Sophomore class schedule

[Anonymous]

My kid is in 9th grade at a DCC hs. They are picking classes and I am wondering what is the norm for a college-bound kid in terms of AP courses. DC currently is looking to take AP Physics, AP Computer Science and AP US Gov. Math would be honors pre-calc. Is this a typical 10th grade course load for a kid interested in STEM fields? Seems like a lot for a kid not taking any AP classes currently. On the other hand, they don’t seems particularly challenged currently. They’ll be meeting with the counselor at school, but I’d like to know what DCUM thinks.

[Anonymous]

Since your child isn’t in Calc yet, assuming that’s AP Physics 1? I don’t think that’s crazy. Individually, all of those are classes that are offered to MCPS 9th graders, depending on school. The hardest part might be taking 3 at once, so maybe have a plan for where he will drop back if the workload is too much?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in 9th grade at a DCC hs. They are picking classes and I am wondering what is the norm for a college-bound kid in terms of AP courses. DC currently is looking to take AP Physics, AP Computer Science and AP US Gov. Math would be honors pre-calc. Is this a typical 10th grade course load for a kid interested in STEM fields? Seems like a lot for a kid not taking any AP classes currently. On the other hand, they don’t seems particularly challenged currently. They’ll be meeting with the counselor at school, but I’d like to know what DCUM thinks.

I don't know which DCC HS your kid goes to, but have you thought about IB, if it's offered at the school?

For a first time AP student, AP Gov is fine. But I'd be wary of AP Computer Science and Physics at the same time for a sophomore. Since he's already doing well enough in math to do honors pre-calc as a sophomore, I think he can AP Gov and AP Physics, but I wouldn't add AP Computer Science on top of that.

[Anonymous]

Only you can know your kid and their ability to prioritize and manage the work load. Honors PreCal is not viewed as an easy class but your kid seems to be on the accelerated track so if they are doing fine in Honors Alg2 would stay the course. Based I’m on that math, should be able to handle AP Physics 1. So it really just whether your kid can handle 2 additional APs, what I suspect is Honor English 10, and then whatever the two elective classes.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Yes, it’s Physics I, and the other courses would be honors English, Spanish V and Health. As some have mentioned, it’s taking both AP Physics and AP Comp Sci that caught my attention. They currently have straight A’s, but they have been coasting, not having to put much effort in. I’m worried these two courses together will overwhelm DC. What would be an alternative to taking both of those in 10th? Apparently the counselor said “take as many APs as you want.” Wtf?

[Anonymous]

Do you mean AP Computer Science Principles, which is an intro course? https://coursebulletin.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/CourseDetails/Index/TEC2005A

Or AP Computer Science Java, which is more advanced? https://coursebulletin.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/CourseDetails/Index/ITC2007A

[Anonymous]

AP Physics 1 is a difficult class and difficult AP test. My child is working their tail off in it this year.

I have heard that AP Computer Science principles is not an especially difficult test, but know nothing about the class.

AP Gov is not hard if you keep up with the work and engage with the material.