Anonymous wrote:All 3 of my kids required a tutor for 9th grade conceptual physics because they just were not ready for that kind of abstract thinking yet. I wish it wasn’t required in 9th grade, because I think it would have gone a lot smoother in 11th or 12th grade.

My point exactly. Conceptual physics is very difficult and not easy for 9th or 10th graders to grasp.

RVA- Physics is primarily Junior year for advanced students, Senior year otherwise. Considered absolutely necessary for competitive college applicants of all intended majors. Highly selective STEM applicants will want to take reg. physics or AP Physics 1 junior year and then AP Physics C senior year (if offered).

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Anonymous wrote:Physics is a freshman class at my Dc’s school

That’s not ideal. Preferable you need calculus as at least a co-rec. but you can’t do real physics without a strong algebra background. Our school requires A2 as a co-rec for honors, with a very strong preference for A2 as a pre-Rex. You aren’t getting much physics with 8th grade math.

This is at big 3 private in DC. It is very common for private schools do physics in 9th. It is called “conceptual physics” and only requires algebra 1. You can do higher level, math based physics (if you are interested) in 11th or 12th.

I strongly believe that physics in 9th grade is a bad idea. Not sure why schools do this. You really can’t do much physics.

Anonymous wrote:Skipping physics is missing out on an exposure that can change how a kid feels about science. Plenty dislike bio and chem but love physics (and vice versa). That chance will not likely come back, as college physics is not a good first exposure.

Tangential to this, to me physics seems part of a well rounded high school education, part of the purpose of which is to give students the basics/a first taste to discover what they want to study in college. We encourage our kids to take all 4 years in the 5 core subjects (english, math, science, social studies, world language), and within science bio, chem and physics seem fundamental. And we are a humanties oriented family - spouse and I are lawyers and kids davorite subjects are history and languages, respectively.

Anonymous wrote:STEM kids take physics, and they take it at the year that makes most sense for the school's policies.

Environmental science is a copout.

Not if the student is interested in environmental science. Stay in your own lane.

STEM kids take physics, and they take it at the year that makes most sense for the school's policies.

Environmental science is a copout.

Skipping physics is missing out on an exposure that can change how a kid feels about science. Plenty dislike bio and chem but love physics (and vice versa). That chance will not likely come back, as college physics is not a good first exposure.

Anonymous wrote:Most MCPS kids at our W school take Physics Jr year because the counselors tell them they have to. They don't.

The MISA test, which current sophomores are the first to have to pass before graduation if the State BOE doesn't changtheir mind, again, does have some physics on it. But the minimal physics on the MISA has been broken down into parts that will be included in pathways other than physics.

So to reiterate: non-Stem, humanities or foreign lang kid should skip physics and not look back and not worry about it.

+100
We’re in FCPS and my kids’ counselors have told them this too.

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Anonymous wrote:Physics is a freshman class at my Dc’s school

That’s not ideal. Preferable you need calculus as at least a co-rec. but you can’t do real physics without a strong algebra background. Our school requires A2 as a co-rec for honors, with a very strong preference for A2 as a pre-Rex. You aren’t getting much physics with 8th grade math.

This is at big 3 private in DC. It is very common for private schools do physics in 9th. It is called “conceptual physics” and only requires algebra 1. You can do higher level, math based physics (if you are interested) in 11th or 12th.

Then when do they do bio and chem? This seems like a waste.

Chemistry in 10th & Biology in 11th. Stem type kids will double up and take AP Physics in 11th or in 12th.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Physics is a freshman class at my Dc’s school

That’s not ideal. Preferable you need calculus as at least a co-rec. but you can’t do real physics without a strong algebra background. Our school requires A2 as a co-rec for honors, with a very strong preference for A2 as a pre-Rex. You aren’t getting much physics with 8th grade math.

This is at big 3 private in DC. It is very common for private schools do physics in 9th. It is called “conceptual physics” and only requires algebra 1. You can do higher level, math based physics (if you are interested) in 11th or 12th.

Huh. I’m surprised they don’t require a more rigorous physics. It’s the science you need math for the moth, so it’s almost always last on the science track. The FCPS HSs counsel all college bound kids into at least honors their junior year, or senior if they are behind in math.

DP: Our school also requires everyone to take physics in 10th, the year after Algebra II, which is the normal 9th grade math in our sequence. Then you can also take AP Physics C as a junior second science elective or as a senior science if that is your path.

at our LCPS, my kids are doing honors physics as seniors. The only science AP they took was Bio last year, took honors chem at the same time and now taking honors physics. My DD is taking DE independent science research this year as well. They are both accepted into UVA this year as humanities majors, though my daughter is on a pre-med track (though will likely major in psychology).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Physics is a freshman class at my Dc’s school

That’s not ideal. Preferable you need calculus as at least a co-rec. but you can’t do real physics without a strong algebra background. Our school requires A2 as a co-rec for honors, with a very strong preference for A2 as a pre-Rex. You aren’t getting much physics with 8th grade math.

Dp, and at a private. All kids already have had one or two years algebra (the kids with two years take honors physics) by freshman year which is when physics is taught.

And want to note this is in Baltimore. Lots of privates prefer a physics, chem, bio sequence.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Physics is a freshman class at my Dc’s school

That’s not ideal. Preferable you need calculus as at least a co-rec. but you can’t do real physics without a strong algebra background. Our school requires A2 as a co-rec for honors, with a very strong preference for A2 as a pre-Rex. You aren’t getting much physics with 8th grade math.

Dp, and at a private. All kids already have had one or two years algebra (the kids with two years take honors physics) by freshman year which is when physics is taught.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Physics is a freshman class at my Dc’s school

That’s not ideal. Preferable you need calculus as at least a co-rec. but you can’t do real physics without a strong algebra background. Our school requires A2 as a co-rec for honors, with a very strong preference for A2 as a pre-Rex. You aren’t getting much physics with 8th grade math.

This is at big 3 private in DC. It is very common for private schools do physics in 9th. It is called “conceptual physics” and only requires algebra 1. You can do higher level, math based physics (if you are interested) in 11th or 12th.

Then when do they do bio and chem? This seems like a waste.

Anonymous wrote:Physics is a freshman class at my Dc’s school

How do they have the math background they need for Physics as freshman?