Anonymous
02/12/2025 17:12
Subject: S/O Building a Rigorous HS Experience Outside the Magnets
Anonymous wrote:As a magnet parent, I cannot understand why MCPS does not make the magnet curriculum, syllabus, textbooks, resources, tests, reviews and projects available on the MCPS website?
It is not as if everyone will rush to copy it. Only kids who are interested can pick and choose. Why not?
How did that benefit MCPS?
Anonymous
02/12/2025 17:11
Subject: S/O Building a Rigorous HS Experience Outside the Magnets
The only way to get close to magnet is to hound your guidance counselor to skip dead weight prereqs.
Blair science magnet kids skip:
1 semester of chemistry
1 semester of physics
1 semester of algebra 2 / precalculus.
1 semester of AP stats
1 year of CS (Principles)
(They also take an semester of Earth space science most honors students don't bother taking because they don't have room).
and cover more material in those abbreviated/accelerated courses.
And have an extra period for a set of 4 years of classes which are mostly used for engineering/research/stats/CS.
They also don't waste time on double period AP science, instead doing a bag of 1 semester electives, where 2 or 3 semester courses add up the loose equivalent of a regular school's double period full-year AP science.
Blair science magnet kids skip:
1 semester of chemistry
1 semester of physics
1 semester of algebra 2 / precalculus.
1 semester of AP stats
1 year of CS (Principles)
(They also take an semester of Earth space science most honors students don't bother taking because they don't have room).
and cover more material in those abbreviated/accelerated courses.
And have an extra period for a set of 4 years of classes which are mostly used for engineering/research/stats/CS.
They also don't waste time on double period AP science, instead doing a bag of 1 semester electives, where 2 or 3 semester courses add up the loose equivalent of a regular school's double period full-year AP science.
Anonymous
02/12/2025 17:09
Subject: S/O Building a Rigorous HS Experience Outside the Magnets
Follow the school's plan and don't purposely overdo AP classes. Take Honors Bio and Honors Chem before you worry about AP Sciences.
Anonymous
02/12/2025 17:09
Subject: Re:S/O Building a Rigorous HS Experience Outside the Magnets
Anonymous wrote:My kid has been taking math at AoPS. It has helped tremendously. The classes are really good. AoPS Algebra 1 has much more depth than MCPS Honors Precalculus.
We are tempted to try AoPS language arts as well.
My kid loved the AoPS language classes. Highly recommend.
Anonymous
02/12/2025 17:07
Subject: S/O Building a Rigorous HS Experience Outside the Magnets
As a magnet parent, I cannot understand why MCPS does not make the magnet curriculum, syllabus, textbooks, resources, tests, reviews and projects available on the MCPS website?
It is not as if everyone will rush to copy it. Only kids who are interested can pick and choose. Why not?
It is not as if everyone will rush to copy it. Only kids who are interested can pick and choose. Why not?
Anonymous
02/12/2025 17:02
Subject: Re:S/O Building a Rigorous HS Experience Outside the Magnets
Anonymous wrote:My kid has been taking math at AoPS. It has helped tremendously. The classes are really good. AoPS Algebra 1 has much more depth than MCPS Honors Precalculus.
We are tempted to try AoPS language arts as well.
My kids took AOPS classes during Covid. They really are good but they don't show up on any transcripts so it's not like colleges realize you are taking those rigorous classes.
Anonymous
02/12/2025 17:02
Subject: S/O Building a Rigorous HS Experience Outside the Magnets
Load up on APs. That's the only way to get the rigor.
Anonymous
02/12/2025 16:54
Subject: S/O Building a Rigorous HS Experience Outside the Magnets
Anonymous wrote:For 9th grade:
"Honors" English because you can't avoid it
APUSH or AP NSL depending on school norm
WL 3 or 4
"Honors" Biology and "Honors" Chemistry OR AP Physics 1
AP Computer Science Principles if needed for tech credit
Honors Algebra 2
"honors" is a joke. In some schools, it's for "on track kids".
