Protecting a child's GPA

[shortbun]

I would let him change out of the class.

Me too. He can begin again with Spanish or French next year. Chinese is such a difficult language, wonder why they are offering it in middle school. Get him out right away. An F is pretty hard to overcome in a full credit and that's what he'll have to do if he continues.

 

[cornflake]

Me too. He can begin again with Spanish or French next year. Chinese is such a difficult language, wonder why they are offering it in middle school. Get him out right away. An F is pretty hard to overcome in a full credit and that's what he'll have to do if he continues.

I've seen this in a few posts in the thread and I have to comment because I totally don't get it.

A number of people have said Chinese is hard, why are they offering it to kids so young/so early... the younger you are, the EASIER it is to learn another language.

Waiting until h.s. or college would only make it harder to learn. I know someone whose first grader is taking Chinese - it's certainly harder to learn a language that uses a different alphabet and sounds than ones native language but the earlier you start, the better.

Also, not for nothing, but if the kid somehow ends up with like twice the normal h.s. classes on his record, even if he gets a full on F for the year, it'll count much less, mathematically, than if it was in a regular complement of classes.

 

[SandrA9810]

There's a base set of classes that have to be taken in order to get a diploma in HS. If I can remember this correctly, this is what it was when I graduated.

3 Math (algrebra 1, geometry, Algebra 2)
3 Science (chemistry, biology, anatomy)
4 English (English 1,2,3,4)
1/2 PE - 1/2 Health (usually 9th graders)
3 History (gov/economics are usually seniors only)
then so many elective credits

2 Foreign Languages were only for 4yr college, you could take the easier class in HS or take it in a Community College. It was not a requirement for graduation.

Most kids finished everything except English and Gov/Economics before their Senior year and were able to skate by with a bunch of electives.

 

[CPT Tripss]

Before you get too anxious, go to the high school counsellor and get a copy of the "high school profile" - see sample here - http://professionals.collegeboard.com/guidance/counseling/profile/sample

How do they describe the middle school classes as they relate to "GPA Calculation?"

That said, your school system has an unusual policy. It certainly seems to punish a middle school kid that wants to stretch his horizons and take on a challenging, advanced subject.

 

[cornflake]

There's a base set of classes that have to be taken in order to get a diploma in HS. If I can remember this correctly, this is what it was when I graduated.

3 Math (algrebra 1, geometry, Algebra 2)
3 Science (chemistry, biology, anatomy)
4 English (English 1,2,3,4)
1/2 PE - 1/2 Health (usually 9th graders)
3 History (gov/economics are usually seniors only)
then so many elective credits

2 Foreign Languages were only for 4yr college, you could take the easier class in HS or take it in a Community College. It was not a requirement for graduation.

Most kids finished everything except English and Gov/Economics before their Senior year and were able to skate by with a bunch of electives.

This completely varies by location and school.

 

[clutter]

There's a base set of classes that have to be taken in order to get a diploma in HS. If I can remember this correctly, this is what it was when I graduated.

3 Math (algrebra 1, geometry, Algebra 2)
3 Science (chemistry, biology, anatomy)
4 English (English 1,2,3,4)
1/2 PE - 1/2 Health (usually 9th graders)
3 History (gov/economics are usually seniors only)
then so many elective credits

2 Foreign Languages were only for 4yr college, you could take the easier class in HS or take it in a Community College. It was not a requirement for graduation.

Most kids finished everything except English and Gov/Economics before their Senior year and were able to skate by with a bunch of electives.

Wow. What state? You couldn't get a standard diploma with that in Virginia. And universities want an Advanced Diploma.

Anyway, back to the original question, check with the high school. We have that as well (because Algebra and languages are required for graduation, and if you take it in middle school, you either have to get credit or take it again), but you can expunge a grade.

 

[hereyago]

You couldn't get a standard diploma with that in Virginia. And universities want an Advanced Diploma.

Anyway, back to the original question, check with the high school. We have that as well (because Algebra and languages are required for graduation, and if you take it in middle school, you either have to get credit or take it again), but you can expunge a grade.

We live here in VA as well. DD13 takes a foreign language, well she started in 7th grade and this year she is in Algebra as well, so double whammy towards the high school GPA. It is funny you mention about the expunge of a grade because when DD chose a foreign language,they had sent home the letter about if you get a c or lower, you will be "asked" to take it again. however, they acted like it couldn't be erased, or should I say it had nothing in the same letter about a grade can be expunged. but in the high school course directory it states the very simple procedure for a parent to contact the principal and ask for the grade to be expunged.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

Wow. What state? You couldn't get a standard diploma with that in Virginia. And universities want an Advanced Diploma.

