Algebra and TJ
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Anonymous
| If you think your child may want to apply to TJ, do they need to take Algebra in 7th or do they just need to take it in MS? Just curious based on something a teacher said to me. |
Anonymous
| The official requirement is to have completed algebra by 8th grade. |
Anonymous
That’s what I thought - thanks! |
Anonymous
Says who? TJ Math 1 is Honors Geometry. https://tjhsst.fcps.edu/node/3332 |
Anonymous
I don’t understand, your link/comment confirms exactly what I said. The lowest course offered at TJ is geometry. |
Anonymous
|
I apologize!
I strangely misread Algebra as Geometry. Past DCUM debates have burned the image of Geometry in 8th in my brain. |
Anonymous
While this may be the “official” requirement, is the general sense that taking Algebra in 7th increases your chances of getting in? |
Anonymous
I don't think so. But it does improve the experience when you're there. |
Anonymous
+1 I think your kid will feel kind of behind track if they come in not having done geometry already. |
Anonymous
Among my kid's friends, some took algebra in 7th and some took it in 8th. They all got waitlisted at TJ. |
Anonymous
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I can’t remember where I saw it, but I saw stats somewhere that showed that with the old admissions process, almost no one came in not having taken at least geometry in 8th. But with the new one, there are a lot of kids who took algebra in 8th. So, it’s probably not a big deal to take geometry in 9th now.
(The push to accelerate math is misguided for most, IMO. Getting the concepts down fully is what’s important. It doesn’t matter when you’re 25 and an engineer if you took algebra in 7th or 8th.) |
Anonymous
|
+1
My kids just wrapped up Freshman year at TJ. He took M1 (geometry) after deciding not to rush through Geometry in 1 month over the previous Summer. He will take AP Calc BC in senior vs junior year. That is a bit of a setback for admissions but overall we are happy he is on the path that works for him. He did mention that half the kids who accelerated in Math in Freshman year are now starting at B- and C’s TJ math is hard! |
Anonymous
For what it's worth, the current admissions test only focuses on algebra level math (no geometry). The geometry kids at our middle school were working to remember the content they had focused on in 7th. More kids who took algebra during 8th were admitted. (Please don't use this as an opportunity to talk about how those kids are "behind" in math or don't deserve it as much). If your kid loves math or is bored only working one year ahead, by all means, accelerate. But I don't know that it helps to accelerate for the sake of accelerating. |