When take AP Calculus? (11th or 12th grade)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Geometry by 8th is considered the lower track in math in Moco, Arlington, and Fairfax. Yet it is the highest math track offered at the strongest school in dcps. Pathetic.

Yikes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Geometry by 8th is considered the lower track in math in Moco, Arlington, and Fairfax. Yet it is the highest math track offered at the strongest school in dcps. Pathetic.

Yikes

Yes, yes, we know, everyone in the state of Virginia takes calculus in kindergarten.

[Anonymous]

While I truly hate the defensive DCPS parent mentality that everything here is perfect, so sad and pathetic to see the clearly non-DCPS trolls fetishizing accelerated everything as if Calc in 11th grade as the floor.

News Flash: kids at a giant suburban high school with dozens of other accelerated classmates won't get into an Ivy or Top 20 maybe not UVA.

Keep telling yourself that accelerated math or winning spelling bees or graduating high school at age 15 is a hook. It's not. America doesn't prioritize test scores or accelerated math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:While I truly hate the defensive DCPS parent mentality that everything here is perfect, so sad and pathetic to see the clearly non-DCPS trolls fetishizing accelerated everything as if Calc in 11th grade as the floor.

News Flash: kids at a giant suburban high school with dozens of other accelerated classmates won't get into an Ivy or Top 20 maybe not UVA.

Keep telling yourself that accelerated math or winning spelling bees or graduating high school at age 15 is a hook. It's not. America doesn't prioritize test scores or accelerated math.

Correction the discussion was Cal in 12th was the floor. Cal should be offered in 11th grade and 10th grade and majority of schools offer neither.

Newsflash I don’t care about my kid getting into an Ivy or top 20. I went to a state school and am successful. College admissions is not the endpoint of high school.

I do care if he is bored to death in class and not learning and not being challenged because the school system DGAF about the high performers. This math discussion is just a small piece of the systemic problem in DCPS of low standards and low expectations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While I truly hate the defensive DCPS parent mentality that everything here is perfect, so sad and pathetic to see the clearly non-DCPS trolls fetishizing accelerated everything as if Calc in 11th grade as the floor.

News Flash: kids at a giant suburban high school with dozens of other accelerated classmates won't get into an Ivy or Top 20 maybe not UVA.

Keep telling yourself that accelerated math or winning spelling bees or graduating high school at age 15 is a hook. It's not. America doesn't prioritize test scores or accelerated math.

Correction the discussion was Cal in 12th was the floor. Cal should be offered in 11th grade and 10th grade and majority of schools offer neither.

Newsflash I don’t care about my kid getting into an Ivy or top 20. I went to a state school and am successful. College admissions is not the endpoint of high school.

I do care if he is bored to death in class and not learning and not being challenged because the school system DGAF about the high performers. This math discussion is just a small piece of the systemic problem in DCPS of low standards and low expectations.

Every high school that offers calc will allow a 10th grader to take it, if they have the prerequisites. And DCPS routinely allows outliers to take those prerequisites independently on an accelerated basis. You’re just mad that there’s no lockstep program that forces a large portion of the student body to accelerate to calc in 10th based on 6th grade math placement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While I truly hate the defensive DCPS parent mentality that everything here is perfect, so sad and pathetic to see the clearly non-DCPS trolls fetishizing accelerated everything as if Calc in 11th grade as the floor.

News Flash: kids at a giant suburban high school with dozens of other accelerated classmates won't get into an Ivy or Top 20 maybe not UVA.

Keep telling yourself that accelerated math or winning spelling bees or graduating high school at age 15 is a hook. It's not. America doesn't prioritize test scores or accelerated math.

Correction the discussion was Cal in 12th was the floor. Cal should be offered in 11th grade and 10th grade and majority of schools offer neither.

Newsflash I don’t care about my kid getting into an Ivy or top 20. I went to a state school and am successful. College admissions is not the endpoint of high school.

I do care if he is bored to death in class and not learning and not being challenged because the school system DGAF about the high performers. This math discussion is just a small piece of the systemic problem in DCPS of low standards and low expectations.

Every high school that offers calc will allow a 10th grader to take it, if they have the prerequisites. And DCPS routinely allows outliers to take those prerequisites independently on an accelerated basis. You’re just mad that there’s no lockstep program that forces a large portion of the student body to accelerate to calc in 10th based on 6th grade math placement.

I don't think s/he's saying that.
What all this does point to again and again, is that parents need to wake up and navigate their children's public K-12 adventure or else the result will be mediocrity. And mediocrity in America's public education system these days is lower than ever, and falling.

The teachers or counselors will not inform you of your options nor their ramifications. And if they do, it's too late. How convenient.