Things must have changed, because I graduated from Fairfax High way back in the 80s and those are not very unlike the requirements then and are very similar to those in Montgomery County where I live now. DS is a senior now and has 3 years of a foreign language, but I'm fairly sure only 2 were required for graduation. The only class he absolutely had to take this year was English (he's taking AP Lit as opposed to English 12). Most kids take far more than the minimum required courses, but I don't think the core curriculum has changed much.

 

[allison443]

Our school system has what I think is a weird rule that says that if a child takes a high school level class in middle school it goes on their high school transcript and is figured into their GPA. All foreign languages, math classes at Algebra and above, and the 8th grade science class all count in this category. My son, who is a pretty average student, and most of his classmates will graduate from 8th grade with 4 credits. I do not agree with this policy at all. The classes are listed has having been taken in 9th grade. Now presumably, the colleges will know that my kid didn't take 2 sciences, Algebra, Geometry, and Chinese 1, 2, and 3 plus 4 other courses in 9th grade, but that's how they're listed.

This year (7th) my son decided to take Chinese for his foreign language. He was very excited that they're teaching it. For other foreign languages (French, and Spanish) there are 2 speeds of options. Kids can take "Spanish 1A" in 7th and then 1B in 8th and get 1 high school credit for the 2 years, or they can take Spanish 1 which is the regular Freshman course, and then Spanish 2 in 8th. But for Chinese the only option is to take the full year of high school Chinese.

Well, it's Chinese, so it's hard, and it's full speed so it's hard, and I don't speak a word of it, so I can't help at all. In addition, the teacher is split with the high school so she's not available before school, during homeroom, or at lunch for help like the other teachers, and the classes seem huge. I counted 47 parents in the room at Back to School night compared to 15 to 20 in his other classes. The school also offers free tutoring afterschool in Spanish, but not in Chinese.

Right now he's failing. Not C or D, but completely failing. I spoke to his guidance counselor, and only the semester and end of year grades go on his transcript. If he gets a low grade, the only way to "erase" it is to retake the same course. He couldn't switch to French or Spanish without leaving the grade on his transcript. He could, however, switch to Art for the rest of the year.

On one hand, I'd like him to stick it out -- I think that's a valuable lesson, both that I believe in him, and that he should finish what he starts. If it wasn't for the transcript issue, I wouldn't even be considering letting him switch. On the other hand, for a kid who is generally an A/B student, one D or E can have a pretty significant effect on their GPA. I'd hate for him to lose a chance at a college he likes or a scholarship because of his grade in the first semester of 7th grade.

Do all 7th and 8th graders in your district start taking high school level classes while still in middle school? I thought that was usually for the advanced or honors level only. You say your son is an average student so I am wondering why, in 7th grade, he would be expected to successfully take a high school level language class. I can see if they spread it over two years (like you said they can do with Spanish) but for an average student to take a high school class in 7th grade? I don't get it.

I also wonder about the weighting of the grades in the high school. In my kids' high school, regulars are weighted as A=4, B=3, C=2, etc. Then honors, accelerated and AP are weighted more heavily. The weighted GPA is what is used for class rank. So someone with all As in Honors classes is ranked more highly than someone with all As in regular classes. Are the classes your son takes in middle school considered regular classes?

 

[thomas998]

First questions what level of college was/is he looking to Get into... If it's a state school then a single F is probably not the end of the world... If it's a ivy school then he can't afford an F...

Second question is whether the grade shows up on the transcript or is just used in calculating the GPA? I'm not sure it would show up as a grade as most transcripts say in this date these classes were take-in this date these were taken... I've never heard of one that lists classes in any way that classes from 2 years before the kid entered high school would show up...

And lastly, if grades are a real issue you could always sign him up for the SAT or ACT as if he were home schooled and leave out his high school from ever having happened... If the college is told he was home schooled then they will only have his standardized test scores to go by and high schools only disclose grades if you ask them to.

 

[Schmeck]

And lastly, if grades are a real issue you could always sign him up for the SAT or ACT as if he were home schooled and leave out his high school from ever having happened... If the college is told he was home schooled then they will only have his standardized test scores to go by and high schools only disclose grades if you ask them to.

So, you're telling the parents to lie? Great advice! What happens when the lie is revealed? SAT is linked to schools, BTW. Or are you telling the kid to lie on the form too?

 

[chris1gill]

My daughter is in 8th grade taking Chinese 1, it's going really well, whereas the romance languages weren't her favorite and I doubt she would do well in them if she had to take them. My son is the exact same way he's done well in Latin, Chinese and is now taking Japanese. There's a correlation between math ability and these types of languages. If your son is strong in math and wants to continue with the Chinese, consider paying the teacher or another tutor for their private service since your son cannot get help through the school. That part is really unfair, but you have to work with the system you have. If they have more than 15 or 20 students in the class, that is too big IMHO.... I think only you and your son can decide what he should do and what you are able to do as his parent. If tutoring is out of the question (even from another student), and he really feels he cannot make it up I would have him drop it, but it's really early in the year, there's still time to recover.

