Anonymous
08/26/2025 13:12
Subject: HS Math: Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra?
Anonymous wrote:DC is registered for both Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra. The HS course catalog says these are Dual Enrollment classes and they have been in the past with older siblings.
DC comes home today and says it’s not Dual Enrollment. It’s marked as an AV class instead.
What the heck FCPS? Is it like this at all HSs? Who wants to take Multivariable and Linear in both HS and repeat in college? And why did FCPS change this with no notice to parent or student to make an informed decision about staying in the class.
It's a nothingburger.
You don't have to repeat in college just because it's not DE, and DE credit doesn't necessarily mean you can avoid repeating it in college. Colleges place students according to placement tests.
The only possibly-important difference is if you are cobbling together credits for early graduation for a low-end degree, which an MV/LA hight school student should not be doing.
Anonymous
08/26/2025 12:28
Subject: HS Math: Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra?
My DC who took MV and LA in 12th, took AP Stats sophomore year. AP Stats was a fairly easy class for them.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Another reason to not take Algebra in 7th.
Do you mean 6th?
People who take algebra in 7th can take AP Calculus BC as a senior if there is no multivariable or linear at their school
Many kids will skip AB and take BC.
But you don't HAVE to do that. So starting Alg in 7th does not automatically mean you have to end up with MV in 12th - it could mean you have space to do Calc at a slower pace which may be good for some.
Or take AP Stats, which is quite honestly a more useful course with a wide range of applicability to various fields.
Anonymous
08/26/2025 12:14
Subject: HS Math: Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:[url]Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Another reason to not take Algebra in 7th.
Do you mean 6th?
People who take algebra in 7th can take AP Calculus BC as a senior if there is no multivariable or linear at their school
Many kids will skip AB and take BC.
But you don't HAVE to do that. So starting Alg in 7th does not automatically mean you have to end up with MV in 12th - it could mean you have space to do Calc at a slower pace which may be good for some.
But doesn’t that go against the whole idea of acceleration which is what they wanted to begin with (hence taking algebra 1 in 7th)? They shouldn’t need a slower pace if they are math whizzes!
I'm the poster who thought no one takes MV for grins and giggles. As posters above corrected me, they do take it to demonstrate rigor (which is not the same as grins and giggles), and taking AB and then BC wouldn't do that.
My kid's school requires everyone to take Calc AB so he's going to have to take AB and then BC.
I would bet that TJ allows Calc BC to cover for AB. I really doubt that it requires kid to AB. AB is the minimum requirement.
Anonymous
08/26/2025 12:13
Subject: HS Math: Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:[url]Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Another reason to not take Algebra in 7th.
Do you mean 6th?
People who take algebra in 7th can take AP Calculus BC as a senior if there is no multivariable or linear at their school
Many kids will skip AB and take BC.
But you don't HAVE to do that. So starting Alg in 7th does not automatically mean you have to end up with MV in 12th - it could mean you have space to do Calc at a slower pace which may be good for some.
But doesn’t that go against the whole idea of acceleration which is what they wanted to begin with (hence taking algebra 1 in 7th)? They shouldn’t need a slower pace if they are math whizzes!
I'm the poster who thought no one takes MV for grins and giggles. As posters above corrected me, they do take it to demonstrate rigor (which is not the same as grins and giggles), and taking AB and then BC wouldn't do that.
My kid's school requires everyone to take Calc AB so he's going to have to take AB and then BC.
Anonymous
08/26/2025 12:10
Subject: HS Math: Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Another reason to not take Algebra in 7th.
Do you mean 6th?
People who take algebra in 7th can take AP Calculus BC as a senior if there is no multivariable or linear at their school
Many kids will skip AB and take BC.
But you don't HAVE to do that. So starting Alg in 7th does not automatically mean you have to end up with MV in 12th - it could mean you have space to do Calc at a slower pace which may be good for some.
You are probably better off taking AP Calc BC and AP Stats then Calc AB and then BC. At least Stats is a different field of math that is important and useful. Calc AB to Calc BC is an easier path since you are reviewing for most of the year. If it turns out your kid is more of a humanities kids, go AP Calc AB and Ap Stats, the stats will be more useful for most fields in humanities.
