Are you sure it's AP? The college credit line says No. |
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OP did not misunderstand
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DYyB_e8MLNRSGugIc7cD4HcPU6hFUxenMH39Ko-yepU/edit |
So AP Phys C must be concurrent with AP Calc. |
See footnote. |
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"If you are a strong math student enrolled in Honors Pre-calculus talk with Ms. Rooney, you may still be eligible for AP Physics C: Mechanics. "
This is weirdly ambiguous. Ask the teacher to clarify. If you are already enrolled in precalculus, then you will take calculus next year when you are in the class you are signing up for now. So the footnote seems to be saying that calculus corequesite is the stretch opportunity. But that doesn't match the Prereq explanations above for Mech and E&M. I suspect it's a mistake, and they mean that most people should take calc first, but strong students can take calc as a coreq. Or they are inviting students who already finished precalc at home / AoPS and will be learning calculus at home while enrolled in precalc and Physics C at school. It is a W school, after all. As a side note, I'm very happy with the option to take C Mech and C E&M without any other physics prereq courses, and as single period each. Great option for highly able and prepared students. |
The No is in the Honors column, not the AP columns. |
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I'd say don't do it. If he's interested in physics, he should take AP Physics 1 and then AP Physics C Mechanics. AP Physics C E & M is a separate course.
My oldest went to WJHS and is very strong in math and science -- he's finishing his undergrad double-majoring in physics and CS. He also did both honors bio and honors chem in 9th. He took honors precalc and AP Physics 1 in 10th and then AP Calc BC and AP Physics C Mechanics in 11th (at the time, I don't believe E & M was offered), then AP Chem and Multivariate Calc in 12th. AP Physics C goes out of the gate way faster with calculus than does Calc BC (and by the way, Mr. Choi, who my son had for both Calc BC and multivariate in 12th grade, is a fantastic teacher but a no-nonsense, buckle down and do the work kind of guy, not a touchy-feely hold your hand kind of guy). The first part of 11th grade saw my son struggle in Calc BC and Physics C for the first time ever in math and science classes, and that was after a year of AP Physics under his belt already. It would be reasonable to take AP Physics 1 and AB for 10th, AP Physics C and BC for 11th, then whatever science class and multivariate for 12th, or else go BC next year, multivariate junior year, and maybe linear algebra senior year at MC or go AP Stats if he wants something easier senior year. But I wouldn't rush the physics. |
| Oh wait, he's taking precalc next year from re-reading your OP -- no way no how should he take AP Physics C at the same time. Precalc is not calculus and he should not be trying to figure out how to do calculus from taking AP Physics C. If he's not at least in AB or BC, he should not be taking AP Physics C at the same time, period. |
| Unless your school offers something beyond Calc BC and Physics C then no need to rush it. College admissions will not even notice your kid took it early. They will only notice the grade and move on. |
To answer the question about the graduation requirement no you do not need to take science every year. You can do what you are proposing and double up and then take AP Physics C Mech in 10th and it will still meet the requirements. The math requirement is a state one. https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteassets/district/curriculum/graduation-requirements/graduationataglance_classof2028.pdf |
| Chem fulfills the Earth and Space Sciences requirement. |