You can take AP gov in 9th grade if your school allows it.
I have two kids: one went the IB magnet route, the other didn't. Not at a W school.
The one who didn't took AP gov in 9th; APUSH and IB precalc in 10th; then a bunch of other APs in 11th and 12th.
You can load up on APs for rigor. Don't make the mistake of thinking "honors" is rigor in MCPS.
Anonymous
02/12/2025 16:49
Subject: Re:S/O Building a Rigorous HS Experience Outside the Magnets
My kid has been taking math at AoPS. It has helped tremendously. The classes are really good. AoPS Algebra 1 has much more depth than MCPS Honors Precalculus.
We are tempted to try AoPS language arts as well.
We are tempted to try AoPS language arts as well.
Anonymous
02/12/2025 12:55
Subject: Re:S/O Building a Rigorous HS Experience Outside the Magnets
Some of this will be school-dependent, but generally it is good to take a couple AP or IB classes in 9th and 10th. Otherwise they will be bored by the content in Honors.
Some schools now have AP Seminar available as an alternative to Hon English 10. AP Gov in 9th, then APUSH in 10th is a good pathway if your school provides it.
Honors Algebra 2 and Honors Precalc can be tough classes.
AP Computer Science Principles is also good for 9th graders, because it's not hard, it counts as a tech credit, and gives them some experience with an AP exam.
Some schools now have AP Seminar available as an alternative to Hon English 10. AP Gov in 9th, then APUSH in 10th is a good pathway if your school provides it.
Honors Algebra 2 and Honors Precalc can be tough classes.
AP Computer Science Principles is also good for 9th graders, because it's not hard, it counts as a tech credit, and gives them some experience with an AP exam.
Anonymous
02/12/2025 12:51
Subject: S/O Building a Rigorous HS Experience Outside the Magnets
BioAnonymous wrote:Start APs early, or IB if available. That is where the rigor is.
OP here and the challenge is that high schools don't set you up to take APs early. That's why I think sharing information is going to be helpful. If you need Honors Bio to get to AP Bio, then the advice should be to knock that class out freshman year so you can get to AP Bio as soon as possible.
Anonymous
02/12/2025 12:50
Subject: S/O Building a Rigorous HS Experience Outside the Magnets
Anonymous wrote:Start APs early, or IB if available. That is where the rigor is.
Depends on which AP
Anonymous
02/12/2025 12:49
Subject: S/O Building a Rigorous HS Experience Outside the Magnets
Start APs early, or IB if available. That is where the rigor is.
Anonymous
02/12/2025 12:48
Subject: S/O Building a Rigorous HS Experience Outside the Magnets
For 9th grade:
"Honors" English because you can't avoid it
APUSH or AP NSL depending on school norm
WL 3 or 4
"Honors" Biology and "Honors" Chemistry OR AP Physics 1
AP Computer Science Principles if needed for tech credit
Honors Algebra 2
"Honors" English because you can't avoid it
APUSH or AP NSL depending on school norm
WL 3 or 4
"Honors" Biology and "Honors" Chemistry OR AP Physics 1
AP Computer Science Principles if needed for tech credit
Honors Algebra 2
Anonymous
02/12/2025 12:41
Subject: S/O Building a Rigorous HS Experience Outside the Magnets
The other post about rigor made me think about how we might pool our collective knowledge to help new HS parents support their kids in building a rigorous HS path outside the Magnets.
Right now, it seems like the standard guidance really short-changes kids who are ready for a challenge, particularly in 9th and 10th, with the "Honors for All" model. So, if you were helping a bright kid choose classes for 9th and 10th, what would you advise?
Right now, it seems like the standard guidance really short-changes kids who are ready for a challenge, particularly in 9th and 10th, with the "Honors for All" model. So, if you were helping a bright kid choose classes for 9th and 10th, what would you advise?