Are you underclassmen at North Penn High School? Are you interested in pursuing a degree or career in mathematics? Don’t know how to move forward? North Penn’s course and club offerings are available to you!
The Knight Crier is running a recurring feature on specific classes, clubs, and people to reach out to help students achieve their career goals after high school. In this installment, we will cover what opportunities North Penn has to offer for students interested in the various fields of Mathematics.
AP Classes
AP Calculus AB: This course explores limits, differentiation, and integration of algebraic and transcendental functions, along with various applications and integration techniques. It is designed for students with a strong foundation in pre-calculus. The course lasts 7 periods and is worth 1.15 credits. Completion is required before progressing to AP Calculus BC.
- Prerequisite: A B+ or higher in Precalculus 6.0 or a B or higher in Calculus Honors.
AP Calculus BC: A continuation of AP Calculus AB, this course covers advanced topics such as hyperbolic functions, vectors, parametric equations, infinite series, differential equations, polar coordinates, and plane analytical geometry.
- Prerequisite: Successful completion of AP Calculus AB.
AP Statistics: This elective introduces fundamental statistical concepts, including data analysis, statistical inference, pattern recognition, and experimental design.
- Co-requisite: Must be concurrently enrolled in Precalculus or have completed Precalculus.
- Recommendation: Since this is a language-intensive course, enrollment in an English course at the 5.0 or 6.0 level is recommended.
- Dual Enrollment Option: This course is approved by the University of Pi h and meets the requirements for their Basic Applied Statistics Course (STAT 0200). Students who enroll in the dual enrollment program can earn 4 transferable college credits upon achieving a C or better, for a tuition fee of approximately $225. Payment deadlines typically coincide with AP exam dates. Students may take both AP Statistics and the dual enrollment option, but they are responsible for fees associated with both the AP exam and college credit.
Electives
Probability and Statistics: This course introduces students to fundamental concepts in statistics and probability, including data collection, analysis, tabulation, and reliability in contexts such as surveys, polls, market research, and standardized testing. Topics include measures of central tendency and dispersion, as well as probability concepts like permutations, combinations, distributions, random numbers, and odds. This course serves as a strong foundation for AP Statistics.
- Prerequisite: Successful completion of Algebra 2 (5.0 or 6.0 level).
- Note: This course counts as math credit only if the student has completed or is concurrently enrolled in Precalculus or Algebra 3/Trigonometry. It is a semester course that is taught in the fall semester.
Calculus: This course is highly recommended for seniors with strong mathematical skills. It covers topics such as tangents, limits, continuity, average and instantaneous rates of change, and the differentiation of algebraic functions, along with their applications.
- Prerequisite: Successful completion of Precalculus or concurrent enrollment in Precalculus for students enrolling in the second semester.
- Note: Second semester only
Minor Electives
SAT Math Preparation: Designed to strengthen key skills needed for the SAT, this course provides focused practice in math, reading, and test-taking techniques. The verbal section includes vocabulary enrichment, reading analysis, and comprehension exercises. The math portion covers algebraic and geometric problem-solving, as well as strategies for answering open-ended questions effectively. Taking both the English and Math SAT prep courses together is recommended for a comprehensive approach.
- Prerequisite: Completion of Algebra 1.
Computer Programming: This course is a study of the elementary concepts of computer programming. Students will learn the proper JAVA format to write, execute, and edit programs. They will learn everything they need to know To move on to take a higher-level Java programming course.
- Co-requisite: Algebra 2 or a higher level math course
- Note: This course will satisfy the Computer Programming prerequisite for AP Computer Science Applications.
Clubs and Activities
Math Honor Society: A perfect club for people who enjoy the world of mathematics and want to strengthen their skills.
Science Olympiad: A competition-oriented club dedicated to helping students and giving them tools and resources to compete in heavy mathematical sciences and more. Codebusters, optics, and materials science are just a few of the topics you can choose from.
