How many freshman take AP Gov or History?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At our school, Kennedy, they push the "gifted" kids to take AP Gov in 9th grade and AP US History in 10th grade.

In my opinion, having just done through this with my son, I don't think kids should be taking AP courses in 9th grade, with probably a few exceptions here and there.

Most kids aren't ready for that kind of rigor or discipline and unfortunately, the lax attitudes of the pandemic from their middle school transition years really didn't prepare them for the reality check that comes with an AP course with regard to study habits and test taking intensity.

That being said, MCPS seems intent on cramming more and more kids on the advanced tracks sooner rather than later, even if the kids flounder and aren't ready. I assume this is because they think it makes them look good, but also because they have such liberal retake/reassessment policies that even if kids do struggle, they have multiple chances for do-overs, so in the end, they can still end up with a B or an A.

However, the truth lies in the AP exam scores, and if you look at the MCPS students taking these AP courses and the exam, a lot of kids are flopping with 1's or 2's on the exams, even though they've got a good classroom grade.

This right here. When your kid is getting an A in an AP course in MCPS and getting a 3 or lower on the test that gives them credit, well it looks pretty bad on the school and the student.

Some top colleges are only accepting 5's on exams now and most that kids that want to push themselves into only take 4's on the exams.

AP classes and honors classes count the same on a weighted scale. They shouldn't, but MCPS does anything for inflated grades.

No reason to take AP Gov and APUSH unless your child is intelligent enough to guarantee 4 and 5's on test.

[Anonymous]

Your daughter came home from orientation of what is likely a 500 person class and thought that only non college bound kids take Honors US History? Because she what saw every kids schedule and got to know their full lives and reasoning for selecting the courses they did? And you are on here repeating or paraphrasing same question?

You seem worried about your daughters ability to handle the AP class along w/the rest of her schedule and life. Yet it doesn’t occur to you that other parents and students might have had the same concerns when selecting schedule? Or that not everyone loves history so they don’t want take an AP history class, particularly freshman year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At our school, Kennedy, they push the "gifted" kids to take AP Gov in 9th grade and AP US History in 10th grade.

In my opinion, having just done through this with my son, I don't think kids should be taking AP courses in 9th grade, with probably a few exceptions here and there.

Most kids aren't ready for that kind of rigor or discipline and unfortunately, the lax attitudes of the pandemic from their middle school transition years really didn't prepare them for the reality check that comes with an AP course with regard to study habits and test taking intensity.

That being said, MCPS seems intent on cramming more and more kids on the advanced tracks sooner rather than later, even if the kids flounder and aren't ready. I assume this is because they think it makes them look good, but also because they have such liberal retake/reassessment policies that even if kids do struggle, they have multiple chances for do-overs, so in the end, they can still end up with a B or an A.

However, the truth lies in the AP exam scores, and if you look at the MCPS students taking these AP courses and the exam, a lot of kids are flopping with 1's or 2's on the exams, even though they've got a good classroom grade.

This right here. When your kid is getting an A in an AP course in MCPS and getting a 3 or lower on the test that gives them credit, well it looks pretty bad on the school and the student.

Some top colleges are only accepting 5's on exams now and most that kids that want to push themselves into only take 4's on the exams.

AP classes and honors classes count the same on a weighted scale. They shouldn't, but MCPS does anything for inflated grades.

No reason to take AP Gov and APUSH unless your child is intelligent enough to guarantee 4 and 5's on test.

This weighting is not unique to MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At our school, Kennedy, they push the "gifted" kids to take AP Gov in 9th grade and AP US History in 10th grade.

In my opinion, having just done through this with my son, I don't think kids should be taking AP courses in 9th grade, with probably a few exceptions here and there.

Most kids aren't ready for that kind of rigor or discipline and unfortunately, the lax attitudes of the pandemic from their middle school transition years really didn't prepare them for the reality check that comes with an AP course with regard to study habits and test taking intensity.

That being said, MCPS seems intent on cramming more and more kids on the advanced tracks sooner rather than later, even if the kids flounder and aren't ready. I assume this is because they think it makes them look good, but also because they have such liberal retake/reassessment policies that even if kids do struggle, they have multiple chances for do-overs, so in the end, they can still end up with a B or an A.

