MCPS web/information is a mess.

https://mbhs.edu/departments/magnet/courses_sci.php
Contradicts the course bulletin. This page says that Magnet Bio is a 1-semester double period (perhaps per the "1-year" law as PP mentioned) but that Physics, Chem, and Earth Science are each 1 semester single-period *double-credit* classes.

I apologize for posting incorrect information copied from the Course. Bulletin (sigh).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Magnet Physics is 1-semester, double period.
Magnet Chem is also.

https://coursebulletin.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/SchoolCourseCatalogs/School/04757/SC

Are you sure in the double period? Maybe it has changed a few years ago it was only a single period.

I was only citing the Course Bulletin

https://coursebulletin.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/Sch...CourseCatalogs/School/04757/SC

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Physcs and Chem are both 1 semester long (condensed versions). I think bio was a whole year but I do not remember earth/space so maybe it changed. Someone else will chime in.

Last I knew yes, physics and chem were 1 semester each and so was earth science in 10th but bio was 1 year long. It involved 2.5 years of science over the first two years to prepare students for the deeper electives available in 11th and 12th grade.

That makes no sense.

Chemistry and Physics are normally full-year Freshman, Sophomore courses in other states. Biology is normally easier, unless they cover Organic Chemistry then? And use earth/space for more difficult Physics reinforcement?

Or are they just trying to squeeze more kids through their programs? That sounds like something MCPS would do, now that I think about it?

probably to make more time for bocce practice and field trips to the kid's museum

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Physcs and Chem are both 1 semester long (condensed versions). I think bio was a whole year but I do not remember earth/space so maybe it changed. Someone else will chime in.

Last I knew yes, physics and chem were 1 semester each and so was earth science in 10th but bio was 1 year long. It involved 2.5 years of science over the first two years to prepare students for the deeper electives available in 11th and 12th grade.

Interesting, at poolesville smacs biology is a whole year and earth science is one whole year in 10thgrade.

It's funny because Physics is probably the harder science whereas Bio and Earth Science are the softer of the sciences offered. Wonder why they'd emphasize that. Personally, I'd skip ES altogether if it were my call and focus on something useful.

Which is harder is an individual thing.

by harder, I mean interesting and challenging as opposed not a serious science

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Physcs and Chem are both 1 semester long (condensed versions). I think bio was a whole year but I do not remember earth/space so maybe it changed. Someone else will chime in.

Last I knew yes, physics and chem were 1 semester each and so was earth science in 10th but bio was 1 year long. It involved 2.5 years of science over the first two years to prepare students for the deeper electives available in 11th and 12th grade.

That makes no sense.

Chemistry and Physics are normally full-year Freshman, Sophomore courses in other states. Biology is normally easier, unless they cover Organic Chemistry then? And use earth/space for more difficult Physics reinforcement?

Or are they just trying to squeeze more kids through their programs? That sounds like something MCPS would do, now that I think about it?

This does not mean there are more kids in the programs. It just allows these same kids to take more classes in the 4 years,

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Physcs and Chem are both 1 semester long (condensed versions). I think bio was a whole year but I do not remember earth/space so maybe it changed. Someone else will chime in.

Last I knew yes, physics and chem were 1 semester each and so was earth science in 10th but bio was 1 year long. It involved 2.5 years of science over the first two years to prepare students for the deeper electives available in 11th and 12th grade.

That makes no sense.

Chemistry and Physics are normally full-year Freshman, Sophomore courses in other states. Biology is normally easier, unless they cover Organic Chemistry then? And use earth/space for more difficult Physics reinforcement?

Or are they just trying to squeeze more kids through their programs? That sounds like something MCPS would do, now that I think about it?

PP who said Chem & Physics are double period is wrong. They accelerate Physics, Chemistry, and Earth Science to fit the entire year of content into a semester, which is why those are full credit courses. They can’t do that with Bio because there is a state requirement that students take one year (not one credit) of biology to graduate. Kind of like how they need a math credit every year (not four total high school math credits) to graduate.

