How to Survive High School and Actually Graduate to Real Life

I taught high school for 26 years; I work with students in tutoring; and I work with  students, mentoring them for college.  In all these scenarios, I always get the same question from parents–what classes should my child take in high school?  Most parents are asking this because they want their child to get into college but sometimes, I get a parent who will ask me because they want their child to have a well rounded education–classes for college but also classes to learn life skills.

When I was growing up, we didn’t get many choices in what classes we were to take in high school.  You took English, math, science, and social studies classes.  If you were in something special, then you took the band class or choir class.  If you were a girl, you took a typewriting class and maybe shorthand, a food’s class, and child development.  If you were a boy, you took auto mechanics class, a wood shop class, and maybe manufacturing class.  Then there were some really special classes…my sister got pregnant when she was a sophomore in high school.  So, she took 4 classes in the morning (English, math, science, and social studies), then she was bussed to an alternative school in the afternoon to learn child development, parenting, and how to be a nurse’s aide.  At the time, my Memaw thought this was a good idea for my sister since she was not going to be able to finish high school with a baby, and yet, she could learn how to take care of the child and learn a trade.

Things are different now and there are many choices.  Parents need to learn the vocabulary in order to make good choices for their child.  They need to see what classes are available and what classes their child will succeed in.  Finally, they need to have a conversation (or several) about what classes their child would like to take and what they may be interested in after high school.

Vocabulary: Graduation Requirements

Your child’s counselor at the high school will make sure they take the right number of classes for graduation.  In fact, they will do a formal “audit” during your child’s junior year to make sure they have the classes for graduation.

Generally, each high school is slightly different, but your child needs to take 4 years of English, 2-3 years of Math, 2 years of Social Science (with one year of US History and one semester of Government), 2-3 years of Science, 2-4 years of Physical Education (PE), 1-2 years of World Language, and usually 1-2 years of Arts (performing arts like band, choir, and drama and practical arts like Family and Consumer Sciences, Business, and Applied Tech).  Some states require a consumer education credit and possibly an oral communications credit.

Individual Classes:

Breaking it down, this is what it means..

English–your child must take an English class every year (or two in one year) until they have 4 credits of English.

Math–Your child needs to take 2 years of math classes.  Some colleges may require 3-4 years of math, based on the college and their major.  Which ones?  Usually the high school will test your child to see which ones and which levels they should take.   General math classes are Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Pre-Calculus, Calculus.

Social Sciences–This is also called social studies. Your child may need to take at least 2 years of social science classes.  However, they will need to take certain ones.  Some high schools require World Cultures or World History (full year), US History (one semester up to a full year), and government (usually one semester).

Science–Most schools require 2 years of science.  However, if your child  is going into a science field–medical, biologist, dental, speech pathologist, to name a few–they really need 3-4 years of science (4 is better) for college.  If not, then 2 years is fine.  General science classes are biology I, biology II (or advanced biology), chemistry, physics, environmental, maybe even specialty types like forensic science, anatomy, etc.  For the standard 2 years of science, your child usually takes biology and chemistry.

World Languages–this used to be called foreign language.  Most high schools require one year of world language like Spanish, Italian, French, Latin, Mandarin, etc.  Not all colleges require a world language but if they do, they want 2 years of the same language.  Some colleges will test your child in a world language.  If they pass, then they do not have to take any world language classes in college.  If they fail, no matter how many years in high school of world language or if they have not taken any world language classes in high school, they will  have to take a full year of world language classes in college.

Physical Education–most high schools require 2-4 years of PE.  During that time, one semester will be a health class, taught by a PE teacher.

Arts–Most high schools require 1-2 years of performing or practical arts.  Performing arts classes are band, drama, choir, orchestra classes.  Practical arts are classes like Family and Consumer Sciences (formally known as Home Economics), business classes like intro to business, entrepreneurship, and marketing, and Applied Tech classes, like engineering, CAD, graphic design, etc.