 

[Magic Mom]

There's a base set of classes that have to be taken in order to get a diploma in HS. If I can remember this correctly, this is what it was when I graduated.

3 Math (algrebra 1, geometry, Algebra 2)
3 Science (chemistry, biology, anatomy)
4 English (English 1,2,3,4)
1/2 PE - 1/2 Health (usually 9th graders)
3 History (gov/economics are usually seniors only)
then so many elective credits

2 Foreign Languages were only for 4yr college, you could take the easier class in HS or take it in a Community College. It was not a requirement for graduation.

Most kids finished everything except English and Gov/Economics before their Senior year and were able to skate by with a bunch of electives.

Al states have their own requirements.

 

[tar heel]

First questions what level of college was/is he looking to Get into... If it's a state school then a single F is probably not the end of the world... If it's a ivy school then he can't afford an F...

Some state universities are much more difficult to get into than the vast majority of private schools (not Ivies, Duke, etc, of course), so I'd be careful with this advice.

 

[punkin]

In our district, it's the same policy. However, I would not particularly worry about an F in October of 7th grade. It can change before the quarter ends and it can be explained away on the transcript for college. It may minimally affect his GPA, but I can't see it affecting college admission to any extent.

DD got a C in French her first semester 7th grade. I am not concerned at all.

 

[tar heel]

My son, who is a senior, got his transcript this week at a meeting with his guidance counselor, so I looked to see what it had from middle school. He took Spanish and Algebra I in middle school. Spanish is not on his transcript anywhere, but you could use it to place yourself into Spanish II in high school. Algebra I is there with its grade and its end-of-course score, but it is not assigned quality points and doesn't count in the high school GPA. It is the first thing listed on the grade list, though, so it would be a bummer if it were an F.

I'm assuming Algebra is there because it's a required course for graduation.

The middle school thing listed on his high school transcript is the number of absences all three years!

 

[punkin]

My son, who is a senior, got his transcript this week at a meeting with his guidance counselor, so I looked to see what it had from middle school. He took Spanish and Algebra I in middle school. Spanish is not on his transcript anywhere, but you could use it to place yourself into Spanish II in high school. Algebra I is there with its grade and its end-of-course score, but it is not assigned quality points and doesn't count in the high school GPA. It is the first thing listed on the grade list, though, so it would be a bummer if it were an F.

I'm assuming Algebra is there because it's a required course for graduation.

The middle school thing listed on his high school transcript is the number of absences all three years!

In our district it is. Actually the year my oldest graduated, one kid missed being valedictorian (in high school) because of a B in middle school. She was upset (understandably so, I guess) but managed to get into her college of choice (Ivy) anyway.

 

[SandrA9810]

If he's already looking into state schools for college, it's much easier on the pocket to go to Community College first, which usually guarantees you admission to a state university.

I know looking at all the scholarships and grants available, most of them you had up to 4 years to start using them, and then could use them for another 4 years. Like Florida's Bright Futures scholarship. Which allowed students the flexibility of attending community college prior to going to a 4 yr university.

Overall the bigger question is, is he a high achiever looking into Ivy league? Or just a regular kid with good grades? An F for a regular kid is not going to hurt him overall. But it does show more promise if he can work that F up to a C by the end of the year.

 

[Debbie7452]

In Texas, one low grade could have serious impact on finishing in the top 10% by class rank. This prevents kids from being automatically accepted to state schools. Yes, they might still get accepted the regular way, but then you have to wait longer to find out and stress over it. My DD's rank got negatively impacted by having to take regular French over Honors French because of a scheduling issue. She got a 100 in the class, but still suffered because of the other kids getting bonus points for Honors. It's hard to believe that a 100 in a class can HURT your GPA, but it happens....She's worked so hard since then and made up several spots. (She's #4).

If you keep him in the class, I would definitely spring for a tutor. It is amazing he is taking Chinese. The Asian families I know have their kids in Chinese classes on weekends. Our school doesn't offer it.

 

[Magic Mom]

If he's already looking into state schools for college, it's much easier on the pocket to go to Community College first, which usually guarantees you admission to a state university.

I know looking at all the scholarships and grants available, most of them you had up to 4 years to start using them, and then could use them for another 4 years. Like Florida's Bright Futures scholarship. Which allowed students the flexibility of attending community college prior to going to a 4 yr university.

Overall the bigger question is, is he a high achiever looking into Ivy league? Or just a regular kid with good grades? An F for a regular kid is not going to hurt him overall. But it does show more promise if he can work that F up to a C by the end of the year.

Sandra, some of the things you are posting are just not true.