If I am considering h.s. for my 7th grader...

[Shelly in IL]

Where will he fall? By the time he has reached 9th grade (if we remain at this pace with no problems) he will be well into Jacob's Geometry (probably finished it), have completed 6 years of Rod and Staff English, and 6 years of Latin (1 of Spanish). He is currently in public speaking and debate (and doing well), well grounded in science, and loves history. He is an excellent writer.

So, what is the problem? I have been talking to people who have had children in our Catholic High School and they have said that where he will come in in most subjects, he will be way ahead. What do you do about that? Think to yourself, well, he better do VERY WELL if it is all a repeat - or do you think, this is a waste of time, he'd be better off staying at home and doing community college for his junior and senior years?

I know this is a ways off - but I am in a need to solve this question - it is only 1 year til he would test to enter the school. Thanks.

[MIch elle]

Where will he fall? By the time he has reached 9th grade (if we remain at this pace with no problems) he will be well into Jacob's Geometry (probably finished it), have completed 6 years of Rod and Staff English, and 6 years of Latin (1 of Spanish). He is currently in public speaking and debate (and doing well), well grounded in science, and loves history. He is an excellent writer.

So, what is the problem? I have been talking to people who have had children in our Catholic High School and they have said that where he will come in in most subjects, he will be way ahead. What do you do about that? Think to yourself, well, he better do VERY WELL if it is all a repeat - or do you think, this is a waste of time, he'd be better off staying at home and doing community college for his junior and senior years?

I know this is a ways off - but I am in a need to solve this question - it is only 1 year til he would test to enter the school. Thanks.

Does he want to go to school? Do you want him to go too?

My ds wanted to go to school for academics, sports and for social reasons. We do not regret sending him to high school; it's been excellent so far and he's happy.

I would think that the Catholic school will have placement exams, at least my ds's school did. If your dc can pass the final exam in alg. I and foreign lang. they would place into alg. II, Spanish 2; if he's advanced in math then would skip to biology and or take all honors and or AP classes. My ds's school has 3 levels for almost all classes; they can do this because there are almost 1,000 students in the high school.

Make an appt. with the school's admission dept and speak directly to them if you are serious about your dc attending that school.

[LisaK in VA]

We will most likely be in a similar boat. I wouldn't worry so much about the background in Rod & Staff -- he could probably qualify for Honors and AP English, but 4 years is mandated (period). He should have an easier time with the written requirements, but we never spent much time studying grammar in the public schools I went to). I say that as someone who repeated virtually the same English course I took in California in the 8th grade, as I took in 9th Honors in Georgia in the 9th and AGAIN in the 10th Honors in Florida. You can also talk to the Honors English teacher at your local high school and find out what literature they will be doing -- this was the focus of my English courses, for the most part.

Keep your son focused on the Honors/AP courses for core (history, science, English & math)

Math, having finished Geometry before 9th, is becoming more and more accepted. Alg. 2, Pre-Calc, AP Calc & AP Statistics would become the math track (if you need 4 credits)

Science would be more like Chemistry, Physics and an AP Science course or 2 (if your son loves it, or if he wants to attend a military academy or something like that)

Latin -- I'd just have your son take the Subject Exam or National Latin Exam, or CLEP or something like that at the end of 8th grade, and focus on a modern foreign language in high school.

Your son will be ahead, but depending upon your local schools, not so far ahead that attending a public/private school in your area is completely out of the question.

I say "depending upon" because some local schools don't have all of the advanced course offerings, so your son could "top out" earlier -- in which case, you would want to find out about dual enrollment at a local CC (if you go through the public school sometimes THEY pay for it :D)

You can spend a little time looking at the high school requirements for applying to various colleges (for example, we've used Georgetown, William and Mary and USNA as our guidelines -- mainly because they are all an easy drive from where we are, and if we aim our academic plans for these types of schools, getting into George Mason, VA Tech, UVA, Mary Washington, etc. should all be well within our reach).

FWIW, I am planning on homeschooling through high school right now -- doing my own versions of honors & AP courses, taking the subject exams, AP, CLEPs, whatever necessary. However, I will have 5 children, with two in high school at any given time -- and that itself would be expensive to manage. Our local community college is also nearly an hour away.

Our top tier schools either only offer "advanced standing" for courses they receive top test scores or credits -- but will most likely have to test to receive it. So spending the time & $$$ to go to a local community college isn't to our benefit. Our 2nd tier schools all give credit -- but the CLEP is much more affordable, again, than the local community college.

[Michelle in AL]

My oldest, who was ahead in math, didn't want to go to high school for this very reason. But, if he truly wants to go, that is a different story...

There are probably several classes in high school that he wouldn't be wasting time in: honors English could be a wonderful experience, any honors or AP classes may be a continuation of what he's doing now.

Any IB programs near you?

If he decides to homeschool there are many wonderful, advanced online options: Scholars Online, Potter's School, Veritas Press, Lukeion and more. You can also focus on teaching a class or two in AP or advanced fashion.

I must say homeschooling high school is wonderful, you can tailor their education to them, but it may not be for every kid.

[matroyshka]

So, what is the problem? I have been talking to people who have had children in our Catholic High School and they have said that where he will come in in most subjects, he will be way ahead. What do you do about that? Think to yourself, well, he better do VERY WELL if it is all a repeat - or do you think, this is a waste of time, he'd be better off staying at home and doing community college for his junior and senior years?


Back in the far mists of time when I went to a Catholic high school, they let me test into Geometry, Spanish 2 and German 3. I also entered high school at 13 - if you really want to send him and he's far enough ahead, might that be an option?

I had another friend who entered the same hs from a private middle school, and she skipped 8th altogether and they let her start 9th grade at 12 (she had already been young for her grade).

Or, you could just keep him home and use the cc. :)