Parker is one of the few schools in Chicago to not provide AP courses or Honors classes. Instead, they offer advanced classes which progress at a faster pace compared to regular classes while covering more topics depending on the class. Although these classes may seem similar to a typical at-level class, the environment and culture is quite different.

As someone who is in two advanced classes this year, I can attest to how intense learning can be in these class settings. To me, everything about the title and rigor of “advanced classes” seems more intense, and the expectations are much higher.

In my advanced math class, tests and quizzes tend to feel more competitive, which causes me to feel more stressed about my performance. There are times when I feel like everyone is ahead of me in understanding and times when I feel I too am ahead, but this sense of comparison sometimes feels unsettling in such a progressive school like Parker. 

This is due to the constant reminders that “everyone is a winner” or “everyone is equal,” because in all fairness, no one has the exact same amount of knowledge or intelligence. This may seem counterintuitive because the Parker mission expresses equality, yet no two people have the same grades or understanding. As a result of our diverse culture, we have diverse abilities. 

I occasionally feel as if the students in advanced classes are more focused on their outcome on a test compared to their peers in at-level classes, rather than their commitment to the class and what they are truly getting out of it. I also feel this within myself –my grades distract me from the learning aspect of an advanced class.

Advanced classes are more rigorous, which for me involves additional studying and commitment to the current topic. This level of determination I find myself needing in order to succeed is significantly higher in my advanced classes compared to the non-advanced classes I’m in.

Despite the fact that advanced classes are significantly harder, the label of being in an advanced class over an at-level or applied class tends to classify students into categories of “smart” and “not smart.” Parker is a very accommodating school for every type of learner, which should make it difficult for students to feel ashamed about what class they are in, yet that is not the case. To me, “advanced” feels more like an identification rather than a class level. 

For example, when I was asked by my science teacher about what math class I was in to find a well-fitting  future chemistry placement, I deliberately said, “Advanced Algebra Two.” The phrase comes off as being in “the math class” rather than “a math class,” implying that one is better than the other, which isn’t the intention of an advanced class. 

These classes make Parker’s Upper School more diverse, in the sense that there are multiple types of learners in the same environment, but on the other hand, it makes the environment much more competitive. One of Parker’s core values is equity, meaning that every student gets what they need in order to succeed. Part of that equity is class level, which allows for every student to be placed in the class that is the most challenging, while still feeling manageable, for them. 

I frequently hear high schoolers of all ages discussing classes together and occasionally hear them making jokes about how another student isn’t in the advanced class with them, assuming they would have no idea what they’re learning about. While these remarks come off as pointless and in a joking manner, they can lower someone’s confidence level.

Although I have been closely focused on my grades in my advanced classes, I have found opportunities to channel my confusion into curiosity. This helps me achieve deeper understanding which automatically improves my grades with minimal stress. 

Advanced classes can come off as more intense, but they have taught me to utilize my time in better ways. In the second semester of this year specifically, I have been meeting with my advanced teachers more frequently, and managing my day so I have enough time to complete my homework at night. 

I don’t think that everyone is a right fit for an advanced class, but I do think that every student should get the experience of working around their confusion, despite the class level. This idea of a desire for better understanding will not only shape the culture of advanced classes, but all classes into being a space with equity and curiosity.