NationStates Jolt Archive

Can someone enlighten me as to how American high school students choose and/or are assigned classes? I never attended school in the U.S., and some things I've heard recently make me curious. Does it differ by school or district? Is it a matter of public schools versus private schools? How does it work?

It differs through school districts, but most often students choose there classes (with several required "core" classes such as math, english, science, and history) and then the administration throws it into a computer that will assign rooms, teachers, and periods so that there are no conflicts. That's basically it. Pretty simple, no?

It is similar to how it works up here in Canada.

It varies from province to province, but here in Ontario, we have it so that, at least when I was going to school, you had to get 30 credits in order to graduate.

MANDATORY
5 English
2 Math
2 Science
1 French
4 Social Sciences
1 Phys Ed
1 Geography
------------
16 credits + 14 Elective credits (including 6 OACs if you wanted to go to university; OAC=grade 13).

They've changed it since I've left...

It's still 30 credits, but now you have 18 mandatory credits and 12 elective.

uhh. . . in catholic school they follow loosely the pubplic schools' core classes thing. catholic schools (especially ones outside of a diocese [like me :D ]) can do what they want.

case in point: no gpa per semester only yearly. my school has two regular semesters. the third semester is usually a trip or something not at school. i am going to the bvi :p . an assignment is used along with behavior for a grade. you have to pay and it is mildly educational, but it's fun nonetheless.

how's that for school!

my district required this:
4 English
......5 Brit lit

3 math

3 science
.....2 lab based

3 history/social studies/social sciences
.....1.5 world and people
......5 civics
.....1 US history

2 language

3 physical education
.....2.75 gym
......25 health

you took a minimum of 6 credits per semester...accelerated courses are weighted with 5 points, honors/AP are weighted with 8, and you basically have free choice, so long as it fit in the schedule.

It's a bloody mess.

You have the required classes, then the electives, then the required classes that are at various levels (AP and Honors to remediate), most of which need permission to take.

Then as some of the special courses are offered once a day at a certian time, you have to schedual the kids around those classes (ending up with an informal tracking system).

It's the reason why school administratons usually are certifiably nuts by the time school starts from having to figure this all out. :D

In my school, you write down the names & codes of classes you want. You then submit this sheet to the scheduling office. They shred it and make up their own schedule for you.

They also calculate your GPA incorrectly and can't rank you properly.

And these failures show that they need more funding, much of which goes directly into the pockets of contractors, politicians, and administrators. Most of the rest goes towards new gym equipment, pay raises for administrators, the Athletic Director's gambling habits, paying off the teahcer's union, and Climate Control for the Headmaster's Office. Meanwhile, we have students relegated to tables instead of desks, use outdated books (if any at all), and some decent heating, as well as an air conditioning system.

In my school, you write down the names & codes of classes you want. You then submit this sheet to the scheduling office. They shred it and make up their own schedule for you.

They also calculate your GPA incorrectly and can't rank you properly.

And these failures show that they need more funding, much of which goes directly into the pockets of contractors, politicians, and administrators. Most of the rest goes towards new gym equipment, pay raises for administrators, the Athletic Director's gambling habits, paying off the teahcer's union, and Climate Control for the Headmaster's Office. Meanwhile, we have students relegated to tables instead of desks, use outdated books (if any at all), and some decent heating, as well as an air conditioning system.

I hope to God that you are joking. I'm in high school and I'm getting a pretty good education as far as I can tell. Unless it's all some kind of liberal conspiracy...

In response to the thread starter: In most American high schools, you can choose whether to be a regular, honors, or advanced placement class when it comes to the core classes. I don't feel like explaining the requirements for the honors and ap classes, but anyone who doesn't meet them is in a regular class.

OKay... I think I get it, but not sure. Students take a core group of classes each year, plus electives, and can choose to be regular/honours/AP. All of those have to add up to a certain number of credits at the end of senior year.

The reason I ask is because I mentioned to someone at work the other day that I took seven years worth of math classes in high school. They were pretty shocked, and said that would never be possible at an American high school. In my school, I had a lot of freedom to choose classes (in part, I'm sure, because I went to a very small school) appropriate to my interest and ability. The person from my office implied that in an American high school, you have very little control over your schedule after you start your freshman year. Something about having a pre-set sequence of classes that you have to take, in the order that they tell you to. Which to me, sounds like it would kind of suck.

