DCUM Forum

Anonymous

11/13/2025 21:00 Subject: Why can't the rules be consistent across schools?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know....I'm preaching to the choir here. I'm starting to help my rising 11th grader plan his schedule for next year. Why does each school have different rules about who can take a specific class.

At Churchill, a student has to take AP Physics 1 before he can take either of the AP Physics C course. At WJ, AP Mechanics is considered a 1st year Physics class
https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/winstonchurchillhscourse/home-25-26/course-offerings/science?authuser=0
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DYyB_e8MLNRSGugIc7cD4HcPU6hFUxenMH39Ko-yepU/edit?tab=t.0

At Churchill, AP Seminar is an elective. At Poolsville and Paint Branch, it can be taken as English 10
https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/winstonchurchillhscourse/home-25-26/course-offerings/english-language-arts?authuser=0
https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/phs-course-bulletin-25-26/home/course-offerings/english?authuser=0
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/paintbranchhs/counseling/

Aren't AP Seminar and the English 10 version of AP Seminar different classes? Like, they have overlap of course, but I thought there were some meaningful differences as well to make it count as English 10?

Yes, that's what I heard too.

Anonymous

11/13/2025 20:17 Subject: Why can't the rules be consistent across schools?

In our MCPS HS APUSH is offered in 9th grade, but the easier AP gov is offered in 10th. Makes no sense.

But once you accept that life isn’t fair, ever, you’ll be happier overall. It just won’t be fair.

Anonymous

11/13/2025 20:03 Subject: Why can't the rules be consistent across schools?

Anonymous wrote:I know....I'm preaching to the choir here. I'm starting to help my rising 11th grader plan his schedule for next year. Why does each school have different rules about who can take a specific class.

At Churchill, a student has to take AP Physics 1 before he can take either of the AP Physics C course. At WJ, AP Mechanics is considered a 1st year Physics class
https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/winstonchurchillhscourse/home-25-26/course-offerings/science?authuser=0
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DYyB_e8MLNRSGugIc7cD4HcPU6hFUxenMH39Ko-yepU/edit?tab=t.0

At Churchill, AP Seminar is an elective. At Poolsville and Paint Branch, it can be taken as English 10
https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/winstonchurchillhscourse/home-25-26/course-offerings/english-language-arts?authuser=0
https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/phs-course-bulletin-25-26/home/course-offerings/english?authuser=0
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/paintbranchhs/counseling/

Aren't AP Seminar and the English 10 version of AP Seminar different classes? Like, they have overlap of course, but I thought there were some meaningful differences as well to make it count as English 10?

Anonymous

11/13/2025 19:42 Subject: Why can't the rules be consistent across schools?

Anonymous wrote:AP Seminar may be a good class, but afaik it doesn't require full-length books. So I think it makes more sense as an elective than an English class.

In my kid’s class, they have read at least one novel so far.

Anonymous

11/13/2025 18:43 Subject: Why can't the rules be consistent across schools?

Anonymous wrote:I think that’s part of what they are trying to solve with the program analysis. I can see certain school rules being different from school to school, but the course offerings should be equitable. We don’t have AP seminar either…and I find the English curriculum to be lacking in high school.

No, they are not fixing those things with the program analysis. They offered a minimum standard but most schools have that.

Anonymous

11/13/2025 11:44 Subject: Why can't the rules be consistent across schools?

AP Seminar may be a good class, but afaik it doesn't require full-length books. So I think it makes more sense as an elective than an English class.

Anonymous

11/13/2025 11:40 Subject: Why can't the rules be consistent across schools?

Anonymous wrote:I think that’s part of what they are trying to solve with the program analysis. I can see certain school rules being different from school to school, but the course offerings should be equitable. We don’t have AP seminar either…and I find the English curriculum to be lacking in high school.

That is an extremely generous interpretation of the program analysis. Most schools don't have AP Physics C and I have seen nothing to indicate this will change.

Anonymous

11/13/2025 11:39 Subject: Why can't the rules be consistent across schools?

I think that’s part of what they are trying to solve with the program analysis. I can see certain school rules being different from school to school, but the course offerings should be equitable. We don’t have AP seminar either…and I find the English curriculum to be lacking in high school.

Anonymous

11/12/2025 21:25 Subject: Why can't the rules be consistent across schools?

That's MCPS for you. Nothing is consistent.

Our school doesn't even have AP Seminar.

Anonymous

11/12/2025 18:00 Subject: Why can't the rules be consistent across schools?

I know....I'm preaching to the choir here. I'm starting to help my rising 11th grader plan his schedule for next year. Why does each school have different rules about who can take a specific class.

At Churchill, a student has to take AP Physics 1 before he can take either of the AP Physics C course. At WJ, AP Mechanics is considered a 1st year Physics class
https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/winstonchurchillhscourse/home-25-26/course-offerings/science?authuser=0
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DYyB_e8MLNRSGugIc7cD4HcPU6hFUxenMH39Ko-yepU/edit?tab=t.0

At Churchill, AP Seminar is an elective. At Poolsville and Paint Branch, it can be taken as English 10
https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/winstonchurchillhscourse/home-25-26/course-offerings/english-language-arts?authuser=0
https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/phs-course-bulletin-25-26/home/course-offerings/english?authuser=0
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/paintbranchhs/counseling/