I am a junior at a public school in MA. As a freshmen I took geometry honors, as a sophomore I took algebra II honors, and now I am in Calculus. If you skip Algebra I freshmen year (like i did), or double up sophomore year (take both geometry and algebra II) you need to take either AP Calc or AP Stats senior year. Most students take both, and that is what is recommended, but I am not sure. I really dislike Calculus and I am already going to be taking four other APs next year. My guidance counselor said I should do both and that I’d be fine, but I’d love other opinions! I have talked to my friends and many recent graduates of my school who say AP Calc is really easy, and I know that that over 80% of the kids who took AP calc at my school last year got a 4 or 5 (there were two classes, so about 40 kids). I know that MA is the top state for education so it might be different than some places, and my school is one of the higher ones in the state. I don’t know if that really has to do with anything, but I’d love opinions from MA students as much as anyone from anywhere else. Thank you!
It’s a little unclear what math you are in now - are you currently taking Pre-Calc? Pre-Calculus is more like Algebra II and Trig then Calculus.
What are your options next year? Is it AP Calculus AB or BC? What are you considering for a major in college. If it’s STEM, especially engineering then take BC Calculus and AP Physics C (if offered at your school).
Are you planning to apply to highly competitive schools and would you need both math classes for your guidance counselor to check the box saying you are taking the most rigorous curriculum? These all factor into what would be best.
My feeling is generally do what is right for your HS education - keeping in mind any pre-reqs for college programs you want. No - you probably don’t need 6 APs senior year if that’s not what you want to do. But this will vary by student and school.
Didn’t you just post that you are struggling currently in calc on another thread? Are you taking calc or pre-calc?
FWIW, a C+ in pre-calc would have precluded taking AP calc at my D’s high school.