Ds12 will take a 9th grade science course this year.

[Jean in Newcastle]

It is the Apologia "Exploring Creation with Physical Science", which I understand is supposed to be a 9th grade course. He will do all assignments, experiments and tests. It is at home with me as the teacher. Can I give him high school credit for this even though technically he is in 7th grade? What records do I keep? I'm in WA if that makes any difference.

[mchel210]

My son is taking apologia Physical Science for 8th grade. I am not giving him credit for HS as it is an 8th grade course. Apologia's website says if you use it in HS for a child coming out of PS it can be used for High School credit...but I dont think you can count it for 7th...I am not positive about your state. The HS courses are the Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and the 3 advanced classes and marine biology.

[Michelle in MO]

We used it in 8th grade for both of our older girls, and I did not give them high school credit for this. Our local h.s. does offer physical science as a high school credit; however, colleges (and, if he should ever transfer to a public school) are not eager to accept courses done before 9th grade as high school courses. The local h.s., for example, accepts algebra done in 8th grade, but really not any other courses besides that.

I would recommend that you go ahead with the physical science course and see how he does, but continue to progress him through a sound science sequence throughout high school.

[Ellie]

Depends. Will your dc need this credit for college? Many colleges specify that all credits on the transcript must have been earned during the immediate 4 years preceding the college application.

[Jean in Newcastle]

Thank you. I never thought to look at the Apologia web site! (The local homeschool store had it filed under 9th grade so I guess I just took their word for it that it was high school level.) I don't mind waiting to give him high school credit. I just wanted to give him proper credit if he earned it doing more advanced work, you know?

[mchel210]

I imagine if your child is using it for 7th grade, you will be able to fit in a lot of the upper level sciences such as marine science or human body. That might lead to some great classes for high school.

[Ellie]

Thank you. I never thought to look at the Apologia web site! (The local homeschool store had it filed under 9th grade so I guess I just took their word for it that it was high school level.) I don't mind waiting to give him high school credit. I just wanted to give him proper credit if he earned it doing more advanced work, you know?
You mean he would do the course now but you'd give him the credit in two years? How would that work? :confused: See, that might be problematic for some colleges, as I said.

[Jean in Newcastle]

You mean he would do the course now but you'd give him the credit in two years? How would that work? :confused: See, that might be problematic for some colleges, as I said.

No, I would have given him credit now. But that was the reason I was asking - I wasn't sure if you could even do that. And from the replies here I see that it doesn't work that way.

[LoriM]

The way it worked for our girls was that I started *keeping* a transcript in 7th grade, never knowing what the future brings. If he ends up graduating at 16 or 17 for some reason (which you say you'd never do, but sometimes sneaks up on you!), then you'll be glad you kept the transcript. My girls started high school work in every subject in 7th grade, and used college textbooks for most subjects. So, I kept the transcript, but ended up using only the last four years as their high school transcript. It might be that "7th" grade" becomes "9th grade" when he decides to graduate in 4 years!

I also didn't give *any* credit for Latin I and Latin II, or Algebra I and Geometry (done in 7th and 8th grades), I simply designated on the transcript that those "prerequisites" were met prior to high school. But if my older daughter had graduated at 16, she would have completed four years of math at that time. She just ended up doing 8, with four CC courses after she completed her high school sequence.

[Pamela H in Texas]

I agree with Lori.

We had a mix as my daughter graduated early, but was also a year ahead anyway, AND had done some coursework early. So some of earlier grades were in her last four years, but she also had pre-reqs noted.

So in your situation, if he still does 3-6 science credits, depending, he won't need the physical science credit, but it can be included as a pre-req.

HOWEVER, one more consideration. Though many schools still have IPC or Phys Sci as a 9th grade credit, many schools are getting away from that, considering it not necessary or doing it in jr. high. So you will want to weigh carefully whether to count it at all. You don't have to make that decision now. Keeping good records is a good way to have the information if you decide you need it later :)

[Jean in Newcastle]

Thank you, Lori and Pamela. I was thinking that this year I needed to start to keep actual records. Do I get one of those teacher grade books for that?

[Kareni]

I was thinking that this year I needed to start to keep actual records. Do I get one of those teacher grade books for that?

There are many ways to keep records. Some use pencil and paper, others use commercial software designed for homeschoolers, others use computer software such as Excel. It's your choice!

Regards,
Kareni