Family Resource for Middle School Students taking High School Courses
Please review this information carefully before starting a high school course with your middle school student.
Per our Parent-Student Handbook: Our school will grant high school elective credit for high school math, world language, and CTE pathway courses taken by middle school students. As a parent-choice school, we allow middle schoolers to take high school courses, but it is important to consider how taking courses in middle school will affect high school and college before choosing this option for your student. Please contact your Homeschool Teacher to discuss starting high school courses early prior to enrolling in high school level courses or using high school curriculum.
It’s important to know
● Middle school students can earn elective credit for taking high school math, world language, and CTE courses (CTE courses are open to 8th grade only).
● Students can’t “block schedule” multiple courses in the same subject per year.
● Students who take high school courses while in middle school will have the courses placed on their transcript at the start of 9th grade.
● Students who take high school courses while in middle school must complete the full high school standards aligned course. This means they will need to either take a course that is a-g as is, or complete a course outline (for CTE, they will need to take a CTE course with a credentialed CTE teacher). Your HST will monitor the high school course(s) with the same practices as any other high school course.
● High school courses completed in middle school will not be included in the high school GPA.
● Please keep in mind that not all high schools or districts will accept high school credits earned during middle school. Should the student transfer, it is up to the receiving school or district to grant credit.
● Students who are taking math or World Language courses must start them in the fall and take the A portion in the fall and the B portion in the spring.
● If your student is interested in playing sports in college they may want to take NCAA approved courses so that the courses can count towards NCAA requirements. Let your HST know if your student is interested in playing sports in college.
● Students have to meet the state minimum graduation requirements while in grades 9-12. This means that even if they take high school courses in middle school, while in grades 9-12 they have to take:
o Three years of English
o Two years of math
o Two years of science (one life and one physical)
o Three years of social science (world history, US history, government, and economics)
o One year of Visual Performing Arts or World Language
*For example, if a student takes Algebra 1 and Geometry in middle school, they will need to take Algebra 2 and PreCalculus in high school to meet the math graduation requirement
Is your student ready?
● For World Language and CTE, students do not need to demonstrate subject matter readiness, but should be ready for a high school level course in general.
● For Algebra 1, your HST will verify that a standards aligned Math 8/Pre-Algebra has been completed. If not, your student will be required to take a proctored readiness exam. The Algebra 1 Readiness exam will be available for administration by your HST on or after May 15.
When your middle school student takes a high school course
● Your HST will work with you to create an IGP so you can see how this will impact high school
● The course must be added to your student’s MA
● The high school add/drop date will apply. The deadline to add or drop a high school course, or change a high school course’s curriculum, is the last day of the first LP of the semester (LP1 or 5)
● If your student starts to struggle in the high school course please contact your HST right away
If you have any questions about this policy, please let your HST know before signing up for the high school course(s).