Anonymous wrote:Thanks again! You are very helpful.
Needless to say, I am not a math brain (barely made it through trig)
What is the difference between the two junior year calculus classes?
Right now my middle schooler is interested in stem fields. But that could change as I think the real passion and talent is in the humanities Stem is the focus now because that is what everyone in his circle is into here in fcps. If a kid starts on this advanced math track, but changes a focus later in high school, how does that play out senior year with the calculus class vs the elective? Can they choose something else entirely like and arts or history class or does it have to be a stem class or a different math class?
What a 12 or 13 year old wants to focus on is not necessarily what an older teen might want.
Technically, once he meets the diploma requirements, he doesn't have to take another math class. However, colleges like to see at least one math course in each HS year (even if the student took HS in MS). If your DC wants to slow it down, he can take the AP Calculus AB Junior year and AP Statistics senior year (or even Probability and Statistics).
It used to be that AP calculus was A for first semester, B for second semester and C for third semester - but I don't think they are like that anymore. BC does cover more material than AB.
The thing that helps the most with electives is taking a language in MS- especially if the student is in band/orchestra/theatre arts/art/or chorus as they eat up one elective each year. PE is only for two year so another elective is freed for Junior and Senior years BUT one of those has be Econ/personal Finance or AP Econ.