HS core class requirements / College requirements

[4luv2cdisney]

That time of year again - course selection for next year. I'm wondering what your kids HS requires for graduation -vs- what they recommend for college admissions.

Our HS requires for graduation:

English - 4 yr
Math - 3 yr
Soc Stud - 3 yrs
Science - 2 yrs
(Plus 4 yrs of PE and various electives)

However, they recommend for college bound students:

English - 4 yr
Math - 4 yr
Soc - 3yr
Science - 3 yr
Foreign Lang - 2 yrs
(plus electives, PE, etc)

DD's problem this year is this....

She takes Honors and AP classes and has no desire to take standard classes. However, she only recently moved into Honors math classes. So, she is a Sophomore in Honors Geometry. Most kids (who were advanced all along) are in Honors Geometry or Honors Algebra II as a freshman...a few start out in Pre-Calc as Freshman. So, the school will not allow her to take Honors Physics as a Junior because she has not completed Algebra II. She is either going to graduate with only 2 years of Science or she will have to skip a year (no Science Jr. year) and take Honors Physics as a senior. Ugh. Worried about both these options. Not sure how limiting it will be for college admissions with only 2 years Science yet worried about how difficult Honors Physics may be after a year off...

So, I guess I'm just wondering what other college bound kids are graduating with. DD will have:

4 yrs Math
4 yrs English
4 yrs Social Studies
2 yrs Science....maybe 3?
4 yrs Foreign language

By Senior year, all of these will be AP level if that matters. Well, except Science if she decides to take it.

Honestly, she really would like to take some electives that interest her more than science, but we don't want to screw up!

Thoughts / personal experiences welcome!

 

[mjkacmom]

Dd17 had

5 years math (honors/AP)
4 years science (honors/AP)
4 years language (honors)
4 years social studies (honors/AP)
4 years english (honors)

I'm not sure about the science - all of her friends have 4 years.

 

[Janepod]

That time of year again - course selection for next year. I'm wondering what your kids HS requires for graduation -vs- what they recommend for college admissions.

Our HS requires for graduation:

English - 4 yr
Math - 3 yr
Soc Stud - 3 yrs
Science - 2 yrs
(Plus electives)

However, they recommend for college bound students:

English - 4 yr
Math - 4 yr
Soc - 3yr
Science - 3 yr
Foreign Lang - 2 yrs
(plus electives)

DD's problem this year is this....

She takes Honors and AP classes and has no desire to take standard classes. However, she only recently moved into Honors math classes. So, she is a Sophomore in Honors Geometry. Most kids (who were advanced all along) are in Honors Geometry or Honors Algebra II as a freshman...a few start out in Pre-Calc as Freshman. So, the school will not allow her to take Honors Physics as a Junior because she has not completed Algebra II. She is either going to graduate with only 2 years of Science or she will have to skip a year (no Science Jr. year) and take Honors Physics as a senior. Ugh. Worried about both these options. Not sure how limiting it will be for college admissions with only 2 years Science yet worried about how difficult Honors Physics may be after a year off...

So, I guess I'm just wondering what other college bound kids are graduating with. DD will have:

4 yrs Math
4 yrs English
4 yrs Social Studies
2 yrs Science....maybe 3?
4 yrs Foreign language

By Senior year, all of these will be AP level if that matters. Well, except Science if she decides to take it.

Honestly, she really would like to take some electives that interest her more than science, but we don't want to screw up!

Thoughts / personal experiences welcome!

Do 3 yrs of Science and 3 yrs of Social Studies. That would free up some space for electives. 2 years of science is not enough if she is applying to elite schools; she should have Bio, Physics and Chem.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Our school requires

4 years of English taken in HS
4 years of HS math, including any courses taken in MS
3 years of Social Studies, taken in HS
3 years of Science, taken in HS
2 years of the same foreign language, including any courses taken in MS OR 4 years (usually 2 years of double classes) of a career related topic like plumbing or computer networking.
1 year of art
1 year of technology
1 year of PE

They recommend that you take the following, not including any middle school classes. So if you take Spanish 1, 2 and 3 in MS they suggest you continue for 4 more years.