I don’t know where you’d get the idea that they are trying to “squeeze more kids through.” Demand for these programs far exceeds capacity.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Physcs and Chem are both 1 semester long (condensed versions). I think bio was a whole year but I do not remember earth/space so maybe it changed. Someone else will chime in.

Last I knew yes, physics and chem were 1 semester each and so was earth science in 10th but bio was 1 year long. It involved 2.5 years of science over the first two years to prepare students for the deeper electives available in 11th and 12th grade.

That makes no sense.

Chemistry and Physics are normally full-year Freshman, Sophomore courses in other states. Biology is normally easier, unless they cover Organic Chemistry then? And use earth/space for more difficult Physics reinforcement?

Or are they just trying to squeeze more kids through their programs? That sounds like something MCPS would do, now that I think about it?

Anonymous wrote:Magnet Physics is 1-semester, double period.
Magnet Chem is also.

Magnet Bio is full year, single-period, maybe because they don't have (large) lab projects?

All have the same total class time.

None is early easier than another. Biology is a wider subject, Physics is more mathematically intensive, and Chem is between.

https://coursebulletin.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/SchoolCourseCatalogs/School/04757/SC

Are you sure in the double period? Maybe it has changed a few years ago it was only a single period.

Anonymous wrote:Magnet Physics is 1-semester, double period.
Magnet Chem is also.

Magnet Bio is full year, single-period, maybe because they don't have (large) lab projects?

All have the same total class time.

None is early easier than another. Biology is a wider subject, Physics is more mathematically intensive, and Chem is between.

https://coursebulletin.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/SchoolCourseCatalogs/School/04757/SC

At poolesville magnet physics is 1 semester single pd.

Magnet Physics is 1-semester, double period.
Magnet Chem is also.

Magnet Bio is full year, single-period, maybe because they don't have (large) lab projects?

All have the same total class time.

None is early easier than another. Biology is a wider subject, Physics is more mathematically intensive, and Chem is between.

https://coursebulletin.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/SchoolCourseCatalogs/School/04757/SC

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Physcs and Chem are both 1 semester long (condensed versions). I think bio was a whole year but I do not remember earth/space so maybe it changed. Someone else will chime in.

Last I knew yes, physics and chem were 1 semester each and so was earth science in 10th but bio was 1 year long. It involved 2.5 years of science over the first two years to prepare students for the deeper electives available in 11th and 12th grade.

Interesting, at poolesville smacs biology is a whole year and earth science is one whole year in 10thgrade.

It's funny because Physics is probably the harder science whereas Bio and Earth Science are the softer of the sciences offered. Wonder why they'd emphasize that. Personally, I'd skip ES altogether if it were my call and focus on something useful.

Which is harder is an individual thing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Physcs and Chem are both 1 semester long (condensed versions). I think bio was a whole year but I do not remember earth/space so maybe it changed. Someone else will chime in.

Last I knew yes, physics and chem were 1 semester each and so was earth science in 10th but bio was 1 year long. It involved 2.5 years of science over the first two years to prepare students for the deeper electives available in 11th and 12th grade.

Interesting, at poolesville smacs biology is a whole year and earth science is one whole year in 10thgrade.

It's funny because Physics is probably the harder science whereas Bio and Earth Science are the softer of the sciences offered. Wonder why they'd emphasize that. Personally, I'd skip ES altogether if it were my call and focus on something useful.

Anonymous wrote:Physcs and Chem are both 1 semester long (condensed versions). I think bio was a whole year but I do not remember earth/space so maybe it changed. Someone else will chime in.

Yes, but as PP said they were condensed, they still count as a full year credit each, even though only 1 sem duration. Yes, Bio was year long.

Biology at blair is also a full year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Physcs and Chem are both 1 semester long (condensed versions). I think bio was a whole year but I do not remember earth/space so maybe it changed. Someone else will chime in.

Last I knew yes, physics and chem were 1 semester each and so was earth science in 10th but bio was 1 year long. It involved 2.5 years of science over the first two years to prepare students for the deeper electives available in 11th and 12th grade.

Interesting, at poolesville smacs biology is a whole year and earth science is one whole year in 10thgrade.