Take this calculus class question - which is a question on curriculum optionality that you need to make for your child DURING 6th GRADE.
You and your capable 12 yo kid don't know quite yet if they are going to push hard on stem or math or clearing their courseload for some passion.
But you should know, that by doing pre-algebra twice in middle school (mediocre track - not high track, not low track), you will NOT have an opportunity in high school to take further math, or statistics, or an independent project if you are on that track. Barring summer school to accelerate out of the 2nd pre-algebra or to complete geometry.

So wake up and plan accordingly. Also wake up and see what parents with older students are already doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While I truly hate the defensive DCPS parent mentality that everything here is perfect, so sad and pathetic to see the clearly non-DCPS trolls fetishizing accelerated everything as if Calc in 11th grade as the floor.

News Flash: kids at a giant suburban high school with dozens of other accelerated classmates won't get into an Ivy or Top 20 maybe not UVA.

Keep telling yourself that accelerated math or winning spelling bees or graduating high school at age 15 is a hook. It's not. America doesn't prioritize test scores or accelerated math.

Correction the discussion was Cal in 12th was the floor. Cal should be offered in 11th grade and 10th grade and majority of schools offer neither.

Newsflash I don’t care about my kid getting into an Ivy or top 20. I went to a state school and am successful. College admissions is not the endpoint of high school.

I do care if he is bored to death in class and not learning and not being challenged because the school system DGAF about the high performers. This math discussion is just a small piece of the systemic problem in DCPS of low standards and low expectations.

Every high school that offers calc will allow a 10th grader to take it, if they have the prerequisites. And DCPS routinely allows outliers to take those prerequisites independently on an accelerated basis. You’re just mad that there’s no lockstep program that forces a large portion of the student body to accelerate to calc in 10th based on 6th grade math placement.

Taking Cal in 11th grade is just as common as taking it in 12th grade. Hopefully both sets have their reasons.

The outliers are the kids never taking it and, to a lesser extent, the kids taking it 10th grade or earlier. Both sets here absolutely have their reasons (they love math & are good at it, or they hate math & are bad at it).

All sets have to take 4 years of math. Most kids take progressive courseworks, Some left tail ones take applied math. Oh well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While I truly hate the defensive DCPS parent mentality that everything here is perfect, so sad and pathetic to see the clearly non-DCPS trolls fetishizing accelerated everything as if Calc in 11th grade as the floor.

News Flash: kids at a giant suburban high school with dozens of other accelerated classmates won't get into an Ivy or Top 20 maybe not UVA.

Keep telling yourself that accelerated math or winning spelling bees or graduating high school at age 15 is a hook. It's not. America doesn't prioritize test scores or accelerated math.

Correction the discussion was Cal in 12th was the floor. Cal should be offered in 11th grade and 10th grade and majority of schools offer neither.

Newsflash I don’t care about my kid getting into an Ivy or top 20. I went to a state school and am successful. College admissions is not the endpoint of high school.

I do care if he is bored to death in class and not learning and not being challenged because the school system DGAF about the high performers. This math discussion is just a small piece of the systemic problem in DCPS of low standards and low expectations.

Every high school that offers calc will allow a 10th grader to take it, if they have the prerequisites. And DCPS routinely allows outliers to take those prerequisites independently on an accelerated basis. You’re just mad that there’s no lockstep program that forces a large portion of the student body to accelerate to calc in 10th based on 6th grade math placement.

Taking Cal in 11th grade is just as common as taking it in 12th grade. Hopefully both sets have their reasons.

The outliers are the kids never taking it and, to a lesser extent, the kids taking it 10th grade or earlier. Both sets here absolutely have their reasons (they love math & are good at it, or they hate math & are bad at it).

All sets have to take 4 years of math. Most kids take progressive courseworks, Some left tail ones take applied math. Oh well.

What are you talking about? In general? In a particular school district? In your imagination?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While I truly hate the defensive DCPS parent mentality that everything here is perfect, so sad and pathetic to see the clearly non-DCPS trolls fetishizing accelerated everything as if Calc in 11th grade as the floor.

News Flash: kids at a giant suburban high school with dozens of other accelerated classmates won't get into an Ivy or Top 20 maybe not UVA.

Keep telling yourself that accelerated math or winning spelling bees or graduating high school at age 15 is a hook. It's not. America doesn't prioritize test scores or accelerated math.

Correction the discussion was Cal in 12th was the floor. Cal should be offered in 11th grade and 10th grade and majority of schools offer neither.

Newsflash I don’t care about my kid getting into an Ivy or top 20. I went to a state school and am successful. College admissions is not the endpoint of high school.

I do care if he is bored to death in class and not learning and not being challenged because the school system DGAF about the high performers. This math discussion is just a small piece of the systemic problem in DCPS of low standards and low expectations.

Every high school that offers calc will allow a 10th grader to take it, if they have the prerequisites. And DCPS routinely allows outliers to take those prerequisites independently on an accelerated basis. You’re just mad that there’s no lockstep program that forces a large portion of the student body to accelerate to calc in 10th based on 6th grade math placement.