OKay... I think I get it, but not sure. Students take a core group of classes each year, plus electives, and can choose to be regular/honours/AP. All of those have to add up to a certain number of credits at the end of senior year.

The reason I ask is because I mentioned to someone at work the other day that I took seven years worth of math classes in high school. They were pretty shocked, and said that would never be possible at an American high school. In my school, I had a lot of freedom to choose classes (in part, I'm sure, because I went to a very small school) appropriate to my interest and ability. The person from my office implied that in an American high school, you have very little control over your schedule after you start your freshman year. Something about having a pre-set sequence of classes that you have to take, in the order that they tell you to. Which to me, sounds like it would kind of suck.
That could be the case for that school and/or district as well. From what I have studied though, it seems that the American system allows far more freedom in class choices than other school systems.

basically, at my school, we get a book wiht all of the courses. then we pick the ones we want and wright them down. You get teachers to sign off for Honors and AP classes. Then you turn it in, and the faculty ignores what you requested and gives you sex ed instead of history class. seriously.

We have to do Math, English, P.E., Science and Social Studies to graduate. The rest are electives. Since I'm in Marching Band, that counts as P.E. w00t!

OKay... I think I get it, but not sure. Students take a core group of classes each year, plus electives, and can choose to be regular/honours/AP. All of those have to add up to a certain number of credits at the end of senior year.

The reason I ask is because I mentioned to someone at work the other day that I took seven years worth of math classes in high school. They were pretty shocked, and said that would never be possible at an American high school. In my school, I had a lot of freedom to choose classes (in part, I'm sure, because I went to a very small school) appropriate to my interest and ability. The person from my office implied that in an American high school, you have very little control over your schedule after you start your freshman year. Something about having a pre-set sequence of classes that you have to take, in the order that they tell you to. Which to me, sounds like it would kind of suck.
Yes and no. Generally, you get (on average) 2 credits a year in electives, and theorhetically you can get 3 credits above and beyond the 4 required, but that's not entirely likely as a number of those credits are often taken up by such electives as law, sciences, or underwater basket weaving.

basically, at my school, we get a book wiht all of the courses. then we pick the ones we want and right them down. You get teachers to sign off for Honors and AP classes. Then you turn it in, and the faculty ignores what you requested and gives you sex ed instead of history class. seriously.

Umm... wow. Just wow.

Umm... wow. Just wow.
I got that one year. Thankfully I was able to browbeat the guidance staff with the help of my advisor/mentor into giving me a good class.

Yes and no. Generally, you get (on average) 2 credits a year in electives, and theorhetically you can get 3 credits above and beyond the 4 required, but that's not entirely likely as a number of those credits are often taken up by such electives as law, sciences, or underwater basket weaving.

You can study law as a high school student? That's kinda cool.

You can study law as a high school student? That's kinda cool.
A very basic and broad introduction into the topic, but yes. You can study pretty much anything you'd like in High School, and that's why most students don't reach the level of specialization. Schools tend to discourage it.

A very basic and broad introduction into the topic, but yes. You can study pretty much anything you'd like in High School, and that's why most students don't reach the level of specialization. Schools tend to discourage it.

That depends very much on the high school. Schools in smaller communities don't have the resources to offer courses like that. My High School only had French and Spanish as languages. Also, economics was only given during the fall semester, and was replaced with state history in the spring.

Anyway, schools in every state and generally every district will be quite different.

That depends very much on the high school. Schools in smaller communities don't have the resources to offer courses like that. My High School only had French and Spanish as languages. Also, economics was only given during the fall semester, and was replaced with state history in the spring.

Anyway, schools in every state and generally every district will be quite different.
Yes, the main thing to remember about American Schools is that no generalization will hold true because it is run at the sub-county level (in some places). Quality of schools and availability of courses vary greatly even from town to town, much less state to state.

A very basic and broad introduction into the topic, but yes. You can study pretty much anything you'd like in High School, and that's why most students don't reach the level of specialization. Schools tend to discourage it.

