Anonymous
Post 02/10/2020 15:34     Subject: How many APs did your MCPS kid take?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It is a money making scam by the college board and MCPS loves offering them. They pay teachers with basic bachelor’s degrees to teach a class to 13-17yr olds, than a professor with a PHD should teach to 18-20yr olds. They don’t have to make the curriculum and the failure rates for every course is above 50%. Some as high as 70% (3 is failing for almost all colleges - or they pass you an into course no one needs) But... somehow they are easy A’s with a curved grading system and the extra point boost.

Kids get a higher GPA = win for them
School doesn’t have to create curriculums = win for them
Teachers don’t care if the kids pass the exam = win for them
College Board makes billions in fees = win for them
Colleges can choose to except none or a handful = win for them.
Parents think their kids are “gifted” = win for them.

I mean it is a farce. Let’s give 14yr old kids college courses. So easy to stroke egos when lots of money is involved.

But it's all relative. Is DD's APUSH class really the equivalent of what she would take in college? No.
Are the curriculum, peer group and teaching better than Honors US History? Yes


So she would retake the course in college?
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2020 14:17     Subject: How many APs did your MCPS kid take?
Anonymous wrote:It is a money making scam by the college board and MCPS loves offering them. They pay teachers with basic bachelor’s degrees to teach a class to 13-17yr olds, than a professor with a PHD should teach to 18-20yr olds. They don’t have to make the curriculum and the failure rates for every course is above 50%. Some as high as 70% (3 is failing for almost all colleges - or they pass you an into course no one needs) But... somehow they are easy A’s with a curved grading system and the extra point boost.

Kids get a higher GPA = win for them
School doesn’t have to create curriculums = win for them
Teachers don’t care if the kids pass the exam = win for them
College Board makes billions in fees = win for them
Colleges can choose to except none or a handful = win for them.
Parents think their kids are “gifted” = win for them.

I mean it is a farce. Let’s give 14yr old kids college courses. So easy to stroke egos when lots of money is involved.

But it's all relative. Is DD's APUSH class really the equivalent of what she would take in college? No.
Are the curriculum, peer group and teaching better than Honors US History? Yes
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2020 14:09     Subject: How many APs did your MCPS kid take?
Anonymous wrote:It is a money making scam by the college board and MCPS loves offering them. They pay teachers with basic bachelor’s degrees to teach a class to 13-17yr olds, than a professor with a PHD should teach to 18-20yr olds. They don’t have to make the curriculum and the failure rates for every course is above 50%. Some as high as 70% (3 is failing for almost all colleges - or they pass you an into course no one needs) But... somehow they are easy A’s with a curved grading system and the extra point boost.

Kids get a higher GPA = win for them
School doesn’t have to create curriculums = win for them
Teachers don’t care if the kids pass the exam = win for them
College Board makes billions in fees = win for them
Colleges can choose to except none or a handful = win for them.
Parents think their kids are “gifted” = win for them.

I mean it is a farce. Let’s give 14yr old kids college courses. So easy to stroke egos when lots of money is involved.


I've got news for you about who is doing the actual teaching in college.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2020 13:26     Subject: How many APs did your MCPS kid take?
Anonymous wrote:It is a money making scam by the college board and MCPS loves offering them. They pay teachers with basic bachelor’s degrees to teach a class to 13-17yr olds, than a professor with a PHD should teach to 18-20yr olds. They don’t have to make the curriculum and the failure rates for every course is above 50%. Some as high as 70% (3 is failing for almost all colleges - or they pass you an into course no one needs) But... somehow they are easy A’s with a curved grading system and the extra point boost.

Kids get a higher GPA = win for them
School doesn’t have to create curriculums = win for them
Teachers don’t care if the kids pass the exam = win for them
College Board makes billions in fees = win for them
Colleges can choose to except none or a handful = win for them.
Parents think their kids are “gifted” = win for them.

I mean it is a farce. Let’s give 14yr old kids college courses. So easy to stroke egos when lots of money is involved.


