I'm gonna take a different route with this one.
I was talking to my coworkers about this just last week, and it occurred to me how short-minded these Cisco courses at the high school level are.
First off, of course congratulations on your son getting into a high scholl program which of course is a very valuable networking certification to have.
However, I am NOT in favor of high schoolers having Cisco courses available to them.
I cannot imagine the cost to the taxpayer for these supplemental classes, and most importantly, unless your son has the equivalent knowledge of A+, Network+, and an MCSE, there are MANY better courses which will :
a) provide a better stepwise learning track for him, and
b) be much more marketable to him in entering a career field.
Do you mind me asking you what the process was for acceptance into this CCNA course?
I'm very interested in hearing more about this programs that it seems more and more high schools are providing as a benefit to kids.
And that's really the problem with the classes:
No kid, realistically, is going to be able to take advantage of this CCNA certification in the job force for many years.
You don't get hired into the IT field as a Router Administrator.
Those jobs are the most senior positions that departments have.
Millions of dollars are riding on every little mistake.
That's why they get paid lots of money.
As an entry-level position (help desk, technician, etc) it would behoove your son's career to have the A+ certificate much more than a CCNA.
As for my qualifications to have these opinions, I work as a Technical Trainer for the largest Networking Training company in the world, and I have also been a Technical Recruiter.
Thanks for listening.
Congrats, Brainburn and Son! 
