 10% you have to have taken college classes.

 

[sharbear]

I got the book at a bookstore. It was in the magazine section. I first read about it in my Newsweek and wanted to read more. My DS is a soph. also. We are just starting to think about college.

Mystery Machine, I read that about perfect SAT's in a magazine article. From what I remember I think that that is why they are changing the SAT, too many perfect scores. Amazing to get a perfect SAT and not get into the college of your choice! But I am sure that these kids got into plenty of schools and were highly recruited.