New Honors Chemistry requirements for next year

Prospective Honors Chemistry students will now be required to take an entrance test and complete summer work due to the increased dropout rate this past year.

More than 20 students dropped the course because they had not known exactly what was expected of them upon entering the class. Many were also unprepared for the heavy workload, as the lack of an Honors Biology class last year did not prime them for the challenges of an advanced class.

In order to resolve this issue, additional prerequisites must be met on top of having completed Algebra II with a “C” grade or higher or having concurrent enrollment in Algebra II Advanced and having completed a recent science class with a “B” grade or higher.

An informational meeting in the spring will tell students about the entrance test, summer work, and expectations of the class.

There has never been an entrance test before and it is in place to ensure the students have basic math skills.

“The entrance test is basic. For example, we’ll give them problems like density equals mass over volume with two of the variables,” Yager said. “You’ll be amazed at how many kids can’t solve them.”

Students will also be required to complete summer homework like many other honors and advanced placement classes do. Like the entrance test, the homework will not be too difficult.

Even those on the waiting list will need to do the summer work and take the test so they will be prepared if they are placed into the class later in the year. These students will also keep up with the class until they get a spot in it.

Sophomore Jeremy Yu dropped the class earlier in the year because he didn’t understand the material.

“I think the test and summer work would have seriously prepared me more. I guess I wasn’t used to taking an honors class, and I had a bad grade in the class, so I dropped it,” Yu said.

The Honors Chemistry teachers and administration have made entering the course more selective, but this will distinguish students who can handle the workload from those who aren’t yet prepared.

“We just want kids to realize it’s not a cakewalk,” Yager said.