calculus or precalculus?

If you have a thorough math background and feel confident about taking high level maths, then take Calculus.

Taking Calculus in high school will prepare you well for college.

It really depends on your school. Now, obviously you need to take a pre-calc class over the summer or whatnot in order to skip it and take calc. Calculus is an extension of pre-calc. I think you can view them as a extension of algebra+geometry... lots of graphs, and with graphs comes equations that you'll have to do stuff to. You'll also meet Logs in pre-calc (i'm learning now) which is not all that complicated.

In my school, it's a common knowledge that calc is easier than pre-calc for some reason. I would ask around your school to get opinions.

you need precalculus to take calculus so one or both

precalculus. calculus is too much work

If you hate math or aren't good at it then take pre-calculus. =]

if you're bad at math or just a slacker, take precalc. if you're good at math or you are willing to work hard, take calculus

To be honest if you have to ask that question you should definately take pre cal.