So I am generally a straight A student who is a junior in a rigorous high school in California. For context, I took Algebra 1 as a freshman and got a 97% average in the class for both semesters and took Geometry as a sophomore and got a 92% in the first semester, and a borderline 89.55(rounded to an A) second semester. I decided to take Algebra 2 during the summer to advance to Precalculus Honors so that I can do calc as a senior… unfortunately I happened to get one of the most challenging math teachers in my school… her test averages tend to be quite low(Mid to low Cs). In my summer algebra 2 course, I covered the material for both semesters so it’s not really an issue of understanding conceptually… just my teacher puts insanely difficult problems on the exams that are not covered whatsoever in class. What is the best option for this as my math teacher is recommending me to drop to algebra 2(although I technically took it already)? Should I just drop down to regular precalculus or go take algebra 2 for an easy A…? (there is a rigorous option called alg/2 trig honors but I heard that it’s just as difficult/ more difficult than my current course) Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and I am really worried right now. I got a 62 on the first test and a 52 on the second test…
Doesn’t your school offer precalculus regular (or “college algebra”)? If not, is there a community college where you could take Precalculus?
If your teacher is recommending Algebra 2 , I’m thinking that she believes you need more work on the concepts, even though you took it already. Sometimes kids rush through things too fast. They study enough to do well on the tests but haven’t really internalized what they were supposed to have learned. Perhaps this is the reason you are struggling in precalc. I would talk to your teacher, perhaps with your parents, to discuss whether it would be better to repeat Algebra 2 or to drop down to regular precalc.
How did you do in Algebra 2 in the summer? Was that class also taught at an honors pace? If you got an A, from a college application standpoint, I would drop to non-honors pre-calculus so you’re not repeating. However your guidance counselor really is the best person to advise you.
I wouldn’t repeat a course either. Drop to non honors pre-calc. Also agree with speaking to your GC.
No, dont repeat the same course. Adcoms will see that. If it’s not on your hs transcript, you’re still supposed to provide info re outside courses.
What possible college major? You asked somewhere about Ivies. They’ll want rigor and top grades. But if you’re not stem, regular precalc can be a no brainer choice.
The problem is, you’re looking at today. If you drop back, will you truly be ready for calc in senior year? Is there regular calc or you’d be stuck with AP and the problem starts again?
I have to disagree with several of the posts here. It seems that other posters are primarily concerned about how this is going to look to college admission committees and whether the student will finish calculus before college.
I think the bigger question is whether this student is ready to be at the level of math that s/he is at. This student is obviously struggling a lot. The teacher, who knows the student a lot more than anyone here, has recommended repeating the prior course. Perhaps the teacher isn’t covering things in class because those are skills the student should have learned in Algebra 2. I’m wondering just how good this summer Algebra 2 course was and what type of grade the student received. Perhaps the student really didn’t learn Algebra 2 and is not ready for precalculus, If the student really didn’t learn the concepts, then maybe its time to take a step back.
The problem is that my school doesn’t have a non AP calculus option. There’s only Calc AB and BC.
To take calculus AB next year, what class can you take this year?
I would have to take reg precalc to take calc AB
Then, take regular precalc. 
I’m going to agree with the poster above that no one here knows the student anywhere near as well as the current teacher. Online/summer courses vary widely - one of my daughter’s classmates got through a class by just screenshot/video recording the material and looking up the answers during tests.
OP, do you feel you truly understand all of the Algebra 2 material? Unless every student in the class is being recommended to drop the class, your situation indicates that you may not have the knowledge base needed to succeed. There’s a risk the non-H precalc won’t be any better. It’s time for an honest self-assessment and discussion with teacher, counselor, parents. While it’s not unheard-of, most cases I’ve seen where blame is aimed at a teacher who is “too hard”, that’s typically not the issue.
I wonder if OP told the school he took the summer class. Because, when they know (and the grade was good,) they usually don’t suggest a repeat.
He’s mentioned Ivies and a stem major. An issue with precalc (and later, calc,) can be an issue with admissions to a top college, for stem.
So, if the problem is that he’s over his head, he may need to reevaluate his goals, not just this one class. Dropping back doesn’t resolve that.
Yes I would say that I’m comfortable with the algebra 2 material. It’s just trig that I am somewhat confused on(but in reg alg 2 in my school it’s not covered much, only to the extent of a few identities and inverse trig functions).
So read up on trig. Or get some help from the teacher, a strong student, or a tutor.
You either have to drop back to ALg 2 or step it up and study more.
Here are ideas:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/high-school-life/2026961-what-to-do-when-you-arent-doing-well-in-a-hs-class-p1.html
^ I don’t see why taking precalculus regular isn’t on the table. Dropping down a placement level rather than repeating a class (especially if the class was passed with a high grade) is typically the most logical solution, especially since op will be able to take calculus AB next year.