4 years of English, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Foreign Language
1 ear of Art, Tech, PE
Other electives such as an extra science or social studies, a second language, more arts classes etc . . .

I think that 4 years of science is important. Most college bound kids have them, and many schools won't look at a kid with 2. Are there really no other options for next year? Your school doesn't offer AP Bio or Chem or Environmental Science? Or an honors version of anatomy?

If choices are that limited I'd think about one of the following for next year: take math over the summer so he can take Physics next year, take a non-honors class, take an online science (e.g. AP Bio through Florida Virtual School), plan her schedule with 2 social studies next year to free her up to take 2 sciences senior year.

Just 2 years of science wouldn't be an option for a strong student, in my opinion.

 

[4luv2cdisney]

Thanks for the replies so far.

I updated my original post to include the fact that the school requires 4 years of PE (one semester being Health and one semester allowed to substitute Drivers Ed for PE) and that there are 8 periods in a day. So, core classes (4) plus foreign language, and PE take up 6 of the 8. She currently waives her lunch and takes 1 music option and 1 independent study class.

 

[4luv2cdisney]

Do 3 yrs of Science and 3 yrs of Social Studies. That would free up some space for electives. 2 years of science is not enough if she is applying to elite schools; she should have Bio, Physics and Chem.

Already screwed this up. She took AP European History this year - because she wanted to. So, US History and Gov't are still required. She will end up with 4 years of Social studies.

 

[Janepod]

Already screwed this up. She took AP European History this year - because she wanted to. So, US History and Gov't are still required. She will end up with 4 years of Social studies.

Hmm. Well, if it were my child, I would say forego the electives or take something in summer school. I would insist on 3+ years of science.

 

[SydSim]

I agree with the poster asking about whether there are any other science classes. I assume she has taken Bio and Chem, so can she take an Ap Bio, Chem or ES class?

There are some states that require four years of each major subject. My D only had three years and has been accepted to every school that she has applied so far (except one EA deferral to RD). It hasn't hurt her chances.

That being said, if she is aiming for Ivies or top 100 schools, she will be meeting up with kids who do have four years of each subject, so she may not be as competitive.

 

[disykat]

Both of my boys were in band, so they pretty much had to take summer school in 9th and 10th grade in order have room for electives.

In our district the summer school PE classes and several classes that can easily be done independent study - health and state history - are full of college bound students who want electives. Now, budget cuts forced closing summer school PE so there is an independent option (that involves lots of writing!) for that too.

Too many requirements, too little time!

 

[MEK]

Have her take regular physics and then honors physics.

 

[4luv2cdisney]

I agree with the poster asking about whether there are any other science classes. I assume she has taken Bio and Chem, so can she take an Ap Bio, Chem or ES class?

There are some states that require four years of each major subject. My D only had three years and has been accepted to every school that she has applied so far (except one EA deferral to RD). It hasn't hurt her chances.

That being said, if she is aiming for Ivies or top 100 schools, she will be meeting up with kids who do have four years of each subject, so she may not be as competitive.

Thank you. Good to know. She will not be taking more than 3 years of Science for sure.

She has already taken Honors Bio and Honors Chem. They offer many other Science classes as either standard (which she doesn't want) or AP. The obstacle with the AP offerings is that they are 1.5 class periods for some reason. I don't even understand how they schedule that, but she would have to drop something else. The only other Honors option open to her is Dynamic Earth Science. I'm assuming if she goes that route - takes it as a Junior - she will not go on to take Physics, which is the class she had the most interest in.

Maybe I should have posted a thread asking how many years of PE your school requires, as it seems like she would have much more room in her schedule to take science AND explore things that may help her find her career interests if she didn't have PE!!!!

 

[Green Tea]

She needs the science. Even if it's not honors level. Take regular chemistry, then an AP in senior year.

