Pre-Calculus, pre-calc, is a math class staple at Plant High. Mostly Juniors, with some Sophomores and Seniors sprinkled in, end up taking the class with Mr. Ferlita or Mrs. Marks. However, that precedent is soon to be changed.
As seen on the course selection sheet for the 2026 through 2027 school year, the previous pre-calc honors is replaced by advanced placement, AP, pre-calc.
AP pre-calc was previously never offered at Plant. That is until this school year, when the AP curriculum was offered in addition to the pre-calc class given by Plant.
“I added the AP pre-calc in addition to my math class in person because I wanted to get the credit for college,” Jaden Eustaquio (11) says.
Eustaquio brings up a valid point. If a student is taking the class already, with the addition of one unit, why would a student not take the AP class in addition to the normal one.
While this is a good question, the question of order and skills have to be considered.
“I wish I didn’t try to take AP pre-calc online,” Ellie Earnest (11) says. “The major difference is that it didn’t follow the same units I was doing in person, so they were overlapping and it got just confusing.”
Earnest is a perfect example of the downfalls of taking the AP in addition to the honor curriculum. Juniors especially at this point in their academic career are overwhelmed with a myriad of responsibilities including SAT or ACT, difficult courseloads, extra curriculars, jobs and more without factoring in overlapping math topics.
“I think the pre-calc class was fine the way it was,” Annie Rhee (11) says. “I took it sophomore year and it was hard but that’s how it was supposed to be. I never heard of an AP pre-calc until literally this year.”
AP pre-calc is a new class on the high school scene. According to AP Classroom, the class launched in the Fall of 2023 and is slowly integrating into classrooms across the country, including Plant who is exclusively providing the class as opposed to pre-calc honors instead of in addition as of 2025.
This raises the question – is it better to offer AP pre-calc or honors pre-calc?
While it may seem like a “no-brainer” to those ready to add more AP credits onto their application, it may be a harder decision for others. Without honors pre-calc, students ascending to the next level in math will have to either take AP statistics, AP pre-calc or data and financial literacy honors in most cases.
This proposes an extreme on both ends of the academic rigor pendulum. Students who are neither ready for the work and cognitive skill an AP math requires nor academically at the level of data and financial literacy honors will now struggle to find their niche at in-person school.
On the one hand, some students think it is a great idea.
“I think it’s a good idea to switch because the classes are basically identical, and both are just a lot of work regardless,” Ella Graham (11) says.
However, even the notion’s supporters recognize the classes detriments.
In order to see the true results of the AP switch, the students taking the class next year will need to report back on their satisfaction, much like any other major course change done in the school.
“Good luck Sophomores!” Graham says.