Public school

[simba20]

Okay, so I found it....here's a link that lists GA State high school graduation requirements:

http://public.doe.k12.ga.us/DMGetDo...ED4F0C033BF79F7B7D34BB562F61EBB2587F36&Type=D

Reagardless of what track (diploma) a student recieves (as I mentioned College Prep or Vocational) they all have to meet the same requirements. Adding up to 23 credits for graduation.

I graduated 16 years ago....our diploma options then included College Prep, Vocational, or General. GA went away with the General Diploma a few years back.....often kids who chose the vo-tech or General track had less credits needed to meet graduation requirements, which often left the General Diploma studenst filling up their Junior and Senior Years with electives and the Vocational students choosing a "work-study" option in which they had part-time jobs and got to leave at lunch to go to work.

For me the college-prep diploma required:
4 English Credits
3 Math (Pre-Algebra or General Math did not count)
3 Science
3 Social Studies (including one half year class of Geography and one half year class of Citizenship/Government and one half year class of Economics)
1 Health
1 Activity PE
1 Wellness class
2 years Foreign Language

Anyway, if you are going to college in the state of GA, all colleges regardless of if they are considered "community" (we do not have those here, in 1996 every college small and big were given "university" status. Georgia used to have designated 2 year schools, 4 year schools, and Universities, but now all colleges in GA are universities in which some changed their name) have the same entrance requirements for high school grads....

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I hate to say it, but those systems are made like that for a reason-- not everyone CAN pass 4 maths and not everyone should go into the state school system.

The dirty little secret that nobody in the federal Department of Education will ever share is that No Child Left Behind's requirement of 100% proficiency is never going to be reached.

Some children will just never be proficient in some subject areas.

 

[kamik86]

The dirty little secret that nobody in the federal Department of Education will ever share is that No Child Left Behind's requirement of 100% proficiency is never going to be reached.

Some children will just never be proficient in some subject areas.

They will never admit this. They will just lower the definition of proficient and raise the number of disabilities that will qualify someone as being exempt from the statistics until they reach 100%. Actually teaching anyone else anything is not really required.

 

[PrincesCJM]

I'm a high school math teacher and am wondering what curriculum is covered in Algebra 2 and Algebra 3. The school that I currently work at does not have a course called Algebra 3 but my previous school did. That's just because each school is free to name courses however they would like to.

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

..I did not know there was such a thing as Algebra 3 ..

In my school, to graduate you have to have Algebra 1 [either taken in two years with one year being algebra 1 A and the other being Algebra 1 B]
I took algebra 1 A in 8th grade and that gave me a high school credit. I took algebra 1 B in 9th grade, Geometry in 10th, and Algebra 2 in 11th.
We are only required to take Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2.

From there, you can take anything you want depending on your grade in algebra 2.

 

[ugadog99]

The dirty little secret that nobody in the federal Department of Education will ever share is that No Child Left Behind's requirement of 100% proficiency is never going to be reached.

Some children will just never be proficient in some subject areas.

Now, if teachers could just get the all knowing "Powers that Be" to recognize and accept this fact, we could actually teach each child to his/her ability!!!

 

[ugadog99]

Living in GA, and graduating from a GA PUBLIC high school, and having a MIL who works for the University System Board of Regents, I can say that all colleges in the state of GA are on the same level, whether it's a small school like West Georgia or a larger school like GA Tech, all colleges have the same entrance requirements -- i.e courses taken in high school (not SAT scores and the like).

On paper...yes...in reality...not even close.

 

[wvjules]

I'm a little confused on something...if she can't pass this class after taking it twice and having multiple tutors, how will she pass it being homeschooled?

 

[Planogirl]

I'm a little confused on something...if she can't pass this class after taking it twice and having multiple tutors, how will she pass it being homeschooled?

I was wondering about that too. And how will she do in college math courses?

Some people just simply aren't good at certain things. We all have different skills. I wish that schools could teach to that but of course that's impossible.

 

[wdwfan16]

I am so glad that many states are turning a HS diploma into more that a piece of paper. I know so many in our state that are mad that the state made the GED requirements so much harder. There was a time that many 8th graders could pass the test. Now people have to take night classes and pass test to get a GED. The E stands for equivalency so it should not be easy to get.

A HS diploma shows a well-rounded education. That is the purpose. Many schools got to a point that it was just a piece of paper.

I had to take classes that I hated.. I had to if I wanted that diploma so I could go to college. It also showed me IF I should go down path A, B, C or D based on my strengths and weaknesses.

I believe they should have HS diplomas that are for the ones who do not make the state reuirements.

When I end to HS we had 3 diplomas - Vocational, School and State. If you wanted to go to college you went for the state one. The other two were for the kids who tired or had a LD that would prohibit them from getting all the requirements.

The school diploma did not mean you could never go to college but you would have to take remedial courses in college.

I am horrified that we are taking a math class that should take 1 year into 3 one year classes. Especially when the 3 is just 1 and 2 all over again. Who thought this was a good idea?!

My state required algebra, geometry and trig or you did not get a state diploma. Three algebras did not cut it. If they offered 3 algebras you would get a school diploma.

 

[wdwfan16]

I'm a little confused on something...if she can't pass this class after taking it twice and having multiple tutors, how will she pass it being homeschooled?

Mommy can just pass her. That is why our state does not sanction the homeschooled diplomas. They say homeschooled on them and do not carry the state seal. Many do well and go on to college but I do not know if there is a large enough pool to know how well the vast majority do.

 

[DebD4T]

Mommy can just pass her.

Kinda nasty comment...was that really called for?

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Now, if teachers could just get the all knowing "Powers that Be" to recognize and accept this fact, we could actually teach each child to his/her ability!!!

