My baby going to middle school next year-- what classes to choose?

[lovin2shop]

Our middle school, starts in 6th grade, lets you choose between PreAP and On Level for the core classes. Additionally, you have to select one Fine Art elective - band, orchestra, choir, theatre or art. In 7th grade, you two electives and in 8th you get three electives.

[squimp]

This is going to vary by district or even school. Find a parent at your school with older kids to ask.

We have challenge math and language arts in middle school. Honors is 9-10th grade, then generally AP starts in junior year.

Our school also does a "step up" day to middle school and high school where the kids can learn about class options. Parents (and kids) go one night to an orientation in the spring to learn about class options, paths, meet some of the teachers and visit classrooms, etc. We found it helpful to go to that orientation, we met a few teachers and talked with the counselors.

[jerigirl]

If you can, definitely go ahead and sign up for the middle school's newsletter, and social media accounts. That way you can start to see information about events that are happening.

[hellokitty]

At our school, there is very little to choose. If they want to continue band, then, automatically, this eliminates choices. Traditional reading, math, science, history, etc., are based on the school deciding if your child is eligible for honors or not. Since my kids always sign up for band, they get no choices of electives. They are required to take gym and art, so those are the only non-traditional classes. I wish they had more choices, bc there are robotics/programming classes offered, but due to band, my kids get no choices.