Anonymous
02/05/2025 10:14
Subject: Which high schools allow 9th graders to take AP Statistics?
Anonymous wrote:knowing calculus while taking AP stats won't magically give a student a deeper understanding unless the course is specifically taught from a calculus based viewpoint, which AP stats isn't.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My son is already taking Honors Algebra II this year in 8th grade and will take AP Pre-calc BC. Has anyone else's child taken AP Stats in 9th grade?
**This is the AAP message board, no need to respond that 9th graders shouldn't be taking AP classes or to "just let them be a kid". I'm looking for advice from other parents with kids on similar math paths as my son.
My son took Statistics after Algebra 2. In retrospect, it’s not a good idea, much better to take it after Calculus. I’m sure some people will jump in and say AP statistics is algebra based, but to really understand the fundamentals you need calculus, otherwise the entire course is a mechanical application of formulas.
There are also some concepts covered in precalculus for binomial distributions, combinations and permutations, inverse functions etc.
The AP exam is challenging, it isn’t easy to get a 5, you need to know the material well. In a sense AP Statistics is harder than AP Calculus because it requires a deeper knowledge of material, while most of calculus theorems are straightforward to derive, interpret and apply.
Another point, good statistics teachers are very rare, the one my son had was abysmal, would literally ask for a conclusion in a very specific rote memorization format, all while she never defined in the course what a probability distribution is.
It’s possible to take AP Stat in 9th but not advisable.
Knowing Calculus will actually give students a deeper understanding since it underlines any concept in continuous probability distributions which is half the class.
In practice the “algebra based” course will teach that the probability is “area under the curve” that can be found in a table. There goes the “you don’t need calculus” argument. To get a sense of the rationale, you can just spend a little time on the many excellent resources on YouTube that do a good job of presenting these concepts.
If your idea of a fun math class is rote memorization of formulas and the situations where they should be applied, then you can get by with algebra only.
Anonymous
02/05/2025 07:35
Subject: Which high schools allow 9th graders to take AP Statistics?
knowing calculus while taking AP stats won't magically give a student a deeper understanding unless the course is specifically taught from a calculus based viewpoint, which AP stats isn't.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My son is already taking Honors Algebra II this year in 8th grade and will take AP Pre-calc BC. Has anyone else's child taken AP Stats in 9th grade?
**This is the AAP message board, no need to respond that 9th graders shouldn't be taking AP classes or to "just let them be a kid". I'm looking for advice from other parents with kids on similar math paths as my son.
My son took Statistics after Algebra 2. In retrospect, it’s not a good idea, much better to take it after Calculus. I’m sure some people will jump in and say AP statistics is algebra based, but to really understand the fundamentals you need calculus, otherwise the entire course is a mechanical application of formulas.
There are also some concepts covered in precalculus for binomial distributions, combinations and permutations, inverse functions etc.
The AP exam is challenging, it isn’t easy to get a 5, you need to know the material well. In a sense AP Statistics is harder than AP Calculus because it requires a deeper knowledge of material, while most of calculus theorems are straightforward to derive, interpret and apply.
Another point, good statistics teachers are very rare, the one my son had was abysmal, would literally ask for a conclusion in a very specific rote memorization format, all while she never defined in the course what a probability distribution is.
It’s possible to take AP Stat in 9th but not advisable.
Anonymous
02/04/2025 22:05
Subject: Which high schools allow 9th graders to take AP Statistics?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:TJ has RS 1 fall of Freshman year. But then TJ usually teaches Alg 2 in spring of freshman year and instead of math 4/5 next year they are doing AP pre-calc.
I think TJ would be the only one to let your kid do AP stats freshman year (rs1/2) but then they have to do AP pre calc and meh.
I would instead just do precalc freshman year.
Algebra 2 is math3. Math 3, 4, and 5 are offered both fall and spring semesters. Math 4 and 5 is traditional indepth precalc, and few advanced students complete both in freshmen year. AP precalc has a subset of traditional precalc topics (created for lower level math students who dont take Calc AB/BC in high school) and is a waste of time for Math 4 and 5 students, given their comprehensiveness and TJ rigor.
