My 7th grader was asked to a lower level in math

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want him to develop a good foundation. This is not the end of the line. It's about making sure he has everything he needs to be successful in math. My husband had an A average in his electrical engineering major. I was more advanced than he was in math-he was not accelerated at all. It's a marathon, not a race. Nobody cares, but a few competitive parents whether your kid is in honors in middle school. If he wants to do STEM, what matters is he knows the material well and enjoys what he does so he can be in it for the long haul.

If dropping out of honors means he ends up a year or two behind by high school (in FCPS, the top 15-20% will be taking algebra II as freshman, the majority will be taking geometry and the non-honors in 7th will be taking algebra) he would never have a change to get into that a major that competitive

True. OP’s son isn’t getting into MIT or a top 25 college. He also is unlikely to go into a STEM career, but it is possible. There are many pathways to success. I get that it is disappointing as a parent, OP. I would feel the same. But you have to support him where he is, right now. Not where you want him to be. Maybe have him take a math class over the summer so he can at least be in Alg I when he enters 8th grade.

Why wouldn't he go to a top 25 college? You know this in 7th grade? Um.

+ 1 My 2021 grad got into a T25 with Geometry Honors in 9th, dropping off the Honors track after that, and taking AP Stats instead of Calculus as a senior. No hooks, either…white MC girl from FCPS with long term but not notable ECs.

My MIT educated uncles (who are much younger than my mother and therefore not that much older than I am, for comparison) are no more successful than my husband who went to an engineering school in the 75-100 range.
A kid who takes the time to get a good foundation and works hard will do just fine, T25 or not.

No one is saying you need a top 25 school to be successful. In fact the PP specifically states there are multiple pathways to success. Top 25 was only mentioned as a way to point out the doors that are closed by not taking the honors math track are minimal and probably weren’t ever in consideration anyhow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want him to develop a good foundation. This is not the end of the line. It's about making sure he has everything he needs to be successful in math. My husband had an A average in his electrical engineering major. I was more advanced than he was in math-he was not accelerated at all. It's a marathon, not a race. Nobody cares, but a few competitive parents whether your kid is in honors in middle school. If he wants to do STEM, what matters is he knows the material well and enjoys what he does so he can be in it for the long haul.

If dropping out of honors means he ends up a year or two behind by high school (in FCPS, the top 15-20% will be taking algebra II as freshman, the majority will be taking geometry and the non-honors in 7th will be taking algebra) he would never have a change to get into that a major that competitive

True. OP’s son isn’t getting into MIT or a top 25 college. He also is unlikely to go into a STEM career, but it is possible. There are many pathways to success. I get that it is disappointing as a parent, OP. I would feel the same. But you have to support him where he is, right now. Not where you want him to be. Maybe have him take a math class over the summer so he can at least be in Alg I when he enters 8th grade.

Why wouldn't he go to a top 25 college? You know this in 7th grade? Um.

+ 1 My 2021 grad got into a T25 with Geometry Honors in 9th, dropping off the Honors track after that, and taking AP Stats instead of Calculus as a senior. No hooks, either…white MC girl from FCPS with long term but not notable ECs.

My MIT educated uncles (who are much younger than my mother and therefore not that much older than I am, for comparison) are no more successful than my husband who went to an engineering school in the 75-100 range.

A kid who takes the time to get a good foundation and works hard will do just fine, T25 or not.

Just being realistic. If your kid is taking Alg I in 9th grade, there is zero chance at a top 25 in today’s college admission world, unless there is something else uniquely phenomenal going on

That was the point.
IT DOES NOT MATTER

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want him to develop a good foundation. This is not the end of the line. It's about making sure he has everything he needs to be successful in math. My husband had an A average in his electrical engineering major. I was more advanced than he was in math-he was not accelerated at all. It's a marathon, not a race. Nobody cares, but a few competitive parents whether your kid is in honors in middle school. If he wants to do STEM, what matters is he knows the material well and enjoys what he does so he can be in it for the long haul.

