Difference between Algebra 2 and Algebra 2 HN

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our school does not offer AP Prec AB. The options were non-honors precalculus or AP Precalc BC.
My son did honors geometry, regular algebra 2, and ap precalc BC.

Was it a struggle? Or was he able to manage?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC is moving into 9th and working with their counselor on math selection. Counselor said there is no upper math step after Algebra 2 non-honors. The leap is too big to pre-calc, which is only offered as an AP course. So then the option is statistics or another low-level math course.

Counselor recommended staying in the math honors classes for this reason.

This must be specific to your high school, because they have a standard level pre-calc at our school and my older son took it and then took Appied Calc after that since he is not going into a stem field, but enjoyed having a math class

PP here. Chantilly only offers AP pre-calc, per the counselor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC is moving into 9th and working with their counselor on math selection. Counselor said there is no upper math step after Algebra 2 non-honors. The leap is too big to pre-calc, which is only offered as an AP course. So then the option is statistics or another low-level math course.

Counselor recommended staying in the math honors classes for this reason.

This must be specific to your high school, because they have a standard level pre-calc at our school and my older son took it and then took Appied Calc after that since he is not going into a stem field, but enjoyed having a math class

PP here. Chantilly only offers AP pre-calc, per the counselor.

A math teacher posting in another part of DCUM about ap pre calc said most schools only offering ap version now bc basically same as non-ap offering before so doesn’t sound like the “ap” part of it is reason to scare off

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC is moving into 9th and working with their counselor on math selection. Counselor said there is no upper math step after Algebra 2 non-honors. The leap is too big to pre-calc, which is only offered as an AP course. So then the option is statistics or another low-level math course.

Counselor recommended staying in the math honors classes for this reason.

Mine went from Algebra 2 (regular) to AP Precalculus AB. It was a lot of work, but not too big a leap. Got As in both and a 4 on the AP. Had another AP and could not study as much as he wanted for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Mine went from Algebra 2 (regular) to AP Precalculus AB. It was a lot of work, but not too big a leap. Got As in both and a 4 on the AP. Had another AP and could not study as much as he wanted for it.

Did he consider doing Algebra 2 Honors ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Mine went from Algebra 2 (regular) to AP Precalculus AB. It was a lot of work, but not too big a leap. Got As in both and a 4 on the AP. Had another AP and could not study as much as he wanted for it.

Did he consider doing Algebra 2 Honors ?

No. He is the type who prefers to be at the top of a regular class rather than average or even below average in an honors class-gets stressed. We had no idea the school was going to eliminate regular Precalculus.We figured he could try the AP for a month and if miserable switch to Stat or something. It went fine. It was a challenge. but he wanted to stay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school does not offer AP Prec AB. The options were non-honors precalculus or AP Precalc BC.
My son did honors geometry, regular algebra 2, and ap precalc BC.

Was it a struggle? Or was he able to manage?

Actually his worst grade was in the regular algebra 2. The teacher was completely checked out-barely showed up all year, had very little graded work and the behavior in the class was a circus.

If you have a mediocre math student, do not discount how much the classroom environment affects their ability to learn. The teacher isn't bothering to teach the 2 kids who show up trying to learn.

Got a B in Hon Geometry, a C in Alg 2 and a B- in AP precalc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our HS provides slides that show the different expectations in each class. It says the difference is that “regular” does not require as much independent learning. Tests reflect problems given on homework. Whereas in Honors the test may require thinking beyond what was on the class and homework assignments. Taking what you learned and making additional connections.

This is exactly right at my school. Honors wants you to apply beyond what was explicitly taught. Regular wants to you to be able to do what you were shown. (there are also additional topics so the pace is faster, and our honors classes do a lot without a calculator while our regular classes get support with factor tables and calculators as needed)

--math teacher

[Anonymous]

Geometry and Algebra are much different topics that doing well in one has nothing to do with doing well in the other. How she did in Algebra 1 matters. A solid foundation in Algebra is essential for higher math, obviously. I think the expectation of independent learning in Honors is aligned with the what will be the same expectation in Calc BC