My kid's high school just sent the supply list and they're asking for a TI-84 Plus, which costs like $120. I'm wondering if this is actually required or if there are cheaper alternatives now. Can't students just use apps on their phone or computer instead?
Before you drop the cash, double-check the actual course requirements - some schools list the TI-84 but don't enforce it strictly, while others really do need it for specific exams or proctored tests where phones aren't allowed. There are genuinely cheaper options like Desmos (free online and on phones) or even older used TI-84s on eBay for half the price, but the catch is that if the teacher specifically teaches from that calculator's interface or if standardized tests require it, your kid might struggle keeping up. Call the math department directly and ask if a smartphone app or computer-based tool will work for their curriculum - some schools have shifted away from graphing calculators entirely, but it really depends on the district and level of math.
Most high schools still require a physical graphing calculator for exams because phones and computers get locked down during testing - they don't want kids accessing the internet or other apps. That said, plenty of free graphing apps and online tools work just fine for homework, so you could skip the TI-84 for studying at home and maybe rent or buy used if your kid specifically needs one for test day.
Have you checked whether the school actually uses the calculator during remote or hybrid testing, or only in-person? One thing worth knowing is that some districts have switched to allowing graphing apps on school-issued Chromebooks or tablets during exams, which would let you skip the expensive hardware - but this varies wildly by district, so it's definitely worth asking the math department directly rather than assuming the supply list reflects current practice.
Don't assume the school's being unnecessarily strict just because online alternatives exist - exam proctoring rules are the real bottleneck, and that's unlikely to change anytime soon. That said, worth asking if your kid's specific courses actually *use* it during tests or if it's just sitting in a backpack, since some teachers barely touch graphing calculators despite them being on the list.
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