by Eleanor Labatt (Posted on Dec. 18, 2025 @ 11:16 a.m.)

What is the true difference in the school experience between high school credit classes and grade-level classes? We have two 8th-grade students who are going to share what they think. The first student, Kallie, has both advanced classes and grade-level classes. The second student, Olive, only has advanced classes. Here is what they had to say.

Fun in Class

High school classes do not mean not having fun in middle school. When we asked Kallie about this, this is what she said: “Even if you don’t do high school credit classes, you can still have a great experience at the junior school.” This means that many students will still have a good time in middle school, even if they are not taking high school credit classes.

Good Time in Class

Many students have a great experience in high school classes. When we asked Kallie, she said, “Overall, I really enjoy both, but I probably enjoy high school credit classes more because I have a lot of friends who are doing those classes with me.” This shows that students can have a good experience in both types of classes, although some may enjoy high school credit classes a little more.

Amount of Homework

High school classes probably have more homework than regular classes. Kallie shared her thoughts on this topic: “I probably have more homework in my high school credit classes because they’re like getting me ready for high school.” When we asked her if it gets in the way of other things, she said, “Not necessarily, but sometimes it does because I have to do stuff outside of class and that gets in the way.” This shows that high school classes often have more homework, but it does not always interfere with students’ lives.

Doing High School Classes

There are a couple of different reasons why students might not take high school classes in middle school. We asked both students to share their opinions. When we asked Kallie, she said, “I think some people just like to wait as long as they can for high school credit classes, and some people think it’ll be harder and stuff.” Then we asked Olive, and she said, “Of course I think they think it’s going to be harder, like middle school is supposed to prepare you for high school, but when you say high school classes you have to really lock in.” This means that some students avoid high school classes because they believe they will be harder.

Pressure of Classes

The pressure that comes with high school classes and grade-level classes can be very different. When we asked Kallie, she said, “High school credit classes I feel like there’s a lot more pressure on me because colleges can look at my grades. But in my normal classes there is still pressure on me, but it’s less pressure.” When we asked Olive, she said, “I think in high school classes because I think they prepare you more and give you more work so that you’re more successful.” She also said, “I think high school classes more because they’re more challenging for me and you do more projects.” This shows that both types of classes can be stressful, but high school classes usually come with more pressure.

In conclusion, taking high school classes in middle school does not ruin the school experience. High school classes can be more stressful, but many students still have a great experience. It also does not take away from what middle school offers. While students may have more responsibilities, high school classes give them a better idea of what high school will be like. For students deciding whether to take high school classes in middle school, these are some reasons they may want to consider.