However, the truth lies in the AP exam scores, and if you look at the MCPS students taking these AP courses and the exam, a lot of kids are flopping with 1's or 2's on the exams, even though they've got a good classroom grade.

This right here. When your kid is getting an A in an AP course in MCPS and getting a 3 or lower on the test that gives them credit, well it looks pretty bad on the school and the student.

Some top colleges are only accepting 5's on exams now and most that kids that want to push themselves into only take 4's on the exams.

AP classes and honors classes count the same on a weighted scale. They shouldn't, but MCPS does anything for inflated grades.

No reason to take AP Gov and APUSH unless your child is intelligent enough to guarantee 4 and 5's on test.

This weighting is not unique to MCPS.

It absolutely is

Nationally and all privates:

Honors is a 0.5 bump
AP is a full 1.0 bump

Between that and MCPS 89.5 and a 79.5 = an A - there is no other county in the country with inflated grades like MCPS. Not to mention the 50% and constant retakes teachers allow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Holy shit this madness needs to stop. These are FRESHMEN.

MCPS allows it. You need something to show you aren't in the masses with a basic weighted A grade like everyone else has. That is why kids take it. It is hard to differentiate the top kids from average A kids.

[Anonymous]

My son at Einstein took AP US as a freshman. He got a 2 on the AP but that was during COVID and it was a weird online home test shortened to forty five minutes. He took AP govt the next year and got a 5

[Anonymous]

My oldest is in college now and he went the Hon US history pathway as a HS freshman. It never occurred to me that some kids take APs that early because I went to a small HS with only a few AP classes. It was probably for the best as it took him some time to adjust to the higher pace of HS. He did AP Gov/NSL in sophomore year and while it wasn't hard per se, it was a ton of work. I don't think it hurt his college prospects - he got into a great SLAC with 7 total AP classes and everything else honors.

His younger sibling starts HS next week and he was placed in AP Gov/NSL as a freshman with the expectation that he takes APUSH as a sophomore. He loves history/politics so I think he'll do OK. My oldest didn't take any math or science APs and I doubt the younger one will either, so the more AP history classes they can take, the better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At Blair 9th graders can take US history hons or AP US History. Magnet students were STRONGLY recommended not to take the AP version. I can’t imagine it will hurt their college chances!

Only starting this year- Blair did not used to even have AP US History

[Anonymous]

Unnecessary. Take APs in subjects she’s interested in and and with the knowledge the the volume of work is more significant than in non AP classes. Good rule of thumb is to increase or take same # of AP classes in subsequent years. Don’t let DD overdo on the pressure cooker that HS can be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son at Einstein took AP US as a freshman. He got a 2 on the AP but that was during COVID and it was a weird online home test shortened to forty five minutes. He took AP govt the next year and got a 5

Can he retake the AP exam? Wondering how this works as I have a child headed to Einstein.

[Anonymous]

I think its pretty common for the smarter kids to take it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son at Einstein took AP US as a freshman. He got a 2 on the AP but that was during COVID and it was a weird online home test shortened to forty five minutes. He took AP govt the next year and got a 5

Can he retake the AP exam? Wondering how this works as I have a child headed to Einstein.

Yes.

https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/register-for-ap-exams

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son at Einstein took AP US as a freshman. He got a 2 on the AP but that was during COVID and it was a weird online home test shortened to forty five minutes. He took AP govt the next year and got a 5

Can he retake the AP exam? Wondering how this works as I have a child headed to Einstein.

I don’t know, actually. Didn’t think about that.

My main advice to Einstein parents is, unless your kid really wants to take IB, go with APs. If you want to hear my reasoning let me know and I will elaborate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At Blair 9th graders can take US history hons or AP US History. Magnet students were STRONGLY recommended not to take the AP version. I can’t imagine it will hurt their college chances!

And students not in Magnet aren't taking Super Double Magnet Science, so have more time for AP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At Blair 9th graders can take US history hons or AP US History. Magnet students were STRONGLY recommended not to take the AP version. I can’t imagine it will hurt their college chances!

Only starting this year- Blair did not used to even have AP US History

Well we’re talking about this year. What happened last year isn’t relevant.