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The Caveat Family Guide to High School

The road to college starts before 9th grade. Six short chapters for parents of middle schoolers, in plain words, with a free tool at the end of every chapter.

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CHAPTER 1The math trackWhy the 8th grade math decision reaches all the way to senior year.CHAPTER 2Choosing 9th grade coursesHonors, world language, electives and the registration form.CHAPTER 3Study habits that carry overPlanners, grade portals and the skills high school assumes.CHAPTER 4Activities worth starting earlyTrying things in middle school without overloading the week.CHAPTER 5What colleges will and won't seeMiddle school grades, early high school credit and the fresh start.CHAPTER 6The summer before 9th gradeA short summer plan, and the first weeks of high school.

Free tools for grades 6 to 8

TOOLThe math path plannerWhere 8th grade math leads by senior year.TOOLThe 9th grade schedule builderCheck the schedule before registration.TOOLIs my student ready for honors?Subject by subject, with a workload check.TOOLCompare high schoolsUp to four schools side by side.TOOLThe activities plannerDepth, growth and impact, by grade.TOOLThe executive function self-checkStudent and parent versions, results by skill.TOOLIs my student ready for Algebra I?Fifteen questions, results by topic.TOOLPhysics or chemistry next?Math readiness, course order and interests.TOOLThe writing checkWhat is working and what to revise first.
How to use it

Start with chapters 1 and 2 before 9th grade registration, usually between January and March of 8th grade. Parents of 6th and 7th graders: chapters 1, 3 and 4. When your student starts high school, The Caveat Family Guide to College picks up from there.

Rather have someone handle it? A Caveat advisor checks the math placement, drafts the 9th grade schedule and the four-year plan, and sets up a weekly check-in so your student starts high school organized.

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The Caveat Family Guide to High School is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Each college decides admission, aid and how credit counts, and requirements change; check each college's own pages. Examples are examples, not promises. Caveat Academic Services is an independent college preparation company. Students do all of their own work.