Interesting. My school didn't really offer anything like that, at least not as part of the normal schedule. If enough students were interested a class would be formed, provided a teacher was willing to teach it. And we were very free to specialize. For example, I got through high school without taking any biology apart from the three month intro in my ninth grade combined science class, but I did take three years each of chem and physics.

uhh. . . in catholic school they follow loosely the pubplic schools' core classes thing. catholic schools (especially ones outside of a diocese [like me :D ]) can do what they want.

case in point: no gpa per semester only yearly. my school has two regular semesters. the third semester is usually a trip or something not at school. i am going to the bvi :p . an assignment is used along with behavior for a grade. you have to pay and it is mildly educational, but it's fun nonetheless.

how's that for school!


ummmm okay i whent to a catholic school and it is nothing like that, we had a GPA every semester and it was harder than that of public
example

96-100 =A
95-88 = B
87 - 83 C
82-76 D
anything lower you fail

plus most of our classes starting sophmore year where college courses
we also where in class 45 minutes longer than most schools.
and a Catholic education is regulated along with state standards example the rumor that you dont need a degree to teach in a catholic school is FALSE. we also had a 97% college attendence record at our school.

fyi =)

Yes, the main thing to remember about American Schools is that no generalization will hold true because it is run at the sub-county level (in some places). Quality of schools and availability of courses vary greatly even from town to town, much less state to state.

*nods* Fair enough.

OKay... I think I get it, but not sure. Students take a core group of classes each year, plus electives, and can choose to be regular/honours/AP. All of those have to add up to a certain number of credits at the end of senior year.

The reason I ask is because I mentioned to someone at work the other day that I took seven years worth of math classes in high school. They were pretty shocked, and said that would never be possible at an American high school. In my school, I had a lot of freedom to choose classes (in part, I'm sure, because I went to a very small school) appropriate to my interest and ability. The person from my office implied that in an American high school, you have very little control over your schedule after you start your freshman year. Something about having a pre-set sequence of classes that you have to take, in the order that they tell you to. Which to me, sounds like it would kind of suck.

I am not sure about 7 years of math in high school. But at my school I know it is possible to take at least 6 years of math if you really want to. I will probably be doing 5 years myself. Now I know I can't speak for every high school in the US. But at my school we have an awful lot of freedom. My school uses modular scheduling, like most colleges in the US do, but less than 20 public schools do. That basically means we have different schedules every day. One of my classes only meets for 3 mods a week (mod is the same idea as a period), while my physics class meets for 6 1/2 mods a week.
There are 10 mods a day, so 50 mods a week. Each year we have a minimum number of mods we are required to take. Freshman year the minimum is 35 mods. During each of the mods we do not have class we have "open mods." These open mods can be spent in the cafeteria, IMCs, and if you are in choir or band you are allowed to hang out in the choir or band rooms. There is an IMC for each main subject area (math, social studies, etc.) The IMC is basically a huge room that is filled with the desks of each of the teachers and tables for students to sit at.
We are expected to take the certain amounts of each of the core classes. 3 years math, 3 years history, 4 years english, 4 years science. There are required classes in each of those areas, but although electives from each of those areas that count for credit. Although the vast majority of the students at my school go way over that. Then we have the options of taking a wide variety of other elective classes. Those can be things from comptuer programming, to foods, to choir, to jazz band, to welding, to drafting. (I just tried to hit one class from each major area) And now to the bragging part. Our public school also provides us with laptops free of charge. That is actually what I am typing on right now. We use them for most all of our classes. I don't need to get all into discussing the laptops though.

OKay... I think I get it, but not sure. Students take a core group of classes each year, plus electives, and can choose to be regular/honours/AP. All of those have to add up to a certain number of credits at the end of senior year.

The reason I ask is because I mentioned to someone at work the other day that I took seven years worth of math classes in high school. They were pretty shocked, and said that would never be possible at an American high school. In my school, I had a lot of freedom to choose classes (in part, I'm sure, because I went to a very small school) appropriate to my interest and ability. The person from my office implied that in an American high school, you have very little control over your schedule after you start your freshman year. Something about having a pre-set sequence of classes that you have to take, in the order that they tell you to. Which to me, sounds like it would kind of suck.

It depends on which state you are in. Each state sets forth their own Education curriculum as they have the power to do so via the constitutions provisions for states' rights. Although you see many politicians posturing around at the federal level about saving education they really have no say in the states affairs unless the state decides to accept money from the Federal government for special programs.

As far as math classes my High School made it possible to take up to 8 years of Math as we were on Block Scheduling in which you basically can get 2 math classes in a year (1 Semester = 1 year of course, sort of like Junior College courses). I am in California though so it depends where you are and even in California the set up changes from place to place.

