BPS High School Course Catalog 24-25 - Flipbook - Page 61
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the difference between the Accelerated and Honors math courses?
The Accelerated math courses are the same as the College Preparatory courses. Students in the
Accelerated sequence are considered to be one year ahead of students in the College Preparatory
sequence and will reach AP Calculus AB their senior year (opportunity to earn one semester of college
calculus credit with the AP exam). The Honors math courses are not only one year ahead, but they also
operate at a higher and more rigorous level, extending students’ conceptual thinking and problemsolving skills. These students will reach AP Calculus BC their senior year (opportunity to earn two
semesters of college calculus credit with the AP exam).
What Advanced Placement (AP) classes are offered in the Math Department?
AP Statistics is equivalent to a one-semester, introductory, non-calculus-based college course in
statistics.
AP Calculus AB is roughly equivalent to a first semester college calculus course devoted to topics in
differential and integral calculus.
AP Calculus BC is roughly equivalent to both first and second semester college calculus courses and
extends the content learned in AB to different types of equations and introduces the topic of sequences
and series.
Can I make it into an AP math class if I take Integrated Math 1 in the ninth-grade?
AP Statistics can be taken immediately following Integrated Math 3.
Do I have to take calculus?
No. Calculus is a powerful tool for certain fields and a common requirement for some majors. If you plan
on pursuing a STEM-related career, then calculus will serve you well. For many other college majors and
careers, probability, statistics, data analysis, quantitative reasoning, and mathematical modeling may be
much more valuable and relevant tools. Not everybody needs to take calculus.
What happens if you are two or three years accelerated in math?
Students who take Honors Math 3 as a ninth-grader need to consider their four-year plan. A common
path for double- and triple-accelerated students is to take Calculus 3 and Linear Algebra courses at a
local college or university through a dual-enrollment arrangement. This involves you finding and taking evening classes at a nearby college campus that fit into your schedule. Another option is to take AP
Statistics between Honors Math 3 and Honors Pre-Calculus. These two options are outlined in the table
below. Your math teacher or the head of the math department can advise you about these options.
Option
9th Grade
10th Grade
11th Grade
12th Grade
Stay on campus
Honors Math 3
AP Statistics
Honors
Pre-Calculus
AP Calculus BC
Take Dual
Enrollment
course
Honors Math 3
Honors
Pre-Calculus
AP Calculus BC
Calculus 3 and
Diff Equations
(Dual enrollment)
Placement Tests
Mathematics students wanting more guidance in their math course selection, or students new to the
district, may register for a math placement test. Please contact the Seaholm Math Department Head,
Thad Wilhelm, at twilhelm@birmingham.k12.mi.us or the Groves Math Department Head, Stuart Kane
at skane@birmingham.k12.mi.us for more information or to register.
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