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CHARACTERISTICS OF HONORS-AP STUDENTS
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| To: Parents of Grade 7-12 Students |
| One of the hardest topics that administration must address with parents and students is the proper placement in classes where regular, honors and AP sections are all offered. Some parents and students feel that they need honors and AP classes for college admission. That is incorrect. Colleges look for good grades in a strong program (which we have in our regular classes) and good SAT/ACT scores which are reflective of material learned/skills gained. Some parents and students also feel that the logical next step to an “A” in a regular course is an honors course at the next level. This also is incorrect |
| Studies have shown that there are certain characteristics that students who are good candidates for honors/AP classes should display. Perhaps an impartial person (not the parents) should evaluate the student. In fact, teachers do these evaluations on a daily basis. |
| Students who display about 75% of these characteristics are often good candidates for honors/AP classes: |
- good problem solving skills
- good reasoning
- extensive vocabulary
- excellent memory
- long attention span
- personal sensitivity
- compassion for others
- perfectionism
- intensity
- excellent reading comprehension
- tends to question status quo
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- perseverant when interested
- high degree of energy
- preference for older companions
- wide range of interests
- great sense of humor
- mature judgment
- high degree of creativity
- good at puzzles
- moral sensitivity
- unusual curiosity
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| If a student displays most of these traits, we then look at success factor in prerequisite courses and make the appropriate decision. There is nothing wrong with students who display only a few of these characteristics. Neither the student nor the parent need feel inadequate if an honest evaluation comes up “regular.” Pushing a child where he does not belong is as harmful as holding back a child who needs to fly. |
