Anyone wavering on whether or not to do Algebra in 7th

[Anonymous]

DC got 96% on IOWA, has routinely gotten pass advance on math SOLs (understanding that this years has not happened yet) and gets straight 4s on report cards, as well as interim exams and work projects in the classroom. I feel confident he can handle Algebra next year, and Geography the following year, but am concerned about the level of rigor beyond that (taking college level math by 11th grade!) Too early to tell if DC is even interested in pursuing a major or career in this area despite his competency. Some of his peers who are similarly situated are steering clear, whereas others (friends studying advanced levels outside of school; which he is not doing) are pursuing.

Would love to hear anecdotally what direction others are looking at. We have until July obviously, and there’s always the chance he bombs the SOL (although unlikely).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC got 96% on IOWA, has routinely gotten pass advance on math SOLs (understanding that this years has not happened yet) and gets straight 4s on report cards, as well as interim exams and work projects in the classroom. I feel confident he can handle Algebra next year, and Geography the following year, but am concerned about the level of rigor beyond that (taking college level math by 11th grade!) Too early to tell if DC is even interested in pursuing a major or career in this area despite his competency. Some of his peers who are similarly situated are steering clear, whereas others (friends studying advanced levels outside of school; which he is not doing) are pursuing.

Would love to hear anecdotally what direction others are looking at. We have until July obviously, and there’s always the chance he bombs the SOL (although unlikely).

Taking AP calc in 11th is no different than taking any other AP in 11th. They're all considered college level.
7th grade Algebra does not lock you into some sort of math career or even post-AP math coursework. If he decides in 10th grade that he's not especially interested in math, he can easily take AP Calc AB in 11th and then AP Stats in 12th. AP Stats would be a useful class for just about any humanities or softer science majors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC got 96% on IOWA, has routinely gotten pass advance on math SOLs (understanding that this years has not happened yet) and gets straight 4s on report cards, as well as interim exams and work projects in the classroom. I feel confident he can handle Algebra next year, and Geography the following year, but am concerned about the level of rigor beyond that (taking college level math by 11th grade!) Too early to tell if DC is even interested in pursuing a major or career in this area despite his competency. Some of his peers who are similarly situated are steering clear, whereas others (friends studying advanced levels outside of school; which he is not doing) are pursuing.

Would love to hear anecdotally what direction others are looking at. We have until July obviously, and there’s always the chance he bombs the SOL (although unlikely).

Taking AP calc in 11th is no different than taking any other AP in 11th. They're all considered college level.
7th grade Algebra does not lock you into some sort of math career or even post-AP math coursework. If he decides in 10th grade that he's not especially interested in math, he can easily take AP Calc AB in 11th and then AP Stats in 12th. AP Stats would be a useful class for just about any humanities or softer science majors.

Does this correlate to IB as well?

[Anonymous]

Are you planning backwards to see what they will be taking in 12th? Do they really need to be -beyond- Calculus? I think not. But then again, I guess proving they did well in Calculus and having it completed in 11th has some value.

[Anonymous]

What else would he take, Op?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What else would he take, Op?

The default would be 7th Honors, which is essentially 8th grade math (Pre-Algebra). He’s taking 7th grade level math now in 6th grade AAP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you planning backwards to see what they will be taking in 12th? Do they really need to be -beyond- Calculus? I think not. But then again, I guess proving they did well in Calculus and having it completed in 11th has some value.

That’s exactly what I’m doing. Have no clue right now if that is a path he will be interested in pursuing, even though he seems to have an aptitude for it.

[Anonymous]

Bump - interested in seeing the replies as well.

[Anonymous]

I would. He should be able to handle it and going forward, and if not, he repeats alg I in 8th. Big deal. We are considering and weighing pros/cons of Alg I for our child who will be in 6th grade next yr. I would have zero hesitation about it for 7th. My current 7th grader is finishing Alg II right now, no issues.n

[Anonymous]

Take it in 6th if possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Take it in 6th if possible.

DC is in 6th grade now. Algebra is not offered to 6th graders in FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would. He should be able to handle it and going forward, and if not, he repeats alg I in 8th. Big deal. We are considering and weighing pros/cons of Alg I for our child who will be in 6th grade next yr. I would have zero hesitation about it for 7th. My current 7th grader is finishing Alg II right now, no issues.n

How is your 7th grader in Algebra II? What school are they in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC got 96% on IOWA, has routinely gotten pass advance on math SOLs (understanding that this years has not happened yet) and gets straight 4s on report cards, as well as interim exams and work projects in the classroom. I feel confident he can handle Algebra next year, and Geography the following year, but am concerned about the level of rigor beyond that (taking college level math by 11th grade!) Too early to tell if DC is even interested in pursuing a major or career in this area despite his competency. Some of his peers who are similarly situated are steering clear, whereas others (friends studying advanced levels outside of school; which he is not doing) are pursuing.

Would love to hear anecdotally what direction others are looking at. We have until July obviously, and there’s always the chance he bombs the SOL (although unlikely).

if you can you should try to get some advise from his/her teacher, both my kids took Algebra in 7th grade, they had no problem at all. we did talk to their teachers before 7th grade, who knew more about their math levels, abilities.....

[Anonymous]

I have 3 kids - in 8th, 5th, (and the older 2 are in AAP) and 2nd grades.

My 8th grader is currently in geometry. HE wanted to take Alg in 7th and I said if he qualified, he could do so (and I let him know it would be a lot of work and count on his HS transcript, etc. and he still wanted to take it). He qualified and I feel strongly that starting in MS he should be in charge of his own course selection so I wasn't going to NOT let him take a course he wanted, and he does always like math etc. I would say it has been fine for him but he does have to do probably the most homework in math, of all of his classes. No regrets though. He got 99% on IAAT, fwiw though it likely doesn't matter 99 to 96%.

I already know my 5th grader will likely not want to take Alg in 7th. He does not like math as much as DS1, doesn't feel as confident in it - even if he's just as good, and would do better taking Alg in 8th - regardless of whether or not he qualifies to take it earlier. I just know that he doesn't enjoy it and when given the choice will take the easier route.

My spouse is a MS math teacher - fwiw and agrees with me on all of the above.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would. He should be able to handle it and going forward, and if not, he repeats alg I in 8th. Big deal. We are considering and weighing pros/cons of Alg I for our child who will be in 6th grade next yr. I would have zero hesitation about it for 7th. My current 7th grader is finishing Alg II right now, no issues.n

How is your 7th grader in Algebra II? What school are they in?

I'm 12:59, and my 5th grader in AAP, has a 3rd grader pushing into the 5th grade AAP math class. My kids were never approached for anything like this LOL - I am guessing the 3rd grader must be a real outlier. This is not standard FCPS practice, nor something I would seek out on my own.