Anonymous wrote:She should be doing AP gov't. In other parts of the country it's a 1 semester class for seniors, so perfect over a year for 9th graders.

My DD took it and got a 4 on the exam when she was 14.

16% got a 5
22% got a 4

Most colleges do not accept anything under a 4 so that isn't a very high number at all

FWIW, my DD has taken both, and AP Gov is far and away the better class to be your first AP history course. I think that’s kind of the general consensus.

Nationally, half the students who took APUSH failed to get a three or better on the exam last year (mine got a 3, but had a 4 on AP Gov as a freshman). AP Gov covers much less content, and the essays require more analysis than specific detail.

Anonymous wrote:At Blair 9th graders can take US history hons or AP US History. Magnet students were STRONGLY recommended not to take the AP version. I can’t imagine it will hurt their college chances!

My kid at Blair took Hon US History in 9th and AP Gov in 10th. The exam pass rate at Blair is approximately 80% percent each year.

At Blair 9th graders can take US history hons or AP US History. Magnet students were STRONGLY recommended not to take the AP version. I can’t imagine it will hurt their college chances!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have no idea how smart or diligent or good as absorbing facts your daughter is.

Agreed. My kid'z entire cohort took AP-Gov in 9th grade. No biggie.

So the class is super easy?

It's easier than many other AP courses becuase it condenses a single semester course into a year.

Sorry, condenses is the opposite of what I mean - it gives kids a whole year of exposure to material that is normally covered in a semester in college.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have no idea how smart or diligent or good as absorbing facts your daughter is.

Agreed. My kid'z entire cohort took AP-Gov in 9th grade. No biggie.

So the class is super easy?

It's easier than many other AP courses becuase it condenses a single semester course into a year.

At our school, Kennedy, they push the "gifted" kids to take AP Gov in 9th grade and AP US History in 10th grade.

In my opinion, having just done through this with my son, I don't think kids should be taking AP courses in 9th grade, with probably a few exceptions here and there.

Most kids aren't ready for that kind of rigor or discipline and unfortunately, the lax attitudes of the pandemic from their middle school transition years really didn't prepare them for the reality check that comes with an AP course with regard to study habits and test taking intensity.

That being said, MCPS seems intent on cramming more and more kids on the advanced tracks sooner rather than later, even if the kids flounder and aren't ready. I assume this is because they think it makes them look good, but also because they have such liberal retake/reassessment policies that even if kids do struggle, they have multiple chances for do-overs, so in the end, they can still end up with a B or an A.

However, the truth lies in the AP exam scores, and if you look at the MCPS students taking these AP courses and the exam, a lot of kids are flopping with 1's or 2's on the exams, even though they've got a good classroom grade.

It sounds like she has a really full course load and on top of that a travel sport. Given her complete lack of interest I would urge her not to take it.

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is in honors everything including Alg 2. She is also taking AP computer science. She came home after orientation stating she feels that honors history is for the non-college kids and she should be in an AP class. I have heard from countless teens and parents that AP Gov is a nightmare class for freshman and my daughter has zero desire to learn anything about US Gov. She also plays a travel sport that consumes a lot of time. I really don't think she needs the AP, but she is telling me she will be behind her peers if she doesn't do it. I am not buying it.

Then why aren't you at the Suspend the Constitution rally in Atlanta this week?

Anonymous wrote:She should be doing AP gov't. In other parts of the country it's a 1 semester class for seniors, so perfect over a year for 9th graders.

My DD took it and got a 4 on the exam when she was 14.

In MoCo, it's AP Gov + NSL, which is more than AP Gov.

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is in honors everything including Alg 2. She is also taking AP computer science. She came home after orientation stating she feels that honors history is for the non-college kids and she should be in an AP class. I have heard from countless teens and parents that AP Gov is a nightmare class for freshman and my daughter has zero desire to learn anything about US Gov. She also plays a travel sport that consumes a lot of time. I really don't think she needs the AP, but she is telling me she will be behind her peers if she doesn't do it. I am not buying it.

Honors US history is the default for ever freshman in MCPS. It also sounds like your child thinks on grade level classes mean a kid will graduate high school and work at McDonalds for the rest of their lives. I wonder who she learned that from... You actually don't need advice, you posted this because you want to brag about how your kid is smart and others who take on level classes are dumb.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She should be doing AP gov't. In other parts of the country it's a 1 semester class for seniors, so perfect over a year for 9th graders.

My DD took it and got a 4 on the exam when she was 14.

Why is a class that seniors take appropriate for freshman.

No one in my kid’s group is doing it and all of them are in high level courses in middle school. It’s just a big deal to colleges

Because kids can't sit on their thumbs for 3 years and then take 20 classes all at once.

It's not Government IV. It's just Government.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have no idea how smart or diligent or good as absorbing facts your daughter is.

Agreed. My kid'z entire cohort took AP-Gov in 9th grade. No biggie.

So the class is super easy?

Anonymous wrote:She should be doing AP gov't. In other parts of the country it's a 1 semester class for seniors, so perfect over a year for 9th graders.

My DD took it and got a 4 on the exam when she was 14.

Why is a class that seniors take appropriate for freshman.

No one in my kid’s group is doing it and all of them are in high level courses in middle school. It’s just a big deal to colleges

Anonymous wrote:We have no idea how smart or diligent or good as absorbing facts your daughter is.

Agreed. My kid'z entire cohort took AP-Gov in 9th grade. No biggie.