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<p>My D applied to all her schools as a chemistry major. She also had good merit awards from all the colleges. The lack of HS calculus didn’t seem to be a problem.</p>
<p>Timely thread…my daughter just tested into pre-algebra for 6th grade (double accelerated)…although they said she was on the borderline and could go either way. I’m really not sure if we should push her to do pre-algebra (which means geometry in 8th) or not. But even if we don’t, she would still be single accelerated, which means algebra in 8th…either way, algebra is still in middle school. I personally hated geometry and she is also more of an english/humantities kid…so I’m wondering if it’s best to get geometry out of the way before it shows up on a hs transcript, or if the whole thing is just going to make her more stressed!</p>
<p>Check with your high school and see if the middle school and high school teachers consult each other about the algebra and geometry curriculums. Our elementary and middle schools belong to a different school district than the high school but the math departments work closely together and teach the same material throughout the year. I know the 8th grade geometry students take the same final exam as the high schoolers.
If your child is studying the same material at the same rate as the high schoolers and passed the placement test, then I would let him be.</p>
<p>Geometry is a good place for a high school student with a decent algebra background to start in high school. It requires basic algebra, but nothing crazy. And it does put the student on a calculus in 12th grade path.</p>
<p>If you think the child needs more review before algebra II there are many ways to make that happen. Aleks.com would be one inexpensive option that works well for a lot of kids. You can use it month at a time for some review over the summer.</p>
<p>Algebra I in 8th is nearly universal for kids on the college prep track–I would not worry about it unless your child is struggling (getting C’s or doing poorly on tests and making up the grade with “class participation” and “extra credit.”).</p>
<p>the downside to making him repeat Algebra I in 9th grade is that he’s going to be in a class that moves at a snail’s pace–anybody with a modicum of mathematical competence was shoved into Algebra in 8th grade. In suburban high schools where a large percentage of kids go on to college, being placed below geometry in 9th grade is kind of a dumping ground–you are more likely to have behavior and learning problems with the peer group, and you will not likely get the creme de la creme of the teaching staff. </p>
<p>Things vary from school to school of course, but if you think your child is in some way not prepared for Geometry next year, I’d recommend tutoring to get him up to speed over repeating Algebra.</p>
<p>Question to Findaplace - why online classes instead of a regular university class?</p>
<p>We will be most likely looking at a similar problem down the road and after experiences DS had both with online and regular college classes (at the campus) the regular/in person/at the college classes win hands down. So I am curious why your son has chosen online classes since it looks like you have a college campus close by.
Thanks :)</p>
<p>Kelowna:</p>
<p>We took the online option for a number of reasons, the primary one being logistical. It would have been much cheaper (basically the cost of a text book) if S took the Linear Algebra at the local CC. However, the nearest CC didn’t offer it. He didn’t (until this April) have a driver’s license, it would have taken awhile to get there on the bus. (H and I have busy professional jobs as well.) Plus, he’s an ahtlete and in the pool after school every day and the idea of going to a night class just didn’t thrill any of us. Since he got HS credit for the class, he just had an “open period” at school when he did some of the work, and then the rest at home.</p>
<p>Secondarily, we were familiar with the product that JHU CTY offered. However, I must note that the online classes (at least the math ones past AP Calc … he did AP Calc at the HS) are much more intense than the other CTY offerings. The “take home” tests were incredibly long when they didn’t need to be (this from my math prof H.)</p>
<p>My older two took Geometry in the 9th grade. One was not a Math student and took AP Stats instead of Calc. She got into all the schools she applied except Cornell. My 2nd who was not an overall strong student did take AP Calc as a senior.
My youngest was in Alg 1 as an 8th grader. She had a bout of Mono that had her miss almost 7 weeks of school. It took a toll on her Math knowledge. She ended the course with a B but when tested for skills it was determined she should retake Alg 1 in the 9th grade. She started out comfortable with the pace of her class. She struggled some. She ended up going to see her Math teacher for about a month during her free period. With a bit of one on one guidance she suddenly “got” it and the rest of the year she felt frustrated and bored. The rest of her classmates were slow and many of them just did not “get” math and she wished she was in a different class.
She is also frustrated now that she is going back to public school for 10th grade and will be in Geometry. She had wished to take Geometry this summer but we could not find an affordable option in town. (no interest in an online course) She feels she will be with less motivated students. We are hoping she can maybe take a Math course next summer at the Community College to get her back on track with the more competitive students.</p>
<p>So after that long ramble what I would suggest is looking at what the track is for the different college bound students. Will he be in Alg 1 as a 9th grader with students who have 4 yr college as a goal or those who are headed for the CC.</p>
<p>My DS took Alg II as a 9th grader. He could’ve used a good alg. review the summer before and that would’ve helped him a lot. In the end, he did fine but not without a little struggle. The transition from jr. high to hs is sometimes difficult in math because the teaching styles can change dramatically. That change (from a more warm and fuzzy environment to one that was more like "survival of the fittest) is what affected DS more than anything else.
Our school has a summer alg. prog designed to help incoming freshman. There may be something creative like that in your district. Let him go to Geom. and keep close tabs on his progress and like the others advised, have him review before alg II.</p>
<p>We’re sold. The plan is to take geometry and do some sort of review next summer. (It was actually my son who was concerned about all this) Thanks for the great advice.</p>