High School Issues

Whether your child is academically gifted or is simply eager to get a head start on college, many teens are choosing to graduate from high school early. Some parents are concerned that early graduates miss out on important social elements of high school; however, the potential academic, collegiate and financial benefits are often quite redeeming.

The Benefits of Early Graduation

While early graduates may miss out on traditional hallmarks of prom or other formal ceremonies, students across the country are striving for early high school graduation rates in order to save money and get ahead. According to Natasha Robinson of The News and Observer, one young female worked to receive some serious financial benefits in graduating early: “Kylee Patterson graduated from high school with a full year of college already completed - a move that saved her $15,000 on tuition and books.” By taking community college and AP courses that qualified both for high school and college credit, Kylee was able to not only graduate from high school early but get a jump on college as well.

As tuition costs soar for college courses, taking AP classes provides students with the opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school—and without having to pay for the costs. Paired with this, many high schools are now allowing advanced and honors students to take community college courses to meet their high school degree requirements; in such cases, the high schools often pay for the college

As public schools embrace technology's evolving availability and convenience, many high schools are implementing online courses to cater to more students. Recently, researchers from Harvard suggest that “while only about 1 percent of courses in 2007 were online, this figure represents a 22-fold increase from 2000 and should grow to 10 percent within six years and to about 50 percent by 2019.”

Furthermore, as the public policy research center at Stanford University projects, the rising affordability of technology may result in nearly half of all high school courses being available online.

In this enlightening article, we delve into the realm of online learning and its growing significance in public high schools. We explore the diverse range of online learning opportunities available to high school students, including virtual classrooms, interactive coursework, and digital resources. From advanced placement (AP) courses to specialized electives and credit recovery programs, online learning offers flexibility, personalized instruction, and expanded educational horizons. We discuss the benefits and challenges of online learning, highlighting its potential to foster self-directed learning, enhance digital literacy, and accommodate diverse learning styles. Furthermore, we examine the strategies public high schools employ to implement and integrate online learning effectively while addressing equity concerns and ensuring student success. Join us as we navigate the world of online learning in public high schools and uncover the transformative potential it holds for students seeking innovative educational opportunities.

This video explains how and why high schools are using online learning.

While sports have always been a staple in public schools, many students are taking advantage of non-athletic opportunities, such as academic sports. Both athletes and non-athlete students are discovering that the latest public school clubs are not only building students’ profiles for college applications, but they’re also providing rare opportunities for travel, competitions, awards, and even college scholarships!

Academic Clubs

An academic club is essentially any school-approved group of students, often with a faculty sponsor, who meet to develop activities or discussions based on their particular topic of interest. Group meetings are often informal, and can even involve after-school field trips, community volunteerism opportunities, or other venues. The intent of an academic club is to generate enthusiasm for a topic while encouraging student involvement and achievement.

While in the past, most academic clubs were based on school subjects, such as the book club, the math club, or the science club, public schools today have a much greater scope in clubs – and even geared towards gifted students. For example, springing up around campuses are “Robotics Clubs,” where students actually design a robot and compete in competitions. Another forum for clubs is technology-based, where “Gaming Clubs,” “Computer Design Clubs,” or “Web Clubs,” have grown in popularity; students not only learn about how the technology works, but they’re also able to have some fun, as they learn to design their own personal or professional web pages or computer-based games.

This video offers suggestions for school

To prepare students for success in college, high schools are providing increasingly rigorous course options to help students establish a foundation for continuing education. According to the College Board, colleges today are “looking for a solid foundation of learning that you can build on in college.” As colleges view high school transcripts as a student’s blueprint of their educational experiences, students should immerse themselves in a combination of academic core classes, along with concentrated subjects that focus on a students’ pathway for potential future studies. By engaging in solid high school college prep courses, students are better prepared for the transition into higher education experiences.

The College Prep Overview

To prepare for college, students can plan their schedule by looking at the guidelines for each core subject area. For the best college prep courses, students should focus primarily on core classes, and then choose elective classes as options that will enhance their skills as a collegiate student.

English

Students should take four units of English while in high school, which can focus on literature, writing, and research courses. Most specifically, an emphasis on composition will help build a foundation for collegiate success, as writing is a large component of continuing education. As College Board advisors further support, students should plan to “take English every year. Traditional courses, such as American and English literature, help you improve your writing skills, reading comprehension, and vocabulary.” Considering that the skills learned in English are

Dual enrollment programs allow high school students to receive both high school and college credit for taking a college-level course. A 2007 study from the Community College Research Center (CCRC) concluded that dual enrollment programs have a positive effect on high school graduation rates, college enrollment rates, college grades, and progress toward obtaining a college degree. This article examines dual enrollment programs and the benefits they afford.

The number of dual admission programs has increased significantly over the past few years. According to the U.S. Department of Education, about 1.2 million students participated in dual enrollment programs during the 2002-03 academic year. Approximately 71 percent of public high schools offered dual enrollment programs.

More than half of all colleges and universities allowed high school students to take classes for college credit. Community colleges are enthusiastic sponsors of dual enrollment programs. About 98 percent of public community colleges had dual enrollment programs in 2002-03. For public four-year universities, the number is 77 percent. Private community colleges and four-year institutions offer fewer dual enrollment opportunities than their public counterparts.

How Do Dual Enrollment Programs Work?

The requirements of dual admission programs vary considerably nationwide. The following characteristics are common:

? Only certain lower-level college courses are approved for dual credit. Remedial classes, physical education, and music courses are typically excluded from the programs.

? Academic standards are imposed on participants, including minimum grade point averages and standardized test scores.

? Students receive both credit toward high school graduation and college