Freshman: Algebra 1 placement ??

[Anonymous]

My rising Freshman tested into Algebra 1. I thought they would be in Geometry.

Is this is a big issue down the road if they graduate with Pre-Calc, not AP Calculus? I’m frustrated that the middle school did not prepare them well.

Do some students take Geometry over summer after freshman year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My rising Freshman tested into Algebra 1. I thought they would be in Geometry.

Is this is a big issue down the road if they graduate with Pre-Calc, not AP Calculus? I’m frustrated that the middle school did not prepare them well.

Do some students take Geometry over summer after freshman year?

Yes this is a huge issue to not have calc senior year. Most privates let the students take summer geometry through one schoolhouse or an equivalent program.

[Anonymous]

Did they take Alg 1 in 8th grade?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Yes this is a huge issue to not have calc senior year. Most privates let the students take summer geometry through one schoolhouse or an equivalent program.

In what way is it a huge issue? College acceptance? College readiness? Placement into stem programs? Is it really a huge issue for a kid who is interested in the humanities?

[Anonymous]

OP hereby

They attend an international school with integrated math but believed that all of algebra 1 would be covered. Turns out….Took half of algebra, half of geometry. Thinking best solution is to do algebra now, geo in summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My rising Freshman tested into Algebra 1. I thought they would be in Geometry.

Is this is a big issue down the road if they graduate with Pre-Calc, not AP Calculus? I’m frustrated that the middle school did not prepare them well.

Do some students take Geometry over summer after freshman year?

Yes this is a huge issue to not have calc senior year. Most privates let the students take summer geometry through one schoolhouse or an equivalent program.

Sounds like a money grab. Algebra for smart kids is usually in 7th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My rising Freshman tested into Algebra 1. I thought they would be in Geometry.

Is this is a big issue down the road if they graduate with Pre-Calc, not AP Calculus? I’m frustrated that the middle school did not prepare them well.

Do some students take Geometry over summer after freshman year?

Yes this is a huge issue to not have calc senior year. Most privates let the students take summer geometry through one schoolhouse or an equivalent program.

Sounds like a money grab. Algebra for smart kids is usually in 7th.

If your kid was in private in middle school it is not uncommon to take Algebra I in 8th grade. Some do geometry in the summer, many track to AP Calc senior year. This includes plenty of smart kids.

[Anonymous]

This happened to my DS. He was placed back in Algebra 1 after failing his school’s placement test.

It’s okay. He just got into every university he applied to, most with merit. And he applied to some strong schools, too.

Don’t let this site panic you. A strong foundation in Math is more important than accelerating through the courses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My rising Freshman tested into Algebra 1. I thought they would be in Geometry.

Is this is a big issue down the road if they graduate with Pre-Calc, not AP Calculus? I’m frustrated that the middle school did not prepare them well.

Do some students take Geometry over summer after freshman year?

Yes this is a huge issue to not have calc senior year. Most privates let the students take summer geometry through one schoolhouse or an equivalent program.

Sounds like a money grab. Algebra for smart kids is usually in 7th.

If your kid was in private in middle school it is not uncommon to take Algebra I in 8th grade. Some do geometry in the summer, many track to AP Calc senior year. This includes plenty of smart kids.

Since privates take the smartest kids, this makes no sense sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My rising Freshman tested into Algebra 1. I thought they would be in Geometry.

Is this is a big issue down the road if they graduate with Pre-Calc, not AP Calculus? I’m frustrated that the middle school did not prepare them well.

Do some students take Geometry over summer after freshman year?

Yes this is a huge issue to not have calc senior year. Most privates let the students take summer geometry through one schoolhouse or an equivalent program.

Sounds like a money grab. Algebra for smart kids is usually in 7th.

If your kid was in private in middle school it is not uncommon to take Algebra I in 8th grade. Some do geometry in the summer, many track to AP Calc senior year. This includes plenty of smart kids.

Since privates take the smartest kids, this makes no sense sense.

Let me guess, you are a public school parent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My rising Freshman tested into Algebra 1. I thought they would be in Geometry.

Is this is a big issue down the road if they graduate with Pre-Calc, not AP Calculus? I’m frustrated that the middle school did not prepare them well.

Do some students take Geometry over summer after freshman year?

Yes this is a huge issue to not have calc senior year. Most privates let the students take summer geometry through one schoolhouse or an equivalent program.

Sounds like a money grab. Algebra for smart kids is usually in 7th.

If your kid was in private in middle school it is not uncommon to take Algebra I in 8th grade. Some do geometry in the summer, many track to AP Calc senior year. This includes plenty of smart kids.

Since privates take the smartest kids, this makes no sense sense.

No, they don’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This happened to my DS. He was placed back in Algebra 1 after failing his school’s placement test.

It’s okay. He just got into every university he applied to, most with merit. And he applied to some strong schools, too.

Don’t let this site panic you. A strong foundation in Math is more important than accelerating through the courses.

+1. Especially if your kid is interested in humanities, all they'll need to take in college is likely a single math class, and it wouldn't even need to be a calculus based course (unless they decide to go for a major like economics or business). Get the good algebraic foundation now because it will help with abstract reasoning skills, and that's what colleges are really looking for. Source: I used to be a an academic advisor at a local college.

[Anonymous]

My DS went to public school (Fairfax County) through 8th grade and took Algebra 1 in 8th grade. When he took the math placement test for his private high school, he was placed into Algebra Honors. I heard of parents pushing back on their child's placement but we did not. He was in honors all throughout high school in math (Algebra 1 Honors, Geometry Honors, Algebra 2 Honors, Pre Calc Honors and also took AP Statistics) and had an A in every math class. In hindsight, he probably could have taken Geometry in 9th and been ok. When I asked him if he wished he had gone straight to Geometry in 9th, he said he really liked having the strong math foundation. He just graduated from college - and majored in math.

[Anonymous]

OP again. Thanks for the variety of responses. I agree about the benefit of a strong foundation. The sky is not falling. But there might be a summer class in the future. We will investigate through his new school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again. Thanks for the variety of responses. I agree about the benefit of a strong foundation. The sky is not falling. But there might be a summer class in the future. We will investigate through his new school.

I would hire a tutor and put them in geometry.