<p>My daughter is a 8th grader, and now it is the time for us to select high school courses.
We are in a big public school district. My daughter is currently one of the top students in our school district. </p>
<p>Officially, the most advanced math course sequence for high school here is:
Algebra II --> Pre Calculus --> Calculus --> Multi Calculus/ Statistics </p>
<p>But every year, there are several aggressive students take this path:
Pre Calculus --> Calculus --> Statistics --> Multi Calculus. </p>
<p>Normally teacher does not recommend the second sequence, students take this sequence by taking some sort of assessment test before the start of school.</p>
<p>My daughter is not a math person, and she likes language arts more. Her SAT math score is 720, and AMC 8 is 19/25. But when she learned that some of her classmates plan to take the second sequence, she does not want to be left behind</p>
<p>We are very struggle which sequence my daughter should take. We are afraid that she will struggle if she takes the second sequence, and we also afraid that she will out of the running of the best students in high school if she takes the second sequence. </p>
<p>I think she should take the second option. A kid in my grade took an option similar to that and I regret not doing so. Algebra 2 is so boring and useless IMO (most of my classmates in the advanced track agree)</p>
<p>As a high schooler, I would take the easier track, especially if she does not love math. I love my calculus class, but if I hated math I would hate it as well. The first track also allows for far more EC’s, which are invaluable to college counselors. If you insist upon taking the second option, I suggest taking Algebra 2 in the summer such as DataAnalysis suggested.</p>
<p>ALEKS is a web service that provides math instruction for a wide range of middle and high school classes. I have a child that used ALEKS for several classes and it worked well.</p>
<p>There are many internet-based options, but ALEKS is a good choice for a self-paced class. In my opinion there are better math classes offered, but they are all instructor led and you would have to accept the class’s schedule.</p>
<p>A 720 for an 8th grader is very good! I’m sure your daughter could do well on either path. But as a senior taking multivariable calculus, I would choose the first option. Statistics isn’t even necessary in the entire math sequence; it’s much easier than calculus. Actually, I don’t quite understand the second option–why would someone take a year of calculus, forget it all in a year of stats, and then take multivariable calculus? The first sequence makes much more sense.</p>
<p>Or could she take pre-calculus-> calculus -> multivariable calculus -> either stats or upper-level college math? That sequence is extremely advanced though–if she takes multivariable calc in senior year (as per the first sequence) she’ll already be ahead of the crowd.</p>
<p>In our schools, Algebra II covers a lot more than Algebra I. In our school, it wouldn’t be wise to skip Alg II. However, a student can take Stats anytime. If your daughter want to, she can take it the same year as Calc or Pre-calc. Stats isn’t really part of the math sequence. My son is in Calc BC and Stats this year. My older son took Calc AB and Stats the same year. </p>
<p>My inclination would be to take option #1 - it’s more than enough math for a student that doesn’t love math! </p>
<p>I agree with the poster who said they wouldn’t recommend taking a year off of Precalc->Calc->Multivar to stick Stats in there. Your daughter would probably get rusty in math in Stats were her only math class.</p>
<p>I think she should take the first sequence or go with smile’s idea. Taking Stats in between Calc and Multi doesn’t make much sense. Plus, unless she’s going to be a math major or something in college, having both calc and stats doesn’t do much.</p>
<p>To seancarpenter :
What you said is what exactly I heard from some 9th grader here. But how about 10th,11th,12th grader. Maybe Calculus will start to get challenge? </p>
<p>To Daxlo5 : Why do they hate?</p>
<p>To puggly123:
720 is not a very high score, some of her classmates got even higher grade. I cannot see my daughter can won any bigger math competition based on 19/25 in AMC 8. I will be very happy if she is lucky enough to get into AMIE by 11th grade.</p>
<p>Option #2 is not only for champions, it can also let you start to learn physics earlier, most importantly, it can make your transcript looks more rigorous. Rigorous/GPA is the biggest factor in college admissions</p>
<p>To addisonb4416:
Thanks for your advice. I am pretty much agree with you. I hate to see people rat race, but unfortunately, we are in this kind of environment. We have 15% Asian students in our district. If she take the easier track, only thing I am worrying is that she be will out of the running of topnotch students. </p>
<p>To DataAnalysis:
So you are also a parent. I probably prefer to homeschool her advanced algebra in the summer. I want to use Art of Problem Solving book. </p>
<p>To jerebear :
I just learned that statistic is easy</p>
<p>To smile99/PinotNoir/romanigysyeyes:
I think I made a mistake for #2 option, you are right. #2 option actually is “pre-calculus”->“calculus” -> “multivariable calculus” –> “independent study”. Students in this track take statistic in either 10th or 11th grade.</p>
<p>As a high school senior who was never too keen on math, I recommend the first sequence, which is still plenty rigorous and will allow your daughter more time for ECs and other challenging classes.</p>
<p>Really? a 720 is not good for an 8th grader??? Something is seriously wrong with you. Who cares what her classmates got. That kind of attitude by a parent is quite pathetic.</p>
<p>I prefer to let her take #1 sequence. But our high school is very competitive, and she wants to get into highly selected university. I just have no clue, in order to get into a highly selected college, how strong you should be academically?</p>
<p>You should be strong academically, but both are very strong academically. Let her pursue her interests, and go for the ECs. At a certain point, the rigor is negligible.</p>
<p>720 on the math section of the SAT and 19/25 on the AMC 8 are great results. They would place your child in the top two or three students in our town’s 400 student 8th grade. Even more impressive for someone who is not focused on math.</p>
<p>My suggestion is to let your daughter decide. From what you have told us she has the ability to perform well on the faster track and it sounds like you and/or your spouse have the ability to provide some homeschool support to fill in any gaps.</p>
<p>In most families there are so many decisions that parents have made for an 8th grader and will make in the future that it is important take advantage of those choices that the student can make - if you feel that both choices are reasonable and that your child has the required information and perspective.</p>