Finally, some high schools require specific classes like Consumer Education, which teaches students about renting an apartment, buying a car, loans, warranties, credit cards, checking accounts, etc.  This is usually a semester class.  They also may require a class that has many different names like oral communication, Interpersonal Communication, or something like  that.  This course teaches students how to engage in public speaking and is usually one semester long.  Finally, most high schools require classroom experience in Driver’s Education.  This is also a semester long class.

Vocabulary:  Levels

Picking classes can be confusing because you don’t just pick the class, but you also pick the level.  Many courses can be taken at up to 5 different levels.  Which level your child takes is based on grades, test scores, and what is offered at their high school:

Level 1–Remedial. This is a slower than regular class to help those that need extra 

time and a slower pace.

Level 2–Prep: This is a regular class, regular pacing, and a class that most 

students take.

Level 3–Accelerated: This class is fast paced, accelerated, so more curriculum is used

than prep classes.

Level 4–Honors: These classes are like accelerated but may include additional

projects, more in depth into topics, higher level of learning.  

Level 5–A.P.: A. P. stands for Advanced Placement.  These classes combines 

the regular curriculum with the College Board curriculum.  At the end of the course, students may take tests called A. P. tests.  On these cumulative, national tests, they can get up to 5 points in scoring, based on how well they do on the tests.   These A. P. tests relate directly to colleges.  Each college is  different but if a student scores 3, 4, or 5 on the test, the college where your child eventually attends will give college credit for scoring high on this test and your child will not need to take that course in college.  For example, if your child scores 3, 4, or 5 on the World Geography A. P. test, then they will not need to take the World Geography class in college but will still receive the credit hours for it.  Scoring high on A. P, tests demonstrates to the college your child already knows the information.

For high school, levels 1 and 2 classes are usually on a 4-point grading scale.  Level 3-5 classes are usually on a 5-point grading scale.

Picking a class and the level requires that you talk to your child. You need to pick classes that they need but also classes that they want to take. And you need to pick the level that your child will be successful in. We all want to think our child will be awesome in the advance levels of all classes but the reality is that some of these classes are extremely tough. Remember, it is more important that your child has success in classes than to be frustrated and do poorly because they are in a level that is too high for them. Again, your child’s high school counselor will help you navigate this process for the best results for your child.

Well Rounded Education

Besides classes for graduation and admittance to college, what other classes should my child take for a well rounded education?  Here is my suggestion list…

First, if your child knows what they may want to go into as a career, they need to take as many classes in that area.  For example, if they want to go into the medical field in some capacity, they need to take a lot of science classes.  If they want to go into music, they need to take a lot of performing arts classes. This is another conversation you need to have with your child.

In social sciences, they need to take a psychology or sociology class.  This class will teach them a lot about themselves and others.  They will enjoy this class.  We always need to learn more about ourselves.

They need to take some Family and Consumer Sciences classes.  For example, they need to know how to cook so take a culinary class.  They need to know how to hand sew at least so take a sewing class.   Statistically, your child will be a parent someday–they need to take a child development/parenting  class.

Did you know that the #1 major in college is business?  If your child is unsure about their future, chances are they will declare some type of business major.  Have your child take an intro to business class in high school to see what type of business classes there are.  They may continue in that department and take other business classes like marketing or advertising.

Your child should take some type of computer class–computer design, graphic design, etc.  Their future will definitely involve computers.  Maybe their career will too?

Finally, I encourage all students to take four years of physical education, even if their high school only requires two years.  Health and fitness is life long.  They need to be active their entire lives to be healthy and PE encourages this.

High school is the time for your child to learn, grow, and become a productive adult in society.  Arm them with information to better themselves, better their future, and learn life long skills to better society.  College is one aspect of their lives–it is not the final destination.  A well rounded education will help your child now and in the future.

What are some high school classes that you enjoyed?  What other classes would you add to the list?  Put them in the comments below.  In today’s society, do you think it is still important to learn how to cook or sew?