Why isn't there more challenge in the MCPS HS curriculum?

[Anonymous]

Why isn't he in Pre-IB classes?

[Anonymous]

My 9th grader (at a different school) is in Honors Physics. That is what 9th graders who are in Algebra 2 take at his school. It does seem challenging.

[Anonymous]

My 9th grader (at a different school) is in Honors Physics. That is what 9th graders who are in Algebra 2 take at his school. It does seem challenging.

This is not how they do it at BCC. My DC is in Algebra 2.

Honors English per the curriculum is also way below DC's abilities but DC happens to have a teacher who goes above and beyond. Still, it's easy for DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. DC is at BCC, and doesn't find "Honors" classes at all challenging, at least in 9th grade.

There has to be some middle ground between "loading up on APs with 5 hours of homework per night" and being so bored in science (so-called "Honors" Biology) that DC complains that no new information is being taught, everything was covered in middle (or even elementary) school. Sad because this kid loves science and is thinking of a medical career.

I agree that AP NSL is not overwhelming and easily other APs are much harder. I'm not pushing for the AP label or the AP credit - I just think my kid would do so much better (so much less boredom) if all classes were on this level of material, pace, expectations, etc. (Also, doesn't hurt that the NSL teacher is phenomenal.)

I just don't see how kids being bored and falling asleep in class helps other kids. That seems to be the justification for avoiding "tracking".

Is your kid complaining about English/language/math or is it really just a Hon Bio problem? Even the honors students are not all going to be really into science the way your kid is. Your kid may have learned more in elementary and middle school than others because of this strong interest. Recognizing that, I would try to get the kid into AP science classes as soon as reasonably possible.

Could be mainly an Honors Bio problem. Dd is in Honors bio this year and complains every single day that she learns nothing and it is a baby class. She says it is easier than the version she took in MS. (FWIW, I went to 7th grade DS's back-to-school-night and the science teacher said that kids in her class learn more than they learn in HS bio, so it sounds like she is correct.) She took Honors chemistry last year and found it substantive (at times hard but always meaty). Unfortunately, our school require honors bio before AP bio so it is kind of a wasted year. She's also taking AP Physics 1 this year and that one is challenging.

[Anonymous]

Not sure what school the OP is talking about, but the AP classes at our school are pretty challenging. Also, grade level (non-honors) are not special ed. My kid took regular Pre-Calc last year and it most definitely was NOT a special ed class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure what school the OP is talking about, but the AP classes at our school are pretty challenging. Also, grade level (non-honors) are not special ed. My kid took regular Pre-Calc last year and it most definitely was NOT a special ed class.

When I was a freshman in 1989, and I suck at math, I was in Algebra 1. There were seniors in my class. One student was so mature I swear she was a stripper an dressed like one. I think she invented the exposed thong trend

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure what school the OP is talking about, but the AP classes at our school are pretty challenging. Also, grade level (non-honors) are not special ed. My kid took regular Pre-Calc last year and it most definitely was NOT a special ed class.

Agree. Mine was at Whitman, and a smart kid, and the classes were plenty challenging. DC took 11 AP classes over the 4 years, and the rest were honors level (except for those where it wasn't a choice). I'm surprised to hear that BCC is that different.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like there may be only a few high schools in MCPS where the honors classes are challenging. My DD is in the DCC and has found most of her honors classes non-challenging. I went to a private high school and had plenty of challenge in my non-AP classes.

Some AP classes that I've heard of 9th and 10th graders taking: AP Gov, APUSH, AP Comp Sci Principles, AP Physics 1, AP foreign language if kid is a native speaker, AP Calculus AB if really advanced, AP Psych, and AP Music Theory for advanced musicans. I've heard of at least one 10th grader taking AP English Language. Friends in Colorado take AP Human Geography as freshmen; it would have to be an elective here.

APUSH will be a lot more work than AP Gov. If your child takes APUSH as a sophomore, maybe add one more AP and your child will have plenty to do. Focus on extracurriculars and getting state requirements (PE, tech, art, health) out of the way if your child is going to do IB later.

[Anonymous]

PP here - I also recommend the possibility of doubling up on Chem and Physics during sophomore year if freshman year is devoted to Biology. Not absolutely necessary, but since IB students typically devote junior and senior year to the same science subject (HL level), this will let your DC know what he is most interested in.

[Anonymous]

Curious how do kids with anxiety today handle Oral communications? I heard something in the need about no longer calling on students for fear of public speaking or something though I might have misrememberEd? All I know is I have the worst speaking anxiety in the world.

[Anonymous]

APUSH will be a lot more work than AP Gov. If your child takes APUSH as a sophomore, maybe add one more AP and your child will have plenty to do. Focus on extracurriculars and getting state requirements (PE, tech, art, health) out of the way if your child is going to do IB later.

Thanks. Really good advice on this thread. My hopes have been raised again . If DC takes APUSH and AP Lang sophomore year, and as you say focuses on extracurriculars and state requirements, this sounds promising. I am 100% certain DC should do the IB Diploma.

[Anonymous]

OP, your child is sooo special. Too smart and too good for lowly MCPS.

Paleeze.

[Anonymous]

So piecing together the various threads on this - my suspicion is that OP's daughter went to TPMS, did not get into Blair STEM, and is now back at BCC. Thus, she had an incredibly rigorous Math and Science background for MS, she's very smart (given that she got into TPMS) and it is quite likely that Honors Bio will be a breeze. She will be challenged as she goes up the ladder. AP Chem and AP Bio and AP Physics are all no joke classes with hours of homework - even for the math/science kids. AP Calc and AP Stats are similar. Let this year be the year she figures out whether she wants to do any extracurriculars, the year she finds her friends and tribe, the year she figures out what she wants to focus on. All of that requires time - time she wouldn't have with a really rigorous courseload in 9th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So piecing together the various threads on this - my suspicion is that OP's daughter went to TPMS, did not get into Blair STEM, and is now back at BCC. Thus, she had an incredibly rigorous Math and Science background for MS, she's very smart (given that she got into TPMS) and it is quite likely that Honors Bio will be a breeze. She will be challenged as she goes up the ladder. AP Chem and AP Bio and AP Physics are all no joke classes with hours of homework - even for the math/science kids. AP Calc and AP Stats are similar. Let this year be the year she figures out whether she wants to do any extracurriculars, the year she finds her friends and tribe, the year she figures out what she wants to focus on. All of that requires time - time she wouldn't have with a really rigorous courseload in 9th grade.

Disagree. OP says that at each level change OP hopes the courses will be the right level of challenge and they're not (presumably being 3rd grade, middle school, HS). I don't think that fits with your narrative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, your child is sooo special. Too smart and too good for lowly MCPS.

Paleeze.

Don't mock. I know a lot of parents who said the same thing about 9th grade. If it weren't for APUSH, my kid wouldn't have had any work at all in 9th grade. The workload gets progressively more challenging when more APs are added, but not very many are available for 9th graders.