Ah. You’re not a current parent.
They are replacing math 4/5 with AP pre calc.
This was all over the TJ parent forums and social media.
Unlike the AP pre-calc at base school, there may be a TJ AP precalc, a semester course with same content as Math 5 plus the option to take the AP Pre-calc exam. AP pre-calc is of no use for TJ students since AP Calc AB is required minimum for graduation.
It's still an AP class, isn't it?
Yes but that has no effect on the kid's life.
Doesn't it demonstrate a marginally higher level of rigor?
Anonymous
02/04/2025 21:19
Subject: Which high schools allow 9th graders to take AP Statistics?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:TJ has RS 1 fall of Freshman year. But then TJ usually teaches Alg 2 in spring of freshman year and instead of math 4/5 next year they are doing AP pre-calc.
I think TJ would be the only one to let your kid do AP stats freshman year (rs1/2) but then they have to do AP pre calc and meh.
I would instead just do precalc freshman year.
Algebra 2 is math3. Math 3, 4, and 5 are offered both fall and spring semesters. Math 4 and 5 is traditional indepth precalc, and few advanced students complete both in freshmen year. AP precalc has a subset of traditional precalc topics (created for lower level math students who dont take Calc AB/BC in high school) and is a waste of time for Math 4 and 5 students, given their comprehensiveness and TJ rigor.
Ah. You’re not a current parent.
They are replacing math 4/5 with AP pre calc.
This was all over the TJ parent forums and social media.
Can you post links. Want to get informed. Im current parent .
Join the PTSA. Go to the meetings. See the TJ insta.
Dcum, as evidenced by this thread, is not a reliable for source for TJ info.
Anonymous
02/04/2025 17:30
Subject: Which high schools allow 9th graders to take AP Statistics?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:TJ has RS 1 fall of Freshman year. But then TJ usually teaches Alg 2 in spring of freshman year and instead of math 4/5 next year they are doing AP pre-calc.
I think TJ would be the only one to let your kid do AP stats freshman year (rs1/2) but then they have to do AP pre calc and meh.
I would instead just do precalc freshman year.
Algebra 2 is math3. Math 3, 4, and 5 are offered both fall and spring semesters. Math 4 and 5 is traditional indepth precalc, and few advanced students complete both in freshmen year. AP precalc has a subset of traditional precalc topics (created for lower level math students who dont take Calc AB/BC in high school) and is a waste of time for Math 4 and 5 students, given their comprehensiveness and TJ rigor.
Ah. You’re not a current parent.
They are replacing math 4/5 with AP pre calc.
This was all over the TJ parent forums and social media.
Unlike the AP pre-calc at base school, there may be a TJ AP precalc, a semester course with same content as Math 5 plus the option to take the AP Pre-calc exam. AP pre-calc is of no use for TJ students since AP Calc AB is required minimum for graduation.
It's still an AP class, isn't it?
Yes but that has no effect on the kid's life.
You might get the GPA bump if you care about it.
Anonymous
02/04/2025 15:34
Subject: Which high schools allow 9th graders to take AP Statistics?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:TJ has RS 1 fall of Freshman year. But then TJ usually teaches Alg 2 in spring of freshman year and instead of math 4/5 next year they are doing AP pre-calc.
I think TJ would be the only one to let your kid do AP stats freshman year (rs1/2) but then they have to do AP pre calc and meh.
I would instead just do precalc freshman year.
Algebra 2 is math3. Math 3, 4, and 5 are offered both fall and spring semesters. Math 4 and 5 is traditional indepth precalc, and few advanced students complete both in freshmen year. AP precalc has a subset of traditional precalc topics (created for lower level math students who dont take Calc AB/BC in high school) and is a waste of time for Math 4 and 5 students, given their comprehensiveness and TJ rigor.
Ah. You’re not a current parent.
They are replacing math 4/5 with AP pre calc.