Interesting. My school didn't really offer anything like that, at least not as part of the normal schedule. If enough students were interested a class would be formed, provided a teacher was willing to teach it. And we were very free to specialize. For example, I got through high school without taking any biology apart from the three month intro in my ninth grade combined science class, but I did take three years each of chem and physics.
Three years? Basic, AP and Organic?

As far as math classes my High School made it possible to take up to 8 years of Math as we were on Block Scheduling in which you basically can get 2 math classes in a year (1 Semester = 1 year of course, sort of like Junior College courses). I am in California though so it depends where you are and even in California the set up changes from place to place.
I know you weren't responding to my post. But just for clarification in my earlier post I am refering to a year as two semesters. As I think that is kind of the standard.

It depends on which state you are in. Each state sets forth their own Education curriculum as they have the power to do so via the constitutions provisions for states' rights. Although you see many politicians posturing around at the federal level about saving education they really have no say in the states affairs unless the state decides to accept money from the Federal government for special programs.

As far as math classes my High School made it possible to take up to 8 years of Math as we were on Block Scheduling in which you basically can get 2 math classes in a year (1 Semester = 1 year of course, sort of like Junior College courses). I am in California though so it depends where you are and even in California the set up changes from place to place.

I also live in the only state left that requires Physical Education, I believe. Which is pointless.

OKay... I think I get it, but not sure. Students take a core group of classes each year, plus electives, and can choose to be regular/honours/AP. All of those have to add up to a certain number of credits at the end of senior year.

The reason I ask is because I mentioned to someone at work the other day that I took seven years worth of math classes in high school. They were pretty shocked, and said that would never be possible at an American high school. In my school, I had a lot of freedom to choose classes (in part, I'm sure, because I went to a very small school) appropriate to my interest and ability. The person from my office implied that in an American high school, you have very little control over your schedule after you start your freshman year. Something about having a pre-set sequence of classes that you have to take, in the order that they tell you to. Which to me, sounds like it would kind of suck.

there is somewhat of a pre set sequence...if you take honors english freshman year, then usually you will stay in the honors level. My school required an 85 average or teacher approval to remain in the level, and a 90 or teacher approval to move up the level...there is also a set pattern for science and math...it goes pre algebra (could be taken in 8thif selected), algebra 1, geometry, algebra 2, pre calc, calc...then some elective math.
for science it was earth science, bio/chem (if in regular or accel level, then it was bio, then chem...honors AP level was chem then bio), physics...then the electives.

When i was in high school in new york, usa we had

4 phys ed classes
4 math classes
4 english
4 history classes
3 science classes
1 health class
1 art class

21 credits, for the minimum to graduate my high school
if i remember correctly, this is it

Three years? Basic, AP and Organic?

General (which I assume is the same as basic), followed by a two year course in IB HL chem. That was fun, we covered the syllabus and then some. Got to do some pretty cool stuff.

And, ych, organic. I much prefer p-chem.

there is somewhat of a pre set sequence...if you take honors english freshman year, then usually you will stay in the honors level. My school required an 85 average or teacher approval to remain in the level, and a 90 or teacher approval to move up the level...there is also a set pattern for science and math...it goes pre algebra (could be taken in 8thif selected), algebra 1, geometry, algebra 2, pre calc, calc...then some elective math.
for science it was earth science, bio/chem (if in regular or accel level, then it was bio, then chem...honors AP level was chem then bio), physics...then the electives.

Aha. This was what I had a problem with. What if, like me, you had no interest in bio, but wanted to take chem and/or physics? Could you do that? Or skip classes? What if you didn't want to take geometry? It's not like you really need it for most other average high school math classes...

I'm a little confused. The difference between regular, accelerated, honors and AP courses is... what? It's hard for me to grasp the concept of having four different tiers of classes, as my high school only had two. Regular, and AP/IB.

In math, English, and history, there is pretty much a a set path that a person takes.

For English:
Freshman- English 9 or Honors English 9
Sophmores- English 10 or Honors English 10
Juniors- English 11, Honors English 11, or AP Composition
Seniors- English 12, Honors English 12, or AP Lit

For History:
Freshman- U.S. History or Honors U.S. History
Sophmores- NSL Goverment (National, State, Local), Honors NSL, or AP NSL
Juniors- No History class is required but most people take either Modern World History, Honors Modern World History, or AP World History i
Seniors- History classes are available as electives. This is where you take the cool classes.

