How many of us can look back and think that we might not have reached our actual potential in life? What if we had done better in school? What if we had gone to a better college or university?
The prevalent mindset in modern public schools has created a culture in which 16-year-olds are deciding they’re not going to go to college or university. They believe that the material will be far too difficult. They think they do not possess the required abilities. They lack confidence in their own ability to learn and develop in an academic environment. They are not qualified to make the right choices!
A lot has been said about the value of small class size and individual attention in our schools. But small class size is just the beginning. The most effective high schools have not primarily smaller classes, which support more individual attention–they have highly skilled teachers who teach more challenging material.
AP courses, conceived by the College Board, have been around for half a century. These are certified college-level courses that are taught in high schools. Their reputation has grown over the decades, and they have developed into an essential component of the high school portfolio for anyone wishing to apply to a four year university or college. The majority of parents believe that these classes and their exceptional expectations place an excessive amount of pressure on children, still in high school. But that isn’t how it was meant to be.
When approached the proper way, these courses will in fact end up being a very good opportunity. The problem is the fact that a lot of high schools that provide these courses continue to pack 20 to 30 students into the class. So rather than being a very good opportunity, many students just struggle with the work. In contrast, when these courses are taught by experienced professionals in smaller classes — classes having only eight to ten students for each teacher, every student receives the opportunity to achieve success in a college level class.
A taste of this success is usually all it takes to turn a student’s life around. Students at the best private high schools, such as Cambrian International Academy, have claimed on many occasions that the first class made them feel as though they could accomplish anything. They take more of these classes in subsequent years, and then find themselves accepted to top notch universities in advanced standing. The AP credit transfers, and they start college as sophomores!
Right now, 16-year-olds have even more reason to make an informed decision about college. Parents need to start by making the right choices in high school.
