Intensified vs non-intensified algebra in 8th (APS)

[Anonymous]

Can anyone explain the difference?

[Anonymous]

Yes. One is intensified. The other isn't.

[Anonymous]

Intensified includes factoring of polynomials. Non-intensified doesn't get that far.

You need the intensive curriculum to take Alg2/Trig after Geometry, to then take precalculus and then calculus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Intensified includes factoring of polynomials. Non-intensified doesn't get that far.

You need the intensive curriculum to take Alg2/Trig after Geometry, to then take precalculus and then calculus.

This isn’t true, you don’t need the intensified to take Alg 2, there is non intensified algebra 2.

Intensified moves faster and covers more material. If your kid is confident and stays on top of their work and likes to be challenged, do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Intensified includes factoring of polynomials. Non-intensified doesn't get that far.

You need the intensive curriculum to take Alg2/Trig after Geometry, to then take precalculus and then calculus.

This isn’t true, you don’t need the intensified to take Alg 2, there is non intensified algebra 2.

Intensified moves faster and covers more material. If your kid is confident and stays on top of their work and likes to be challenged, do it.

Right, the "more material" is factoring polynomials. So you can take non-intensified Alg 2, but it does not include Trigonometry so the next step is Alg 3 not precalculus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Intensified includes factoring of polynomials. Non-intensified doesn't get that far.

You need the intensive curriculum to take Alg2/Trig after Geometry, to then take precalculus and then calculus.

This isn’t true, you don’t need the intensified to take Alg 2, there is non intensified algebra 2.

Intensified moves faster and covers more material. If your kid is confident and stays on top of their work and likes to be challenged, do it.

Right, the "more material" is factoring polynomials. So you can take non-intensified Alg 2, but it does not include Trigonometry so the next step is Alg 3 not precalculus.

NP. Not necessarily. You can still go from regular Algebra 2 to pre-calc if you do well & have a teacher rec. Check out the APS math pathways. I don’t think many kids are taking Algebra 3.

[Anonymous]

Basically, the non-intensified track adds one class before pre-calc, called Algebra III, so you get to Calculus faster on the intensified track. That extra content is rolled into the intensified classes.

[Anonymous]

Do most kids end up taking intensified? What about kids taking all the other intensified- is this usually their path? Asking because I hadn’t planned on putting my kid in intensive math but I think that’s the rec for them.

[Anonymous]

I have a rising 6th grader and this is all new to me, so I've spent some time looking at the progressions chart to help clear things up. I'm not sure what's "usual" and not, but for other who are not clear here it is:

https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2025/01/APS-Secondary-Math-Progressions.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do most kids end up taking intensified? What about kids taking all the other intensified- is this usually their path? Asking because I hadn’t planned on putting my kid in intensive math but I think that’s the rec for them.

After having two kids go through this differently, I would recommend starting with intensified. It is easier to get off the intensified path if it's too much than try to get on later. My DS did the latter, was in a position of having to catch up (luckily I could tutor him), when he should have just taken Intensified Alg I in the first place.

Also, so many of my DD's friends have taken Geometry in summer school so that can get to Calculus before graduating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a rising 6th grader and this is all new to me, so I've spent some time looking at the progressions chart to help clear things up. I'm not sure what's "usual" and not, but for other who are not clear here it is:

https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2025/01/APS-Secondary-Math-Progressions.pdf

If your child is going to WL, there are additional pathways including IB math. So there are even more choices than the chart lays out.