Regular vs. Honors vs. AP

[Anonymous]

Hi there, I'm a parent of a rising high schooler.

It seems that MCPS calls everything "Honors" now. Are there really any regular level classes? Is there a real substantive difference between Honors and AP versions of the same class? Or is this just a nomenclature difference? For reference, when I was in MCPS school in the 90s, we had regular level, Honors, and very few AP options, and the AP classes were a lot harder and more in depth than the Honors classes. Seems there are a LOT more AP classes now which is great, but I fear there is a great watering down effect happening. Appreciate any guidance.

[Anonymous]

Honors is a joke. It's more like a regular class. There are some "regular" classes, but it also depends on the HS. Some HS has almost no regular classes, only "honors" because parents are pushy about their kids being in the "honors" classes. It just inflates the grades.

AP classes are harder.

I have one kid in HS currently and one who graduated two years ago.

[Anonymous]

MCPS does not call everything Honors now and yes there are plenty of in level classes and plenty of kids talking them (Despite what DCUM will tell you). The only place where this is absolutely a problem is English (MS and Grade 9/10). Choosing an advance SS, Science or Math is a different experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS does not call everything Honors now and yes there are plenty of in level classes and plenty of kids talking them (Despite what DCUM will tell you). The only place where this is absolutely a problem is English (MS and Grade 9/10). Choosing an advance SS, Science or Math is a different experience.

Thanks. OP here, my child's English experience in Middle School has been terrible. This year he finally has a teacher who can be taken seriously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS does not call everything Honors now and yes there are plenty of in level classes and plenty of kids talking them (Despite what DCUM will tell you). The only place where this is absolutely a problem is English (MS and Grade 9/10). Choosing an advance SS, Science or Math is a different experience.

Health A/B is an "honors" class, but it's a joke. My kid have taken it.

[Anonymous]

In some areas there is definitely inflation in calling things honors. That is not true of math. Many threads here of parents trying to figure out if their kids should drop from honors to on level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi there, I'm a parent of a rising high schooler.

It seems that MCPS calls everything "Honors" now. Are there really any regular level classes? Is there a real substantive difference between Honors and AP versions of the same class? Or is this just a nomenclature difference? For reference, when I was in MCPS school in the 90s, we had regular level, Honors, and very few AP options, and the AP classes were a lot harder and more in depth than the Honors classes. Seems there are a LOT more AP classes now which is great, but I fear there is a great watering down effect happening. Appreciate any guidance.

You mean you have a child in 8th grade. The rising thing is tired.

[Anonymous]

In most high schools, they have gotten rid of regular or on-level classes. Honors has no criteria. It's now Honors-for-All, which means Honors is the new regular class and AP/IB is the new honors. It's madness, to be honest, but that's the current state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi there, I'm a parent of a rising high schooler.

It seems that MCPS calls everything "Honors" now. Are there really any regular level classes? Is there a real substantive difference between Honors and AP versions of the same class? Or is this just a nomenclature difference? For reference, when I was in MCPS school in the 90s, we had regular level, Honors, and very few AP options, and the AP classes were a lot harder and more in depth than the Honors classes. Seems there are a LOT more AP classes now which is great, but I fear there is a great watering down effect happening. Appreciate any guidance.

You mean you have a child in 8th grade. The rising thing is tired.

Yes, only use rising in the summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS does not call everything Honors now and yes there are plenty of in level classes and plenty of kids talking them (Despite what DCUM will tell you). The only place where this is absolutely a problem is English (MS and Grade 9/10). Choosing an advance SS, Science or Math is a different experience.

What percentage of MCPS high schools do not opt into the Honors-for-All model that is dominant in the DCC and NEC?

[Anonymous]

Honors used to be a small cluster of kids who showed higher level thinking and good behavior. Now the only difference between honors and gen ed is how much money your parents make and how entitled that makes them. Gen ed is a dumping ground for poor kids and honors class the good kids will messed with by the out of control rich kids. But luckily all bad behavior and lack of learning is easily blamed on the teacher who no one respects any way bc they keep trying to get kids off their phones. They get no support and even worse blame blame blame fire.

[Anonymous]

So, it sounds like the best tactic for a high performing, well behaved kid that does not get into any special or magnet programs... would be:
- If in higher tracked math (Alg 2+ for 9th) - stay in that track.
- Opt into any other accelerated tracks offered.
- Stay in higher language levels (more serious students in higher levels vs. levels 1&2?)
- Get into as many APs as possible

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS does not call everything Honors now and yes there are plenty of in level classes and plenty of kids talking them (Despite what DCUM will tell you). The only place where this is absolutely a problem is English (MS and Grade 9/10). Choosing an advance SS, Science or Math is a different experience.

What percentage of MCPS high schools do not opt into the Honors-for-All model that is dominant in the DCC and NEC?

Many of the posted documents on school sites still show on-level classes being offered, but in reality they will only offer the Honors class. With the exception of math, which as others have said, still often has on-level options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, it sounds like the best tactic for a high performing, well behaved kid that does not get into any special or magnet programs... would be:
- If in higher tracked math (Alg 2+ for 9th) - stay in that track.
- Opt into any other accelerated tracks offered.
- Stay in higher language levels (more serious students in higher levels vs. levels 1&2?)
- Get into as many APs as possible

You can just register for whichever AP classes you want to take, as long as you have the prerequisites.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS does not call everything Honors now and yes there are plenty of in level classes and plenty of kids talking them (Despite what DCUM will tell you). The only place where this is absolutely a problem is English (MS and Grade 9/10). Choosing an advance SS, Science or Math is a different experience.

What percentage of MCPS high schools do not opt into the Honors-for-All model that is dominant in the DCC and NEC?

Many of the posted documents on school sites still show on-level classes being offered, but in reality they will only offer the Honors class. With the exception of math, which as others have said, still often has on-level options.

So in other words, the PP who is attempting to act like Honors-for-All isn't pervasive throughout MCPS high schools, is attempting to obfuscate and gaslight.