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<p>When I was in middle and high school, that did not happen. Those (few) taking algebra 1 in 7th grade were top students in math who got easy A grades in that course (and subsequent math courses through middle and high school).</p>
<p>If a 7th grader in algebra 1 is struggling to get a B or C grade, then it is likely that s/he was inappropriately placed in too advanced a math course.</p>
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<p>Seems like your high school has low standards for math, or perhaps is dealing with a lot of inappropriately advanced students who are struggling and need to slow down in algebra 2 and more advanced math.</p>
<p>The more standard high school math progression is:</p>
<p>9th grade: algebra 1
10th grade: geometry
11th grade: algebra 2
12th grade: trigonometry and precalculus
college: calculus, if needed</p>
<p>For students good at math:</p>
<p>8th grade: algebra 1
9th grade: geometry
10th grade: algebra 2
11th grade: trigonometry and precalculus
12th grade: calculus AB or BC</p>
<p>For top students in math:</p>
<p>7th grade: algebra 1
8th grade: geometry
9th grade: algebra 2
10th grade: trigonometry and precalculus
11th grade: calculus BC
12th grade: more advanced math at a local college</p>