AP Chem or AP Bio junior year (at Blair)?

[Anonymous]

It is a little strange that the MCPS high schools recommend different science sequences for STEM focused kids.

In WJ the recommendation to get the maximum science AP courses is as follows:

9th Grade: Honors Biology & Honors Chemistry
10th Grade: AP Physics 1 & AP Environmental Science
11th Grade: AP Physics C & AP Chemistry
12th Grade: AP Biology

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is a little strange that the MCPS high schools recommend different science sequences for STEM focused kids.

In WJ the recommendation to get the maximum science AP courses is as follows:

9th Grade: Honors Biology & Honors Chemistry
10th Grade: AP Physics 1 & AP Environmental Science
11th Grade: AP Physics C & AP Chemistry
12th Grade: AP Biology

I'm not a WJ parent, but isn't this the recommendation for whatever program WJ has for advanced STEM kids in particular? The pathway that I was describing at Blair is not for "STEM kids," it's just the pathway for advanced students -- those who are in Honors Algebra 2 in 9th grade. But yes, it's still a little different regarding what to take, and I've found this strange too across high schools, as there is usually one or two threads a year about the different paths. Since WJ thinks you can take AP Physics 1 without taking Honors Physics, I guess that means taking Honors Physics and then AP Physics C might not be crazy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is a little strange that the MCPS high schools recommend different science sequences for STEM focused kids.

In WJ the recommendation to get the maximum science AP courses is as follows:

9th Grade: Honors Biology & Honors Chemistry
10th Grade: AP Physics 1 & AP Environmental Science
11th Grade: AP Physics C & AP Chemistry
12th Grade: AP Biology

I'm not a WJ parent, but isn't this the recommendation for whatever program WJ has for advanced STEM kids in particular? The pathway that I was describing at Blair is not for "STEM kids," it's just the pathway for advanced students -- those who are in Honors Algebra 2 in 9th grade. But yes, it's still a little different regarding what to take, and I've found this strange too across high schools, as there is usually one or two threads a year about the different paths. Since WJ thinks you can take AP Physics 1 without taking Honors Physics, I guess that means taking Honors Physics and then AP Physics C might not be crazy?

The Wheaton magnet has kids take AP physics I in 9th grade (paired with magnet precalc) and AP Bio in 10th, with no prior HS science class in either subject.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is a little strange that the MCPS high schools recommend different science sequences for STEM focused kids.

In WJ the recommendation to get the maximum science AP courses is as follows:

9th Grade: Honors Biology & Honors Chemistry
10th Grade: AP Physics 1 & AP Environmental Science
11th Grade: AP Physics C & AP Chemistry
12th Grade: AP Biology

Not a WJ parent but did many science and engineering courses when I was a student. If a student does the science courses you list, AP Environmental Science isn't necessary. In my opinion, AP Environ. is a feather weight science course compared to other AP Science courses and frankly not necessary. My suggestion would be to do double period (each) of AP Bio and AP chem in 10th Grade (it gives continuation from the 9th Grade courses). Along with that, take a Math, English, and Language courses and drop History course. A science or engineering interested student needs a minimum of three History courses (which can be taken in 9th, 11th, and 12th Grades).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is a little strange that the MCPS high schools recommend different science sequences for STEM focused kids.

In WJ the recommendation to get the maximum science AP courses is as follows:

9th Grade: Honors Biology & Honors Chemistry
10th Grade: AP Physics 1 & AP Environmental Science
11th Grade: AP Physics C & AP Chemistry
12th Grade: AP Biology

Not a WJ parent but did many science and engineering courses when I was a student. If a student does the science courses you list, AP Environmental Science isn't necessary. In my opinion, AP Environ. is a feather weight science course compared to other AP Science courses and frankly not necessary. My suggestion would be to do double period (each) of AP Bio and AP chem in 10th Grade (it gives continuation from the 9th Grade courses). Along with that, take a Math, English, and Language courses and drop History course. A science or engineering interested student needs a minimum of three History courses (which can be taken in 9th, 11th, and 12th Grades).

I think that all MCPS sophomores are required to take Government. At least, that's been my experience. I agree that AP Env. can be skipped.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is a little strange that the MCPS high schools recommend different science sequences for STEM focused kids.

In WJ the recommendation to get the maximum science AP courses is as follows:

9th Grade: Honors Biology & Honors Chemistry
10th Grade: AP Physics 1 & AP Environmental Science
11th Grade: AP Physics C & AP Chemistry
12th Grade: AP Biology

Not a WJ parent but did many science and engineering courses when I was a student. If a student does the science courses you list, AP Environmental Science isn't necessary. In my opinion, AP Environ. is a feather weight science course compared to other AP Science courses and frankly not necessary. My suggestion would be to do double period (each) of AP Bio and AP chem in 10th Grade (it gives continuation from the 9th Grade courses). Along with that, take a Math, English, and Language courses and drop History course. A science or engineering interested student needs a minimum of three History courses (which can be taken in 9th, 11th, and 12th Grades).

I think that all MCPS sophomores are required to take Government. At least, that's been my experience. I agree that AP Env. can be skipped.

Gov is a state requirement for graduation. Most kids take it in 10th but some in 9th. AP Env is considered one of the easiest APs. My DS said it overlappred (non-AP) bio a lot.

[Anonymous]

You can take 1-hour or 2-hour AP Bio at Blair, if that matters. The 1-hour moves a little faster and has more homework.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is a little strange that the MCPS high schools recommend different science sequences for STEM focused kids.

In WJ the recommendation to get the maximum science AP courses is as follows:

9th Grade: Honors Biology & Honors Chemistry
10th Grade: AP Physics 1 & AP Environmental Science
11th Grade: AP Physics C & AP Chemistry
12th Grade: AP Biology

The high schools have always operated independently from each other when it came to science courses. Prior to ~2004 and the introduction of county-wide final exams for science, even the content in a particular course could vary widely from school to school. High Schools program for the students they have and have to consider all of the special populations and programs within the school. If you don't have enough kids taking BC Calculus, you can't offer AP Physics C. If you suddenly start getting a lot of kids from middle school having completed Honors Geometry and Honors Physics (at Parkland) you add a magnet program (Wheaton). And when there are big changes such as the elimination of Matter and Energy and the requirement for all students to take the new NGSS courses (Bio, Chem, Physics) or AP/IB courses, you can get a staffing problem as a large bump of kids end up taking a particular course. Each high school has to respond differently - thus all the variation.

[Anonymous]

If your child is hoping/planing to go to a specific college, you may want to look at the AP credit that college gives. For example, MIT (where I went) does not give ANY credit for Biology, Chemistry, or Computer Science AP exams, even for a 5. MIT lets you out of Calculus I for a 5 on the AP Calc BC, but not for any lower score (I got that credit and started in Calc II, and it was way, way harder than my high school's multivariable calc, and I wish I'd just started with Calc I at MIT). For physics, you have to get a 5 on both of the Physics C exams, or no credit at all, and the credit is only for mechanics (Physics I), not electromagnetism (Physics II). Any 5s on humanities exams gives only general credit, which doesn't help for anything in the long run, although the English language/literature exams get you out of the writing test taken during orientation. So, my 10 APs, 7 of which had 5s (the other 3 I studied for on my own without a class and got 4s), got me out of only Calc I, and I wish I'd taken the class anyway. For the record, MIT requires EVERY student, regardless of major, to take Calc I and II, Physics I and II, Bio, Chem, and a 4-class humanities concentration.