Reply to 2023-24 Course catalog

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Clearly each HS offers different courses. Next year our kids choices are: AP Pre Calc, Pre Calc Trig DE, PreCalc Trig . Kid is currently in Algebra 2 HN and doing well A-.    To the poster who seems to be giving the most detailed responses: which class do you think FCPS and or colleges consider most rigorous?

AP Pre Calc or Pre Calc Trig DE? (regular Pre Calc Trig is out for our kid because it would be a step down in  Rigor as kid has taken HN since 7 th). Our kid has an email drafted to counselor and current teacher, but I’m curious for the input.[/quote]
I'm not familiar with DE so unfortunately can't weigh in there. It is going to be very hard to make Precalculus course selections for next year given so many unknowns. If FCPS is phasing out honors Precalc Trig at most (all?) schools, two possible scenarios jump out:
Scenario 1) Kids who previously took honors Precalc Trig shift to AP Precalculus (and some may go to DE as well) and kids in regular Algebra 2 go to non honors Precalc Trig. If AP Precalculus is just a rebranded honors Precalc Trig, you would have a strong peer group that allows the class to move at a decent pace. While they wouldn't cover the preliminary material for Calculus BC, the class could nonetheless provide a good base for Calculus AB. 
Scenario 2) The key question is where do regular Algebra 2 teachers recommend their students go? AP Precalculus was designed for these kids -- it provides them with a chance to get an AP math credit on their high school transcript, potentially gives them college credit, and gives them a solid enough Precalculus base that they could take a calculus course at their future college if desired. If FCPS does recommend regular Algebra 2 students take AP Precalculus, now you have virtually all students taking the same AP Precalculus course absent a small group who stays in regular Precalculus and a small group in Precalculus DE. AP Precalculus would be massively heterogenous which would make districts happy but now you have a wide range of skills in the class and the pace would likely slow as teachers ensure that no student gets left behind, undercutting rigor and providing only mediocre preparation for Calculus AB.

Which of these scenarios (or others) will play out? Who knows.[/quote]

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