High School Guide: Admissions, reviews, and advice

Here’s how my kids are doing:

5th grade, averaging 4.6
4th grade, averaging 3.85
3rd grade, averaging 2.7.

Getting a D is a real struggle for them.

The grading criteria were laid out at the start of the school year. They aren't going to be identical for every single subject, and honestly, I don't get why there's even an argument here? Everything was made perfectly clear during that first parent-teacher meeting and in the very first week of classes when the teachers explained their specific standards to the kids.

It’s not as if we aren't obligated to follow through on this.

You know, I never really considered that an A is strictly between 4.5 and 5.0, while a B falls anywhere from 3.5 to 4.4.😁

Look, I’ve got a C+ on her report card, but her GPA is sitting at a 3.5.

Since the second semester kicked off, she's been working like a total beast. She’s actually applying everything she learned in the first half, making real progress... and frankly, I'm rewarding that effort the way it deserves.

Yeah, mine had a 3.7 GPA once, which was enough to qualify for an A- average of 3.85
I'm fine with it 🤷
My only issue is not giving kids the chance to earn those top marks through their own hard work.

Good grief, the sheer level of obsession with decimals some people have is just... it’s a bit much, isn't it? I guess I don't really see the point in getting that worked up over a few extra digits, though maybe I'm just being overly casual about the whole thing. 😲😲😲

Is it actually impossible for anyone to grasp the idea that not all grading criteria carry the same weight? I mean, I guess it’s just one of those things where people seem to assume everything is perfectly equal, which, honestly, feels like such a stretch when you really sit down and think about it. It’s like looking at a complex equation where someone insists every variable is worth exactly one, even when some factors clearly pull much harder than others. Maybe I’m overthinking it, but it feels like we constantly overlook how certain elements should naturally hold more gravity than the rest.😕
I mean, if you're pulling straight A's from the easier subjects, but then you're getting B's on the heavy hitters and the core requirements, I guess you can't really expect to walk away with a perfect 4.0 GPA without some serious struggle, maybe.
It works the other way around for me, I guess. I can pretty much tell without even blinking that someone’s looking at a 5 on a 4.36 GPA, provided their grades in the more heavy-hitting subjects are stronger than the rest. I always lay it all out right at the start, and I make sure to back everything up with these incredibly detailed, exhaustive notes, so there aren't really any mysteries or confusion left to deal with.🙂

I guess there’s something almost sweet about those moments when parents try to convince you that those corrected mistakes don't even matter, though I suppose they probably mean well. It’s that quiet, slightly awkward attempt to just brush everything under the rug and pretend the errors didn't happen, which is fine, I guess, if you're into that sort of thing. 😂
I mean, honestly, it didn't actually happen. Or rather, it’s just not like it really took place, I guess.
If it only happens once, I probably won't even bother looking at it, though I suppose it’s not like it’s going to fundamentally alter anyone's destiny or anything. It's just one of those things where you have a bad day, shit happens, and then you just sort of move on with your life, I guess.
I guess if someone keeps getting a 1 followed by a 4, then another 1 and a 4, and finally that 1 gets corrected up to a 4, maybe it’s probably best to just ignore those initial failing grades entirely and just conclude that they actually earned a 4, 4, 4. 🙂
Look, I think you might need to pull yourself together just a little bit. Miley CyrusGood grief.

Everything should really be handled on a case-by-case basis—it needs to be individualized. We need year-long progress reports to tell the real story—like whether we're looking at someone who just had a few lucky breaks push their GPA up to a 4.48, or a straight-A student who hits a wall on one final because they were having a rough day

Honestly, my favorites are the students with a solid track record and plenty of grades on file—especially when there's a rule that ignores one outlier grade, because—let's face it—shit happens to everyone. That’s how you get the actual picture, rather than just focusing on the kids who only took five tests all year long.