This right here is EXACTLY it.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2020 12:59     Subject: How many APs did your MCPS kid take?
It is a money making scam by the college board and MCPS loves offering them. They pay teachers with basic bachelor’s degrees to teach a class to 13-17yr olds, than a professor with a PHD should teach to 18-20yr olds. They don’t have to make the curriculum and the failure rates for every course is above 50%. Some as high as 70% (3 is failing for almost all colleges - or they pass you an into course no one needs) But... somehow they are easy A’s with a curved grading system and the extra point boost.

Kids get a higher GPA = win for them
School doesn’t have to create curriculums = win for them
Teachers don’t care if the kids pass the exam = win for them
College Board makes billions in fees = win for them
Colleges can choose to except none or a handful = win for them.
Parents think their kids are “gifted” = win for them.

I mean it is a farce. Let’s give 14yr old kids college courses. So easy to stroke egos when lots of money is involved.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2020 12:43     Subject: How many APs did your MCPS kid take?
Anonymous wrote:What about for kids who are in some sort of magnet or other program? My child is in a program with challenging classes but for 9th grade there was no AP option and for 10th only one AP. They recommend that students do not take any other APs in 10th. (It’s CAP at Blair, if that matters). Even if they take a bunch in 11th and 12th (and the program itself includes 2 in 11th) it would be hard to wind up with a ton of AP classes.


I posted upthread My SMAC kid took none in 9th, 2 in 10th and will graduate with 11. Most of these are in the humanities and social studies. The main reason is because of interest in the subject (loves English and History) and also the peer group is stronger in AP classes. These classes are not difficult and have not taken much time outside of class.
3 reasons to take APs
1) if it is the best way to get rigor and a strong peer group in a subject you enjoy
2) if colleges require AP scores in specific subjects (many colleges want AP calculus for placement into certain science subjects)
3) to save money in college. Be aware that every college has its own rules on which and how many APs they will accept

Ask the CAP coordinator for a description of what CAP students typically do in 11th and 12th grade. The CAP program tapers off by then and there should be a lot of flexibility to take APs in 11th and 12th grade
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2020 12:06     Subject: How many APs did your MCPS kid take?
My DC will end 11th grade with 10 done. Probably 6 more next year.

The reason, though, is not to get college credit. Many of the universities she is aiming for won't offer it (though some will let her place out of lower level required courses). The reason is that the Honors-designated courses at her HS are really, really easy. The only way to get challenging material (i.e., to learn) is to take the AP version. I'd be thrilled if they either offered something in between Honors and AP or else increased the rigor of Honors courses. But as it is, the Honors designated courses feel more like middle school courses.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2020 11:00     Subject: How many APs did your MCPS kid take?
Anonymous wrote:What about for kids who are in some sort of magnet or other program? My child is in a program with challenging classes but for 9th grade there was no AP option and for 10th only one AP. They recommend that students do not take any other APs in 10th. (It’s CAP at Blair, if that matters). Even if they take a bunch in 11th and 12th (and the program itself includes 2 in 11th) it would be hard to wind up with a ton of AP classes.


My kid (RMIB) took 16 APs and 6 IB exams. Pretty typical for IB kids based on what I heard.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2020 10:48     Subject: How many APs did your MCPS kid take?
What about for kids who are in some sort of magnet or other program? My child is in a program with challenging classes but for 9th grade there was no AP option and for 10th only one AP. They recommend that students do not take any other APs in 10th. (It’s CAP at Blair, if that matters). Even if they take a bunch in 11th and 12th (and the program itself includes 2 in 11th) it would be hard to wind up with a ton of AP classes.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2020 07:45     Subject: Re:How many APs did your MCPS kid take?
My senior will have taken 7 all together. none freshman year, one sophomore year, 3 junior, 3 senior. He is doing great in college admissions right now - but certainly wasn't trying to get in academically to top 20....
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2020 22:34     Subject: Re:How many APs did your MCPS kid take?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Is it just me or does anyone else think this is crazy? It sounds like the district would just rather not develop it's own rigorous classes. Can anyone take AP courses? What is the district's pass rate for the AP exams? Where do they publish that info?