In math, many students take high school level courses in middle school. You only need four credits, so it is not uncomon for people to finish thier math requirement by Junior Year.

It goes in this order:
Algebra, Honors Algebra
Geometry, Honors Geometry
Algebra II, Algebra II with Analysis (Honors)
Pre-Calculus, Pre-Calculus with Analysis (Honors)

After that, most people take calculus or statistics. Some people take both.

Your friend was probaly freaked out because most people don't consider thier middle classes to be "high school."

I am not sure about 7 years of math in high school. But at my school I know it is possible to take at least 6 years of math if you really want to. I will probably be doing 5 years myself. Now I know I can't speak for every high school in the US. But at my school we have an awful lot of freedom. My school uses modular scheduling, like most colleges in the US do, but less than 20 public schools do. That basically means we have different schedules every day. One of my classes only meets for 3 mods a week (mod is the same idea as a period), while my physics class meets for 6 1/2 mods a week.
There are 10 mods a day, so 50 mods a week. Each year we have a minimum number of mods we are required to take. Freshman year the minimum is 35 mods. During each of the mods we do not have class we have "open mods." These open mods can be spent in the cafeteria, IMCs, and if you are in choir or band you are allowed to hang out in the choir or band rooms. There is an IMC for each main subject area (math, social studies, etc.) The IMC is basically a huge room that is filled with the desks of each of the teachers and tables for students to sit at.
We are expected to take the certain amounts of each of the core classes. 3 years math, 3 years history, 4 years english, 4 years science. There are required classes in each of those areas, but although electives from each of those areas that count for credit. Although the vast majority of the students at my school go way over that. Then we have the options of taking a wide variety of other elective classes. Those can be things from comptuer programming, to foods, to choir, to jazz band, to welding, to drafting. (I just tried to hit one class from each major area) And now to the bragging part. Our public school also provides us with laptops free of charge. That is actually what I am typing on right now. We use them for most all of our classes. I don't need to get all into discussing the laptops though.

Hmm. We used three or four different schedules when I was in high school, and the only one I remember clearly is the one from my senior year. It sounds sort of like your mods. We had ten "periods", A through J. You were assigned one class per period, so you might have Engligh period A, calc period B, and so forth. We had a two week rotating schedule (weeks A and B), where you went to a different series of classes each day. If you didn't have a class during a period, that was a "free". It was confusing when they first put us on that schedule, since we weren't used to the two week thing, but worked out quite well.

School in the United States is so expensive. It costs me about $40,000 every year in college. I hear it costs allot less in Europe though.

Hmm. We used three or four different schedules when I was in high school, and the only one I remember clearly is the one from my senior year. It sounds sort of like your mods. We had ten "periods", A through J. You were assigned one class per period, so you might have Engligh period A, calc period B, and so forth. We had a two week rotating schedule (weeks A and B), where you went to a different series of classes each day. If you didn't have a class during a period, that was a "free". It was confusing when they first put us on that schedule, since we weren't used to the two week thing, but worked out quite well.
Yea, the first day of school I looked at my schedule and it was pretty intimidating. However, I really like how it all works out. Technnically we have 14 mods a day, but mods 4 through 11 are each half mods. Anywho, I just kind of sat down and thought about it, and no person in my school is taking the same set of classes as me. Granted there are some people with almost the same set of classes, but no one is taking all the same courses I am. (2,000 people at my school)

In math, English, and history, there is pretty much a a set path that a person takes.

For English:
Freshman- English 9 or Honors English 9
Sophmores- English 10 or Honors English 10
Juniors- English 11, Honors English 11, or AP Composition
Seniors- English 12, Honors English 12, or AP Lit

For History:
Freshman- U.S. History or Honors U.S. History
Sophmores- NSL Goverment (National, State, Local), Honors NSL, or AP NSL
Juniors- No History class is required but most people take either Modern World History, Honors Modern World History, or AP World History i
Seniors- History classes are available as electives. This is where you take the cool classes.

In math, many students take high school level courses in middle school. You only need four credits, so it is not uncomon for people to finish thier math requirement by Junior Year.

It goes in this order:
Algebra, Honors Algebra
Geometry, Honors Geometry
Algebra II, Algebra II with Analysis (Honors)
Pre-Calculus, Pre-Calculus with Analysis (Honors)

After that, most people take calculus or statistics. Some people take both.

Your friend was probaly freaked out because most people don't consider thier middle classes to be "high school."

