My daughter’s private high school is no longer going to offer pre calculus but will only offer AP pre calculus. I thought the typical progression for most is algebra , geometry, algebra 2 and then pre calculus. And obviously AP math courses if that’s a fit. So now senior year instead of pre calculus she’d need to take either college math for algebra or statistics. I would think most take pre calculus so it seems to put kids at a disadvantage not to have that option if they aren’t on an AP math track. Do u think not having pre calculus is a concern?
Our local HS also switched from pre calculus to AP pre calculus but said it would be the same curriculum. Is it possible for your daughter to take the AP pre calc class?
Maybe that’s the new direction but for my daughter she makes A’s and b’s in math so far but has a math learning disability so it’s not a strength and she tests low on psat in math so I don’t forsee it being an option however, she’s only a sophomore so anything is possible. I didn’t understand the thought process was of not offering regular pre calculus.
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I agree with the previous poster that it’s very likely the class hasn’t changed much from prior years at your school. Now that College Board is offering AP PreCalc many schools are offering it without needing to make substantive changes to their curriculum.
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Ok good to hear- thanks however, her school is very stringent on who can take honors or AP classes so we shall see but thanks for your insight.
I’d take one year at a time and seek out advice from her math teacher and guidance counselor. As others have said it is likely that AP pre-calc follows the same curriculum as the old pre-calc class. Note that AP pre-calc was not offered to schools until very recently.
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I’m curious…do most colleges look for students to have math through precalculus level and do most kids have it and more when they go to apply to college? Or do alot go into statistics after alegebra 2?
Many schools look for pre-calc, but much will depend on the level of selectivity of the schools on her application list. You also want to be sure your D will be well prepared to take any math classes that may be required at college.
If your D’s private school has a strong guidance counselor, I’d look there for advice.
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When the time to choose senior year classes is here, and if AP precalc doesn’t make sense at the HS, perhaps she could do dual enrollment pre-calc? Either thru a HS partner, or if the HS doesn’t offer DE, she can take it on her own at the local CC or via an online provider.
I think it’s unfortunate that is the only pre-calc class offered and they don’t allow anyone who wants to take it in. To me, that is an equity issue. I would raise a lot of hell about how that prevents students from some college majors and make a stink. Get others of younger students on board. People may threaten to pull their students if they don’t have access to curriculum. No way in hell should a kid have to take a CC class if they are at a private school. Or is that a class taught at the school? College math for algebra?
AP precalculus should be similar in content to a decent quality high school precalculus course that existed before the AP label. Seems like the student could just take precalculus, even though it now has an AP label on it.
Or are you saying that the high school made entry into AP precalculus more limited than for its previous precalculus course?
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I don’t see where the OP said that the student cannot take AP pre-calc. As I read it, the concern is about having the class offered as an AP course.
In any event, the student is a sophomore so there is no need to make a choice about senior year math now. Whwn the time comes, the decision should be based on input from the math teacher and guidance counselor.
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She said it above. So they are gatekeeping who can take precalc, which is the typical track for college bound students after algebra 2.
AP-calc is a new offering and I don’t think the OP knows yet if this class will be difficult to get into. In any event, time will tell.
Same for daughter’s high school. No more regular Pre Calc, just AP Pre Calc. I assume they are same class just with AP exam at the end. In her high school, anybody can take AP Pre Calc after Algebra 2. For OP, your daughter needs to take Pre Calc in Senior year one way or the other. Don’t let the AP label stop her. Most college require 4 years math with at least Pre Calc in the fourth year. Good Luck.
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Most do not require precalculus for admission, but a student without it will be less likely to be admitted where admission is more competitive, and will be behind if their major requires calculus.
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If she’s going to a typical state school or something not math oriented, like an art school, it’s not going to matter. While selective schools and highly regarded state flagships may want pre-calculus, I don’t think that it matters for other schools. You can always pick a couple schools that she might be interested in & talk to the admissions office.
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I think she should take pre calc before she leaves HS, so she can remain competitive for college admissions (even in a non-STEM field).
A lot of schools have this sort of gatekeeping, much of which (at least in our public schools) is a bunch of made-up rules, that are ignored or changed for kids who are “chosen” children (not my kids). And in our district they would say something was policy, I would point to something written that contradicted that “policy”, and my kids would still be denied. They started adding some vague sort of legalize to emails saying I could not discuss/share the content of emails with anyone.
The good news here is that you are in a private school. You pay for your child to attend that school. These rules regarding pre calc are of their own making, and they can change or bend them - I would reject the “we can’t change the rules” for a school that isn’t public.
I understand that right now, a problem with taking pre calc is just a possibility, and might not be an issue when the time comes. No need to fight it until it becomes an issue, though at a private school I would definitely pull the “I’m paying, and this is just a made up rule” card. And if this would be her senior year, and you don’t have younger kids at the school, no repercussions for the future.
Seems like just inviting you to leak it to a muckraking reporter looking for a local scandal to report on.
depends on selectivity of university AND what is typical at your HS/region. Colleges also will care more about math level depending on major.
One of my kids goes to private HS and calculus (equivalent of AP Calc AB) is required to graduate.
At my other kids public school (~1400 kids) about 50% take AP calc by senior year (one or the other of the 2), maybe 10% take non-AP calc, 20% pre-calc and very few only stats.
Colleges can tell rigor of HS by the HS profile (and if they have lots of applicants from the HS).