Anonymous
08/26/2025 11:49
Subject: HS Math: Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra?
Anonymous wrote:My kid took Multivar & linear at Langley last year, it was Dual Enrollment with George Mason, and cost like $500 to GMU for the first semester. He begged me not to dual enroll him for the 2nd semester because he didn't want to have to attend the last 2 weeks of school and take a final exam - many schools let seniors get some volunteer position or internship and skip the last 2 weeks but any DR class will still meet and have a final exam. My kid did end up getting to avail the credit for the 1st semester GMU Multivar Calc at Virginia Tech this year so is (re-) taking Linear now in his first semester since he only took that semester as a high school class
How did you make the GMU thing happen? Did your kid apply to GMU first? And what did the Counselor do to make it work? Any gotchas?
Anonymous
08/25/2025 23:13
Subject: HS Math: Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra?
My kid took Multivar & linear at Langley last year, it was Dual Enrollment with George Mason, and cost like $500 to GMU for the first semester. He begged me not to dual enroll him for the 2nd semester because he didn't want to have to attend the last 2 weeks of school and take a final exam - many schools let seniors get some volunteer position or internship and skip the last 2 weeks but any DR class will still meet and have a final exam. My kid did end up getting to avail the credit for the 1st semester GMU Multivar Calc at Virginia Tech this year so is (re-) taking Linear now in his first semester since he only took that semester as a high school class
Anonymous wrote:My son took an AV Comp Sci Course. It stands for advanced- so equal to AP or DE level. A lot of colleges won’t take your DE credit in multivar anyways. They want you to take their math class.
Anonymous
08/20/2025 15:08
Subject: HS Math: Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Another reason to not take Algebra in 7th.
Do you mean 6th?
People who take algebra in 7th can take AP Calculus BC as a senior if there is no multivariable or linear at their school
Many kids will skip AB and take BC.
But you don't HAVE to do that. So starting Alg in 7th does not automatically mean you have to end up with MV in 12th - it could mean you have space to do Calc at a slower pace which may be good for some.
Or take AP Stats, which is quite honestly a more useful course with a wide range of applicability to various fields.
OK but the kind of person who is already enrolled in Calc III and Linear like OP's kid is probably going into a college major and career field where those will be useful, like computing or engineering. You don't just take them for grins and giggles.
As the parent of a child who is on that track, with plenty of friends also on that track, yeah they do. Because they by and large are looking to demonstrate rigor to get into some decent schools, not necessarily go into engineering/computing/math/physics.
Same here. Also, my kid took AP Stats in 10th along with AP Precalc. Now in Calc BC and will take MV and Linear next year. AV at our school. Does not care about the credit, just the rigor.
Anonymous
08/20/2025 13:50
Subject: HS Math: Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What does "AV" stand for?
The only schools that offer these classes DE are:
Fairfax HS
Falls Church HS
McLean HS
Oakton HS
TJHSST
West Springfield HS
Woodson HS
Is that new this year? My kid took these DE thru GMU at South Lakes - UVA took the credits.
My kid took DE through GMU at Westfield and VT took the credits
And my kid did DE through GMU at Madison.
Anonymous
08/20/2025 13:50
Subject: HS Math: Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra?
Anonymous wrote:[url]Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Another reason to not take Algebra in 7th.
Do you mean 6th?
People who take algebra in 7th can take AP Calculus BC as a senior if there is no multivariable or linear at their school
Many kids will skip AB and take BC.
But you don't HAVE to do that. So starting Alg in 7th does not automatically mean you have to end up with MV in 12th - it could mean you have space to do Calc at a slower pace which may be good for some.
But doesn’t that go against the whole idea of acceleration which is what they wanted to begin with (hence taking algebra 1 in 7th)? They shouldn’t need a slower pace if they are math whizzes!
I'm the poster who thought no one takes MV for grins and giggles. As posters above corrected me, they do take it to demonstrate rigor (which is not the same as grins and giggles), and taking AB and then BC wouldn't do that.
Anonymous
08/20/2025 13:48
Subject: HS Math: Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra?
