AP Calc AB or BC?

I’m a freshman and I am currently in Geometry Honors (includes trigonometry) at my school. This is the highest level math course a freshman take usually take in my district. And typically the advanced math path works like this:

9: geometry/trig
10: algebra 2/pre-calc
11: ap calc ab
12: ap calc bc

However I would really like to take AP statistics in 12th so I have decided to take a pre-calculus course over the summer between my 9th and 10th grade years. This pre-calc course at my local community college is the equivalent of an algebra 2+precalc course at a high school. But, I have heard that AP calc bc is the same thing as AB but includes more. I am profiecient in math and comfortable with algebra. Do you think I can handle AP Calc BC, or should i just go with AB?

The reason I’m asking this early is because my community college prioritizes seniors, then juniors, etc., so i have to apply soon.

my 10th grade schedule (unconfirmed):

AP calc (AB/BC)
English 10 Honors
AP Physics 1
AP World History
Spanish 2
Concert Band
Marching Band

Some school districts teach AP Calc as a series where AB covers differential calculus and BC teaches only integral calculus. My school works like this and I decided to take BC without AB. Unless you’re planning on self studying AB the summer before you take BC, don’t skip the class. I ended up having to self study during the school year which brought my grade down.
It also doesn’t make much sense to accelerate in order to take AP Stat.

I absolutely would not accelerate just to take AP Stats. Concentrate on doing well in the regular math sequence.

AP Stats is a math class for strong students who can’t/won’t take calculus. it’s not your case so it shouldn’t be a math choice, especially since, being good at math, you’re better off taking stats in college.

@MYOS1634 DS is a strong math student but I think he might enjoy AP Stats even though I think it would be an easy class for him. Do you think it is a waste of a course to take it in HS?

It isn’t, as long as the student understands that

  1. for a strong math student, it is a complement (IE., taken in addition to precalculus or calculus)
  2. it should not replace a core class (ie., English, Bio/chem/physics, history, foreign language)
  3. it should be taken in college, whether in a pure or applied form, so that taking ap stats would serve as a preview for a stats college course not a substitute (in addition, most employers appreciate the mention of “statistics” under the cv’s “relevant coursework” and don’t care about what you took in hs).

That is alot of material to cover in the summer. Calculus is heavy on trig and you need to know it backwards and forwards. Don’t take a shortcut to take stats. Stats is unnecessary in high school. It is an algebra based course not a calc based class. Take as an elective later if you want. Many students struggle with calc who never previously struggled in math.

Many students struggle with precalc who never previously struggled in math.