Guidance for selecting HS classes

[Anonymous]

I have an 8th grader who will go to Blair next year. How much guidance is there for choosing classes, such as which APs to take and when since there seems to be so many options across each department.

Also, can someone post a typical 9th grade schedule for a college bound kid that wants to show rigor but not be totally overloaded.

Assume Algebra 2 (not honors), Spanish 3 and band.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I would recommend that you see if you can grab a course guide. Look it over with your child and see what classes interest them.

Is there an area your child wants to explore? Something they are weak on that they want to challenge themselves and grow?

Do it outside of the course selection time so it is a meaningful conversation with your child and they do not get into the FOMO with their peers.

[Anonymous]

Not sure about Blair but my kids HS has a number of programs and sample schedules for both. Most kids get their PE out the way freshman year. Then you fill with arts elective or tech class. And English. The big choice is whether to take AP history/government. Applying to college is a bit crazy these days. Most kids are overloading themselves with AP.

[Anonymous]

Blair counselors have posted a good bit of info about this online:

https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/mbhscoursebulletin/course-selection-process

[Anonymous]

I think my main questions are around science (bio or chem first?) and social studies. Blair says that 9th graders aren’t allowed to take one of the AP courses so do 9th graders take a different AP course that year?

And how do kids fit in other electives they might be interested in (psychology, international human rights, forensics, etc)?

[Anonymous]

In late January or February, the counselors from Blair and the other DCC high schools will visit each of the DCC middle schools and give presentations and guidance to the 8th graders. They'll have the latest information available at the time about the following year's likely course offerings, recommended pathways, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think my main questions are around science (bio or chem first?) and social studies. Blair says that 9th graders aren’t allowed to take one of the AP courses so do 9th graders take a different AP course that year?

And how do kids fit in other electives they might be interested in (psychology, international human rights, forensics, etc)?

Some kids (mostly CAP) take AP Physics in 9th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think my main questions are around science (bio or chem first?) and social studies. Blair says that 9th graders aren’t allowed to take one of the AP courses so do 9th graders take a different AP course that year?

And how do kids fit in other electives they might be interested in (psychology, international human rights, forensics, etc)?

I had a kid graduate this past year. Blair used to be a physics first school (I don't know if this is still the case). My kid took AP physics as a freshman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have an 8th grader who will go to Blair next year. How much guidance is there for choosing classes, such as which APs to take and when since there seems to be so many options across each department.

Also, can someone post a typical 9th grade schedule for a college bound kid that wants to show rigor but not be totally overloaded.

Assume Algebra 2 (not honors), Spanish 3 and band.

Thanks!

Hon Algebra 2
Spanish 3
AP Comp Sci Principes (Satisfies Tech Req but relatively easy)
AP Physics (recommended at Blair for kids in Algebra2 honors)
AP or Hon US Hist (hard course so may want to just take hon if you got a lot else going on)
Hon Eng 9
PE / Band

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think my main questions are around science (bio or chem first?) and social studies. Blair says that 9th graders aren’t allowed to take one of the AP courses so do 9th graders take a different AP course that year?

And how do kids fit in other electives they might be interested in (psychology, international human rights, forensics, etc)?

I had a kid graduate this past year. Blair used to be a physics first school (I don't know if this is still the case). My kid took AP physics as a freshman.

Last I knew it was recommended at Blair for any 9th grader taking Algebra 2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an 8th grader who will go to Blair next year. How much guidance is there for choosing classes, such as which APs to take and when since there seems to be so many options across each department.

Also, can someone post a typical 9th grade schedule for a college bound kid that wants to show rigor but not be totally overloaded.

Assume Algebra 2 (not honors), Spanish 3 and band.

Thanks!

Hon Algebra 2
Spanish 3
AP Comp Sci Principes (Satisfies Tech Req but relatively easy)
AP Physics (recommended at Blair for kids in Algebra2 honors)
AP or Hon US Hist (hard course so may want to just take hon if you got a lot else going on)
Hon Eng 9
PE / Band

Wow, that seems hard. If kid is stronger in humanities than math would it be better to take APUSH and and bio or chem instead of AP Physics? Wow does Blair want 9th graders to take AP Physics?

[Anonymous]

Blair's science pathway recommendations:

https://mbhs.edu/departments/science/Pathways%20for%20recommendations%205.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Blair's science pathway recommendations:

https://mbhs.edu/departments/science/Pathways%20for%20recommendations%205.pdf

Thanks. This doesn’t show AP Physics as an option for 9th graders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an 8th grader who will go to Blair next year. How much guidance is there for choosing classes, such as which APs to take and when since there seems to be so many options across each department.

Also, can someone post a typical 9th grade schedule for a college bound kid that wants to show rigor but not be totally overloaded.

Assume Algebra 2 (not honors), Spanish 3 and band.

Thanks!

Hon Algebra 2
Spanish 3
AP Comp Sci Principes (Satisfies Tech Req but relatively easy)
AP Physics (recommended at Blair for kids in Algebra2 honors)
AP or Hon US Hist (hard course so may want to just take hon if you got a lot else going on)
Hon Eng 9
PE / Band

Blair says it doesn’t offer AP USH for 9th graders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Blair's science pathway recommendations:

https://mbhs.edu/departments/science/Pathways%20for%20recommendations%205.pdf

Thanks. This doesn’t show AP Physics as an option for 9th graders.

That might be outdated. Check out the info currently on their website, especially if you scroll down to the "core courses" section :https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/mbhscoursebulletin/rising-9th-grade