Choosing classes for HS freshman -- what did you take, math- and science-wise?

Applying to College
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Long-time lurker, first-time poster… we are trying to figure out our son’s freshman year math and science courses, with an eye toward what he will take over all four years of high school. If you are/were a real math/science kid, can you share with me what you took freshman year and over the following years? Would you have done anything differently?

My son is a bright kid, and my husband and I are both graduates of top-twenty universities (and my husband’s parents are Ivy League grads) so hopefully our son will be looking at that batch of schools as well (although I recognize it is too early to tell.)

Small public school with many course options, but not much help from guidance counselors right now. (Although I understand they are focused on juniors/seniors at the moment.)

Thanks, all!

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I’m surprised you were given no guidance at all. This really varies by high school. There must be some standard expectations at your school. At my kid’s high school this is very straight forward. All freshman take Biology. If you are good at science, you are in honors, if not then in regular. We track bio, then chem, then physics. Kids can start taking AP’s junior yr. I know some schools allow younger kids into AP’s. For math, there are more options but it is based on the recommendation of the middle school math teacher. You don’t get to just pick.

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For math, whatever the next class comes after the one he is completing in his last year of middle school. Honors versions are often available for the best students in math.

For science, the high school usually has a sequence of science courses for college-prep students. Often, it is biology, chemistry, and physics in that order, sometimes with honors options.

The high school’s counselors and its written curriculum guide should help in determining what courses to choose.

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What did he take in eighth grade?

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It depends on what he took in middle school.
Most schools I know of have this science track: biology, chemistry, physics - and my school lets you choose an additional science course for your senior year
There are several different math tracks at my school, so you should talk to your counselor about what track your student should pursue.

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Eight Grade: Regents Algebra, Regents Earth Science, rest were normal 8th grade courses

Freshman Year: Geometry Honors, Regents Biology, Pre-AP English, AP World History 9, Orchestra, PE, PLTW Introduction to Engineering Design, Spanish 2

Sophomore Year: Algebra II/ Trig Honors, Regents Chemistry, AP English Language and Composition, PLTW Principles of Engineering, AP World History 10, Orchestra, PE, Spanish 3

Junior Year: Precalculus Honors, AP Physics 1, IB English 11, AP United States History, Orchestra, PE, PLTW Civil Engineering and Architecture, Spanish 4

Senior Year: AP Calculus BC, AP Environmental, AP English Literature, AP Government (US and Comparative), Orchestra, PE, Health, PLTW Digital Electronics, PLTW Engineering Design and Development

I’m currently a freshman at Case Western Reserve University and majoring in Mechanical an Aerospace Engineering. Though I’m not at an Ivy League school, I wasn’t fixated on getting into one. I got into everywhere I applied except for MIT (deferred and then rejected). Overall, I’m very satisfied with the choices that I made.
My only regret is that I wish that I had taken AP Chemistry at some point during high school just because it’s my worst subject and would have made my first college semester a lot easier.

Good luck with determining your son’s schedule! I hope you get more guidance from the high school’s counselors.

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You are going to see variability by states and even by school districts within states.
My current 10th grader was able to take Honors Algebra in 7th, and then both Honors Geometry and Honors Living Environment (Biology) in 8th.

She chose to take the most common 9th grade science in our district (maybe in NY?) and did Honors Earth Science. Some of the kids who took Honors LE in 8th did skip Earth Science and went right to Honors Chemistry.

She took Honors Algebra 2 in 9th grade for her math. She doubled up on math this year because she wanted to and is taking both PreCalc H and AP Stats as well as Chem H. Next year she plans to take Calc BC, AP Chem and Honors Physics. She isn’t 100% sure of senior year but does plan on Calc 3 and AP Physics. Is considering also AP Bio.

In the time since she took Algebra in 7th, our district phased that option out. My younger daughter and her classmates, currently 7th grade, was not given the option. She expects to take Honors Algebra and Honors Living Environment in 8th grade. She is considering doubling up on either math or science in both 9th and 10th grades because she is annoyed that she will be “behind” in comparison to where her sister was at the beginning of high school. Sibling rivalry, lol.

Anyway, seen if you son’s high school has the course listing available online. You can get a good idea for what is usually offered. If you can, talk to some kids and/or their parents who are already there. It was a huge help to me to talk to parents of kids who were 1-3 grades above my kid in our district. . They had some good feedback on what options are realistic.