I haven’t heard of anyone taking two sciences in tenth grade. This is not necessary. If she enjoys band, she should do that.

Are you from another country? Why are you or she worried about her figuring out what she wants to do? She doesn’t need to decide a major till spring of sophomore year of college, and in some schools fall of junior year.

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s too much and unnecessary for 10th. I’d advise my kid to keep band and wait on AP physics. Better to take AP Physics C as a senior if physics proves to be of real interest.

At our HS, they won't let you take Physics C without Physics A/B. So one does not have to take AP Physics 1. They can take Physics but a lower level. There appears to be only Alg 2 prereq for AP Physics 1.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a kid with ADHD, that seems overwhelming. But that's me operating with limited information and knowledge of the situation.

The course load or the extracurricular? If DD insists on this schedule, I would highly encourage her to cut back her extras. And I think she would do scale back on her afterschool activities.

My concern is the course load itself.

The courseload.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are kids really taking AP physics in 9th and 10th grades now? 40 years ago that was a senior year thing I thought!

AP Physics 1 (and 2) were invented by the College Board ~10 years ago as algebra based courses that would replace traditional Honors Physics courses. The AP Physics C that you remember from 40 years ago is the calculus based course that would traditionally be taken in 12th grade. Crafty move by the College Board to increase revenue.

Thank you, I was feeling like a dope -- this makes me feel better!

I think it’s too much and unnecessary for 10th. I’d advise my kid to keep band and wait on AP physics. Better to take AP Physics C as a senior if physics proves to be of real interest.

Anonymous wrote:Are kids really taking AP physics in 9th and 10th grades now? 40 years ago that was a senior year thing I thought!

AP Physics 1 (and 2) were invented by the College Board ~10 years ago as algebra based courses that would replace traditional Honors Physics courses. The AP Physics C that you remember from 40 years ago is the calculus based course that would traditionally be taken in 12th grade. Crafty move by the College Board to increase revenue.

Anonymous wrote:The AP Physics 1 experience is very teacher-dependent. STEM-focused DC is at a magnet and this course is more work than all of their others (IB and AP) put together. Spends a ridiculous amount of time self-teaching. So be sure to ask about what it's like at your school.

Are magnet AP Physics 1 taught half year at a magnet? I was under the impression that Blair's science courses in 9th are half-year each.

This would be a year-long course at her high school.

Anonymous wrote:For a kid with ADHD, that seems overwhelming. But that's me operating with limited information and knowledge of the situation.

The course load or the extracurricular? If DD insists on this schedule, I would highly encourage her to cut back her extras. And I think she would do scale back on her afterschool activities.

My concern is the course load itself.

Are kids really taking AP physics in 9th and 10th grades now? 40 years ago that was a senior year thing I thought!

The AP Physics 1 experience is very teacher-dependent. STEM-focused DC is at a magnet and this course is more work than all of their others (IB and AP) put together. Spends a ridiculous amount of time self-teaching. So be sure to ask about what it's like at your school.

For a kid with ADHD, that seems overwhelming. But that's me operating with limited information and knowledge of the situation.

Anonymous wrote:OP, I think your child will do well. My child took AP Physics 1 and Honors Alg 2 in 9th grade. It was a lot of work but he told me that the kids that finished Alg 2 found the class a lot easier. Your child can focus on the conceptual concepts, which is the most difficult and not have to also learn the math.

Did you DC do Hon Bio as well as AP Physics 1? Is s/he at a magnet?

OP, I think your child will do well. My child took AP Physics 1 and Honors Alg 2 in 9th grade. It was a lot of work but he told me that the kids that finished Alg 2 found the class a lot easier. Your child can focus on the conceptual concepts, which is the most difficult and not have to also learn the math.

Depends on the kid. Once upon a time, I did AP Bio, AP Chem, AP Physics, and AP Calc AB in the same year. They built on each other very nicely. Quite manageable - for me - I'm a science geek.

My son, though taking 14 APs in HS, would have died!

DD is not sure what she wants to do for her career path, but not sure if I expect her to know since she is just a freshman this year. She is overall an A student in the subjects that she takes, works hard to get her As, has ADHD but have learned to manage it somewhat decently.

I am helping her finalize her schedule, and she wants to double up on the Sciences next year to get a feel of what she wants to do in the future. She currently in band, and so is dropping next year to squeeze in an extra science class. She intends to return to school band in 11th or 12th grade. Her schedule looks like this. Does this seem unreasonable?

AP Physics 1 (Alg 2 prereq)
Hon Chem
AP Comp Sci
AP US History
Hon Precalc
Hon English
Hon French 4A

As a parent, this seems too much to me but I don't know how difficult AP Physics 1 is. Personally, I think she should just continue with school band rather than do a second science, but it seems like she wants to have an idea of how much she would enjoy Physics.

Outside of school, she is involved in her instrument through youth orchestra and does field hockey. She does volunteer for a few hours once a week in something that she is passionate about.