So my daughter is a weirdo and actually wants to do MORE high school. She is currently a freshman in an arts magnet school so her focus is on visual art. But she's very interested in biology. More biology than is offered at her school. So she's started looking for other resources online.

Problem is, we have literally NO idea what we're looking for. Google is fine, but how do you separate the wheat from the chaff? What's good and what's a joke? I tell you what's a joke btw. Her guidance counselor at school. If you took all the help in the world and got rid of it. That's how much help her guidance counselor has been.

Anyway, some of the google finds seem ok. But are quite expensive for a single summer course. I'd really like to find something local, but again, I don't even know how to go about that. The school resources (including the counselor) are absolutely useless when it comes to kids doing MORE school.

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Don't know how appropriate for a high school freshman, but I've used courses from organizations like, edx, coursera, udemy, etc.. Good luck.

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“There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they’re falling in."

Guidance counselors are not typically a great deal of help, at least in the public school environment (and I'm a public school proponent). One has to seek out guidance from savvy teachers and others in the field. I'd ask around at a local university. Does she have the option of taking some university-level courses at a local school (either physically or remotely)? Usually that option is reserved for upper classes.

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Hurts like a bastid...

Are you looking for online only?

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Roswell, GA (Atlanta suburb)

Perhaps she could audit an Intro to Biology course from a local university or community college. Those courses are usually meant for non-science majors and while simpler are still far better than any high school course. She would not receive a grade or credit but would get the additional knowledge - which would then benefit her in her credited school biology and prepare her for advanced courses later. She would also be protected from a bad or failing grade if she gets in over her head.

I would advise skipping any online high school courses - they are usually far shallower than the regular brick & motor courses. High school biology is pretty watered down and simplistic as it is.

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“No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.” -- François de La Rochefoucauld

"Those who cannot accept the past are condemned to revise it." -- Geo. Mathias

The German word for contraceptive is “Schwangerschaftsverhütungsmittel”. By the time you finished saying that, it’s too late

I just sent an email to the school system so hopefully, someone can put in contact with someone who can help. The more we talked about it, the more we're thinking local college courses. Whether for real, or an audit.

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I will mirror what Ombligo said, look for an intro course at a community college. Also look for online biology courses at Arts or Business colleges or big colleges with Arts programs.

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In tha 360. MRF User Map

So stupid question. How do you look for a course at a college? Do you just call up the admissions office and say I've got a high schooler that wants to take a biology course?

Sorry for the stupid questions. I just don't know what to do here. This is all new to me. When I was in high school, the last thing I wanted was to take MORE school.

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Community College is the answer. Or other colleges local to you, though they will be more expensive.

You could also touch base with the homeschool community in your area. They will be familiar with opportunities outside the public school system, as they frequently farm out high-school level coursework when the subjects get outside the parent's skill. Some even set up cooperatives employing qualified teachers. And for this reason many community colleges have an active market for high school age students. She won't be the only high schooler there.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/01/2022 09:40AM by Acer.

I think you need to find a contact at the school that will be be helpful. Perhaps the principal. Or perhaps a biology teacher at another school. Or maybe a teacher that you've been able to use as a resource and has been helpful in the past. Or maybe another parent that knows how to navigate the system. You'll find there are people who can make these things happen and then there's everybody else.

Don't take 'no' for an answer, but in a nice and polite way.

You might know whether she's ready for an AP Bio course. A non-majors bio course at the local community college might be easier than an AP Bio high school course. At least that was my experience with AP Psych.

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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/01/2022 10:13AM by mattkime.

If she goes the AP route, ask about the teacher's AP Exam pass rate (not class pass rate) - that will tell you a lot about the instructor. Qualifications to teach AP are pretty lax, I've seen AP teachers who could pass the test in their area if they had to.

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“No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.” -- François de La Rochefoucauld

"Those who cannot accept the past are condemned to revise it." -- Geo. Mathias

The German word for contraceptive is “Schwangerschaftsverhütungsmittel”. By the time you finished saying that, it’s too late

Depending on how strong a student she is, and whether she actually wants to be earning credit, there's always this: [ocw.mit.edu]

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Freya says, 'Hello from NOLA, baby!' (Laissez bon temps rouler!)