I find myself reflecting on the current state of our discourse, though I struggle to find a starting point for such a broad topic... It seems we often drift through these discussions without much direction, yet there is a certain quiet necessity in attempting to find clarity amidst the noise... kaže:
Is it truly impossible for anyone to grasp the fact that not all evaluation criteria carry the same weight...😕
If you’re pulling straight A's on the easy assignments but only managing B's on the major exams and the core components of the course, you really can't expect to walk away with a perfect 4.0 GPA without some serious struggle...
The situation is actually quite the opposite for me. I find that I can confidently conclude a student has earned a 3.7 GPA without even blinking, provided their performance in the core, high-weighting components is sufficiently strong compared to their other marks. I make sure to state my reasoning clearly from the very beginning, and I back everything up with extensive, detailed documentation... so there is never any guesswork or ambiguity involved...🙂

There is something genuinely touching about those moments when parents suggest that a child’s perfect grades shouldn't be the sole focus of their worth... It is a quiet kind of kindness, really, when they advocate for looking past the GPA to see the actual person underneath... 😂
Actually, that simply didn't happen...
If I happen to miss an episode once, I’m certainly not going to go out of my way to catch up, nor does it feel like it has any profound impact on the course of anyone's life. It was just a bad day... shit happens, I suppose. Onward...
If a student consistently scores a 1 and then a 4 on their assessments, only to have those 1s corrected to 4s later on... I find myself wondering if it is most logical to simply disregard those initial failing marks entirely. It seems reasonable to conclude that the student’s true performance level is represented by the 4, effectively treating the record as a series of 4s, 4s, and 4s... 🙂.

As a parent, I find myself signing off on this sentiment without any hesitation whatsoever...
Back in seventh grade, my daughter had a bit of a rough start in her chemistry class. She struggled to find her footing with the new curriculum right at the beginning of the school year, which was a little discouraging for her. However, she eventually found her rhythm and began showing a steady upward trend in her grades. Her teacher actually recognized that extra effort and gave her a chance to retake an assessment—I think it was for a 4.3 grade level—to earn an A, specifically because of how much she had improved...

Jose Wells3 said:Look, I’ve got a C+ on her report card, but her GPA is sitting at a 3.5.

Since the second semester kicked off, she's been working like a total beast. She’s actually applying everything she learned in the first half, making real progress... and frankly, I'm rewarding that effort the way it deserves.

Heh, you couldn't be more different from my daughter's math teacher. We actually had a little deal—she and I agreed that if the kid hit a wall but made significant strides in the second semester (since she started with a flat B), she’d earn her way up to an A in math. Well, she did everything by the book—following all the JFK-style standards, putting together presentations, even solving extra problems for homework—only to have the teacher ask, "Why did you even bother solving those? I didn't assign them." 😬

I mean, she’s pulled straight As in basically every other core subject, so that B in math isn't going to tank her college applications—even though it's the one grade she worked hardest to pull up. We just ended up having this conversation about how even at a "good" school, you can run into people who simply don't know how to value hard work. It's probably good for her to get that perspective early—to realize the world isn't always sunshine and rainbows.🙂

Mine follows that same predictable pattern—it’s become a total tradition at this point because I saw it happen back in 6th and 7th grade too. They go the entire year doing absolutely nothing, and then suddenly, motivation just evaporates, their brains decide to take a permanent vacation, and right at the end of the term? Boom. This year, she didn't even get to sit for her Hertz exam this week, and yet, here we are... straight A's and an award. 🤦😁

What is the actual point of all this obsession with grades and GPAs?

I was part of the last generation that took entrance exams, and back then, nobody made a massive deal out of every single grade. Even top students would pull a C in art or gym, and it wasn't the end of the world.

Now, every minor dip in a GPA is treated like a national tragedy, especially here in NYC.

A standardized test or a national exam would fix a lot of these issues...
But no one seems interested in that. Knowledge doesn't seem to matter anymore; it's all about chasing high marks and averages. Apparently, they even look at your total high school GPA for college admissions—I suppose that's to stop them from slacking off and only studying what they actually enjoy.

