<p>mom60- my 9th grader is in high school, but back in my day I went to a 7-9 "junior high" and then a 10-12 high school.</p>
<p>At several of our local suburban school districts, instead of dividing into two high schools (and diluting the football prowess), they have built a separate "freshman center." The 9th graders are technically in HS, but are in a separate building.</p>
<p>Marite - Thank You!
You have been very instrumental in my advocacy efforts.</p>
<p>wanted to bring this thread back from the depths.. I think I can say I started down the college path with my younger daughter (D2) when I had D1 pack up her PSAT stuff which she is now over and done with and give it to D2 to store on her bookcase gathering dust for a year. I also picked up a Bio SAT II book since D2 likes Bio (D1 did not) and may be going down a math/science path. D1 didn't take any SAT IIs at this stage but with score choice from the college board I see less risk and so she will probably plan to take it in June.</p>
<p>Glad you revived this thread. DS finishes his first quarter of HS on Thursday. He still is highly motivated to do well but not to do the extra study/work to do well....ahhhhhhhhhhhh. I have saved portions of this thread, it will come in handy in spring when he needs to pick his sophomore year classes.</p>
<p>Yes, glad to see it back. My son was able to take the PSAT as practice this week. I probably need to go through here too and scoop out the info. regarding 10th grade too.</p>
<p>do any of you recommend hiring a private counselor to help advise in the early high school years?? in a large high school it seems that a 9th/10th grader would get overlooked in the mix of seniors and discipline problems...</p>
<p>kayakmom, in our case we are a small school with an advisor system all 4 years, plus I feel pretty hip on what to keep in mind, like has been said here course selections and SAT II considerations. Is there anything particular you feel you need direction on at this stage, other than get good grades, find some activities s/he loves, and enjoy high school?</p>
<p>in particular:
in 8th grade the kids zoon through geometry and algebra II so they can test out of those subjects in high school and take pre-calc. some don't pass the test and re-take algebraII. i was wondering if it would be better for my son to take algebra II in 9th grade instead of pre-calc because
he would have seen the info before and be more likely to get an A
9th grade adjustment time may not be the best time to take pre-calc since he will be trying to adjust to a new school etc</p>
<p>on the other hand he needs to keep up with his peers (true?) and take 'most challenging' courses</p>
<p>he is an alternate on the mathcounts team for the past 3 years and has supportive parents (by way of background)</p>
<p>i have a feeling that his high school counselor will have less of an idea of what the first/2nd tier colleges want or need since only 30% of the senior class goes to college..
thanks for any advice!</p>
<p>kayakmom, taking pre-calc as a 9th grader is certainly unusual, especially if kids go in with a weak preparation. I would slow down and get a firm base, but it will be interesting to see what others have to say on this subject.</p>
<p>about half the class tests into pre-calc and the other half goes into algebra II
so if the top math class in 8th grade consists of 20 kids,that is 10 and 10 (about all the math i can do-sorry!)
just balancing the need for gpa vs rigor vs that evil (and not very dominant so don't freak) parent wanting to keep up with the other kids</p>
<p>kelowna:</p>
<p>I just realized, on catching up with this thread, that you mentioned your son will be taking SAT-II as an 8th grader. Keep in mind that the CB does not keep scores before 9th grade unless it receives a request from the family. So, if you think that your son will do well, make sure to ask CB to keep the scores so that they can be presented for college admission later on. Otherwise, your son should take the SAT-II after he is in 9th grade. He could do so early in the year, before almost everything he learned in 8th grade is forgotten!</p>
<p>kayakmom:
In districts that I am familiar with, 8th graders take Algebra, but in most, students are not exposed to algebra until 9th grade. Those who have taken Algebra may have to repeat it or move on to Algebra II. In 10th grade, they have geometry and encounter precalc only in 11th grade. They then have AP-Calc in 12th grade. Having precalc in 9th grade is quite unusual. When do the students take geometry?
