The eighth graders have just picked the classes they want for their ninth grade year. It was a tedious process, but after the confusion was overcome it was actually quite easy.

“I signed up for the classes I wanted, but since it goes by seniority I’m not sure that I will get into them,” says eighth grader, Kyesha Smith. “I really want to get into Drawing and Design, but I probably won’t because of that rule.” Similar statements were made by a lot of the eighth graders. “It’s understandable that the older students get the first spots in classes, but at the same time, it should go by grades, as in letter grades. If a student has very good grades they should get into a class above a student who doesn’t have as well of grades even if they are an older student,” says seventh grader, Tristin Qualey.

When signing up for ninth grade classes, there are barely any options because they are almost all for tenth graders and up. “I think that since there are only so many classes that ninth graders can do, they should get the first spots. I think that’s only fair,” said Kyesha Smith. Other classes that are required are sometimes taken with older students too, much like Algebra 1. If a student took Linear Algebra in eighth grade, they have to take Algebra 2 in tenth grade, with the ninth graders who took Algebra 1 in eighth grade. “I would rather take core classes with older students then have to share my electives. At a certain grade, you shouldn’t be able to sign up for some elective classes,” said Smith.

Soon the eighth graders will be going to their first day of ninth grade, hopefully with classes of their choice. With guidance from teachers and older students, everything should run smoothly. While still thinking optimistically, Smith said, “Hopefully I end up in the classes I want, if not, I guess I still have three more years to sign up for them.”