Middle school doesn’t want to let my kid take a higher level math class!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Believe it or not our public high school doesn’t offer pre calc.
It’s algebra 2 trig, then calc 1.

That makes no sense. Precalc is important.

I think OP is saying they take trig after Alg II. Trig is essentially precalc, maybe their class has some added units. But you cannot go from Alg II to calc I.

[Anonymous]

I think acceleration is fine, but not your plan. It’s sounds bonkers. In our district, you have to have special approval to sign up for online courses and it has be from a specific platform. You can just sign up for some random class during the school year and expect credit for it. But taking a full Alg II course over the summer (which is what, 8-10 weeks) is a worse idea. Alg I and II are foundational classes and you don’t want to rush them or give him too much material concurrently.

I think the only somewhat reason option, if you want for acceleration for him, is to a geometry over the summer and start 9th grade in Alg II. This year, if you are math savvy, you can work with him on geometry concepts and introduce it, but without the pressuring of a full course. That way it will be more familiar come summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Believe it or not our public high school doesn’t offer pre calc.
It’s algebra 2 trig, then calc 1.

That makes no sense. Precalc is important.

It depends. If Algebra I and Geometry are taught honors/in depth, then Algebra II/trig/precalc can be compressed in junior year to a single class. Then Calculus for the seniors. This model is not unique. But I have seen it more in private schools. I think it’s great if a public is offering this track.

Sounds bad.

[Anonymous]

Geometry is where students learn proofs. I would not minimize that. If your kid takes math in college there will be a lot if proofs and proofs teach rigorous thinking in general. Your kid is already plenty accelerated. If your kid needs more challenge, I’d sign him up for Art of Problem Solving.

[Anonymous]

If he takes calc as a freshman, what would he take over the next three years after that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Geometry is a graduation requirement. You can’t self study a graduation requirement.

Yeah, where is OP thinking a school system will accept "self study"?

[Anonymous]

settle yourself down. it's hard enough handling all theses IEPs. There's no prize to rush to higher level math classes. Supplement on your own. Focus on what he really needs help in, English! Being a great communicator, even in math-related fields, is what you should have him focus on. That's his weakness.

[Anonymous]

Public school doesn’t always conform to your preferred design.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I simply do not understand this mindset.

DS is 7th grade. He’s smart (not a genius) and motivated and likes math. He’s currently taking algebra 1.
He wants to be on track to take Calc 1 as a freshman. He would do this by self studying geometry and taking algebra 2 in 8th grade.

I met with the middle school today and the principal said absolutely not. The school doesn’t allow kids to “skip” classes.

DS wants to do this because his older brother who is 17 and older brother’s friends have inspired him. They love math and are on very accelerated pathways.

I’m floored that the middle school doesn’t encourage kids who want to do more and push themselves. Is this common?

Do middle schools require kids to take math classes in sequence? Yes. You’re crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I simply do not understand this mindset.

DS is 7th grade. He’s smart (not a genius) and motivated and likes math. He’s currently taking algebra 1.
He wants to be on track to take Calc 1 as a freshman. He would do this by self studying geometry and taking algebra 2 in 8th grade.

I met with the middle school today and the principal said absolutely not. The school doesn’t allow kids to “skip” classes.

DS wants to do this because his older brother who is 17 and older brother’s friends have inspired him. They love math and are on very accelerated pathways.

I’m floored that the middle school doesn’t encourage kids who want to do more and push themselves. Is this common?

He needs to take geometry as an approved class over the summer. Self study does not work for any school, you need an approved class that demonstrates that you learned the material.

Plenty of kids in our school district, FCPS, take Algebra 2 in MS, it is not unheard of, but they have all taken Geometry, most in the summer. Some are able to take it at their MS because there are enough kids for a class or two of A2H. If there is not a class offered at the MS, then the family has to figure out how to get the child to and from the HS to take the class or the kid takes in online.

FCPS has a Pre-Calc but it sounds like your school offers A1 and Trig and not pre-calc. That is not a great path but that is the route some places go.

If you want your kid to take that path then you need to talk to the MS about geometry as a summer class, some districts only allow summer class for grade recovery. Then you need to discuss a plan for A2Trig.

Or you could encourage your child to take a breath and enjoy their summer and not worry about Calc in freshman year and then 3 years of college level math in HS.

[Anonymous]

Yikes! When our kids were excelling the school called us and told us

“ Ummm your child needs more of challenge and we’d like to bump them “

Good luck though

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some very bright kids in our district do Algebra 1 in grade 6, which sets them up to do calculus in grade 9. But they don't skip Geometry altogether (which both my kids found more challenging than Algebra I).

Particularly with you being in public school, I'm not surprised that your school is not willing to entertain your claim that your kid will "self-study" geometry. It's a Common Core requirement for graduation, and there's no reason that your kid should be given a pass to skip it and no reason that they should take your word that your kid will learn it well on their own.

I'm only surprised that you're surprised that the school isn't letting your kid skip a required course.

This. Floored that you are floored, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I simply do not understand this mindset.

DS is 7th grade. He’s smart (not a genius) and motivated and likes math. He’s currently taking algebra 1.
He wants to be on track to take Calc 1 as a freshman. He would do this by self studying geometry and taking algebra 2 in 8th grade.

I met with the middle school today and the principal said absolutely not. The school doesn’t allow kids to “skip” classes.

DS wants to do this because his older brother who is 17 and older brother’s friends have inspired him. They love math and are on very accelerated pathways.

I’m floored that the middle school doesn’t encourage kids who want to do more and push themselves. Is this common?

DEMOCRATS.

The democrats are doing this to your child, and countless other children: read this:

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/10/california-math-framework-algebra/675509/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I simply do not understand this mindset.

DS is 7th grade. He’s smart (not a genius) and motivated and likes math. He’s currently taking algebra 1.
He wants to be on track to take Calc 1 as a freshman. He would do this by self studying geometry and taking algebra 2 in 8th grade.

I met with the middle school today and the principal said absolutely not. The school doesn’t allow kids to “skip” classes.

DS wants to do this because his older brother who is 17 and older brother’s friends have inspired him. They love math and are on very accelerated pathways.

I’m floored that the middle school doesn’t encourage kids who want to do more and push themselves. Is this common?

How did your son older son get on the accelerated path? Just do the same for your younger son because obviously he can't just skip requirements and self study them instead (at least not without taking some kind of qualifying exam or similar). But, whatever, I think this is made up.

[Anonymous]

OP: I would recommend finding a math competition program and direct him that way. The math is challenging and more creative. It is fun, develops good math skills, and will give him an excellent outlet for his interest in math. There are some great programs out there.