Algebra 1 in Middle School

In my first semester of eight grade, I received a B. The next semester I received a C. However, I failed the final exam that is required for you to pass the class and receive the credits. My teacher was bad at explaining math so I ended up with a C but with no credits for the class. Then, my counselor just decided to place me in geometery in my ninth grade year without knowing I did not received credits for algebra 1. I am a straight A student in highschool. I worry that colleges will see that I got no credits for algebra 1 and not accept me. What should I do? And if I have to take the class again what is the quickest way to get credits for it?

If it were me I’d take an algebra 1 course at your local community college course over the summer - that way you don’t have to delay anything in high school.

Does your HS offer Algebra I as a summer course? I wouldn’t be worried about it not appearing on your transcript - lots of kids take accelerated math in middle school. But if your foundation is shaky, you might have trouble in Algebra II, Precalc, etc.

Several questions:

  1. Are you still in 9th grade?
  2. Do you understand the principles of Algebra 1?
  3. How many years of math are required for HS graduation, and how many do you want/intend to take?

I agree with @mamadefamilia that the absence of Algebra 1 from your transcript is not in and of itself a concern. My D’s school district won’t give credit for Algebra 1 if it’s taken before 8th grade. But she was given credit for taking Algebra 2 in 8th grade and will have 4+ years of math on her high school transcript by the time she’s done, going through at least AP Calculus AB. So no college is going to care about Algebra 1 being missing.

However, if you don’t really understand Algebra 1, then for your own good you should re-take it in summer school or in 10th grade. Also, if you dislike math and want to take as few math classes in high school as you can get away with, then you’d better re-take Algebra 1 so you have credit for it.

Another tip for the future: blaming the teacher is not going to get you anywhere. With math especially there are tons of online resources such as Khan Academy to help you learn concepts that you may have had trouble with.

Isn’t a credit in Algebra 1 required to graduate hs?

I have no high school credit for algebra 1. I took the class in middle school and then took my schools placement test so I basically “tested out” of algebra 1. My school required 4 maths but it doesnt matter which ones. I have geometry, algebra 2/trig, precalc, and ap calc. It doesnt matter for college if you have algebra 1 credit or not, but its gonna hurt you if you don’t understand the principles of algebra 1. If you get good grades in math classes going forward, colleges will most likely just assume that your school determined that your math skills were above algebra 1 as a freshman.

@Mom24boys that’s a good question that presumably depends on the requirements set by the OP’s state and school board. This is such a threshold question that the OP’s GC would be terribly incompetent not to know the correct answer, but OP should pin the GC down on this question. Where we are, the state requirements say 4 units of math: Math courses shall consist of Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II (or its equivalent) and an additional course with significant math content as determined by district governing boards or charter schools. Students who have not earned formal credit in Algebra I and Geometry but who have covered the course content (described in an administrative rule) are deemed to have met the requirement for graduation. OP is focusing on how this looks to colleges but the more important questions are ability to graduate high school and whether OP understands the concepts of Algebra 1 sufficiently.

But my algebra 1 teacher was horrible so I had tutoring and been getting As in all my math classes over the course of my high school career

That why I got tutoring after algebra 1 and I’m in Ap calculus and I am 4.0 GPA student but in middle school I worry that no credits for algebra 1 will affect the colleges choice about me

If it is not a HS graduation requirement (which frankly would surprise me) and you do 4 years of math including algebra 2 and have good grades, you will be fine from an application and admissions perspective.

I’d be far more concerned about confirming graduation requirements and not blaming poor teachers. Poor teachers happen and you will have to learn how to be successful despite it. Colleges will absolutely not care or want to hear that part.

Sometimes passing an end of course test can suffice for the hs graduation requirement but I would absolutely confirm as it is possible you’ll have to retake it.

If you’re getting A’s in an AP Calculus class, then the only question is whether your high school is satisfied that you have completed graduation requirements. Colleges look at your GPA, how many years of math you took, what is the highest level you attained, how did you do on the ACT/SAT, possibly how you did on your AP exam, etc. I totally agree with @eandesmom stop blaming poor teachers. Nobody cares. Complaining about teachers will only hurt your college application, not help it.