It is not the teachers who hold this power it is the parents! When teachers try to change something like this it gets thown back in our faces as being incompetent. I am a sped teacher and I know that No Child is a joke. In my state MA the one with supposedly the highest standards I have watched the MCAS test become less and less difficult but still out of the reach of many kids. The public does not realize what is happening and think that NCLB is working when in actualtiy, they are changing the test more kids score higher and therefore no one really knows that the test while still difficult has been made substantially easier. It makes all the proponents of
NCLB look good when in reality it is a scam.

 

[friend of pooh]

They will never admit this. They will just lower the definition of proficient and raise the number of disabilities that will qualify someone as being exempt from the statistics until they reach 100%. Actually teaching anyone else anything is not really required.

Kids with diabilities are NOT exempt from these tests. In fact even if they are in special ed and have an IEP and are working below level, they still have to take the test on grade level. So if you have an 8th grader reading on a 3rd grade level, they still take the 8th grade tests.

Oh and when they determine if a school made AYP (if they met the state goals) they look at more than the entire student body. They break it down into subgroups (spec ed, race, socio economic status, etc). If one of these sub groups doesn't make AYP, then the school is seen as not being proficient.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

It is a shame when hardworking teachers are insulted because of beaurecratic issues and government-imposed budget cuts. Some posters have implied that all teachers/schools are inadequate, which is untrue.

The school at which I teach does not require Algebra 3, but sometimes students who have failed classes will do things like take Health 2 before Health 1 if that is the only way they can have enough credits to graduate. With something like Health, it probably isn't much of an issue but if Algebra 3 builds on Algebra 2 issues, then it will be a problem that the school will have to fix. Is your child the only one with this schedule? If not, I am sure the teacher will adapt the curriculum to this unique situation.

 

[torinsmom]

Kids with diabilities are NOT exempt from these tests. In fact even if they are in special ed and have an IEP and are working below level, they still have to take the test on grade level. So if you have an 8th grader reading on a 3rd grade level, they still take the 8th grade tests.

Oh and when they determine if a school made AYP (if they met the state goals) they look at more than the entire student body. They break it down into subgroups (spec ed, race, socio economic status, etc). If one of these sub groups doesn't make AYP, then the school is seen as not being proficient.

This is true. My DS has a math disability. When he was taking the EOG tests, he had to take the test for his grade level, not his ability level. In 8th grade, he was working at a 6th grade level and had to take the 8th grade EOG. He had accommodations like extra time and write in booklet, but neither of those helps if you don't know how to do the math! He failed the first time, but somehow managed to pass(barely) on the retake.

We are going through similar math troubles. DS is at a high school with a block schedule, so courses are only for one semester. Same information, same hours, but condensed into a shorter time period. I REALLY dislike this type of schedule, because the class moves a lot faster and some kids need time to absorb and understand the material.

DS took Algebra twice and barely passed in last year as a sophomore. He has an IEP, and his counselor suggested he go with Tech Math I and II(applied math) rather than trying to get through Geometry and Algebra II. He can graduate with those maths, but he will need Geometry(which he will try senior year) and Algebra II to get into a 4 year college. Our plan is 2 years in a community college. Oh well, I would have liked him to go to a 4 year college, but you gotta roll with the punches. I want him to get all the maths he needs to GRADUATE college in at the CC, where the classes are smaller and less expensive.

Marsha

 

[poohs_hunny]

We live in the metro Atlanta area. Our county has great schools. Our kids have attended 3 different elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high school. Not every school has been bad, but we have had some bad experiences with each child. I think I have a right to my opinion.

Yes, you absolutely have a right to your opinion. But you have to see that categorizing all public schools based on your limited experiences (only one area of the country, only a few schools) is silly. It would be like going out to a restaurant. You get a bad server who gets your order wrong, your food is cold, etc. You then leave, saying, "I hate restaurants!!" It just doesn't make sense.

 

[simba20]

On paper...yes...in reality...not even close.

Oh yes, I TOTALLY agree with this.

My MIL thought it was rediculous when all colleges in the state of GA were allowed to be called "universities" and gain that status. For some schools it did help them because they wanted to add some 4 year programs or programs they did not have to their offereings, but it messed up the nice system that was in place.

GA used to have designated 2 year, 4 year, and universities which let you know what level a school was at. Then once university staus was deemed, it gave the impression that smaller schools (the 2 year schools) could be consideredon par with a 4 year college or even a university. GA also had what they deemed universities and regional universities......

Anyway, my MIL still shakes her head, and has to deal with the budget fallouts to this day. She is counting the days until she can retire....only 3 more years......

 

[Mimi1965]

Her school actually only requires 3 maths to graduate. However the Georgia university system requires 4 maths for admission, usually taken one class per year. So she has to pass all 4 or they won't even consider her. We can't afford out of state or private college tuition, so she's limited to in state schools.
.

I would consider -other options for your DD than college. Basically-she cant pass a sophmore math class-my kids had 4 years of math-including trig

College math is harder-and every major has to take math.

Honestly cant see how she is going to pass both maths in her senior year

 

[freckles and boo]

I would consider -other options for your DD than college. Basically-she cant pass a sophmore math class-my kids had 4 years of math-including trig

College math is harder-and every major has to take math.

Honestly cant see how she is going to pass both maths in her senior year

I disagree with the OP about public schools (vehemently) but I also disagree with this statement. There is plenty to be learned in college that doesn't involve math, including the arts. Many people who have trouble with math are otherwise fully capable of succeeding in college. The major state university I attended currently requires ONE math class for the general studies (non-major) courses. Obviously many majors require advanced mathematics and that could be a problem.