I was just talking to a high school teacher about why they constantly raise the admission standards. She told me it's because they keep getting students with higher and higher grades but progressively worse actual knowledge. The only way to filter them is to keep hiking up the requirements.😵

My kid basically pulled straight A's on all his science tests throughout the entire school year
When you look at his oral presentations, class projects, and just his overall effort—he was definitely performing at an A+ level
So, naturally, his teacher gave him an A, but honestly? She could have easily handed him a B and I wouldn't have breathed a word against her... I even mentioned that to him, just so he understands that, by my own standards, he hasn't quite hit that top-tier excellence yet
But then again, he's only in fourth grade, so... 😁

I’ve been eyeing the pharmacy technician program at a local medical school. But looking at the numbers, it’s a bit grim. The cutoff was 73 points, sure, but the last person who actually snagged a spot last year had 76.57. The year before that? 77.72. With my track record—mostly Bs in math during middle school and just two Bs in eighth grade—I don't exactly look like a scholar. And I don't have any extra credit to lean on.
It honestly makes me feel for her. When I think back to my own high school days, I was sitting there with a C in math one year and an average that hovered right around a 3.0, yet I still managed to squeeze into a prep school. Looking back, I really feel for her struggle.

rowdypanther12 said:Yeah, mine had a 3.7 GPA once, which was enough to qualify for an A- average of 3.85
I'm fine with it 🤷
My only issue is not giving kids the chance to earn those top marks through their own hard work.

Exactly. You give them the shot. If they take it? Everything's fine in Canada. If they don't? Well, hopefully, they learn something from the experience.

That’s why I start prepping them back in April. Every exam is scheduled out; I make sure they understand the stakes. I call meetings with parents, I hold one-on-one feedback sessions with every single student, I leave detailed notes.

But there are always those who just ignore everything you say and insist on doing things their own way.

frozenrider15 said:I’ve been eyeing the pharmacy technician program at a local medical school. But looking at the numbers, it’s a bit grim. The cutoff was 73 points, sure, but the last person who actually snagged a spot last year had 76.57. The year before that? 77.72. With my track record—mostly Bs in math during middle school and just two Bs in eighth grade—I don't exactly look like a scholar. And I don't have any extra credit to lean on.
It honestly makes me feel for her. When I think back to my own high school days, I was sitting there with a C in math one year and an average that hovered right around a 3.0, yet I still managed to squeeze into a prep school. Looking back, I really feel for her struggle.

I feel the exact same way because my situation is identical to yours. It turns out that for some schools, it’s just impossible (San Francisco). On the other hand, she actually has great scores for Microsoft since last year she only had a B in four of the required subjects. She also has good standing for the Electrical school she's interested in, even though her first choice is the language academy...

I’d love to tell you I couldn't care less and that she'll just end up enrolling somewhere, but that's not how this works. Honestly, she’d have a better shot at getting into some random high school than actually landing a spot at her first choice—and she isn't even aiming for a traditional prep school. She did stumble upon a second option recently, which, if you ask me, might actually be a perfect fit since she's got a knack for languages, but let's be real: it's just a Plan B. There is no third or fourth option on the table 😁, so we're going to have to get creative to make something happen.

frozenrider15 said:I’d love to tell you I couldn't care less and that she'll just end up enrolling somewhere, but that's not how this works. Honestly, she’d have a better shot at getting into some random high school than actually landing a spot at her first choice—and she isn't even aiming for a traditional prep school. She did stumble upon a second option recently, which, if you ask me, might actually be a perfect fit since she's got a knack for languages, but let's be real: it's just a Plan B. There is no third or fourth option on the table 😁, so we're going to have to get creative to make something happen.

