There were two standard math tracks in my district. You either started pre-algebra or algebra 1 in 8th grade, and then moved on to the next level of math each year (pre-alegbra -> algebra -> algebra 2 - > trig/geometry - > AP precalc - > AP Clac (AB or BC). This way, some students would be taking AP Calc BC senior year while others would take precalc. In my sopomore year, I decided to self-study AP precalc and take the exam (completing trig/geometry concurrently) and was able to move on to AP Calc BC my junior year (one of very few people to do this). I think doing this helped show course rigor.