If dropping out of honors means he ends up a year or two behind by high school (in FCPS, the top 15-20% will be taking algebra II as freshman, the majority will be taking geometry and the non-honors in 7th will be taking algebra) he would never have a change to get into that a major that competitive

True. OP’s son isn’t getting into MIT or a top 25 college. He also is unlikely to go into a STEM career, but it is possible. There are many pathways to success. I get that it is disappointing as a parent, OP. I would feel the same. But you have to support him where he is, right now. Not where you want him to be. Maybe have him take a math class over the summer so he can at least be in Alg I when he enters 8th grade.

Why wouldn't he go to a top 25 college? You know this in 7th grade? Um.

+ 1 My 2021 grad got into a T25 with Geometry Honors in 9th, dropping off the Honors track after that, and taking AP Stats instead of Calculus as a senior. No hooks, either…white MC girl from FCPS with long term but not notable ECs.

My MIT educated uncles (who are much younger than my mother and therefore not that much older than I am, for comparison) are no more successful than my husband who went to an engineering school in the 75-100 range.

A kid who takes the time to get a good foundation and works hard will do just fine, T25 or not.

Just being realistic. If your kid is taking Alg I in 9th grade, there is zero chance at a top 25 in today’s college admission world, unless there is something else uniquely phenomenal going on

But in today's admissions landscape, it's probably not likely that a kid taking honors algebra II or higher in 9th would get into a T25 either, since its such a crapshoot. OP's kid is better off not taking honors and getting higher grades in appropriate classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want him to develop a good foundation. This is not the end of the line. It's about making sure he has everything he needs to be successful in math. My husband had an A average in his electrical engineering major. I was more advanced than he was in math-he was not accelerated at all. It's a marathon, not a race. Nobody cares, but a few competitive parents whether your kid is in honors in middle school. If he wants to do STEM, what matters is he knows the material well and enjoys what he does so he can be in it for the long haul.

If dropping out of honors means he ends up a year or two behind by high school (in FCPS, the top 15-20% will be taking algebra II as freshman, the majority will be taking geometry and the non-honors in 7th will be taking algebra) he would never have a change to get into that a major that competitive

True. OP’s son isn’t getting into MIT or a top 25 college. He also is unlikely to go into a STEM career, but it is possible. There are many pathways to success. I get that it is disappointing as a parent, OP. I would feel the same. But you have to support him where he is, right now. Not where you want him to be. Maybe have him take a math class over the summer so he can at least be in Alg I when he enters 8th grade.

Why wouldn't he go to a top 25 college? You know this in 7th grade? Um.

+ 1 My 2021 grad got into a T25 with Geometry Honors in 9th, dropping off the Honors track after that, and taking AP Stats instead of Calculus as a senior. No hooks, either…white MC girl from FCPS with long term but not notable ECs.

My MIT educated uncles (who are much younger than my mother and therefore not that much older than I am, for comparison) are no more successful than my husband who went to an engineering school in the 75-100 range.

A kid who takes the time to get a good foundation and works hard will do just fine, T25 or not.

Just being realistic. If your kid is taking Alg I in 9th grade, there is zero chance at a top 25 in today’s college admission world, unless there is something else uniquely phenomenal going on

But in today's admissions landscape, it's probably not likely that a kid taking honors algebra II or higher in 9th would get into a T25 either, since its such a crapshoot. OP's kid is better off not taking honors and getting higher grades in appropriate classes.

That is the point. It closes a door that likely wasn’t open anyhow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want him to develop a good foundation. This is not the end of the line. It's about making sure he has everything he needs to be successful in math. My husband had an A average in his electrical engineering major. I was more advanced than he was in math-he was not accelerated at all. It's a marathon, not a race. Nobody cares, but a few competitive parents whether your kid is in honors in middle school. If he wants to do STEM, what matters is he knows the material well and enjoys what he does so he can be in it for the long haul.

If dropping out of honors means he ends up a year or two behind by high school (in FCPS, the top 15-20% will be taking algebra II as freshman, the majority will be taking geometry and the non-honors in 7th will be taking algebra) he would never have a change to get into that a major that competitive

True. OP’s son isn’t getting into MIT or a top 25 college. He also is unlikely to go into a STEM career, but it is possible. There are many pathways to success. I get that it is disappointing as a parent, OP. I would feel the same. But you have to support him where he is, right now. Not where you want him to be. Maybe have him take a math class over the summer so he can at least be in Alg I when he enters 8th grade.