[url]
But doesn’t that go against the whole idea of acceleration which is what they wanted to begin with (hence taking algebra 1 in 7th)? They shouldn’t need a slower pace if they are math whizzes!
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Another reason to not take Algebra in 7th.
Do you mean 6th?
People who take algebra in 7th can take AP Calculus BC as a senior if there is no multivariable or linear at their school
Many kids will skip AB and take BC.
But you don't HAVE to do that. So starting Alg in 7th does not automatically mean you have to end up with MV in 12th - it could mean you have space to do Calc at a slower pace which may be good for some.
But doesn’t that go against the whole idea of acceleration which is what they wanted to begin with (hence taking algebra 1 in 7th)? They shouldn’t need a slower pace if they are math whizzes!
Anonymous
08/20/2025 13:36
Subject: HS Math: Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Another reason to not take Algebra in 7th.
Do you mean 6th?
People who take algebra in 7th can take AP Calculus BC as a senior if there is no multivariable or linear at their school
Many kids will skip AB and take BC.
But you don't HAVE to do that. So starting Alg in 7th does not automatically mean you have to end up with MV in 12th - it could mean you have space to do Calc at a slower pace which may be good for some.
Or take AP Stats, which is quite honestly a more useful course with a wide range of applicability to various fields.
OK but the kind of person who is already enrolled in Calc III and Linear like OP's kid is probably going into a college major and career field where those will be useful, like computing or engineering. You don't just take them for grins and giggles.
They absolutely do! I had a student last year in multivar who was an aspiring fashion design major, and another headed to art school, a third to a conservatory for music. Lots and lots of future nurses, business majors, psychology, public health. A higher than typical rate of engineering, physics, and math majors, but far from the majority.
Anonymous
08/20/2025 13:18
Subject: HS Math: Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Another reason to not take Algebra in 7th.
Do you mean 6th?
People who take algebra in 7th can take AP Calculus BC as a senior if there is no multivariable or linear at their school
Many kids will skip AB and take BC.
But you don't HAVE to do that. So starting Alg in 7th does not automatically mean you have to end up with MV in 12th - it could mean you have space to do Calc at a slower pace which may be good for some.
Or take AP Stats, which is quite honestly a more useful course with a wide range of applicability to various fields.
OK but the kind of person who is already enrolled in Calc III and Linear like OP's kid is probably going into a college major and career field where those will be useful, like computing or engineering. You don't just take them for grins and giggles.
You do if accelerated and math and nothing else to take and want to get in good college
Anonymous
08/20/2025 13:12
Subject: HS Math: Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Another reason to not take Algebra in 7th.
Do you mean 6th?
People who take algebra in 7th can take AP Calculus BC as a senior if there is no multivariable or linear at their school
Many kids will skip AB and take BC.
But you don't HAVE to do that. So starting Alg in 7th does not automatically mean you have to end up with MV in 12th - it could mean you have space to do Calc at a slower pace which may be good for some.
Or take AP Stats, which is quite honestly a more useful course with a wide range of applicability to various fields.
OK but the kind of person who is already enrolled in Calc III and Linear like OP's kid is probably going into a college major and career field where those will be useful, like computing or engineering. You don't just take them for grins and giggles.
As the parent of a child who is on that track, with plenty of friends also on that track, yeah they do. Because they by and large are looking to demonstrate rigor to get into some decent schools, not necessarily go into engineering/computing/math/physics.
Anonymous
08/20/2025 12:40
Subject: HS Math: Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Another reason to not take Algebra in 7th.
Do you mean 6th?
People who take algebra in 7th can take AP Calculus BC as a senior if there is no multivariable or linear at their school
Many kids will skip AB and take BC.
But you don't HAVE to do that. So starting Alg in 7th does not automatically mean you have to end up with MV in 12th - it could mean you have space to do Calc at a slower pace which may be good for some.
Or take AP Stats, which is quite honestly a more useful course with a wide range of applicability to various fields.
OK but the kind of person who is already enrolled in Calc III and Linear like OP's kid is probably going into a college major and career field where those will be useful, like computing or engineering. You don't just take them for grins and giggles.