<p>In our Maryland county, students are only required to take 3 years of math in order to earn a Maryland high school diploma:</p>
<p>3 credits
√ 1 in Algebra I
√ 1 in Geometry
√ 1 additional mathematics credit</p>
<p>So, at least taking into account the fact that many areas must be similar to my own, the idea that kids should be ready for calculus by freshman year of college strikes me as unrealistic. </p>
<p>I required my daughter to take a 4th year of math in high school because I’m hoping she gets into UMCP (which only requires 3 years of math but recommends 4), but even so, she’s in a 12th grade pre-calculus course that’s kicking her butt. If it weren’t for her twin brother (math guy who’s taking a college course in differential equations/calculus 3), she’d be in serious trouble.</p>
<p>I would consider my daughter far ahead of the majority of her county peers in terms of math achievement, even if she hasn’t taken calculus.</p>