I see. The English courses at my school are relatively easy to describe, and sort of similar to what you posted.

Freshmen: English 9 or writing skills
Sophomores: English 10 or writing skills
Juniors: English 11 IB Language B, English 11 IB Language A2, English 11 IB Language A1 HL/AP or English 11 IB Language A1 SL
Seniors: English 12 IB Language B, English 12 IB Language A2, English 12 IB Language A1 HL/AP or English 12 IB Language A1 SL

Math was a little more complicated, with a lot more options.

Freshmen: Pre-algebra, algebra, geometry or algebra II/trig
Sophomores: Algebra, geometry, algebra II/trig or AP calc
Juniors: algebra II/trig, AP calc, IB math HL, IB further math SL 1, IB math methods SL 1, IB math studies SL 1 or probs/stats
Seniors: AP calc, IB math HL, IB further math SL 1, IB further math SL 2, IB math methods SL 1, IB math methods SL 2, IB math studies SL 2 or probs/stats

Confused yet? ;) There were a lot of funky ways to navigate the math courses, too. My schedule was like this: freshman year, I took geometry and algebra II/trig. Sophomore year, I took AP calc AB. Junior year, I took IB math HL, IB further math SL 1 and probs/stats. Senior year, I took IB further math SL 2. Granted this wasn't the norm, but it wasn't unusual either...

School in the United States is so expensive. It costs me about $40,000 every year in college. I hear it costs allot less in Europe though.

No kidding! I don't really know about higher education in Europe, but it certainly can cost a lot in the U.S. This is not to say that all American colleges cost $40,000 per year, but a lot of the top-ranked ones are at least that much. By the time I pay off my undergrad loans, I should be just about ready to take out some more for law school... :p

Aha. This was what I had a problem with. What if, like me, you had no interest in bio, but wanted to take chem and/or physics? Could you do that? Or skip classes? What if you didn't want to take geometry? It's not like you really need it for most other average high school math classes...

I'm a little confused. The difference between regular, accelerated, honors and AP courses is... what? It's hard for me to grasp the concept of having four different tiers of classes, as my high school only had two. Regular, and AP/IB.
Most are required by different districts. I'm having some trouble remembering what exactly was and wasn't required...I think Algebra1&2 and geometry were, as was bio and chem. As far as I remember, pretty much senior year was all choice...for example, I took physics, but I could have taken a general science, marine bio, biotech, anatomy...for math I opted out of calc and took statistics and discrete...some took both. In general, the courses that you have to take and those you can skip are dictated by the school board, future classes you want to take, and in some cases (as with me) the college you want to go to. Mine all required 3 years of language, instead of the 2 demanded by my town for graduation.

regular classes move at the slowest pace. They cover the manditory material that the feds, state, and town dictate. then accelerated classes, which move a bit faster, and therefore cover a bit more material. They have a bit less review. Then there is the Honors/AP/UCONN level. These move at the pace of a college course (think of your AP/IB courses). Honors classes move at the same speed, but with no college credit offered. AP offers college credit which is accepted at almost any university, based on the test at the end of the course. UCONN is similar to AP. UCONN is the state university (university of Connecticut). Rather than relying on a test, they required a grade of 71% or better. They would then grant credit that is taken at most state school systems, and some private universities. Some classes were both AP and UCONN (if you took a UCONN course and wanted the credit, you had to pay to enroll in the class, but you could also take the class for free and opt out of the college credit aspect)

It is similar to how it works up here in Canada.

It varies from province to province, but here in Ontario, we have it so that, at least when I was going to school, you had to get 30 credits in order to graduate.

MANDATORY
5 English
2 Math
2 Science
1 French
4 Social Sciences
1 Phys Ed
1 Geography
------------
16 credits + 14 Elective credits (including 6 OACs if you wanted to go to university; OAC=grade 13).

They've changed it since I've left...

It's still 30 credits, but now you have 18 mandatory credits and 12 elective.
Here in BC, it's 52 credits from grade 11 and 12. But next year, it's 100 credits (grade 10, 11, and 12). Lucky to be born on 1988 *spits at the grade 11s :p *

And on another tangent, what happens if a kid changes high schools? If everything is so dependent on the school/district/administration, do you just give them your credentials, as it were, and hope for the best? *scratches head*

I'm off to bed. Maybe this will all seem clearer to me in the morning, after I've woken up and had several cups of coffee. :p

Umm... wow. Just wow.

