All the programs I listed as options in earlier posts (Rotary Youth Exchange, NSLI-Y, and YFU) make it quite clear that they will not guarantee your child's grades will transfer to his/her American high school. You need to go into this experience with that information in the back of your mind; studying abroad for a year may delay your child's high school graduation.
With that being said, none of the participants I talked to were adversely affected by studying abroad for a year in any of the programs. All of them were able to transfer their grades/credits and graduate on time.
My daughter's high school administration was thrilled that she was taking this opportunity and wanted to minimize any possible negative consequences. They agreed that they would transfer the credits as long as she provided a transcript from her German high school. They also agreed to take her grades as a letter grade (if it helped her GPA) or as pass/fail (if it would not help her GPA). YFU provided us with a worksheet to fill out with our daughter's guidance counselor. It is important to get everything you and the guidance counselor agreed to in writing. That person may not be in that position when your child returns, and you don't want any surprises.
My daughter had very little choice about the classes she would take in Germany, but she ended up with a pretty basic schedule: Poly Sci, History, English, Germany, Biology, Chemistry, Phy. Ed., Orchestra, and Music Theory. It should all transfer and cover the credits she needed to get her junior year. I'll let you know how it turns out. The most important advice we were given: do not let your child leave the country without an official transcript. Once your child leaves, it will be much harder to contact the necessary people and get them to mail what you need.
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