 

[Hrhpd]

That time of year again - course selection for next year. I'm wondering what your kids HS requires for graduation -vs- what they recommend for college admissions.

Our HS requires for graduation:

English - 4 yr
Math - 3 yr
Soc Stud - 3 yrs
Science - 2 yrs
(Plus 4 yrs of PE and various electives)

However, they recommend for college bound students:

English - 4 yr
Math - 4 yr
Soc - 3yr
Science - 3 yr
Foreign Lang - 2 yrs
(plus electives, PE, etc)

DD's problem this year is this....

She takes Honors and AP classes and has no desire to take standard classes. However, she only recently moved into Honors math classes. So, she is a Sophomore in Honors Geometry. Most kids (who were advanced all along) are in Honors Geometry or Honors Algebra II as a freshman...a few start out in Pre-Calc as Freshman. So, the school will not allow her to take Honors Physics as a Junior because she has not completed Algebra II. She is either going to graduate with only 2 years of Science or she will have to skip a year (no Science Jr. year) and take Honors Physics as a senior. Ugh. Worried about both these options. Not sure how limiting it will be for college admissions with only 2 years Science yet worried about how difficult Honors Physics may be after a year off...

So, I guess I'm just wondering what other college bound kids are graduating with. DD will have:

4 yrs Math
4 yrs English
4 yrs Social Studies
2 yrs Science....maybe 3?
4 yrs Foreign language

By Senior year, all of these will be AP level if that matters. Well, except Science if she decides to take it.

Honestly, she really would like to take some electives that interest her more than science, but we don't want to screw up!

Thoughts / personal experiences welcome!

What is your daughter planning to do in college.

2 of my kids loaded their schedules with science and math, using additional science classes as their electives, but they were shooting for some top notch engineering programs.

If she is planning a more liberal arts focus, I would second the suggestion of taking regular physics and then, if she needs it, AP physics.

My youngest is a jr this year and delayed AP Physics to his senior year, but did have the option of taking AP Chem and AP Bio as a junior, so that is what he is doing. If she wants science courses, isn't there the option to take something besides AP Physics. Is Physics the only AP science course your school offers?

Does she play sports? Our school gives PE credit if they are on a sports team. If your school does the same, perhaps she would want to try a sport instead of tying up her schedule with a PE class.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Thank you. Good to know. She will not be taking more than 3 years of Science for sure.

She has already taken Honors Bio and Honors Chem. They offer many other Science classes as either standard (which she doesn't want) or AP. The obstacle with the AP offerings is that they are 1.5 class periods for some reason. I don't even understand how they schedule that, but she would have to drop something else. The only other Honors option open to her is Dynamic Earth Science. I'm assuming if she goes that route - takes it as a Junior - she will not go on to take Physics, which is the class she had the most interest in.

Maybe I should have posted a thread asking how many years of PE your school requires, as it seems like she would have much more room in her schedule to take science AND explore things that may help her find her career interests if she didn't have PE!!!!

Our school district requires 1 year of PE and 1/2 a year of health, but we also only have the option of taking 7 classes a year, so your kids get 1.5 more electives than ours, assuming all the other requirements are the same.

 

[acebatonfan]

Hi. Though the graduation requirements have changed for both schools beginning with the class of 2015 (I'm 2014), I needed for my old high school:
4.0 credits English. This also includes the senior project at the end of junior year
4.0 credits social studies.
3.0 credits science
3.0 credits math
2.0 credits physical education (.5 credits each year). The junior and senior year swimming courses must also be passed in order to receive the last credit of PE.
.5 credits health education taken during freshman year
2.0 credits arts and humanities
3.0 elective credits
Total: 21.5

For my current high school
4.0 credits English
4.0 credits math
4.0 credits history
3.0 credits science
1.0 credits gym
.5 credits health
3 credits career pathway
Passing of senior project and student success plan
Total: 21.5

For the class of 2015, both schools are placing an emphasis on additional credits to meet the STEM and/or foreign language requirement. My old school is making students earn two additional STEM credits, whereas my new school wants students to earn two foreign language credits. My current school is also giving .5 credits for the passing of the senior project.

