What math did your non-mathy kids take in 11th and 12th?

[Anonymous]

My DD took Pre-calc and then AP Calc AB and got a 5 on the exam

My DS took Pre-calc and then AP Stats but did not take the exam. I think he finished the year with a B+

They both graduated Summer 2025. She has gone off to do a STEM degree and he is doing a Humanities degree

[Anonymous]

11th- Alg 2 (he probably got a C like he always got in math)
12th- Pre-calculus (also got a C)

He was put into pre-algebra in 6th and it was all downhill from there. I did make him retake Alg 1 in 9th but I think the damage was done.

[Anonymous]

If taking on track Pre-Cal, might want to take Stats instead of AP AB Calc. Pre Calc does not prep you for AP AB Calc so said a Pre Calc and AP BC Calc math teacher.

If you know you are not going into Engineering, Calc isn't necessary. Students on the fence for studying STEM should probably take AP Calc AB at least. Check to see if SAT and ACT tests have Pre Calc type questions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If taking on track Pre-Cal, might want to take Stats instead of AP AB Calc. Pre Calc does not prep you for AP AB Calc so said a Pre Calc and AP BC Calc math teacher.

If you know you are not going into Engineering, Calc isn't necessary. Students on the fence for studying STEM should probably take AP Calc AB at least. Check to see if SAT and ACT tests have Pre Calc type questions.

Every year someone says that PreCal does not prepare you for AP AB Calc, and every year we have to correct this. Yes it does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If taking on track Pre-Cal, might want to take Stats instead of AP AB Calc. Pre Calc does not prep you for AP AB Calc so said a Pre Calc and AP BC Calc math teacher.

If you know you are not going into Engineering, Calc isn't necessary. Students on the fence for studying STEM should probably take AP Calc AB at least. Check to see if SAT and ACT tests have Pre Calc type questions.

Every year someone says that PreCal does not prepare you for AP AB Calc, and every year we have to correct this. Yes it does.

It does but it’s not relevant if child is struggling. They should not do precal. It’s hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If taking on track Pre-Cal, might want to take Stats instead of AP AB Calc. Pre Calc does not prep you for AP AB Calc so said a Pre Calc and AP BC Calc math teacher.

If you know you are not going into Engineering, Calc isn't necessary. Students on the fence for studying STEM should probably take AP Calc AB at least. Check to see if SAT and ACT tests have Pre Calc type questions.

The online sat has some precalc. The paper did not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She’s in 10th grade. I think we can get her through Hon Alg 2 this year but trying to figure out what to do next year for 11th grade. Stats? Pre-calc?

Hon alg 2 is no cake, mine is taking regular alg 2 (in another district) then it Will prob be regular trig, and then regular calculus

I think it’s better and more logical than skipping it all and going to stats

Mcps doesn’t have trig separate in less it’s new or school specific.

[Anonymous]

My kid struggled to get a B in Hon Alg 2 first semester of sophomore year. He went to on-level Alg 2 second semester and it was much better. This year (11th grade) he's in on-level pre calc and doing really well (got an A first quarter and on track to get an A this quarter), in part because he has a good teacher. We know some kids at his school who have a different teacher and are struggling. The math dept sent out an email about course selection and said students in on-level pre calc who want to take calculus in 12th grade should select Calculus with Applications, which is considered an honors class. They do not recommend AP calculus (inc. AP Calculus AB), even if you're getting an A or a B in regular pre calc. DC is likely going to take AP Stats next year. He's not looking at highly selective colleges or to major in STEM, so this feels like the right path for him. I know highly selective schools often want to see calculus on the transcript even for non-STEM kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:11th- Alg 2 (he probably got a C like he always got in math)
12th- Pre-calculus (also got a C)

He was put into pre-algebra in 6th and it was all downhill from there. I did make him retake Alg 1 in 9th but I think the damage was done.

It seems like MCPS is rethinking acceleration, recognizing that some kids should stay on the grade-level track. For a while they were trying to push all 8th graders to take algebra 1 by 8th grade, and that had consequences like what happened with your son. Now they are tightening criteria for acceleration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD barely has a B in Hon Alg 2 with tons of support. She’s considering stats for next year. Should she stick with pre-calc? Other options? Thanks

If she wants to get into a half decent college, then yes, I'd stick with pre-calc and have her drop down to regular (non-HON) level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:11th- Alg 2 (he probably got a C like he always got in math)
12th- Pre-calculus (also got a C)

He was put into pre-algebra in 6th and it was all downhill from there. I did make him retake Alg 1 in 9th but I think the damage was done.

It seems like MCPS is rethinking acceleration, recognizing that some kids should stay on the grade-level track. For a while they were trying to push all 8th graders to take algebra 1 by 8th grade, and that had consequences like what happened with your son. Now they are tightening criteria for acceleration.

It is a pendulum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD barely has a B in Hon Alg 2 with tons of support. She’s considering stats for next year. Should she stick with pre-calc? Other options? Thanks

Barley a B, try switching to 2-yr Alg2,
OR add Aalgebra 180 / Algebra support class
OR intensive tutoring to find and close the gaps.

Need to figure out why she's missing what she's missing, and if she to slow down, or needs to fill a gap, or has a major math disability that isn't going away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD barely has a B in Hon Alg 2 with tons of support. She’s considering stats for next year. Should she stick with pre-calc? Other options? Thanks

Barley a B, try switching to 2-yr Alg2,
OR add Aalgebra 180 / Algebra support class
OR intensive tutoring to find and close the gaps.

Need to figure out why she's missing what she's missing, and if she to slow down, or needs to fill a gap, or has a major math disability that isn't going away.

Barely a B is not failing and doesn’t warrant dropping down two levels.
OP’s kid should switch to regular Algebra 2 for semester B.

Then some options most to least rigorous:
11th - regular precalc; 12th - Calc with/Apps or AP Statistics or regular Statistics
11th - AP Statistics or Statistics; 12th - Financial math or AP Statistics

[Anonymous]

Depends if "barely a B" in semester 2 becomes a C in semester 2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If taking on track Pre-Cal, might want to take Stats instead of AP AB Calc. Pre Calc does not prep you for AP AB Calc so said a Pre Calc and AP BC Calc math teacher.

If you know you are not going into Engineering, Calc isn't necessary. Students on the fence for studying STEM should probably take AP Calc AB at least. Check to see if SAT and ACT tests have Pre Calc type questions.

Every year someone says that PreCal does not prepare you for AP AB Calc, and every year we have to correct this. Yes it does.

No it doesn't if kids like the OP's is already struggling.