Is APUSH or Hon US History in 9th?

[Anonymous]

So some schools do AP Gov freshman year and others APUSH? Why the variation.

For OP, I agree with APUSH with zero test pressure

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Again, why don’t kids at EVERY McPS HS have these options?

I believe kids at every MCPS HS do have the options to take both APUSH and AP GOV.

No. Blair students strictly follow APUSH -> AP Gov -> AP World (or corresponding honor class at each grade). I heard Churchill strictly enforces AP World -> APUSH.

You heard wrong.. Churchill does APUSH or Honors US in 9th, followed by AP Gov or Honors Gov in 10th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So some schools do AP Gov freshman year and others APUSH? Why the variation.

For OP, I agree with APUSH with zero test pressure

Because in MCPS principals are the last word. Forget it if best practice is APgov before APUSH—the principal is going to do their own thing.

MCPS (for high school) is not a school system, it’s 25 kingdoms run by spectacularly unevenly qualified principals.

[Anonymous]

One need understand the reasoning. Taking AP Gov first means less content and an essentially a slower pacing of the content. This allows students the opportunity to adjust to HS and the increased rigor before jumping into a college level course.

The thinking with APUSH freshman year is that kids just had US history so in theory they should have some basis for extended learning of the content. Also when they take APGOV in theory they should better understand why the government is being enacted and why laws are being enacted because they’ve already studied the history. The catch is APUSH is a more content heavy and writing intense class. And most students are not prepared for its rigor or pacing in 9th grade(which is to be expected because they are just entering HS why should they be prepared to tackle a college course).

Personally I think the rush to take AP classes freshman year over other HS courses is a disservice to students and the courses themselves. I wouldn’t stop kids from enrolling but at the same time I wouldn’t be adjusting course content and expectations. When you sign up to take college courses you get a college course.

[Anonymous]

For schools that offer AP Gov for freshmen, does your school also do government for the other freshmen? Or if the other freshmen are taking US History and a kid takes AP Gov, how does it work if they decide they don't want to take APUSH later on after all? Do they go back and take regular Honors US History with freshmen? Or do they have to commit to APUSH if they take AP Gov?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So some schools do AP Gov freshman year and others APUSH? Why the variation.

For OP, I agree with APUSH with zero test pressure

Local government / home rule

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For schools that offer AP Gov for freshmen, does your school also do government for the other freshmen? Or if the other freshmen are taking US History and a kid takes AP Gov, how does it work if they decide they don't want to take APUSH later on after all? Do they go back and take regular Honors US History with freshmen? Or do they have to commit to APUSH if they take AP Gov?

Because the decision making power is never in the CO, but by every HS' principal and APs. So the course bulletin that CO published during the snowday break was basically useless. One wouldn't know the tricks and traps unless they are super proactive and on top of everything, or they had lessons-learnt from elder siblings or upper class friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For schools that offer AP Gov for freshmen, does your school also do government for the other freshmen? Or if the other freshmen are taking US History and a kid takes AP Gov, how does it work if they decide they don't want to take APUSH later on after all? Do they go back and take regular Honors US History with freshmen? Or do they have to commit to APUSH if they take AP Gov?

At DC's school freshman are offered AP Gov or Hon US History, with the assumption if you take AP Gov in 9th you will take APUSH in 10th. I would assume kids could take Hon US in 10th if they did not want to take APUSH. DC mentioned that most taking AP Gov are in 9th with a handful of 10th graders.

[Anonymous]

People really need to read OLO Report 2026-2. You will be shocked at which schools offer which courses because principals have no consequences.

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/OLO/Resources/Files/2026_Reports/OLOReport%202026-2.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For schools that offer AP Gov for freshmen, does your school also do government for the other freshmen? Or if the other freshmen are taking US History and a kid takes AP Gov, how does it work if they decide they don't want to take APUSH later on after all? Do they go back and take regular Honors US History with freshmen? Or do they have to commit to APUSH if they take AP Gov?

Why not offer separate Honors US History classes for 9th graders (who are taking it after 8th grade US History) from sophomores who took AP Gov in 9th and want to take Honors US History in 10th (instead of APUSH)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For schools that offer AP Gov for freshmen, does your school also do government for the other freshmen? Or if the other freshmen are taking US History and a kid takes AP Gov, how does it work if they decide they don't want to take APUSH later on after all? Do they go back and take regular Honors US History with freshmen? Or do they have to commit to APUSH if they take AP Gov?

Why not offer separate Honors US History classes for 9th graders (who are taking it after 8th grade US History) from sophomores who took AP Gov in 9th and want to take Honors US History in 10th (instead of APUSH)?

Why would this be necessary?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am perplexed that folks can't answer the question - DC has the choice of APUSH in 9 - and folks are recommending waiting - that is not an actual option at DCs chosen school. My biggest issue w/ the "Honors" history being offered as a freshman is that DC gets super frustrated when the class gets so disruptive and others don't want to do the work, which is why I think DC would be better off being pushed in APUSH. Not in a magnet, so it would be the only AP Class, would take ALG II,and the rest on grade courses. Our school recommends COllege Prep - anyone have experience w/ that?

Our MCPS school also offers APUSH in 9th grade and I think we are in the minority. Most schools offer AP Govt freshman year, which I understand is a better way to be introduced to AP classes. My 9th grader is taking APUSH now and its tough. He does fine on his assignments and he likes the material but he struggles with the tests and his grades reflect that. I think the biggest difference between APUSH and Honors is that they teach to the AP exam. And based on his test scores, I don't see the AP exam going very well for him. In retrospect, I wish we would have opted for Honors.

Because APUSH is so intense, it's a hard choice. We went with honors and our son is getting good grades, barely, but it's not that challenging. He would probably be more engaged in AP and develop better reading and writing skills.

I really wish this was a 10th, or 11th grade class like it should be.