You two are insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want him to develop a good foundation. This is not the end of the line. It's about making sure he has everything he needs to be successful in math. My husband had an A average in his electrical engineering major. I was more advanced than he was in math-he was not accelerated at all. It's a marathon, not a race. Nobody cares, but a few competitive parents whether your kid is in honors in middle school. If he wants to do STEM, what matters is he knows the material well and enjoys what he does so he can be in it for the long haul.

If dropping out of honors means he ends up a year or two behind by high school (in FCPS, the top 15-20% will be taking algebra II as freshman, the majority will be taking geometry and the non-honors in 7th will be taking algebra) he would never have a change to get into that a major that competitive

True. OP’s son isn’t getting into MIT or a top 25 college. He also is unlikely to go into a STEM career, but it is possible. There are many pathways to success. I get that it is disappointing as a parent, OP. I would feel the same. But you have to support him where he is, right now. Not where you want him to be. Maybe have him take a math class over the summer so he can at least be in Alg I when he enters 8th grade.

You two are insane.

It isn’t insane. Alg I before high school is one of the strongest predictors of college success.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want him to develop a good foundation. This is not the end of the line. It's about making sure he has everything he needs to be successful in math. My husband had an A average in his electrical engineering major. I was more advanced than he was in math-he was not accelerated at all. It's a marathon, not a race. Nobody cares, but a few competitive parents whether your kid is in honors in middle school. If he wants to do STEM, what matters is he knows the material well and enjoys what he does so he can be in it for the long haul.

If dropping out of honors means he ends up a year or two behind by high school (in FCPS, the top 15-20% will be taking algebra II as freshman, the majority will be taking geometry and the non-honors in 7th will be taking algebra) he would never have a change to get into that a major that competitive

True. OP’s son isn’t getting into MIT or a top 25 college. He also is unlikely to go into a STEM career, but it is possible. There are many pathways to success. I get that it is disappointing as a parent, OP. I would feel the same. But you have to support him where he is, right now. Not where you want him to be. Maybe have him take a math class over the summer so he can at least be in Alg I when he enters 8th grade.

Why wouldn't he go to a top 25 college? You know this in 7th grade? Um.

+ 1 My 2021 grad got into a T25 with Geometry Honors in 9th, dropping off the Honors track after that, and taking AP Stats instead of Calculus as a senior. No hooks, either…white MC girl from FCPS with long term but not notable ECs.

My MIT educated uncles (who are much younger than my mother and therefore not that much older than I am, for comparison) are no more successful than my husband who went to an engineering school in the 75-100 range.

A kid who takes the time to get a good foundation and works hard will do just fine, T25 or not.

Just being realistic. If your kid is taking Alg I in 9th grade, there is zero chance at a top 25 in today’s college admission world, unless there is something else uniquely phenomenal going on

But in today's admissions landscape, it's probably not likely that a kid taking honors algebra II or higher in 9th would get into a T25 either, since its such a crapshoot. OP's kid is better off not taking honors and getting higher grades in appropriate classes.

PP pointed out that it's a marathon and used her EE husband as an example. Taking algebra in ninth is going to make it very hard to get into any school as an electrical engineering major. To the extent that it's a marathon, there are cut times along the way and if you miss them certain doors close.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want him to develop a good foundation. This is not the end of the line. It's about making sure he has everything he needs to be successful in math. My husband had an A average in his electrical engineering major. I was more advanced than he was in math-he was not accelerated at all. It's a marathon, not a race. Nobody cares, but a few competitive parents whether your kid is in honors in middle school. If he wants to do STEM, what matters is he knows the material well and enjoys what he does so he can be in it for the long haul.

If dropping out of honors means he ends up a year or two behind by high school (in FCPS, the top 15-20% will be taking algebra II as freshman, the majority will be taking geometry and the non-honors in 7th will be taking algebra) he would never have a change to get into that a major that competitive

True. OP’s son isn’t getting into MIT or a top 25 college. He also is unlikely to go into a STEM career, but it is possible. There are many pathways to success. I get that it is disappointing as a parent, OP. I would feel the same. But you have to support him where he is, right now. Not where you want him to be. Maybe have him take a math class over the summer so he can at least be in Alg I when he enters 8th grade.

