Progress Pays Off Eighth Graders

The North Star takes a look at the new policy for eighth graders and applauds the District for giving them high school credit

FHSD is taking a step in the right direction. For the 2014-15 school year, eighth grade students taking Algebra I, Spanish I, French I, German I or challenge science will also be completing high school credit. In addition, high school students next year will have the option to add these classes to their transcript if they would like it to count towards their GPA.

The benefits of this new policy greatly outweigh any concerns. First of all, many students take these classes regardless of getting high school credit. Now, their hard work will actually count toward their GPA. For example, there aren’t enough years in high school to complete all of the prerequisites for Calculus in time. For a student to qualify for taking AP Calculus AB or BC by senior year, he or she must have taken Algebra I in eighth grade. By allowing these students to earn high school credit, the District is rewarding them for working ahead and challenging themselves.

In addition to allowing math and science classes to count for high school credit, the District needs to look into getting the challenge communication arts classes up to the rigorous high school standard as well. Students with strength in English should also get the opportunity to earn high school credit in order for this policy to benefit everyone.

One of the major concerns about this new policy is that students will come into high school with too many credits already under their belt. However, students who take high school level classes in eighth grade are the kind who push themselves in school. In most cases, it can be assumed that the students will use the extra time to dual enroll, take a harder class, or expand their knowledge in a specific field they want to go into. There are many options for these students and plenty of AP or elective courses that they could take during their senior year.

Some worry that this new policy pushes high school into eighth grade. However, this policy is no different from the integration of AP classes and dual enrolling into the high schools. If parents are worried about students taking on too much too soon, they must also question the necessity of programs aimed toward giving high schoolers college credit. Like dual enrollment and AP classes, these eighth grade high school-level rigorous courses just allow students to work ahead and graduate earlier. Concerned parents need to remember that, just like juniors and seniors are not required to take AP classes, eighth graders have the option to take alternative courses.

Overall, FHSD is promoting learning by encouraging eighth graders to take high school-level classes and rewarding them with high school credit. This is a fair system that will help these students get ahead in the long run. Perhaps soon, the program can expand to include classes in each of the four core subjects so that students whose strengths do not lie in math or science may get the chance to earn high school credit as well.