Is it true that I have a horrible lifestyle schoolwise?

[honi]

I think my school has low expectations for me. Half of my classes are special ed, and never this entire school year was I assigned more than a worksheet or two for homework. In my school district, if I was in regular ed, I'd be getting 10 minutes of homework for every grade year I'm in. For example, 1st grade gets 10 minutes, 2nd grade gets 20 minutes, and so on. I've been getting much less than that all my life.

Also, every time I have a quiz in Geometry, my assistant teacher takes me two classrooms down the corridor to take the quiz in privacy. Last Friday I had a quiz in Geometry, and although I spent 30 minutes studying for it, it took me over an hour just to complete it. And I asked the assistant teacher for a hint 4-6 times. A good test taker should NEVER ask the teacher for any hints at all. Not even one. Regardless of grade.

The reason why the teachers expectations on me are a fraction of an average high school sophomore is because back in elementary and middle school, I've fought the teachers and was very resistant to directions back then. I am also held back a year.

Here are my grades, and the reason for them, as discussed with my special ed teacher:

Math: C
Reason: Until recently, I never studied for the tests and quizzes.

Reading: C
Reason: I hate fiction. I do much better with nonfiction. If a teacher gives me a book about boys stranded on an island, I can't wait until it ends. On the other hand, if it's a book about New York City or Washington, D.C., which are my two favorite cities, I jump straight into the action!

Concert Band: A
Reason: This is the only class I show positive attitude in. It's the only class that's with my interests.

Social Skills: A
Reason: They cut me a lot of slack in that class. I have autism.

Another point. My school district has required summer reading for any student entering grades 7-12 following summer vacation. I am one of the very few people in the school district exempt from that. The Special Education Department believes I'll be too pressured if they assigned me this the same way the regular students are.

My lifelong goal that I hope to achieve 20 years from now is to get into a college that all the people who want to make six-figure go to, like Notre Dame or NYU, get a six-figure job in NYC, like maybe Apple, Inc. (yes, I do miss Steve Jobs), and build my own 3-story, 5,000 square foot house in a walkable NYC suburb, like Ridgewood, New Jersey.

In case you're wondering about extracurricular activities, I've never been in an extracurricular activity. That only adds another reason why my there's not a lot of smiling when I show people my report card.

I'm in 10th grade, and I set a shorter goal, to get into an AP course by my junior year. It's unlikely I'm going to make that. Unlike the regular courses, the College Board is legally authorized to deny you from being in it if the grades on your record aren't to their liking. There is no special way to get into these courses. I have autism, but sadly, the College Board could care less about that. The admissions guys are just going to say "Because Thomas fails to exhibit excellence in his regular ed courses, what reason do we have to believe he'll excel in an AP class? Clearly his grades indicate he is incompetent to be in this type of rigorous education." I'm taking every chance I have to get into an AP class. It'll make your college experience unparalleled to the people who didn't take an AP class while they were still in high school!

My family says I am a very bright student, but I don't show the teachers what I'm capable of.

Do you agree with me that my school has low expectations for me? Is there anything I should do about this?

[shaddoc98]

ANY "Lifestyle" is Only As GOOD- as the Attitude of the Person IN it !! And from the Sound of YOUR Description, you have a pretty GOOD Attitude !! :) SO; Just keep on Working HARD in Your Studies- & leave all those Other "Details"- to Someone Else. The better You DO, the Further You'll Get !! Good luck ! :)