[Jacqui]

Hi, all. I'm Jacqui, and I'm sixteen years old. I'm currently in tenth grade at my high school in Sydney (it's a selective one, which means you need to sit an exam to get in. I guess it's kind of like your AP [?] classes, except it's the whole school). Recently, my dad got a job transfer from Sydney to New York, so starting 2007 I'll be living in the US. I just have a couple of questions about your schooling system.

1.) My birthdate is October 12, 1990. In Australia, that means I'm in Year 10, however the school years here are different from those in America. Our school year starts February and ends December, but yours...doesn't. So, if I were to start school next year, around what time/month would I start and what grade would I be going into? Would I go into tenth grade again, or eleventh?

2.) What subjects are compuslory? This may be a weird question, I don't know. In Sydney, for our HSC (equivalent of the SAT) the only compulsory subject we have to do is at least two units of English. We get to pick at least eight other units. In the US (or, more specifically, in New York) would I get that kind of freedom? Or are Sciences, PDHPE and Mathematics compulsory?

3.) I read somewhere that you need to do 1 year of PDHPE, four years of English, etc in order to get your high school diploma. As a new international student, would this apply for me also? Would the rules be completely different, or could I take years of study I did in Australia and include them for the diploma (if that makes any sense)?

If anyone could help me out, that would be much appreciated.

I'm sorry if I didn't explain myself well; I guess I'm just anxious at the thought of doing Maths next year (I was so relieved I would be dropping it, too!)

Thanks in advance! I look forward to talking to you all on this forum!

Jacqui

xx

 

[IamJen]

Jacqui...the guidelines are a bit varied from state to state. If you want, one of the mods can bump your thread into another forum, since teens are the only one supposed to post here. Some of the older folks from New York would probably have good answers to your questions.

 

[fuzzysocks]

where in new york?

 

[Lumos]

I'm moving to NYC next fall for college!

Anyway, believe in most states certain math and science classes are compulsory. I think the normal requirement is 2-3 credits. In Texas 4 years of English are compulsory as are 2 years of foreign language (with 3 to 4 recommended) and 3 years of math and science (bio, chemistry and physics) and 5 social studies units.

 

[GhostUser]

Here's a site on the requirements for graduation in NewYork.

http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/part100/pages/1005a.html

 

[*Sunflower*]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacqui

1.) My birthdate is October 12, 1990. In Australia, that means I'm in Year 10, however the school years here are different from those in America. Our school year starts February and ends December, but yours...doesn't. So, if I were to start school next year, around what time/month would I start and what grade would I be going into? Would I go into tenth grade again, or eleventh?

2.) What subjects are compuslory? This may be a weird question, I don't know. In Sydney, for our HSC (equivalent of the SAT) the only compulsory subject we have to do is at least two units of English. We get to pick at least eight other units. In the US (or, more specifically, in New York) would I get that kind of freedom? Or are Sciences, PDHPE and Mathematics compulsory?

3.) I read somewhere that you need to do 1 year of PDHPE, four years of English, etc in order to get your high school diploma. As a new international student, would this apply for me also? Would the rules be completely different, or could I take years of study I did in Australia and include them for the diploma (if that makes any sense)?

Hi Jacqui! I'm 16 and in grade 10 also.

1) School is the US starts around the end of August/beginning of September and usually ends in June, with summer break June-August. I'm pretty sure that in most states here, you would be in Grade 10 (Sophomore) right now and grade 11 (junior) next year. Generally, one enters their sophomore year at age 15 and junior, 16.

2) At least in my school, the required subjects are Social Studies (world and us history, government, economics), English, Math (my school offers algebra to AP Calculus and AP statistics, and everything in between), Foreign language, and Science (biology, chemistry, physics, etc). There are also lots of electives avaliable including art (I'm an art student, and we have basic art, drawing, painting, mixed media, watercolours, computer imaging, ceramics, and honors studio), music, theatre, choir, band, woodshop, foods, technology, and keyboarding.

3) Your credits will probably transfer to your new school, they shouldn't expect you to retake classes you've already taken in Sydney. I'm not sure what PDHPE is, I don't think we have it here, but in most schools you need a specific amount of credits in each subject to graduate, which is basically 3-4 years of each subject plus electives.

Good luck!

 

[Jacqui]

Oh, sorry. PDHPE = Personal Development, Health, and Physical Education. I think it's just PE in the US? It's the one subject that incorporates the practical elements with the theory.

Thank you so, so much for the responses. I'm relieved to know my credits from Australia will probably count in the US (I'm mighty glad I chose to do French for two years!). Sucks that I'll probably have to take a Maths/Science subject, but what can you do...I'll grit my teeth and bear it.

Thanks again!

 

[Iria]

If you want to go to college in the US, you might need to take more than the recommended amount of maths/sciences. Check the requirements for the colleges you are interested in. Generally you'll want to have three years of each (which looks like what you have to take in NY anyway).

I have no idea how the rules really work, but I imagine that they might bend them a little since you spent half your high school years in Austraila. If not, you might have to go to summer school or take an online course to make up for the credits you missed.