This was all over the TJ parent forums and social media.
Unlike the AP pre-calc at base school, there may be a TJ AP precalc, a semester course with same content as Math 5 plus the option to take the AP Pre-calc exam. AP pre-calc is of no use for TJ students since AP Calc AB is required minimum for graduation.
It's still an AP class, isn't it?
AP Precalculus is designed to be a capstone AP course for students who do not want to take anymore calculus in high school. AP precalculus came about during the BLM and equity movement. For high school students who take Calculus AB/BC, Multivariable, and discrete, the AP precalculus is redundant. AP precalculus is an easier and subset of traditional rigorous precalculus, which is what TJ math 4&5 are.
Anonymous
02/04/2025 15:25
Subject: Which high schools allow 9th graders to take AP Statistics?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:TJ has RS 1 fall of Freshman year. But then TJ usually teaches Alg 2 in spring of freshman year and instead of math 4/5 next year they are doing AP pre-calc.
I think TJ would be the only one to let your kid do AP stats freshman year (rs1/2) but then they have to do AP pre calc and meh.
I would instead just do precalc freshman year.
Algebra 2 is math3. Math 3, 4, and 5 are offered both fall and spring semesters. Math 4 and 5 is traditional indepth precalc, and few advanced students complete both in freshmen year. AP precalc has a subset of traditional precalc topics (created for lower level math students who dont take Calc AB/BC in high school) and is a waste of time for Math 4 and 5 students, given their comprehensiveness and TJ rigor.
Ah. You’re not a current parent.
They are replacing math 4/5 with AP pre calc.
This was all over the TJ parent forums and social media.
Unlike the AP pre-calc at base school, there may be a TJ AP precalc, a semester course with same content as Math 5 plus the option to take the AP Pre-calc exam. AP pre-calc is of no use for TJ students since AP Calc AB is required minimum for graduation.
They are both AP precalculus. Some posters here don't understand that the AP test curriculum and course curriculum is a minimum, not a maximum. It's OK. No one will think your kid is dumb when they see the dreaded "AP Precalculus" on the transcript before senior year.
Anonymous
02/04/2025 15:24
Subject: Which high schools allow 9th graders to take AP Statistics?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My son is in MCPS and took AlgII in 8th. He's taking H. Stats this year. He'll take AP stats after BC. He's a math kid and just wanted an additional math class.
There’s too much overlap to do both Statistics classes. The basics of Statistics (first semester of AP statistics) are normally covered in honors algebra and precalculus.
Overlap is unavoidable, especially when they get to college major courses
It's literally avoidable in this case by not taking both H and AP versions of the same course.
But if you need credits to graduate, and the school gives credit for both, and you hate everything else on offer, it's fine to take redundant classes.
Anonymous
02/04/2025 15:21
Subject: Which high schools allow 9th graders to take AP Statistics?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:TJ has RS 1 fall of Freshman year. But then TJ usually teaches Alg 2 in spring of freshman year and instead of math 4/5 next year they are doing AP pre-calc.
I think TJ would be the only one to let your kid do AP stats freshman year (rs1/2) but then they have to do AP pre calc and meh.
I would instead just do precalc freshman year.
Algebra 2 is math3. Math 3, 4, and 5 are offered both fall and spring semesters. Math 4 and 5 is traditional indepth precalc, and few advanced students complete both in freshmen year. AP precalc has a subset of traditional precalc topics (created for lower level math students who dont take Calc AB/BC in high school) and is a waste of time for Math 4 and 5 students, given their comprehensiveness and TJ rigor.
Ah. You’re not a current parent.
They are replacing math 4/5 with AP pre calc.
This was all over the TJ parent forums and social media.
Unlike the AP pre-calc at base school, there may be a TJ AP precalc, a semester course with same content as Math 5 plus the option to take the AP Pre-calc exam. AP pre-calc is of no use for TJ students since AP Calc AB is required minimum for graduation.
It's still an AP class, isn't it?
Yes but that has no effect on the kid's life.
