Anonymous wrote:The traditional FCPS precalc curriculum is almost identical to the AP precalculus curriculum, so schools were heavily encouraged to only offer the AP version so students could get the benefit of weighted grades and potential college credit for taking the same course they would have otherwise.

—math teacher

This must vary because my DC's math teacher said it was different and an adjustment for her. The AP goes very in depth for Algebra 2 topics for some reason.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was annoyed our school only offered AP last year, but it turned out well. They go in depth with Algebra 2 concepts along with Pre-Calculus and the AP isn't that hard. It's nice to get the college credit which is usable most places as long as your kid isn't in a STEM major or at a top school.

Really? Precalc counts for college credit?

It will be school dependent and dependent on whether your kid also takes AP Calculus (AB/ BC/ or both) b/c your unlikely to get credit for pre calculus and then any calc.

I notice a lot of kids who take Algebra 1 in 7th end up taking AP PreCalc AB as a sophomore, then AP Calculus AB as a junior and then AP Calculus BC as a senior. They repeat calculus twice. Why is that allowed? They will have a much easier time in AP Calculus BC then.

This all fits with FCPS’ philosophy of continually lowering academic standards and curtailing the most rigorous course offerings.

I'm interested in how colleges look at this. It used to be that AP meant the most rigorous version of a class. But now, AP Precalc AB is actually the lowest level of the class offered. But AP Precalc BC is much more challenging and geared to those taking AP Calculus BC.

Maybe more kids will take AP Precalc BC and then take AP Calculus AB anyway, since that still is considered rigorous and there is an applied calculus class that is not as rigorous.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IB schools don't have AP so it makes sense that precalc would exist at an IB school. I think all of the AP schools only offer AP Precalc now

Robinson offers AP precalculus.

Robinson and Lewis are the only IB schools with some AP classes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IB schools don't have AP so it makes sense that precalc would exist at an IB school. I think all of the AP schools only offer AP Precalc now

Robinson offers AP precalculus.

Marshall offers AP precalculus too but it's online. I just don't think students can learn Math effectively online.

Anonymous wrote:IB schools don't have AP so it makes sense that precalc would exist at an IB school. I think all of the AP schools only offer AP Precalc now

Robinson offers AP precalculus.

The traditional FCPS precalc curriculum is almost identical to the AP precalculus curriculum, so schools were heavily encouraged to only offer the AP version so students could get the benefit of weighted grades and potential college credit for taking the same course they would have otherwise.

—math teacher

Students on the IB path do not need precalc. After Algebra II they are eligible for analysis or applications. The two year course covers precalc and calculus and some statistics (applications) or precalc, trig, calc I and II and some statistics (analysis).

But students not doing IB math, should have the option to take precalc at IB schools. Ours offers it.

Anonymous wrote:I was annoyed our school only offered AP last year, but it turned out well. They go in depth with Algebra 2 concepts along with Pre-Calculus and the AP isn't that hard. It's nice to get the college credit which is usable most places as long as your kid isn't in a STEM major or at a top school.

Really? Precalc counts for college credit?

I was annoyed our school only offered AP last year, but it turned out well. They go in depth with Algebra 2 concepts along with Pre-Calculus and the AP isn't that hard. It's nice to get the college credit which is usable most places as long as your kid isn't in a STEM major or at a top school.

IB schools don't have AP so it makes sense that precalc would exist at an IB school. I think all of the AP schools only offer AP Precalc now

Last year, DS took regular old PreCalc at an IB school.

Was going through the school board' meeting minutes and this caught my eye:

"AP Precalculus AB is replacing standard level Precalculus in many schools. All versions of Precalc should be in the optional catalog to allow flexibility in developing programs that meet school needs."

Is it the case for IB schools too?