Please stop being obtuse. DCPS offers no track during the school year from middle school on for any student to successfully get to AP Cal by 10th - absolutely NONE.

So kids are forced to take geometry and Algebra 2 as summer courses to get there. Not ideal to cram a year of math in the summer and just sets up weak foundations. And who wants to spend their summers taking classes rather than having fun.

Now Deal is the only school offering to some kids to double up in Geometry and Algebra 2 in 8th. Also not ideal trying to juggle 2 math classes at once. In addition, the kids have to come to school EARLY to take the 2nd math class. Then they can take preCal in 9th at JR but it is not a true tracking class, because it’s any kid taking preCal from 9-12th.

Even if your kid does take a summer math course or double up in math at Deal, once they get to Cal in 10th, what courses are available to take past that? Most schools none. Walls and JR might offer Cal BC.

This is 2026. It is just absolute atrocity that a whole school district cannot provide an accelerated track for mathy kids and that reaching Cal by 12th is considered the “advanced” track.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While I truly hate the defensive DCPS parent mentality that everything here is perfect, so sad and pathetic to see the clearly non-DCPS trolls fetishizing accelerated everything as if Calc in 11th grade as the floor.

News Flash: kids at a giant suburban high school with dozens of other accelerated classmates won't get into an Ivy or Top 20 maybe not UVA.

Keep telling yourself that accelerated math or winning spelling bees or graduating high school at age 15 is a hook. It's not. America doesn't prioritize test scores or accelerated math.

Correction the discussion was Cal in 12th was the floor. Cal should be offered in 11th grade and 10th grade and majority of schools offer neither.

Newsflash I don’t care about my kid getting into an Ivy or top 20. I went to a state school and am successful. College admissions is not the endpoint of high school.

I do care if he is bored to death in class and not learning and not being challenged because the school system DGAF about the high performers. This math discussion is just a small piece of the systemic problem in DCPS of low standards and low expectations.

Every high school that offers calc will allow a 10th grader to take it, if they have the prerequisites. And DCPS routinely allows outliers to take those prerequisites independently on an accelerated basis. You’re just mad that there’s no lockstep program that forces a large portion of the student body to accelerate to calc in 10th based on 6th grade math placement.

Please stop being obtuse. DCPS offers no track during the school year from middle school on for any student to successfully get to AP Cal by 10th - absolutely NONE.

So kids are forced to take geometry and Algebra 2 as summer courses to get there. Not ideal to cram a year of math in the summer and just sets up weak foundations. And who wants to spend their summers taking classes rather than having fun.

Now Deal is the only school offering to some kids to double up in Geometry and Algebra 2 in 8th. Also not ideal trying to juggle 2 math classes at once. In addition, the kids have to come to school EARLY to take the 2nd math class. Then they can take preCal in 9th at JR but it is not a true tracking class, because it’s any kid taking preCal from 9-12th.

Even if your kid does take a summer math course or double up in math at Deal, once they get to Cal in 10th, what courses are available to take past that? Most schools none. Walls and JR might offer Cal BC.

This is 2026. It is just absolute atrocity that a whole school district cannot provide an accelerated track for mathy kids and that reaching Cal by 12th is considered the “advanced” track.

Now the absence of your favorite math track is an “atrocity”?

You’re beyond help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While I truly hate the defensive DCPS parent mentality that everything here is perfect, so sad and pathetic to see the clearly non-DCPS trolls fetishizing accelerated everything as if Calc in 11th grade as the floor.

News Flash: kids at a giant suburban high school with dozens of other accelerated classmates won't get into an Ivy or Top 20 maybe not UVA.

Keep telling yourself that accelerated math or winning spelling bees or graduating high school at age 15 is a hook. It's not. America doesn't prioritize test scores or accelerated math.

Correction the discussion was Cal in 12th was the floor. Cal should be offered in 11th grade and 10th grade and majority of schools offer neither.

Newsflash I don’t care about my kid getting into an Ivy or top 20. I went to a state school and am successful. College admissions is not the endpoint of high school.

I do care if he is bored to death in class and not learning and not being challenged because the school system DGAF about the high performers. This math discussion is just a small piece of the systemic problem in DCPS of low standards and low expectations.

Every high school that offers calc will allow a 10th grader to take it, if they have the prerequisites. And DCPS routinely allows outliers to take those prerequisites independently on an accelerated basis. You’re just mad that there’s no lockstep program that forces a large portion of the student body to accelerate to calc in 10th based on 6th grade math placement.

Please stop being obtuse. DCPS offers no track during the school year from middle school on for any student to successfully get to AP Cal by 10th - absolutely NONE.