My Totals (upon graduation)
4.0 credits English
4.0 credits Math
4.0 credits History
8.0 credits Science ( took 9th grade physical science for 1 credit, 10th and 11th grade biology and honors chemistry for 1.5 credits each, and AP chemistry for 2 credits, Honors Anatomy for 1 credit, and Honors physics for 1 credit senior year)
3.0 credits foreign language (would have taken four if my new school offered German. I was scheduled to take AP German this year at my old school)
1.5 credits PE
.5 credits health
3.0 credits orchestra
3.5 credits art and computer classes
Total: 31.5 credits (out of a 32 credit maximum for both schools)

My "dream" college requires:
4.0 credits English
3.0 credits Math (recommends 4)
3.0 credits Science with 2.0 credits being from labs (recommends 4 credits)
4.0 credits History
2.0 credits of same foreign language (recommends 4)
2.0 credits Academic Electives
Total: 18 credits

They recommend that, in preparation for my intended major, I take at least one year of biology and chemistry but strongly urged to take two years of chemistry.

 

[dminnie]

You may want to have your daughter talk with her guidance counselor. Tell him/her what likely school (or type of school) she will want to apply to. They can help her with designing a plan to take the right classes to get in. They can help her if she needs to supplement with other on-line or community college classes. Her counselor should have a really good handle on what is required at the various colleges...and what to loosen up on! Also, many colleges have lists on their websites of generally what they are looking for in applicants.

Our HS has a guide in their course description guide that gives the requirements of many 4 year colleges for admission. This list gives "minimum and recommended".

Subject minimum recommended
English 4 ___________ 4
Math 3 or 3.5 _____________ 4
Social Science 3 _______________ 4
Science 3 ____________ 4
Foreign language 2 ____________ 4
"Flexible" 2 _____________4+


Another thing to keep in mind about foreign language: Some colleges require you to take a college level foreign language(while in college). This is often waived if the student has had 4 years of foreign language in HS. My kids older cousins strongly encouraged that they take 4 years in HS.

My kids are doing close to the recommended, with the 4 years of foreign language and 4 years of band also. Our district (and state) requires 4 years of PE/health. I talk with them about working hard so they can choose where to go when the time comes and not be limited because of HS performance/choices. I'm not sure they will get the recommended Social Science though...probably only 2.5 - 3 years for that. So far so good. DD was accepted to her first choice college!

Another note about science: I know many of my DD's friends are taking 5 years of science. These are kids that plan to major in science or engineering related things in college. She probably would have taken 5 years of science, except for scheduling issues. I think your DD should probably really shoot to have at least 3 years of science though...although that's hard to say not knowing what college and/or type of major she's likely to be going for.

 

[4luv2cdisney]

Our school district requires 1 year of PE and 1/2 a year of health, but we also only have the option of taking 7 classes a year, so your kids get 1.5 more electives than ours, assuming all the other requirements are the same.

So, 7 classes plus a lunch or 6 classes plus a lunch?

We have 8 periods, and you are supposed to take 7 classes plus lunch. You have to get approval for waiving your lunch and it is not the norm. Most kids graduate with 28 credits (though 32 are technically possible if you apply and get approval all four years). At 28, if they take 4 years of Math, Science, FL, Eng,, Soc, and PE, they have room for 1 elective per year. So, for example, my daughter would take a music elective and nothing else. Since, she was able to waive her lunch, she has 1 independent study class (which she receives no credit for). Last year she took a lunch. Very few Freshman waive lunch.

And we do have a lot of really great electives to choose from. That's what's so crazy to me. I don't know who is taking all these electives! Ha ha!

Looking back at your last post, I see your school allows some MS classes to meet HS requirements. None of our students get to use MS classes as HS credit - even those who are way ahead. I realize it's very hard to compare school to school.

