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Although your freshman daughter or son may be intimidated by the looming hallways of high school, there are ways you can help ease their transition. With new schedules, seemingly endless course options, and extracurricular choices, upcoming freshmen need tremendous parental support as they struggle to make major decisions on a new campus.

Freshman Orientation Programs

Most public high schools provide upcoming freshmen with an orientation program. Typically hosted a few weeks before the official start of the school year, orientation programs are designed to review school policies with new students. In addition, the orientation typically allows students to tour the school, obtain their schedules, and ask specific questions regarding their upcoming year. While each public high school or district will offer its own unique agenda, a common example of a freshman orientation event can be reviewed through the (WPS) program.

Through schools located in the eastern region of Nebraska, freshmen attending a Wahoo Public School can meet teachers, become familiar with their schedules, and ask any and all questions at an extensive orientation event each August. The orientation runs from 5 pm to 8:30 pm, including a potluck dinner, allowing new students to meet and greet their peers while parents learn more about their son or daughter's new school. Best of all, the WPS event even allows freshmen to adhere to a "mini school day schedule," where parents and students can go through the established motions and procedures of a regular class

As educational leaders experiment with new programs to help turn around the current public school crisis, some experts predict that there will be a rising interest in privatizing many public schools. With public schools struggling to meet standards amidst decreased recessionary budgets, many parents and community members are wondering if their local schools will soon be in the hands of privatized leaders.

When picking classes for the next school year, parents often fret over whether their kids should dive into honors courses. These classes offer more challenges, but do they mean sacrificing top grades? It's a dilemma: better marks or tougher academics? With honors courses demanding extra effort, it's a tough call. So, here are some insights from school and college pros that can help students navigate this critical decision.

Honors vs. General: What's the Big Difference?

While each state and school community has curriculum standards, most honors and general courses adhere to similar philosophical practices. For example, , one of the largest school systems in North Carolina, divides its high school courses into "honors" and "academic" (average) tracks. In examining the differences in Wake County Schools' 9^th grade English course options, parents and students can discuss the similarities and differences between the honors and academic options.

• Honors 9^th Grade English: Students in both honors and academics must read specific texts from a county-wide reading list. An honors course, however, will generally read more texts than an academic course, as the honors course is conducted at a much faster pace. To work more rapidly through diverse materials, honors students will undoubtedly be assigned more homework than an academic class. Additionally, suppose a student in an honors course falls behind or is struggling. In that case, the student must typically seek out tutoring assistance during their own time (during lunch, before/after school, etc.), as

Established nearly 60 years ago, Advanced Placement (AP) courses have allowed students across the country to earn college credit even before receiving their high school diplomas. Guided by the College Board, a non-profit organization, AP courses maintain rigorous standards while providing young students with the incredible opportunity to engage in challenging and mature coursework.

However, many parents feel that the AP pathway is simply a "hoop" through which students must jump in order to get into a good college. While students with AP courses on their transcripts tend to experience greater college acceptance rates, experts argue that there are an array of benefits that extend beyond the perks of college admissions.

This video offers an overview of AP courses.

The Advanced Placement Advantages

According to reports, over one million high school students engaged in more than two million AP tests last year. While many high school students simply take AP classes to improve their college application candidacy, there are far greater benefits to these rigorous courses.

College Credit

Colleges today are certainly seeking students with AP experience, as the AP coursework allows college admissions officers to gain greater insight into an applicant's collegiate potential. However, one of the greatest perks of AP coursework is the amount of money that can be cut from a student's tuition bill!

According to the College Board, over 90 percent of colleges and universities in the United States