List of 7 frequently asked questions.

• What courses should my child take?

  Short answer: Your child should take courses that fulfill LCDS’ graduation requirements (listed on pages 2-3 -- course selection materials for the 2020-21 academic year will be made available in the coming weeks). Students should select classes that offer the appropriate challenge for their particular strengths, goals, and interests.

  
  Longer answer: Take courses that offer both breadth and depth. LCDS offers resources like independent study courses and specialized electives. By all means, pursue these opportunities, but do so only after exhausting broad and deep core academic courses. Colleges want students who have solid foundations in the core academic courses--leave the “majors ” for higher education. Once you have your English, history, foreign language, math, and science courses selected though, explore adding a second science or a second foreign language if your interests, skills, study habits, and schedule allow. If you know that you want to take both AP Chemistry and AP Physics by the time you graduate, discuss the appropriateness of taking both biology and chemistry as a 9th grader. Or, if languages are your thing, you might add Chinese or Latin even as you continue taking Spanish.

• Should I pursue an Independent Study?

  Independent Studies are a way to pursue material and subject areas beyond our standard curriculum. We do not encourage independent study courses as replacements for core academic courses. Instead, we see them as a resource when you have exhausted course offerings in a particular subject and want to expand or supplement your studies. For these reasons, we usually see juniors and seniors proposing and participating in independent studies (though there are, at rare times, exceptions). We encourage you to discuss options with your teacher and advisor as well as Ms. Gabriel, Ms. Deibler-Wallace, and College Counseling. Students will also need a faculty member to guide them through an independent study experience.

• Can my child keep swimming/dancing/playing soccer at a highly-competitive level outside of school instead of taking an LCDS PE class?

  Short answer: Yes, and Mrs. Deibler-Wallace, Assistant Head of Upper School, can explain the Alternative PE credit option to you.

  
  

  Longer answer: Upper School is a time to try new things as well as deepen your commitment to activities you are already engaged in. We know that some students spend many hours in fitness activities outside of school. To be considered for alternative physical education (also called “P.E. Alt”), a student should consult Mrs. Deibler-Wallace, Assistant Head of Upper School, about the activity or class BEFORE completing the P.E. Alt paperwork. If the request is approved, a student should complete the P.E. Alt paperwork in order to receive 0.33 credit per semester. 

  
  

  Something to keep in mind as your student makes Phys Ed selections is the credit requirement. Throughout the four years of Upper School, a student is required to complete a total of 2.5 P.E. credits over the four years of Upper School. They can complete this requirement through team sports (0.5 credits each), fitness classes at school (0.33 credits each), or a P.E. Alt option (0.33 credits each).

   

• How many AP courses should my child take?

  Short answer: Your child should take an appropriately challenging course load in light of his or her strengths, weaknesses, time limitations, and interests. There is no single “right” path.

  
  Longer answer: Each transcript tells a story, and the best stories are the ones where students succeed at a consistently-high level even as the rigor increases. For some, this is standard-level courses across all four years; for others, it is honors and AP-level whenever offered; and for many, it is a combination of courses at the regular and honors/A.P. levels. Your child’s teachers, advisors, department chairs, the assistant head of upper school, and we in college counseling are all resources you might tap as your child considers the unique combination of courses that might fit.

• How many study halls, art classes, and P.E. courses should my child have each year?

  Short answer: It depends on the student and the year.

  
  Longer answer: Think about balance, interests, and non-negotiables. If your child knows that junior year he or she wants to take several AP courses and anticipates a higher homework load, then take an art class each trimester in 9th grade, or take two each year in 9th and 10th grade so that there are more opportunities for study halls in later years. Or, if doubling-up in biology and chemistry or in both Latin and Spanish is the plan for 9th grade, then make room for the additional homework load. Schedule a study hall rather than an art class two of the three trimesters, and see if there is a P.E. class scheduled after-school rather than during the school day. Your child’s advisor can help you think through these questions, and again, we’re always happy to look at a proposed schedule and talk through advantages and disadvantages.

• My child has completed the graduation requirements for language/math/science/history, so can he or she drop it junior or senior year?

  Short answer: Preferably not.

  
  

  Longer answer: Depending on the colleges that your child is interested in, keep going. Again, taking a core academic class each year while in Upper School offers the depth and breadth that many colleges want in their students. Every college and university publishes data on admissions, academics, financial aid, degrees by discipline, and other key information as part of the Common Data Set Initiative. Some of this data is particularly helpful for use in the college search. For example, see the University of Delaware’s required vs. recommended courses per their Common Data Set:

   

  While NYU’s Common Data Set shows what they want to see in their entering class:

  

  So, while not taking a fourth year of math or language is an option, we encourage you to research individual schools or reach out to us to help find guidelines that fit your particular goals.

   

• My child has a foreign language exemption. Should he or she exercise that exemption?

  Short and longer answer: Please reach out directly. This question warrants a conversation that includes others whose insight will help inform the best choice -- your child’s advisor, present language teacher, Jenny Gabriel or Lindsay Deibler-Wallace, Rachel Schmalhofer, and College Counseling.