Do most kids take physics junior or senior year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All 3 of my kids required a tutor for 9th grade conceptual physics because they just were not ready for that kind of abstract thinking yet. I wish it wasn’t required in 9th grade, because I think it would have gone a lot smoother in 11th or 12th grade.

My point exactly. Conceptual physics is very difficult and not easy for 9th or 10th graders to grasp.

+2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Skipping physics is missing out on an exposure that can change how a kid feels about science. Plenty dislike bio and chem but love physics (and vice versa). That chance will not likely come back, as college physics is not a good first exposure.

Tangential to this, to me physics seems part of a well rounded high school education, part of the purpose of which is to give students the basics/a first taste to discover what they want to study in college. We encourage our kids to take all 4 years in the 5 core subjects (english, math, science, social studies, world language), and within science bio, chem and physics seem fundamental. And we are a humanties oriented family - spouse and I are lawyers and kids davorite subjects are history and languages, respectively.

Sure - but there are other sciences beyond physics. A student can take four years of science without taking physics. Geosystems, AP Bio, AP Environmental Science, AP Chem, Anatomy, Oceanography, etc. Plenty of science to learn about. Physics isn’t required in FCPS, nor should it be.

[Anonymous]

DC took physics hons in 9th grade. Will take 2 Physics C APs in 12th.

Physics C - Electricity and Magnetism
Physics C - Mechanics

He is taking AP Calc BC and AP Stats in Junior Year. Comp Sci or engineering Major. Aiming for T15.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Skipping physics is missing out on an exposure that can change how a kid feels about science. Plenty dislike bio and chem but love physics (and vice versa). That chance will not likely come back, as college physics is not a good first exposure.

Tangential to this, to me physics seems part of a well rounded high school education, part of the purpose of which is to give students the basics/a first taste to discover what they want to study in college. We encourage our kids to take all 4 years in the 5 core subjects (english, math, science, social studies, world language), and within science bio, chem and physics seem fundamental. And we are a humanties oriented family - spouse and I are lawyers and kids davorite subjects are history and languages, respectively.

Sure - but there are other sciences beyond physics. A student can take four years of science without taking physics. Geosystems, AP Bio, AP Environmental Science, AP Chem, Anatomy, Oceanography, etc. Plenty of science to learn about. Physics isn’t required in FCPS, nor should it be.

Good points. Physics has become required in MCPS like bio and chem (I think this is a recent change).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Skipping physics is missing out on an exposure that can change how a kid feels about science. Plenty dislike bio and chem but love physics (and vice versa). That chance will not likely come back, as college physics is not a good first exposure.

Tangential to this, to me physics seems part of a well rounded high school education, part of the purpose of which is to give students the basics/a first taste to discover what they want to study in college. We encourage our kids to take all 4 years in the 5 core subjects (english, math, science, social studies, world language), and within science bio, chem and physics seem fundamental. And we are a humanties oriented family - spouse and I are lawyers and kids davorite subjects are history and languages, respectively.

Sure - but there are other sciences beyond physics. A student can take four years of science without taking physics. Geosystems, AP Bio, AP Environmental Science, AP Chem, Anatomy, Oceanography, etc. Plenty of science to learn about. Physics isn’t required in FCPS, nor should it be.

They could, but it would be an incomplete education. Even back in the old days (the 80s), high school physics was a baseline requirement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:STEM kids take physics, and they take it at the year that makes most sense for the school's policies.

Environmental science is a copout.

Not if the student is interested in environmental science. Stay in your own lane.

Are kids getting into ES programs in college with zero physics on their transcript?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:STEM kids take physics, and they take it at the year that makes most sense for the school's policies.

Environmental science is a copout.

Not if the student is interested in environmental science. Stay in your own lane.

Are kids getting into ES programs in college with zero physics on their transcript?

This is my question. My kid is a geoscience major in college. Recommend a minimum of 2 semesters of Chem, 3 semesters of physics, math through multivariable.

[Anonymous]

My DD is not taking physics. She is not planning to be a math or science or engineering major. Counselor advised she take a science she is interested in for senior year. She already took Bio, Chem, and Earth Science so she will take Astronomy