I haven't even mentioned medical school to her, let alone HBO, which I suggested and she would have gladly bypassed ☕ but no, what do I know? 🤦

rustyowl7 said:I haven't even mentioned medical school to her, let alone HBO, which I suggested and she would have gladly bypassed ☕ but no, what do I know? 🤦

HBO was my backup plan all along. 😁

frozenrider15 said:HBO was my backup plan all along. 😁

A new experimental track or perhaps something related to HBO has just opened up here in the States, but I wouldn't count on it...

rustyowl7 said:

I find myself reflecting on the current state of our discourse, though I struggle to find a starting point for such a broad topic... It seems we often drift through these discussions without much direction, yet there is a certain quiet necessity in attempting to find clarity amidst the noise... kaže:
Is it truly impossible for anyone to grasp the fact that not all evaluation criteria carry the same weight...😕
If you’re pulling straight A's on the easy assignments but only managing B's on the major exams and the core components of the course, you really can't expect to walk away with a perfect 4.0 GPA without some serious struggle...
The situation is actually quite the opposite for me. I find that I can confidently conclude a student has earned a 3.7 GPA without even blinking, provided their performance in the core, high-weighting components is sufficiently strong compared to their other marks. I make sure to state my reasoning clearly from the very beginning, and I back everything up with extensive, detailed documentation... so there is never any guesswork or ambiguity involved...🙂

There is something genuinely touching about those moments when parents suggest that a child’s perfect grades shouldn't be the sole focus of their worth... It is a quiet kind of kindness, really, when they advocate for looking past the GPA to see the actual person underneath... 😂
Actually, that simply didn't happen...
If I happen to miss an episode once, I’m certainly not going to go out of my way to catch up, nor does it feel like it has any profound impact on the course of anyone's life. It was just a bad day... shit happens, I suppose. Onward...
If a student consistently scores a 1 and then a 4 on their assessments, only to have those 1s corrected to 4s later on... I find myself wondering if it is most logical to simply disregard those initial failing marks entirely. It seems reasonable to conclude that the student’s true performance level is represented by the 4, effectively treating the record as a series of 4s, 4s, and 4s... 🙂.

As a parent, I find myself signing off on this sentiment without any hesitation whatsoever...
Back in seventh grade, my daughter had a bit of a rough start in her chemistry class. She struggled to find her footing with the new curriculum right at the beginning of the school year, which was a little discouraging for her. However, she eventually found her rhythm and began showing a steady upward trend in her grades. Her teacher actually recognized that extra effort and gave her a chance to retake an assessment—I think it was for a 4.3 grade level—to earn an A, specifically because of how much she had improved...

Personally, when I find myself in a spot like that, I usually don't even bother asking for a higher grade—I just make the call and finalize it.
What matters so much to me isn't some arbitrary number, but rather the actual effort put in over the course of the whole school year and that general vibe regarding their work ethic; those invisible qualities are what truly decide things for me when that GPA is hovering right in that awkward middle ground between a B+ and an A-.
Maybe someone will end up with an A based on a 3.3 average simply because of their attitude, without needing extra tests, whereas I might actually push someone with a 3.5 to take one more quiz.
And honestly, all my kids know where they stand, so I've never really had anyone come to me complaining about a grade.

urbantinker8 said:Personally, when I find myself in a spot like that, I usually don't even bother asking for a higher grade—I just make the call and finalize it.
What matters so much to me isn't some arbitrary number, but rather the actual effort put in over the course of the whole school year and that general vibe regarding their work ethic; those invisible qualities are what truly decide things for me when that GPA is hovering right in that awkward middle ground between a B+ and an A-.
Maybe someone will end up with an A based on a 3.3 average simply because of their attitude, without needing extra tests, whereas I might actually push someone with a 3.5 to take one more quiz.
And honestly, all my kids know where they stand, so I've never really had anyone come to me complaining about a grade.

She really did put in the effort while she was tackling the course material; she even went back for the supplemental assessments later on. I actually think it’s wonderful that the professor offered everyone a chance to aim higher, specifically noting—to those who had already performed well in the first term, particularly during the second semester—that their hard work and dedication were clearly visible and deserved recognition...