So kids are forced to take geometry and Algebra 2 as summer courses to get there. Not ideal to cram a year of math in the summer and just sets up weak foundations. And who wants to spend their summers taking classes rather than having fun.

Now Deal is the only school offering to some kids to double up in Geometry and Algebra 2 in 8th. Also not ideal trying to juggle 2 math classes at once. In addition, the kids have to come to school EARLY to take the 2nd math class. Then they can take preCal in 9th at JR but it is not a true tracking class, because it’s any kid taking preCal from 9-12th.

Even if your kid does take a summer math course or double up in math at Deal, once they get to Cal in 10th, what courses are available to take past that? Most schools none. Walls and JR might offer Cal BC.

This is 2026. It is just absolute atrocity that a whole school district cannot provide an accelerated track for mathy kids and that reaching Cal by 12th is considered the “advanced” track.

Walls offers Calculus C. Multiple other schools offer BC. This has been pointed out repeatedly. What do you get from this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While I truly hate the defensive DCPS parent mentality that everything here is perfect, so sad and pathetic to see the clearly non-DCPS trolls fetishizing accelerated everything as if Calc in 11th grade as the floor.

News Flash: kids at a giant suburban high school with dozens of other accelerated classmates won't get into an Ivy or Top 20 maybe not UVA.

Keep telling yourself that accelerated math or winning spelling bees or graduating high school at age 15 is a hook. It's not. America doesn't prioritize test scores or accelerated math.

Correction the discussion was Cal in 12th was the floor. Cal should be offered in 11th grade and 10th grade and majority of schools offer neither.

Newsflash I don’t care about my kid getting into an Ivy or top 20. I went to a state school and am successful. College admissions is not the endpoint of high school.

I do care if he is bored to death in class and not learning and not being challenged because the school system DGAF about the high performers. This math discussion is just a small piece of the systemic problem in DCPS of low standards and low expectations.

Every high school that offers calc will allow a 10th grader to take it, if they have the prerequisites. And DCPS routinely allows outliers to take those prerequisites independently on an accelerated basis. You’re just mad that there’s no lockstep program that forces a large portion of the student body to accelerate to calc in 10th based on 6th grade math placement.

Please stop being obtuse. DCPS offers no track during the school year from middle school on for any student to successfully get to AP Cal by 10th - absolutely NONE.

So kids are forced to take geometry and Algebra 2 as summer courses to get there. Not ideal to cram a year of math in the summer and just sets up weak foundations. And who wants to spend their summers taking classes rather than having fun.

Now Deal is the only school offering to some kids to double up in Geometry and Algebra 2 in 8th. Also not ideal trying to juggle 2 math classes at once. In addition, the kids have to come to school EARLY to take the 2nd math class. Then they can take preCal in 9th at JR but it is not a true tracking class, because it’s any kid taking preCal from 9-12th.

Even if your kid does take a summer math course or double up in math at Deal, once they get to Cal in 10th, what courses are available to take past that? Most schools none. Walls and JR might offer Cal BC.

This is 2026. It is just absolute atrocity that a whole school district cannot provide an accelerated track for mathy kids and that reaching Cal by 12th is considered the “advanced” track.

Now the absence of your favorite math track is an “atrocity”?

You’re beyond help.

This person is a very rigid thinker. The only acceptable math sequence is whatever very particular approach one of the suburbs around here uses, and for whatever reason this person can't/won't just move there. So we're all subjected to them perseverating on the topic instead.

[Anonymous]

The math complaints seem to all boil down to the lack of a sure way for a student to take differential equations and/or linear algebra in or by 12th grade. Because that would be the point of all of the earlier math acceleration, right?

Does the fact that students in public schools in DC don’t have this track available to them (at least not without a dual college enrollment option) make DC an “atrocity” or a “failing” school system far behind others? How many other school districts offer this pathway?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The math complaints seem to all boil down to the lack of a sure way for a student to take differential equations and/or linear algebra in or by 12th grade. Because that would be the point of all of the earlier math acceleration, right?

Does the fact that students in public schools in DC don’t have this track available to them (at least not without a dual college enrollment option) make DC an “atrocity” or a “failing” school system far behind others? How many other school districts offer this pathway?

I think the biggest problem for DCPS is less that they don’t offer some half assed Diff Eq in high school but more that your kid won’t get to calculus by 12th unless you, as a parent, are aware of the fact required classes a kid needs to take in middle school and pushes those classes. DCPS’ default isn’t geometry in 9th or even preparation for that, and that’s the problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Geometry by 8th is considered the lower track in math in Moco, Arlington, and Fairfax. Yet it is the highest math track offered at the strongest school in dcps. Pathetic.

About 25% of the kids take Algebra 1 in 9th grade in FCPS. Algebra 1 H in 8th grade is the most common track in FCPS, kids taking Geometry in 8th grade are considered accelerated.