Science pathways

[Anonymous]

Could someone tell me what the current recommended science pathways are (for strong STEM students, competitive college-bound humanities students, and overall weaker students)?

[Anonymous]

Depends on the school, and depends on the year. My junior followed a recommended pathway of Chemistry (freshman year), Bio (sophomore year) AP Physics 1 (also sophomore year) AP of your choice junior and senior year. But by her sophomore year, they were strongly encouraging something different. (I heard about it a lot because she hated having freshmen in her bio class!)

[Anonymous]

There are a few pathways described here:
http://coursebulletin.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/CourseLists/Index/182

[Anonymous]

Here you go:
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/publicinfo/hssciencenight

[Anonymous]

My kid (10th grader at MBHS CAP program) was put into the following track mostly based on math level (Algebra II in 9th Grade)


9th Grade -- Honors Physics
10th Grade -- Honors Chemistry
11th Grade -- AP Biology
12th Grade -- AP of Choice

[Anonymous]

General pathway county-wide for general students:
Honors Biology --> Honors Chemistry --> Honors Physics
These three courses are aligned to the NGSS standards and meet the state requirement for taking the Maryland Integrated Science Assessment (MISA). Depending on the school and student needs, there may be on-level or ESOL versions of these classes.

Pathway for college bound Humanities students:
Honors Biology --> Honors Chemistry --> AP Environmental Science --> Honors Physics (+ another science elective)
Get an AP in junior year for college apps, and also take Honors Physics senior year for well-roundedness. The new Honors Physics course is more conceptual and project based than the old course, and it is designed to be accessible to all students.

Pathway for STEM students - definitely depends on the school and the exact course offerings, but here are some tips to maximize your science experience.
- take Health online to free up an elective
- take AP Comp Sci online to free up an elective
- take art and PE in 9th grade to get them out of the way
- take Honors Biology in 9th, Honors Chemistry in 10th
- double up in science in 10th grade
- check your school's pre-requisites for Physics courses. If possible, take AP Physics C the same year you take AP BC Calculus, as a first time physics course. This would most likely be 11th grade. If your school requires a physics course first, then double up with AP Physics 1 in 10th grade
- If you don't need a physics course as a pre-requisite to AP Physics C, then take a different science elective - Astronomy, Forensic Science, Anatomy, AP Environmental Science, AP Biology (DP). Depending on the school and course popularity, sometimes they give priority to upperclassmen.
- You should have at least one elective slot in 11th, and 2 or 3 in 12th grade. Depending on the school, you could then take AP Biology (DP), AP Chemistry (SP or DP), AP Physics C (SP or DP), AP Environmental Science, or if there is an IB diploma program, the IB equivalents. If you are at Blair or Poolesville, you have access to other interesting electives too.

Hope that helps!
- HS science teacher

[Anonymous]

I'm intentionally bumping this Zombie Post to see if folks have any updates to the excellent science teacher post above, particularly for a strong humanities student.

I'm particularly interested in folks with expertise in the science pathways now that Honors for All is the norm.

My strong humanities (MBHS CAP) kid did the standard Honors Biology class this year, and is really frustrated with the pace and lack of interest of her peers.

She's now balking at continuing the Honors Chemistry next year, as she claims it will be more of the same, with kids on their phone all day and wants to switch to AP Physics instead.

I'm not opposed to AP Physics except that it locks her into AP science for the rest of the run, as my understanding is that it is generally frowned upon to take an AP and then "drop down" to Honors.

Anyone have any advice or thoughts? Any reason to expect Honors Chemistry to have more rigor than the Biology course?

[Anonymous]

At the Blair magnet they take Physics hons AND chemistry hons in 9th grade. Then biology hons and earth space systems in 10th, then electives in 11th and 12th

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At the Blair magnet they take Physics hons AND chemistry hons in 9th grade. Then biology hons and earth space systems in 10th, then electives in 11th and 12th

This is good to know, but not exactly an answer to the question of what a child who is not in the magnet should do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm intentionally bumping this Zombie Post to see if folks have any updates to the excellent science teacher post above, particularly for a strong humanities student.

I'm particularly interested in folks with expertise in the science pathways now that Honors for All is the norm.

My strong humanities (MBHS CAP) kid did the standard Honors Biology class this year, and is really frustrated with the pace and lack of interest of her peers.

She's now balking at continuing the Honors Chemistry next year, as she claims it will be more of the same, with kids on their phone all day and wants to switch to AP Physics instead.

I'm not opposed to AP Physics except that it locks her into AP science for the rest of the run, as my understanding is that it is generally frowned upon to take an AP and then "drop down" to Honors.

Anyone have any advice or thoughts? Any reason to expect Honors Chemistry to have more rigor than the Biology course?

Some kids find Chem more challenging than Bio. Other students find rigor same as Bio. If you know your kid may enjoy the subject of Chem more AND the school allows, get them in AP Chem. A chemist had her kid get into AP Chem w/o her kid taking Chem first. If your kid may require a tutor, stick with Chem (Honors). Some have found on-level Chem super easy and Honors Chem slightly better. You know your kid.

[Anonymous]

Does MC (Montgomery College) offer Chemistry course for HSers to take in summer? Has your kid taken it? If kid takes Chem at MC before 10th grade, can they take AP Chem in 10th?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm intentionally bumping this Zombie Post to see if folks have any updates to the excellent science teacher post above, particularly for a strong humanities student.

I'm particularly interested in folks with expertise in the science pathways now that Honors for All is the norm.

My strong humanities (MBHS CAP) kid did the standard Honors Biology class this year, and is really frustrated with the pace and lack of interest of her peers.

She's now balking at continuing the Honors Chemistry next year, as she claims it will be more of the same, with kids on their phone all day and wants to switch to AP Physics instead.

I'm not opposed to AP Physics except that it locks her into AP science for the rest of the run, as my understanding is that it is generally frowned upon to take an AP and then "drop down" to Honors.

Anyone have any advice or thoughts? Any reason to expect Honors Chemistry to have more rigor than the Biology course?

There is no "drop down". That's a myth. The sciences are different subjects.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think Blair allows AP chemistry without first taking honors chemistry. But they can go directly to AP Physics 1 without honors physics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think Blair allows AP chemistry without first taking honors chemistry. But they can go directly to AP Physics 1 without honors physics.

Why can't students be in AP Bio or AP Chem without Hon Bio and Hon Chem? Is it to give students in certain math classes equivalent levels of science by allowing them AP Physics (Calculus and Physics) or more demand for AP Physics level than for AP Bio and AP Chem at Blair. How about other MCPS HS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does MC (Montgomery College) offer Chemistry course for HSers to take in summer? Has your kid taken it? If kid takes Chem at MC before 10th grade, can they take AP Chem in 10th?

DD is currently taking Chemistry at MC. She absolutely loves it. She especially likes that labs because they are more hands on and have many different part.

In regards to your question, technically yes but there is no reason for it. By taking chem at MC you get college credit. If you get a five on AP Chem, UMD gives you the equivalent of chem at MC. Doing it twice wouldn’t make sense.

Also I would recommend doing Chem or any science at MC during the fall or spring. Learning 3 months of college content in just one month is very hard