Math in the early years: "advanced" vs. "on grade level"

[Anonymous]

I am the poster with the child in 9th grade at Whitman. He has been in MCPS schools since K. When we were in school, taking Algebra in 9th grade was normal, but now it is not. You can't get to Calculus in high school if you take Algebra in 9th. Is that a crisis? No, unless you want to go to a top school and are competing with all the kids (and there will be plenty of them) who did take calc in HS. The science problem is a little different. Not only can you not take bio in 9th, but you can't take advanced science at all, if you didn't take Algebra in 8th grade. Moreover, you are forced to take Matter & Energy in 9th. All the M&E classes are labeled "Honors" but they are filled with behavior problems and unmotivated students -- not Honors at all. The curriculum is a mix of chemistry and physics -- like an intro to both. A waste of time and the classrooms are are out of control, particularly at the end of the day. Whitman is OK for a highly motivated, smart student who takes all AP/Honors classes and is competitive enough to participate in extracurriculars. You have to be very, very good to play Varsity sports or to be a meaningful participant in other activities like Debate. If you are just an average student, you will find the on-level classes boring and often full of behavior problems. That means having class disrupted many times a week so the teacher can call security and have kids dragged out. I'm not kidding. People who don't have kids in on-level classes (and that is most people) have no idea this goes on, but it does. Also, if your kid is the kind to get really stressed out over school and getting into college, Whitman will be a tough place. It is a pressure-cooker in that regard. Can you get a good education there? Sure, but you won't get a lot of personal attention in classes of 33 kids, and you have to be able to stand up to the stress of competing against a lot of very smart, very competitive, very motivated kids.

[Anonymous]

Thanks pp - very helpful. We are going to work to make sure he gets all honors/AP classes and we are confident he can do the work. Agree that the limited ability to participate in sports is a downside of a bigger school. So hopefully it will work out although we are thinking about returning to private school as a backup plan if it doesn't. Where is your child going next year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
"I took Alg I in 9th, and didn't take Calc until college. I majored in Math and Aeronautical Engineering, and have a Master's in Electrical Engineering, all from well known and well regarded Engineering schools. Don't get too freaked out about when you take what. Getting the basics right and being interested/motivated count for a lot, too."

- it is important to get the basics right, however, there are many schools where four years isn't long enough if you can't start the "real" science classes until sophomore year.


- You mean high schools or college?

I mean that if you don't have calculus before starting COLLEGE, it will be a struggle to complete certain college majors within four years. Calculus is an entry-level class in many fields - not the capstone. So, if your kid is able, make sure calculus happens in high school. Of course, mastery is the goal, and not just stumbling through.

I agree with 6:36.

[Anonymous]

Probably St. Andrews. Solid academics, but with smaller classes, more personal attention, less competitive stress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:
I mean that if you don't have calculus before starting COLLEGE, it will be a struggle to complete certain college majors within four years. Calculus is an entry-level class in many fields - not the capstone. So, if your kid is able, make sure calculus happens in high school. Of course, mastery is the goal, and not just stumbling through.

I completely disagree with this. Every math/science related major I know of assumes you will take Calc I as an entering freshman, not anything higher. Even MIT assumes that. Would life be easier if you had Calc in high school, sure, but it is not a requirement. And if the student would be better served to take a lower level course that would provide them with a better understanding and basis for college, I don't see the reason to push for Calc just to have it.

[Anonymous]

My brother was shut out of Alg 1 in 8th and so when he realized he wanted to take Calculus as a senior, he took trig over the summer. It worked great. He was motivated and signed himself up. Got a PHD from Stanford in applied physics. So it's not the end of the world to take Alg 1 as a 9th grader.

[Anonymous]

Agree that it isn't fatal, although I took Alg 1 as a 9th grader and had to take Alg 2 in the summer in order to catch up with the normal math track (not even the high track). The problem was that 6 weeks is a little short to take a full year math class so not sure I really did get the best foundation.