5 things teachers want parents to know (CNN)

[cobrat]

When it comes to the physics class, most likely the reason it is offered every other year is because there aren't enough kids signing up for it.

Physics an elective? How many years of science are required at your local high school(s)??

In the NYC public school system, if you wanted a Regents Diploma or attended a public magnet high school like the one I attended, Physics was mandatory as it was one of the 4 years of science courses required for graduation. No physics, no Regents/NYC public magnet high school diploma.

[Sue22]

cobrat-
The Regent's only requires 3 years of science. At least one course must be in the physical sciences and at least one in life sciences. Physics is not specifically required.

[cobrat]

The Regent's only requires 3 years of science. At least one course must be in the physical sciences and at least one in life sciences. Physics is not specifically required.

That must have been a recent change. 10+ years ago, Physics with lab was a requirement for a Regents diploma or a Specialized High School diploma. Knew some kids who didn't graduate with my class because they didn't pass Physics class despite passing the regents.

The number of years you cited might have been my extrapolating from my own HS's graduation requirements.

[Sue22]

^Cobrat, that's probably the case. I find it interesting to see how different schools handle the science progression. At my kids's schools it's physics-chem-bio-assorted electives (organic chemistry, anatomy and physiology, bioethics, forensics, etc). At many of the other schools in our area it's biology-chem-physics-assorted electives, and in some it's earth sciences-biology-chem/physics-chem/physics, with chem and physics given as electives.

[cobrat]

When I was in HS, the standard science sequence was bio* -> chem* -> physics* -> science electives. Kids were allowed to substitute AP versions for the first three if they were eligible.

I did know a few kids who did the first three out of sequence...mostly physics sophomore year instead of junior year.

One of the science electives I took senior year was Psychopharmacology...a mix of psychology and the study of how various drugs affect the body chemically and psychologically. One of the most interesting courses I ever took.

* All version required weekly labs.

[SteveMA]

cobrat--Physics is technically an elective at our school. They require 4 years of science to graduate but senior year you have several options, physics being one of them. Most college bounds kids take physics but some kids that want to go into say nursing, will take anatomy/physiology instead.

[Pizzagirl]

"Physics an elective? How many years of science are required at your local high school(s)??"

My hs required only 2 years of science. I've never taken physics, ever.

[CTScoutmom]

Distribution requirements vary in many areas. Our schools require 4 years of English only - Math, science and Social Studies only require 3 years, and there is no foreign language requirement. Most college-bound students realize they need foreign language, but there have been issues with students applying to OOS colleges, when they sometimes require 4 years of Social Studies - unless you want to take AP classes, our school doesn't offer many choices, and if you take Social Studies senior year, you likely will have a conflict with AP Calculus and Science classes, because of the way they are scheduled (double classes first semester)

[cromette]

Wow! Our HS requires 4 years each of English, Math, Science and Social Studies. It's called the 4 X 4 plan. To graduate on the Recommended Plan you have to have 2 years of foreign language. To graduate on Distinguished Plan you have to have 3 years of foreign language.

The science progression is Pre-AP Biology, Pre-AP Chemistry, Pre-AP Physics, and then AP or dual of any.

[cobrat]

The science progression is Pre-AP Biology, Pre-AP Chemistry, Pre-AP Physics, and then AP or dual of any.

Only a minority of kids at my HS did it that way. If one was going to go AP, the common tendency was to substitute AP courses for one or more of the non-AP equivalents from 9th grade on.

Common tendency was to go all AP from 9th-11th grade in AP bio/chem/physics or not at all. Then again, many kids taking non-AP science classes had no issues scoring 4 or higher on the AP exams.

To graduate on the Recommended Plan you have to have 2 years of foreign language. To graduate on Distinguished Plan you have to have 3 years of foreign language.

If you wanted a NY state Regents/NYC Specialized HS diploma, you needed a minimum of 3 years of Foreign language in one language or you won't get it/graduate. Also, many colleges require at least 3 years of foreign language.

This was an issue with HS classmates who took Japanese or a few other languages as our HS only offered 2 years worth back in the early-mid'90s. As a result, they had to take another foreign language that was offered for 3+ years and pass its Regents exam to fulfill HS graduation requirements.

Thankfully, that's no longer an issue as Japanese and other languages which were once offered for only 2 years can now be taken for 3+ years.

[xiggi]

Only a minority of kids at my HS did it that way. If one was going to go AP, the common tendency was to substitute AP courses for one or more of the non-AP equivalents from 9th grade on.

Common tendency was to go all AP from 9th-11th grade in AP bio/chem/physics or not at all. Then again, many kids taking non-AP science classes had no issues scoring 4 or higher on the AP exams.

Cobrat, why not simply post a link to Stuyvesant? There has been no problem in identifying the school in discussions about organized cheating (recently) and in the distant past about how Princeton's guru of admissions shunned the school.