Anonymous
02/04/2025 15:20
Subject: Which high schools allow 9th graders to take AP Statistics?
Guys. "AP Precalc" could be anything.
Some (all?) FCPS schools renamed "Honors Precalc" to "AP Precalc BC" for optics reasons related to the silly weighed GPA system. As a bonus, now the name matchs the Calculus class that usually follows.
Some (all?) FCPS schools renamed "Honors Precalc" to "AP Precalc BC" for optics reasons related to the silly weighed GPA system. As a bonus, now the name matchs the Calculus class that usually follows.
Anonymous
02/04/2025 15:07
Subject: Which high schools allow 9th graders to take AP Statistics?
There is not bc for precal. You can do it but better to wait and get graduation requirements away.
Anonymous
02/04/2025 15:05
Subject: Which high schools allow 9th graders to take AP Statistics?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:TJ has RS 1 fall of Freshman year. But then TJ usually teaches Alg 2 in spring of freshman year and instead of math 4/5 next year they are doing AP pre-calc.
I think TJ would be the only one to let your kid do AP stats freshman year (rs1/2) but then they have to do AP pre calc and meh.
I would instead just do precalc freshman year.
Algebra 2 is math3. Math 3, 4, and 5 are offered both fall and spring semesters. Math 4 and 5 is traditional indepth precalc, and few advanced students complete both in freshmen year. AP precalc has a subset of traditional precalc topics (created for lower level math students who dont take Calc AB/BC in high school) and is a waste of time for Math 4 and 5 students, given their comprehensiveness and TJ rigor.
Ah. You’re not a current parent.
They are replacing math 4/5 with AP pre calc.
This was all over the TJ parent forums and social media.
Unlike the AP pre-calc at base school, there may be a TJ AP precalc, a semester course with same content as Math 5 plus the option to take the AP Pre-calc exam. AP pre-calc is of no use for TJ students since AP Calc AB is required minimum for graduation.
It's still an AP class, isn't it?
Anonymous
02/04/2025 14:42
Subject: Which high schools allow 9th graders to take AP Statistics?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My son is in MCPS and took AlgII in 8th. He's taking H. Stats this year. He'll take AP stats after BC. He's a math kid and just wanted an additional math class.
There’s too much overlap to do both Statistics classes. The basics of Statistics (first semester of AP statistics) are normally covered in honors algebra and precalculus.
Overlap is unavoidable, especially when they get to college major courses
Anonymous
02/04/2025 13:29
Subject: Which high schools allow 9th graders to take AP Statistics?
Anonymous wrote:My son is in MCPS and took AlgII in 8th. He's taking H. Stats this year. He'll take AP stats after BC. He's a math kid and just wanted an additional math class.
There’s too much overlap to do both Statistics classes. The basics of Statistics (first semester of AP statistics) are normally covered in honors algebra and precalculus.
Anonymous
02/04/2025 12:44
Subject: Which high schools allow 9th graders to take AP Statistics?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:TJ has RS 1 fall of Freshman year. But then TJ usually teaches Alg 2 in spring of freshman year and instead of math 4/5 next year they are doing AP pre-calc.
I think TJ would be the only one to let your kid do AP stats freshman year (rs1/2) but then they have to do AP pre calc and meh.
I would instead just do precalc freshman year.
Algebra 2 is math3. Math 3, 4, and 5 are offered both fall and spring semesters. Math 4 and 5 is traditional indepth precalc, and few advanced students complete both in freshmen year. AP precalc has a subset of traditional precalc topics (created for lower level math students who dont take Calc AB/BC in high school) and is a waste of time for Math 4 and 5 students, given their comprehensiveness and TJ rigor.
Ah. You’re not a current parent.
They are replacing math 4/5 with AP pre calc.
This was all over the TJ parent forums and social media.
Unlike the AP pre-calc at base school, there may be a TJ AP precalc, a semester course with same content as Math 5 plus the option to take the AP Pre-calc exam. AP pre-calc is of no use for TJ students since AP Calc AB is required minimum for graduation.