Someone at her school should have information on dual-enrollment at a local community college (or even a university if there is one in your town). Lots of kids here (Florida) do that, and it didn't cost us extra — the school district paid the tuition and fees (I don't recall about books, though).

You can browse around here to get an idea of what should be available in your state:
[www.ecs.org]

Thought most schools or districts have a "gifted" student programs?

Maybe I was just lucky -- but we had a high school program that offered staggered days, longer classes and a plethora of AP courses. We had students from other high schools in the district send their kids over to our campus.

I took and passed: US history, English, Chemistry, Math and Bio. We also offered Spanish and French, Euro history, Physics and a few others Im forgetting... and this was 40 years ago.

[en.wikipedia.org]

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Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.

They have some AP classes at her school. Just not Biology. Her school also operates on a different schedule using 2 semesters (like college) vs one long school year. So taking a class at another high school might be a scheduling nightmare. But a college might work out just right.

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I worked for and advised students in AP and Dual Enrollment.

My general advice given to all those students - If you are going to a state university - take dual enrollment If you are going to a private college or out of state, do AP. Never stretch in Dual Enrollment because in most districts if you get anything below a D in any course, you are dropped from the program and that grade stays on your college transcript. Generally, the Dual Enrollment colleges require the student to take English as a prerequisite for all other courses.

That is why, in your daughter's case, I suggested she audit the course first. See how she does with an unfamiliar college curriculum before it can affect her college transcripts. If she understands the material, then she can retake the course for credit. Once a student gets through one course, that student is generally ready for others.

My problem with AP is that ultimately it will come down to a single test on a single day. Pass the test with a 3+ and you will get some college credit. Get less than a 3 and you get nothing. Passing the course means nothing as far as college credit goes. In DE, if you pass with a C you get the credit.

AP Courses are glorified high school, taught by a high school teacher under high school rules. DE is taught at the college, by a college instructor, using college standards and rules. I heard from more than one student that simply walking into a college classroom puts a completely different feeling into learning than any course at the high school.

(I misread and thought she was going to be a Freshman, I see she will be a sophomore - so this change If she has already had high school biology and did well, then skip the audit and do the course as DE

Many schools will require a high-B average and passing a prerequisite test to join the DE program. You will need to check with your local college if her high school is not helping. Just call the college and ask for the Dual Enrollment coordinator.

Good luck.

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“No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.” -- François de La Rochefoucauld

"Those who cannot accept the past are condemned to revise it." -- Geo. Mathias

The German word for contraceptive is “Schwangerschaftsverhütungsmittel”. By the time you finished saying that, it’s too late

Thanks Omb -- great info.

my kids high school brand new, barely a year old... of course football is off to a running start... but academies are still not there? Oldest got a 4 on a AP something last year, which made her want to take more... cause she wants the credit... but maybe DE could be an option I discuss with her...

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Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.

Quote
jdc
Thanks Omb -- great info.

my kids high school brand new, barely a year old... of course football is off to a running start... but academies are still not there? Oldest got a 4 on a AP something last year, which made her want to take more... cause she wants the credit... but maybe DE could be an option I discuss with her...

The way AP works is a score of 3 will give you credit for course XXX1234, a score of 4 would be course XXX1235 (better), and 5 gets you even more choices. What those courses are will depend upon the school - entirely up to them. Only high school students take AP and class grades are only high school grades.

With Dual Enrollment, the course you take is a college course, taught by a college instructor. If you pass it, you get the grade and credit like any other college student. The high school's portion is they pay for it and can set grade standards (hence most require a minimum GPA to enroll and the student has to get C's or better to stay in it. But you are enrolled in college and those grades are part of your college transcript.

My last piece of advice for Dual Enrollment (or any college course) - look up the professor at [www.ratemyprofessors.com] . You can see what other students say about them before deciding whether to take that particular professor's class. It saved my son some major headaches by avoiding pompous idiots or instructors with unrealistic expectations (like a 30 page paper in an elective course).

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“No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.” -- François de La Rochefoucauld

"Those who cannot accept the past are condemned to revise it." -- Geo. Mathias

The German word for contraceptive is “Schwangerschaftsverhütungsmittel”. By the time you finished saying that, it’s too late



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/02/2022 01:10PM by Ombligo.