You two are insane.

It isn’t insane. Alg I before high school is one of the strongest predictors of college success.

Lol. BS. My kid took algebra 1 in 9th grade. He took it in public MS and got straight As but he failed the algebra placement test for private school. He took it again as a 9th grader in private school. Lots of his public school classmates also failed the test. They’ve all graduated from college now and are all gainfully employed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want him to develop a good foundation. This is not the end of the line. It's about making sure he has everything he needs to be successful in math. My husband had an A average in his electrical engineering major. I was more advanced than he was in math-he was not accelerated at all. It's a marathon, not a race. Nobody cares, but a few competitive parents whether your kid is in honors in middle school. If he wants to do STEM, what matters is he knows the material well and enjoys what he does so he can be in it for the long haul.

If dropping out of honors means he ends up a year or two behind by high school (in FCPS, the top 15-20% will be taking algebra II as freshman, the majority will be taking geometry and the non-honors in 7th will be taking algebra) he would never have a change to get into that a major that competitive

True. OP’s son isn’t getting into MIT or a top 25 college. He also is unlikely to go into a STEM career, but it is possible. There are many pathways to success. I get that it is disappointing as a parent, OP. I would feel the same. But you have to support him where he is, right now. Not where you want him to be. Maybe have him take a math class over the summer so he can at least be in Alg I when he enters 8th grade.

Why wouldn't he go to a top 25 college? You know this in 7th grade? Um.

+ 1 My 2021 grad got into a T25 with Geometry Honors in 9th, dropping off the Honors track after that, and taking AP Stats instead of Calculus as a senior. No hooks, either…white MC girl from FCPS with long term but not notable ECs.

My MIT educated uncles (who are much younger than my mother and therefore not that much older than I am, for comparison) are no more successful than my husband who went to an engineering school in the 75-100 range.

A kid who takes the time to get a good foundation and works hard will do just fine, T25 or not.

Just being realistic. If your kid is taking Alg I in 9th grade, there is zero chance at a top 25 in today’s college admission world, unless there is something else uniquely phenomenal going on

But in today's admissions landscape, it's probably not likely that a kid taking honors algebra II or higher in 9th would get into a T25 either, since its such a crapshoot. OP's kid is better off not taking honors and getting higher grades in appropriate classes.

PP pointed out that it's a marathon and used her EE husband as an example. Taking algebra in ninth is going to make it very hard to get into any school as an electrical engineering major. To the extent that it's a marathon, there are cut times along the way and if you miss them certain doors close.

Certain doors close and life is overrrrr

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want him to develop a good foundation. This is not the end of the line. It's about making sure he has everything he needs to be successful in math. My husband had an A average in his electrical engineering major. I was more advanced than he was in math-he was not accelerated at all. It's a marathon, not a race. Nobody cares, but a few competitive parents whether your kid is in honors in middle school. If he wants to do STEM, what matters is he knows the material well and enjoys what he does so he can be in it for the long haul.

If dropping out of honors means he ends up a year or two behind by high school (in FCPS, the top 15-20% will be taking algebra II as freshman, the majority will be taking geometry and the non-honors in 7th will be taking algebra) he would never have a change to get into that a major that competitive

OP and PP, I suggest you read Never Enough. PP, I hope you'll consider how toxic your attitude is and how that might affect your child's life, college prospects aside.

OP, as the mom of an 8th grade kid who will be taking non-Honors Algebra I in 9th grade, I suggest you let it go. Make sure your kid does his best, including homework and review. Consider a tutor if math continues to be hard. But you need to accept that your kid is at a certain level and that's perfectly fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want him to develop a good foundation. This is not the end of the line. It's about making sure he has everything he needs to be successful in math. My husband had an A average in his electrical engineering major. I was more advanced than he was in math-he was not accelerated at all. It's a marathon, not a race. Nobody cares, but a few competitive parents whether your kid is in honors in middle school. If he wants to do STEM, what matters is he knows the material well and enjoys what he does so he can be in it for the long haul.

