Science credits in FCPS--AP and non-AP

[Anonymous]

If you take a gen.ed or Honors Science class, followed by AP in the same subject (eg. biology), does that count as two science credits or just one?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you take a gen.ed or Honors Science class, followed by AP in the same subject (eg. biology), does that count as two science credits or just one?

For what purpose?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you take a gen.ed or Honors Science class, followed by AP in the same subject (eg. biology), does that count as two science credits or just one?

For what purpose?

For science credits and credits in general for graduation. FCPS doesn't let kids go directly into AP science classes right after middle school, so I would hope that you don't have to take the honors classes for nothing if your goal is to ultimately take the AP class.

[Anonymous]

Biology is usually a Freshmen course, but AP classes can't start till Jr. year.
How old is your student that you are thinking about this and summer school?
AP Bio is not a repeat (or different level) of on level or honors bio.

http://www.fcps.edu/is/schoolcounseling/courses/science.shtml

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you take a gen.ed or Honors Science class, followed by AP in the same subject (eg. biology), does that count as two science credits or just one?

For what purpose?

For science credits and credits in general for graduation. FCPS doesn't let kids go directly into AP science classes right after middle school, so I would hope that you don't have to take the honors classes for nothing if your goal is to ultimately take the AP class.

When a student takes Honors/Gen Ed Biology in 9th, she gets credit for one science class that is verified by the SOL. Chemistry is the same way. AP classes are not SOL courses, so they do not count for verified credit. When a student takes AP Biology, she gets credit for it. AP Biology is a second year science course, it is not a repeat of Honors or General Biology -same for Chemistry, same for Physics C.

A student needs to pass 3 Laboratory science classes- one of which needs to be with verified credit- to earn the standard diploma. An AP science class qualifies for the Lab science classes for unverified credit.

A student needs to pass 4 laboratory science classes - 2 of which need to be verified- to earn the advanced diploma.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Biology is usually a Freshmen course, but AP classes can't start till Jr. year.
How old is your student that you are thinking about this and summer school?
AP Bio is not a repeat (or different level) of on level or honors bio.

http://www.fcps.edu/is/schoolcounseling/courses/science.shtml

AP science classes don't start until junior year, but students can take AP World History or AP statistics during the sophomore year and AP Calculus - if they qualify.

[Anonymous]

AP Bio is a second year bio course. Students do receive credit for AP courses, but, as previously state, not a verified credit. You have to take gen or honors bio before you can take AP Bio. (Same for chem, physics is a little different).

The only thing to add is that for an advanced diploma, student do have 4 sciences (2 verified) and they must take 3 different areas of science. So you can't do: bio, chem, AP Chem, AP bio. That sequence only contains 2 different areas.

Anyway, kiddos looking at an advanced diploma are probably anticipating college, which means they should definitely take physics. Thus, they get three areas!

Source: I teach science in FCPS.