I know where I live, a fairly improvished city, most of the public schools dont offer AP/IB courses, and school was a joke there, alot of times teachers would get beat up by pregnant 16yr olds or some shit. I however went to a decent school(best public school in the city) and was able to take various AP and IB classes, you had to take an entrance exam to get in. Of course your chances of getting in were relatively low if you were white because we generally scored higher and they had to take a certain # of blacks and hispanics, regardless of the exam scores. One of my friends who transfered from my school to an avg. one in the city went from failing to getting nearly 100 in everything. So it varies widely as to quality, youre supposed to take a set group of courses to graduate, but exactly how well everything is taught dependent on where you live, which determines what school you go to. Everyone takes the same final exams at the end of the year, for req. courses.

Whoa @ America.

Here in Aus (at VCE level), the only mandatory classes are English 1 & 2 (Year 11) and English 3 & 4 (Year 12). Unless you go to a religious school (like me), where you probably have to take Religion 1 & 2 and 3 & 4.

Requirements for an Ontario Secondary School Diploma:

Compulsory Credits (total of 18)
4 credits in English (1 credit per grade)
1 credit in French as a second language
3 credits in mathematics (at least 1 credit in Grade 11 or 12)
2 credits in science
1 credit in Canadian history
1 credit in Canadian geography
1 credit in the arts
1 credit in health and physical education
1/2 credit in civics and 1/2 credit in career studies

PLUS:

1 additional credit in English, or a third language, or a social science and the humanities, or Canadian and world studies
1 additional credit in health and physical education, or the arts, or business studies
1 additional credit in science (Grade 11 or 12) or technological education (Grades 9–12)

Optional Credits (total of 12)
In addition to the 18 compulsory credits, students have to earn 12 optional credits in courses of their choice, selected from the full list of courses available in the school. Optional credits allow students to build an educational program that suits their individual interests and meets university, college, apprenticeship, or work requirements.

Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test:

Students will take the Secondary School Literacy Test in Grade 10. Students must pass the test in order to graduate, and their result is recorded on their student transcript. Students who do not complete the test successfully will receive remedial help to prepare them for retesting. The literacy test requirement is additional to the 30 credits needed for a high school diploma.

The literacy test evaluates students’ reading and writing skills based on curriculum expectations in language and communications up to and including Grade 9. ESL students will take the test only when they have reached this level in their language studies. Accommodations will be made for students in special education programs.

Community Involvement Activities:

All students must complete a minimum of 40 hours of unpaid community involvement activities before graduating from high school. This requirement is additional to the 30 credits needed for a high school diploma. Students will be able to choose their own community involvement activities, within guidelines that will be provided by the school. Students will be responsible for fulfilling this requirement on their own time, and for keeping a record of their activities on a form supplied by the school.

***

Yes, the government forces students to volunteer. Forced volunteerism... oxymoron?

No kidding! I don't really know about higher education in Europe, but it certainly can cost a lot in the U.S. This is not to say that all American colleges cost $40,000 per year, but a lot of the top-ranked ones are at least that much. By the time I pay off my undergrad loans, I should be just about ready to take out some more for law school.
For university in Switzerland I payed about 500$/year (but there is no on-campus housing), since there are no private universities
(at least none I know of... except for maybe an American one I think I might have heard of... ).

On a side note, the percentage of people who go to university isn't nearly as high as in the US.

School in the United States is so expensive. It costs me about $40,000 every year in college. I hear it costs allot less in Europe though.

It depends, if you mean for me personally I haven't (or my parents) payed anything (exept for the books and student union on the university). However, since it is the taxes that pays for the education my parents can have been said to have paid some of my education. And the taxes are quite high here in sweden, but you get what you pay for :)

Also, the swedish state gives money for you to study on the university (for a maximum of 260 weeeks = 6,5 years) and you can borrow money also. You pay pack the loan after you are done and its a maximum of 5% of your income. With the loan and the other money you have around 1000 dollars/month for 10 months a year which makes it possible to survive, but not so much more (if you have a normal lifestyle)

Here in BC, it's 52 credits from grade 11 and 12. But next year, it's 100 credits (grade 10, 11, and 12). Lucky to be born on 1988 *spits at the grade 11s :p *

here it is:

http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/5491/untitled3xq.jpg
http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/6800/untitled20th.jpg