SMCS Poolesville HS math pathway

[Anonymous]

OP your DD does not have to take AP stats. She can take applied stats for one semester so she'd only double up on math 1 semester in 11th. That's what I would do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter got invited to the phs smcs program and we are still in the process of accepting or not.
I was wondering if any upperclassmen parent can answer a question. For the math pathway in the smcs program, is it possible to spread the math classes to one per year. It seems in junior year both ap calculus bc and ap stats is listed to be taken, is it possible to spread out the classes, ie take ap stat junior year and ap calc senior year.?

I know your child was invited but if you are concerned about the double math as a junior, SMCs is not the right path for your child. It’s an incredibly rigorous path. Don’t choose the path because your child was lucky enough to get in. It’s a really tough. We know several friends that have dropped out.

OP, ignore this comment. Probably it’s someone who wants your daughter’s spot or a troll.

[Anonymous]

Not sure about the lower pathway the functions pathway had the kids taking the AP stats test in 11th grade. I guess they covered the content in the Discrete Math class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter got invited to the phs smcs program and we are still in the process of accepting or not.
I was wondering if any upperclassmen parent can answer a question. For the math pathway in the smcs program, is it possible to spread the math classes to one per year. It seems in junior year both ap calculus bc and ap stats is listed to be taken, is it possible to spread out the classes, ie take ap stat junior year and ap calc senior year.?

I know your child was invited but if you are concerned about the double math as a junior, SMCs is not the right path for your child. It’s an incredibly rigorous path. Don’t choose the path because your child was lucky enough to get in. It’s a really tough. We know several friends that have dropped out.

OP, ignore this comment. Probably it’s someone who wants your daughter’s spot or a troll.

As the parent of a former SMCS student, I would agree with this advice. It is very tough for kids that don't like math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP your DD does not have to take AP stats. She can take applied stats for one semester so she'd only double up on math 1 semester in 11th. That's what I would do.

DP. Applied stats is a one semester class that squeezing a full year of AP stats class materials and some more extra material into one semester. So I don’t think the OP would be interested in doing that as it would be even more challenging then what classes (ap stats and ap calculus bc) they are currently worried about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter got invited to the phs smcs program and we are still in the process of accepting or not.
I was wondering if any upperclassmen parent can answer a question. For the math pathway in the smcs program, is it possible to spread the math classes to one per year. It seems in junior year both ap calculus bc and ap stats is listed to be taken, is it possible to spread out the classes, ie take ap stat junior year and ap calc senior year.?

It is surprising that stats, SRP (Research) A/B and internship are marked as required in the pathway. They are supposed to be optional even though almost everybody ends up doing them. You should contact the coordinator - you may have the option of skipping research/internship, in which case, they may let you move stats to the senior year. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I keep hearing, both on here and IRL, about Poolesville SMCS being soul crushingly hard on some kids who end up dropping out. But I also hear no one really drops out at Blair. What is the difference?

There are always a handful of kids who drop out of Blair too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure about the lower pathway the functions pathway had the kids taking the AP stats test in 11th grade. I guess they covered the content in the Discrete Math class.

No, it's covered in Applied Statistics and the Research classes.

AP Stats is half math, half learning about general research/experiment design.

[Anonymous]

Is PHS Vector Calculus and Multivariablr Calculus the equivalent / alternative to Blair's Analysis 2?
But PHS recommends taking Linear Algebra first, while Blair recommends Linear Algebra after?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I keep hearing, both on here and IRL, about Poolesville SMCS being soul crushingly hard on some kids who end up dropping out. But I also hear no one really drops out at Blair. What is the difference?

There are always a handful of kids who drop out of Blair too

Not heard of any. Import to be miss than one or two.

[Anonymous]

Unlikely to be more than one or two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I keep hearing, both on here and IRL, about Poolesville SMCS being soul crushingly hard on some kids who end up dropping out. But I also hear no one really drops out at Blair. What is the difference?

Different cohort. Blair draws from a larger population with a larger sub population of extremely, extremely dedicated students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter got invited to the phs smcs program and we are still in the process of accepting or not.
I was wondering if any upperclassmen parent can answer a question. For the math pathway in the smcs program, is it possible to spread the math classes to one per year. It seems in junior year both ap calculus bc and ap stats is listed to be taken, is it possible to spread out the classes, ie take ap stat junior year and ap calc senior year.?

DP here, but also interested in OP question, Are there any upperclassmen parents or recent grads of smacs who have taken the two junior year math classes (ap stat and ap calc bc) in separate years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP your DD does not have to take AP stats. She can take applied stats for one semester so she'd only double up on math 1 semester in 11th. That's what I would do.

DP. Applied stats is a one semester class that squeezing a full year of AP stats class materials and some more extra material into one semester. So I don’t think the OP would be interested in doing that as it would be even more challenging then what classes (ap stats and ap calculus bc) they are currently worried about.

OP never said she was worried about double math classes being too challenging did she? There are many reasons for asking this question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I keep hearing, both on here and IRL, about Poolesville SMCS being soul crushingly hard on some kids who end up dropping out. But I also hear no one really drops out at Blair. What is the difference?

Different cohort. Blair draws from a larger population with a larger sub population of extremely, extremely dedicated students.

This is a weird comparison. The two magnets draw from different areas (geographically). Poolesville's SMCS population might have a (slightly) lower median income (that part of Upper Moco being more middle class than places like Bethesda/Potomac that go to Blair). I think it's a little nuts to suggest that the students at Blair are more dedicated than the ones at PHS. They have very similar curriculums.

But if I were to guess, the drop outs probably have to do with just distance to PHS (it's a grind even for those in Upcounty). And the fact that the home high schools that are zoned for Poolesville magnets aren't that bad actually. Northwest, Clarksburg, quince orchard, these are all decent schools. Not "W" schools, but they all have application based special honors programs, and they all have a large group of academically inclined students outside the magnets.