The school is hardly comparable to many high schools, and accordingly, the curriculum and progression of students is not more relevant to general discussions than it would be to discuss what classes juniors take at Deerfield or Exeter.

Here's a reality. There are multiple pathways to success in applications at selective schools. For some, that path includes attending a high school that places its eggs in the AP basket and offers "obscene" numbers of the TCB boondoggle. For others, that path includes serving large helpings of the IB Koolaid. Those first are mostly the domain of the public high schools, and especially their magnet version. And then, you have schools who do not preclude students to dig deep in the AP well, but are not endorsing the programs to the extent it strangles its superior core of advanced and honors classes. That is mostly the domain of highly selective (and often pricey) private schools. And, last but not least, you have schools that do not share the "luster" of magnet schools nor the prestige of pricey private schools and offer a limited version of some programs. At such schools, there is a natural progression that makes AP an afterthought until junior or even senior year.

Peel multiple layers of the successful applications, and you will find that all categories are well represented --- which supports the notion that the average numbers APs for enrolled students at the best schools is much lower than the silly dozen or more that are accumulated by some for a number of misguided factors.

[SteveMA]

xiggi--our kids go to a lowly public school and kids start taking AP in 9th grade here too. Sophomore year when most kids take biology they can at AP Bio, Honors Bio, Biology or Intro to Biology, same junior year with Chem and Physics senior year (among other choices). It's pretty much standard for the districts around here for college bound kids to take a full load of AP's junior and senior year and have 1-2 AP's freshman year and 2 or 3 sophomore year.

[xiggi]

xiggi--our kids go to a lowly public school and kids start taking AP in 9th grade here too.

I do not doubt it, but it does not make it any less ridiculous.

Over the past, I have written about high schools that could not crack an average 500 on any of the SAT subjects but offered an extensive AP program, or adopted the new "darling" on the block, namely the IB. Mediocre high schools have been especially attracted to an expanded AP/IB programs as it satisfies the desire of many parents and the faculty to create "schools within a school" and keep solid divisions for the better students and better teachers. What a system!

The desire and ability of students to take AP classes in the ninth grade speaks volumes about how the earlier noble intentions of a program has hopelessly spun out of control over the years. Give it time and we might see four years of AP Lite in middle school!

[mathmom]

Our high school advanced track science students start in 8th grade with this sequence: Regents Bio, Regents Chem (honors), AP Physics B, and then AP Bio, and then AP Chem or AP Physics C, or AP Environmental Sci.

This means they are taking their first AP as sophomores, but since it's a physics course that doesn't require calculus and isn't given credit by many colleges I'd say it's a super light AP. The SAT average for our high school isn't much above 500 - the SAT average for the cohort taking the advanced classes, however, is much higher.

Many students take Regents Earth Science which fulfils the physical science requirement and the Regent Living Environment (Bio) course.

NYS science requirements:

10. What are the requirements in science for a Regents diploma for students entering Grade 9 in 2001 and beyond?

Students entering Grade 9 in Fall 2001 and beyond must earn three units of credit in science. The three units must be comprised of commencement-level science courses aligned with the New York State Learning Standards in Mathematics, Science, and Technology, including one course from the Physical Setting (physical science) and one course from the Living Environment (life science). The third may be from either life sciences or physical sciences [100.5(a)(3)(iii)]. All commencement-level science courses, including specialized courses, must include laboratory activities. Students who take commencement-level science courses based on New York State’s science core curricula (Living Environment, Physical Setting/Earth Science, Physical Setting/Chemistry, and Physical Setting/Physics) must successfully complete the State-mandated laboratory requirement. Completion of this requirement includes 1200 minutes of hands-on laboratory experience with satisfactory laboratory reports and prepares students for the corresponding Regents examination in science. Students must pass one Regents examination in science [100.5(a)(5)(i)(d)(3)].

The third credit in science may be a commencement-level science course derived from one of the four core curriculum areas; a specialized course, including an elective such as an advanced placement and other externally developed courses in life sciences and/or the physical sciences derived from Standards 1, 2, 4, 6, and, 7 of the New York State Learning Standards in Mathematics, Science, and Technology; a Technology education course; or a MST integrated course [100.5(b)(7)(iv)]. A commencement-level course in technology education may be used as the third unit of credit in science or mathematics, but not both [100.5(b)(7)(iv)(j)].

from Q&A on Science Requirements

[Sue22]

Xiggi: "Peel multiple layers of the successful applications, and you will find that all categories are well represented --- which supports the notion that the average numbers APs for enrolled students at the best schools is much lower than the silly dozen or more that are accumulated by some for a number of misguided factors."

Exeter doesn't even offer AP courses, feeling their own standard courses are more rigorous. Students may take AP tests but there will be no courses designated as AP on their transcripts. My guess is that they also want to avoid the hyper AP race you see at some high schools, with kids taking courses in which they have no real interest simply because they'll get the extra AP boost for their GPAs.