SWoW - What's it really like?"

[Anonymous]

I'm curious about math at SWW. Will advanced tracking get you to Calc BC by senior year? I've heard of lots of kids taking AP stats as seniors, and that could be limiting in terms of college admissions. Any advice?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious about math at SWW. Will advanced tracking get you to Calc BC by senior year? I've heard of lots of kids taking AP stats as seniors, and that could be limiting in terms of college admissions. Any advice?

Doesn't this just mean that they took calculus in their junior year? Alg II in 9th, precalc in 10th, AP calc in 11th, then AP stats in 12th. This is my child's plan (at a different school).

[Anonymous]

No, these kids are taking stats instead of calc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi,
Our son is looking forward to applying to SWoW. We are relatively new to DC and have heard mostly great things about the school. Based on what folks have told us, it also seems a great fit (he's self-motivated, strong study skills, etc - not the same for our younger son). We know only a few families with firsthand knowledge, and would love any feedback folks could provide.

Another question ---- we are also considering private high school (but struggling with the cost). What are people's thoughts on comparing the education/experience at SWoW with local private schools? It seems from what we have read together with high school ratings, the the two may be quite similar. Any feedback would be appreciated.

Of course, none of this matters if he is not accepted. ?
Thanks.

Here's a ranking of local public and private high schools, FWIW. https://www.lotusprep.com/best-high-schools-dc/ The consensus, as far as I can tell, is that SWW has a lot of bright kids but it's still DCPS.

Wow no Prince Georges County schools at all? DeMatha? Elizabeth Seton? Roosevelt? Oxon Hill HS?

The Lotus Prep ranking is based on three factors: average SAT scores, percentage of National Merit Scholarship semifinalist, percentage of Presidential Scholars. NMS is based entirely on PSAT scores. Presidential Scholars require a good SAT score. So basically what they are counting is standardized test scores, three different ways. There's more to education that that.

I agree. It doesn't tell the whole story and it's impossible to determine how much the school contributes to student performance vs. how much depends on the individual students since each of the top schools listed are application-only, test-in schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, these kids are taking stats instead of calc.

Well, that could means those kids didn't take Algebra I and geometry in MS, or that they chose a different path in high school. Clearly, AP BC is available and kids take it. What you child might take depends on your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, these kids are taking stats instead of calc.

Well, that could means those kids didn't take Algebra I and geometry in MS, or that they chose a different path in high school. Clearly, AP BC is available and kids take it. What you child might take depends on your child.

I have a general question since I didn't take calculus or statistics in HS. Is there an advantage to going the AP Calc A/B and AP Calc B/C route over AP statistics as far as college admissions go? Thanks from the non-mathy parent of a mathy kid.

[Anonymous]

Yes. B/C is considered the most challenging/comprehensive, then A/B, then stats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. B/C is considered the most challenging/comprehensive, then A/B, then stats.

Course descriptions for all AP classes are here. For more detail/advice you should speak to your child's advisor. http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/courses/descriptions/index.html

[Anonymous]

You can take one or the other is because AB and BC aren’t totally different classes. BC Calculus includes everything in AB Calculus, plus a few extra topics. You’ll actually get an AB Calculus sub-score when you take the BC exam.

So Calculus BC is not necessarily more difficult than Calculus AB. BC Calculus has to move faster because it covers more material, which is what makes it more intense than AB.