For academically most rigorous prep schools, how is incoming freshman math class like? What class are most popular? Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II?
How many more advanced math students enter as 9th grader? Do they take (Pre)Calculus even at 9th?
Thanks!
I don’t know what you consider rigorous, but a friend of mine goes to a prep school and he started with Algebra II. At his school, there is no requirement, just based on what you’ve previously taken. Personally, I go to a public school, although there is an admissions process, and I started with AP Calc AB in 9th.
At Deerfield, everything is done by a combination of math placement tests, previous courses taken, and math teacher recommendations. If you’re kind of between two levels, they’ll let you pick-- do extra work during the summer to take the higher class or just take the lower class. If you start and it’s NOT the right fit (which seems pretty rare-- they’re good at placement), they’ll move you. There’s no set level for incoming kids-- depends on the school, there are kids repeating 9th, a lot of Asian kids are more advanced in math, etc., and may start with calculus or even beyond. A girl we know who started this year is local, Caucasian, went to public school, was not a repeat, and was placed into honors pre-calc, which is a 2 trimester class that becomes AP Calc BC in the Spring. She was very happy with it. Another kid we know started this year in Algebra 1, which was also the right fit for him (although it was a small class). It seems like most commonly, incoming American Freshmen who are not repeating are either in Algebra II or Geometry, or honors versions of those classes, but, as the examples above show, they can be any level and the schools will accommodate.
@Frigidcold & @Daykidmom. Thanks for the information. I think I can see the picture now!
Almost every prep school will have a math placement test for incoming students. I’ve seen incoming 9th graders taking anything from Algebra I to AP Calculus BC, although most 9th graders will be taking Algebra I or Geometry.
I thought that a lot of kids would’ve taken Algebra I in eighth grade?
taking it and passing it are different matter.
A lot ≠ all or most.
Both my kids were in honors algebra 2 this year. Their math ability is pretty much equivalent, as far as I can tell. Public school kid will probably and easily get A+ and received achievement award in math (given to very few, thus big deal). Prep school kid struggled and suffered all year for high C to low B. That’s what freshman math is like at a top prep school. 
Andover had 22 entry points in math for new students (primarily 9th & 10th graders, but some 11,12&PG too). Everything from a basic math to multi variable calculus. There is a placement test to determine your class. There can be some movement if it is too easy or hard at the beginning of the term.
I know a number of kids at different schools who started precalc or even calculus in 9th grade. It all depends on your background.
So there won’t be enough freshmen to feel belonged in precalc and above classes, even at a large top school. Sounds like Algebra II would be perfect level for somewhat strong math kids.
There are definitely some freshmen in pre-calc or calc. In general, classes are much more mixed-grade than in middle school (public or private), except for English classes (and a few others). You wouldn’t feel out of place. Really, for math especially, kids come in at all different levels. Trust the placement process-- these schools are very good at it.
NMH depends on you, we had 2 freshmen kids last year taking Calc (one of them was taking AP)
No you would not be out of place taking Precal or calc in 9th at the larger boarding schools (or some smaller ones). Math classes are usually mixed grades as mentioned above. Mine took Precal in 9th and there were plenty of other 9th graders. There are some 9th graders in his current calculus class.
Cate does not have the many levels of math that larger schools do. DS was quite good at math in PS. (Quite good, but not brilliant. Had gotten all A’s in his PS math classes, and been moved forward a year.) He tested into Algebra II at Cate, but per the test was right on the cusp between the advanced class and the regular class. There are only those two levels for Algebra II at Cate. He chose the advanced class. Worked very hard to keep a B/B+. The following year he chose to drop down to the easier pre-Calc class, which he then found just a bit too easy, but overall was a better fit. As in the schools mentioned above, the math classes are quite mixed there, with all grade levels to be found in all classes.
Thank you for helping. I am gathering information for my 12.5yo daughter, who will take geometry this year and is planning to apply BS for either 2016 or 2017. She can take algebra 2 if she enters next year, or precalc if she enters the year after. Sounds like math classes are more diverse than other subjects and precalc won’t be too much problem.
How about science and foreign language? She has learned Spanish for 3 years and will take second semester Spanish at a local community college, which seems to be compatible to BS Spanish 2, this Fall. She was advised to pickup an additional language after that and continue it through freshman, so she can avoid taking a 3rd year foreign language during freshman year.
She was also advised to avoid conceptual physics as many BS has it as freshman requirement, and she doesn’t want to be alone not needing it. That’s not a problem since she can study chemistry/biology/programming instead.
If anyone has experience with Art of Problem Solving, how is BS algebra 2 compares to AoPS? Is it compatible to AoPS algebra 2 (second half of Introductory Algebra book) or AoPS algebra 3 (Intermediate Algebra book)?
This is going to be school specific. Some schools require at least a year foreign language for entering freshman regardless of their past experience. Foreign language classes also tend to have mixed grades.
Thanks skieurope. Let me clarify the plans;
Plan A:
2015-16: Spanish 1B & Chinese 1A (already learned 1 year at middles school level) at community college
2016-17: Prep school Chinese 1 or 2 as a freshman
2017-18: Prep school Spanish 3 as a sophomore
…Continue in advanced Spanish
Plan B:
2015-16: Spanish 1B & Chinese 1A at community college
2016-17: One year of Korean and take SATII (She is a native speaker and can read in basic level)
2017-18: Prep school Chinese 1 or 2 as a freshman
2018-19: Prep school Spanish 3 as a sophomore
…Continue in advanced Spanish
This can be changed if she was going to enter a very rigorous BS where many freshmen take Spanish 3. But a top school I asked suggested that there will be very few freshmen in their Spanish 3 and advised against it.
If a BS has really high level Spanish curriculum and students, she can finish all the way to Spanish 2A/2B and a literature or conversation course before entering the prep school. I don’t know much but it doesn’t seem likely to be the case though.
why have her take chinese than drop it and take spanish at BS? She should either take both from the get go or pick one from the start and stick to it. Colleges like to see 3-4 years of continuous language study. You may also find that language study at BS moves at a more rigorous pace than what she has been exposed to. Most BS will have a language placement test to make sure she is placed at the correct level.