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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Physcs and Chem are both 1 semester long (condensed versions).  I think bio was a whole year but I do not remember earth/space so maybe it changed.  Someone else will chime in.[/quote]

Last I knew yes, physics and chem were 1 semester each and so was earth science in 10th but bio was 1 year long.  It involved 2.5 years of science over the first two years to prepare students for the deeper electives available in 11th and 12th grade.[/quote]

That makes no sense.

Chemistry and Physics are normally full-year Freshman, Sophomore courses in other states.  Biology is normally easier, unless they cover Organic Chemistry then?  And use earth/space for more difficult Physics reinforcement?

Or are they just trying to squeeze more kids through their programs?  That sounds like something MCPS would do, now that I think about it?[/quote]

PP who said Chem & Physics are double period is wrong. They accelerate Physics, Chemistry, and Earth Science to fit the entire year of content into a semester, which is why those are full credit courses.  They can’t do that with Bio because there is a state requirement that students take one year (not one credit) of biology to graduate. Kind of like how they need a math credit every year (not four total high school math credits) to graduate.

I don’t know where you’d get the idea that they are trying to “squeeze more kids through.”  Demand for these programs far exceeds capacity. [/quote]

I figured someone from MCPS would try to weasel out a response.  Here's a typical California school course catalog:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Wl9jrSsTLB_PCkE_edALCsbf72uQeDPrVx38HANJrXk/edit

The first thing you'll notice is the rich course offerings their kids receive.  Ex. Physics of the Universe, Physics 1-2 APEX, Physics 1-2 Honors.  Quite different from the standard slab MCPS offers.

Also notice that Chemistry is two semesters.  Physics is two semesters.  The reason is that it takes a full year for a high schooler to grasp the material.  Kids really won't absorb much in just two quarters.

Think it's unusual?  Think its not the norm?  Okay.  Here's another one:

https://jurupausd.org/schools/PatriotHighSchool/Documents/HS%20Course%20Guide%202020-2021.pdf

I can keep posting these all night long.  I believe that MCPS is trying to squeeze through as many kids as possible because they have so few science teachers that are any good, so they cut down the class to half a year so twice as many kids can run through the same teacher.  You just admitted it yourself 'Demand for these programs far exceeds capacity.'[/quote]

TBH, I'm not sure what your point is.  You can list all the course catalogs in the world, but I don't see why they are relevant.  You clearly haven't looked at the Blair SMCS course offerings if you think that "Physics 1-2 Honors" is a more "rich course offering" than what SMCS kids have access to.  My kid is more into Bio than Physics, but their course plan includes courses in Genetics and Cellular Physiology, which wouldn't typically be offered at the high school level.  This is possible because of the earlier compression.
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