You probably don't live or don't have kids the "district", but here:
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/press/index.aspx?pagetype=showrelease&id=8161&type=archive&startYear=2017&pageNumber=3&mode=



Only half of the students taking an AP exam got a 3 or higher? Is that supposed to be impressive?


3's are useless.
That is why MCPS counts them.


Dude. Seriously.

"AP Exams are scored on a scale of 1 to 5. Many U.S. colleges grant credit and/or advanced placement (that means they let you skip the equivalent course once you get to college) for scores of 3 and above."

https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/about-ap-scores
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2020 22:31     Subject: Re:How many APs did your MCPS kid take?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Is it just me or does anyone else think this is crazy? It sounds like the district would just rather not develop it's own rigorous classes. Can anyone take AP courses? What is the district's pass rate for the AP exams? Where do they publish that info?

You probably don't live or don't have kids the "district", but here:
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/press/index.aspx?pagetype=showrelease&id=8161&type=archive&startYear=2017&pageNumber=3&mode=



Only half of the students taking an AP exam got a 3 or higher? Is that supposed to be impressive?


3's are useless.
That is why MCPS counts them.
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2020 22:00     Subject: Re:How many APs did your MCPS kid take?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Is it just me or does anyone else think this is crazy? It sounds like the district would just rather not develop it's own rigorous classes. Can anyone take AP courses? What is the district's pass rate for the AP exams? Where do they publish that info?

You probably don't live or don't have kids the "district", but here:
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/press/index.aspx?pagetype=showrelease&id=8161&type=archive&startYear=2017&pageNumber=3&mode=


I live in Silver Spring and I think it's crazy.

I took 5 AP classes and got college credit for all of them when I was in HS ages ago. I thought even that was probably too many!

MCPS pushes kids into AP even if they're not ready. It's ridiculous to push 9th graders into APUSH. Eons ago, kids were told to wait until 11th grade to take their AP classes.


When I was in HS ages ago, my high school only offered 3 AP classes (AP English, AP calculus, AP physics).

But that is of limited relevance now.
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2020 21:58     Subject: Re:How many APs did your MCPS kid take?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Is it just me or does anyone else think this is crazy? It sounds like the district would just rather not develop it's own rigorous classes. Can anyone take AP courses? What is the district's pass rate for the AP exams? Where do they publish that info?

APs are open enrollment to increase equity but just makes the classes less rigorous while making kids more likely to not be well equipped. The low level APs (humanities) are easier than STEM honors classes


My kid goes to a private school and the only kids who can get into an AP class is by successful completion of a pre-req honors class. Makes much more sense than just letting anyone enroll.


Except for all the research showing they are helpful for all kids...



What research is that? Why would taking a college course be helpful for students who cannot handle it? They are helpful for the College Board’s wallet.


This. It's not in every kid's best interest to take an AP class. It does however, benefit other entities.


Fortunately, not every kid takes an AP class.

Also fortunately, MCPS lets kids/their parents decide whether or not it's in their best interest, instead of making decisions for them.
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2020 21:54     Subject: Re:How many APs did your MCPS kid take?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Is it just me or does anyone else think this is crazy? It sounds like the district would just rather not develop it's own rigorous classes. Can anyone take AP courses? What is the district's pass rate for the AP exams? Where do they publish that info?

APs are open enrollment to increase equity but just makes the classes less rigorous while making kids more likely to not be well equipped. The low level APs (humanities) are easier than STEM honors classes


My kid goes to a private school and the only kids who can get into an AP class is by successful completion of a pre-req honors class. Makes much more sense than just letting anyone enroll.


Except for all the research showing they are helpful for all kids...



What research is that? Why would taking a college course be helpful for students who cannot handle it? They are helpful for the College Board’s wallet.


This. It's not in every kid's best interest to take an AP class. It does however, benefit other entities.