I agree with those who say a very strong foundation in algebra is crucial to doing well in further math. It really depends on your son whether he should plunge into precalc or feel more comfortable in algebra 2 or geometry (this will be the first time that he will encounter something remotely resembling proof). I'd hate to undermine a student who likes math by pushing him too hard.</p>
<p>our 2 boys go to a science and math charter school near baltimore md and the top class takes algebra I in 6th grade, geometry in 7th and algebra II in 8th and then as i mentioned they go off to high school and test into either a repeat of algebra II or pre-calc
i am cool with it either way and actually am leaning towards a repeat of algebra II for gpa and transition ease into high school.
it is true that most of the local private schools don't start algebra til 8th or 9th grade but strangely enough in this area the public schools are more advanced in math and science, which is a big reason we switched out.</p>
<p>If your S is totally comfortable with Algebra II, there is no reason for him to repeat it unless he is anxious about advancing. Each kid is different, of course, my own son tends to rise to challenges and do less well when things are not sufficiently challenging and he gets bored. He would never have wanted to repeat materials.</p>
<p>Consider, also, that many top colleges pay less attention to 9th grade grades, realizing that students have adjustment issues.</p>
<p>thanks for all your help! i'm glad this thread is back up!</p>
<p>Kayakmom:</p>
<p>D2 is a 7th grader and is taking algebra I. When D2 started her 6th grade, I discussed a few math programs with her school (This school is quite new and not so great. We bought a house in June 2007 in this school district and at that time it was too late to make other choices of schools for D2). Fortunately, her school took my suggestions and participated in AMC8 (American mathematical competition 8, a national competition for 6-8th graders) and Mathcounts. Out of everyone's expectation, D2 became AMC8 county winner and also chapter Mathcounts winner (first 6th grader winner of the Mathcounts in our chapter). At that point, her school initiated the process to give her examption from taking pre-algebra, so she can start algebra I as a 7th grader. </p>
<p>D2 will be doing geometry in 8th, algebra II in 9th, pre-Cal in 10th and Calculus in 11th and 12th, which is precisely D1 did when D1 was in her respective grades (D1 is a college freshman). D2 will take SAT this December (we are in Duke TIP region).</p>
<p>I am sure that D2 will be actively involved in AMC10/12 when she gets to high school and hopefully will be able to progress along the AIME-USAMO chain (as D1 did).</p>
<p>Kayakmom, apologies if I missed it, but what math classes do students take in 10th/11th/12th after finishing precalc in 9th? And, what would be the path for someone taking Algebra II in 9th? </p>
<p>At my D1's school, the students in precalc in 9th take AB Calc in 10th, BC Calc in 11th, and then AP Stat and/or independent study second year calc in 12th grade. Students in Algebra II in 9th grade take precalc in 10th, AB Calc in 11th, and AP Stat and/or BC Calc in 12th. Not really a huge difference in the end result. I have no idea if there is any sort of admissions tip between the two paths. Your school might offer richer options at the upper end, especially if there are enough kids to, say, have a real differential equations/linear algebra class for seniors.</p>
<p>You might also want to figure if there are "better" teachers on either path.</p>
<p>I had originally missed the fact that this is a sci/math focused charter school. So in that case, the progression doesn't seem that unusual. If you feel that the foundation is strong enough, let him continue on the accelerated path. The comments on what comes after calc are indeed something to look into, but since this is this school's focus, there are probably good follow on courses. If he can keep up, and all his peers are in the accelerated track, it could be the better option.</p>
<p>On the topic of transition from MS to HS. Is this math/sci charter a 6-12 school or are there other MS besides yours that feed into the HS? My kids go to a private 6-12. With my older D who is a Jr, her transition was a very little bit rough, the first marking period she got mostly B's after getting mostly A's in MS. Besides the more demanding teachers/courses the sports commitment has a big jump into HS. She turned it around and got grades typical of her past performance for the rest of 9th grade. My younger D who is now a freshman is having an easier transition. I think it is because we are more on top of it and her realizing the jump in work from her older sister. So, although the transition is something to be aware of, it could be a factor but doesn't need to be. You also don't say how he does in his other classes, maybe one class math which pushes his limits would be ok if the others are less accelerated.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Thanks Marite !
I do realize we would have to petition the College Board to keep his SAT II scores, but I thought it could be done AFTER we find out about the results ???</p>
<p>I am honestly not looking forward to that transition next year. DS is in a math class with only one other child, and although that kid has severe ADHD which at times drives my DS crazy, it is a much , much different sitution from what he will encounter next year, once a 9th grader in HS.
We have not even looked yet at the Math Sat II - will probably do it towards the end of winter. About a month ago DS needed to have an emergency surgery and it did put everything into perspective - at least for me :)</p>