I was really just looking to see how many years of science kids are graduating with these days and how it affects their ability to get into college. It is really interesting to see what's done at others schools. Thanks for all the great replies!

 

[shortbun]

She needs chemistry! and Physics is at least half math so the Algebra II requirement makes sense. Can she take PE in the summer? Kids here do that so they have room in their schedules. Also, 4 years of PE? That's a lot of gym!!! We only require 1 full year plus a half credit of Health in Ohio. Of course, Ohio is one of the fattest states in the country. Summer school is the key!

 

[4luv2cdisney]

Hi. Though the graduation requirements have changed for both schools beginning with the class of 2015 (I'm 2014), I needed for my old high school:
4.0 credits English. This also includes the senior project at the end of junior year
4.0 credits social studies.
3.0 credits science
3.0 credits math
2.0 credits physical education (.5 credits each year). The junior and senior year swimming courses must also be passed in order to receive the last credit of PE.
.5 credits health education taken during freshman year
2.0 credits arts and humanities
3.0 elective credits
Total: 21.5

For my current high school
4.0 credits English
4.0 credits math
4.0 credits history
3.0 credits science
1.0 credits gym
.5 credits health
3 credits career pathway
Passing of senior project and student success plan
Total: 21.5

For the class of 2015, both schools are placing an emphasis on additional credits to meet the STEM and/or foreign language requirement. My old school is making students earn two additional STEM credits, whereas my new school wants students to earn two foreign language credits. My current school is also giving .5 credits for the passing of the senior project.

My Totals (upon graduation)
4.0 credits English
4.0 credits Math
4.0 credits History
8.0 credits Science ( took 9th grade physical science for 1 credit, 10th and 11th grade biology and honors chemistry for 1.5 credits each, and AP chemistry for 2 credits, Honors Anatomy for 1 credit, and Honors physics for 1 credit senior year)
3.0 credits foreign language (would have taken four if my new school offered German. I was scheduled to take AP German this year at my old school)
1.5 credits PE
.5 credits health
3.0 credits orchestra
3.5 credits art and computer classes
Total: 31.5 credits (out of a 32 credit maximum for both schools)

My "dream" college requires:
4.0 credits English
3.0 credits Math (recommends 4)
3.0 credits Science with 2.0 credits being from labs (recommends 4 credits)
4.0 credits History
2.0 credits of same foreign language (recommends 4)
2.0 credits Academic Electives
Total: 18 credits

They recommend that, in preparation for my intended major, I take at least one year of biology and chemistry but strongly urged to take two years of chemistry.

Way to go! Wow! You must like Science.

My DD really hates Science. She just scored a 100% on her Honors Chem final, but she still really hates Science!

I see some of you suggesting AP Chem. I don't even know if that's an option since she's already taken Honors Chem. I just assumed it was the same class, different level. But if that's possible, that would be great. It would probably be really easy for her and college credit to boot!

 

[MEK]

I was answering from my phone before.

When my sons where in high school (the youngest just graduated in the spring) physics was not typically taken until the senior year because of the math requirement.

The only exception was for the most accelerated students who were two years ahead in math. Those students took physics in their junior year. My son took AP Calc 1 and honors physics in his junior year and then AP calc 2 and AP physics in his senior year. He has just finished his first semester in mechanical engineering and was completely prepared for this, thanks to his science and math background.

He said you can't take regular physics and then honors, but you can take regular and then AP.

Why not another AP science class if she has already taken biology and chemistry? How about AP chemistry or AP biology? She should take biology, chemistry, and physics.

At any rate, what I have learned from my kids and from friend's kids is that MATH is the most important thing that helps them succeed in college if they are in a STEM major. And the vigor of the math courses really will make a difference. All parents should know this. One month into school and my son could see the difference in some of the public school math preparation in our state. If you son or daughter wants a STEM major they should accelerate as much as possible in Math.