If dropping out of honors means he ends up a year or two behind by high school (in FCPS, the top 15-20% will be taking algebra II as freshman, the majority will be taking geometry and the non-honors in 7th will be taking algebra) he would never have a change to get into that a major that competitive

OP and PP, I suggest you read Never Enough. PP, I hope you'll consider how toxic your attitude is and how that might affect your child's life, college prospects aside.

OP, as the mom of an 8th grade kid who will be taking non-Honors Algebra I in 9th grade, I suggest you let it go. Make sure your kid does his best, including homework and review. Consider a tutor if math continues to be hard. But you need to accept that your kid is at a certain level and that's perfectly fine.

"Never Enough" is a great book and blows the lid off this pointless striver mentality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want him to develop a good foundation. This is not the end of the line. It's about making sure he has everything he needs to be successful in math. My husband had an A average in his electrical engineering major. I was more advanced than he was in math-he was not accelerated at all. It's a marathon, not a race. Nobody cares, but a few competitive parents whether your kid is in honors in middle school. If he wants to do STEM, what matters is he knows the material well and enjoys what he does so he can be in it for the long haul.

If dropping out of honors means he ends up a year or two behind by high school (in FCPS, the top 15-20% will be taking algebra II as freshman, the majority will be taking geometry and the non-honors in 7th will be taking algebra) he would never have a change to get into that a major that competitive

True. OP’s son isn’t getting into MIT or a top 25 college. He also is unlikely to go into a STEM career, but it is possible. There are many pathways to success. I get that it is disappointing as a parent, OP. I would feel the same. But you have to support him where he is, right now. Not where you want him to be. Maybe have him take a math class over the summer so he can at least be in Alg I when he enters 8th grade.

Why wouldn't he go to a top 25 college? You know this in 7th grade? Um.

+ 1 My 2021 grad got into a T25 with Geometry Honors in 9th, dropping off the Honors track after that, and taking AP Stats instead of Calculus as a senior. No hooks, either…white MC girl from FCPS with long term but not notable ECs.

My MIT educated uncles (who are much younger than my mother and therefore not that much older than I am, for comparison) are no more successful than my husband who went to an engineering school in the 75-100 range.

A kid who takes the time to get a good foundation and works hard will do just fine, T25 or not.

+2 My 2022 grad got into a T20 SLAC after dropping down in math in 7th grade in MCPS. He took Hon Alg1, Hon Geometry, Hon Alg2 for the first three years, then both (non-honors) Precalc and AP Stats as a senior. He's doing really well in college and he will never take another math class again!

Tbh I might have done it differently if we could do it all over again; the math weakness was a major uncertainty for his college apps, but we didn't know that until it was too late to try to catch up with a summer course.

[Anonymous]

how about a tutor?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want him to develop a good foundation. This is not the end of the line. It's about making sure he has everything he needs to be successful in math. My husband had an A average in his electrical engineering major. I was more advanced than he was in math-he was not accelerated at all. It's a marathon, not a race. Nobody cares, but a few competitive parents whether your kid is in honors in middle school. If he wants to do STEM, what matters is he knows the material well and enjoys what he does so he can be in it for the long haul.

If dropping out of honors means he ends up a year or two behind by high school (in FCPS, the top 15-20% will be taking algebra II as freshman, the majority will be taking geometry and the non-honors in 7th will be taking algebra) he would never have a change to get into that a major that competitive

Correct. Comparison to the previous generation is a big mistake.

OP, it’s fine not to strive. But if you had academic ambitions for your kid, you need to get him a tutor and pay more attention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want him to develop a good foundation. This is not the end of the line. It's about making sure he has everything he needs to be successful in math. My husband had an A average in his electrical engineering major. I was more advanced than he was in math-he was not accelerated at all. It's a marathon, not a race. Nobody cares, but a few competitive parents whether your kid is in honors in middle school. If he wants to do STEM, what matters is he knows the material well and enjoys what he does so he can be in it for the long haul.

If dropping out of honors means he ends up a year or two behind by high school (in FCPS, the top 15-20% will be taking algebra II as freshman, the majority will be taking geometry and the non-honors in 7th will be taking algebra) he would never have a change to get into that a major that competitive

You're a real a$$hole.