Why are honors classes full of average students?
Honors courses often fill up with students placed by parents for good behavior rather than academic readiness, leaving teachers unable to explore subjects with the intended depth and complexity. Because administrators prohibit removing underprepared students until midterms or even at all, teachers cannot increase rigor or properly prepare students for advanced placement courses.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Treating the honors class like a true honors class to encourage students to self-select out into general education classesDid this help you?
- 2Focusing entirely on the students currently in the room and accepting that the class will not operate above grade levelDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I teach 2 honors sections of Algebra 1, and most of my students are just at grade level according to state testing last year and STAR.”source ↗
“In an honors class I want to explore math in more depth and complexity, but I just don't see that happening. At my school honors seems to just mean the kids are able to the basics of what it means to be a student, and not much more.”source ↗
“Every year I get a few 9th/10th graders in my honors class who are only in there to “get away from bad influences” per parent request. Despite admin telling us to “increase rigor and prepare students for AP/DE courses” I am not allowed to weed any students out until midterms, and even then if the student/parent requests they stay they’re allowed, even with a failing grade.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 4Teaching grade level standards when students are extremely behind
- 4Tips for teaching teens when you've only taught elementary students
- 6Why do mandated teaching methods fail in the classroom?
- 59Why are students coming to class missing basic foundational skills?
- 2How do you teach a combined grade elective without losing control?
- 19How to manage an oversized classroom with no support or SPED training