What Are the Pros and Cons Of Taking Algebra I in Sixth Grade?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is anecdotal but I know lots of kids who were on the Math track which brought them to Algebra II in 8th grade and many of them hit a wall during this course. These were strong students who had been accelerated into Algebra I in 6th grade and did very well in this course and in geometry in 7th but had trouble in Algebra II

Again anecdotal but I know many students who had the same experience. This is not an option for the OP but based on what I observed (GT students acing Math and floundering in Algebra 2) I had my kid do IM in 6th So slower Math progression in middle school. Kid did AP Calculus BC and AP Statistics in high school but did not also take AP Calculus AB. In other words slower through middle school (a math teacher at a top 5 private recommended this saying that at this age brains are still developing and the higher level thinking in Algebra 2 can be tough for some students including gifted math students) and a more accelerated path through high school since he had a solid foundation in middle school.

[Anonymous]

We are not in MCPS, but here is our story. Someone else mentioned this, but I suggest you keep an open mind as your child develops his academic likes and dislikes in high school. My son took Algebra in 6th, Geometry in 7th, Algebra II in 8th. with no problems at all. He has always been very good at math, but in 8th grade he joined a debate and rhetoric team and fell in love. He was much more interested in taking English/Philosophy/History type classes in high school instead of math so we listened to him and allowed him to dial back on the accelerated math. In High School he took Pre Calc, Statistics in Probability, Accounting I and Accounting II (Dual enrolled).

[Anonymous]

OP here. Yes, this is one of my concerns. Actually, it appears that I'm the only one who is worried about this. My son, my husband, and his teacher are all thrilled. I'm happy as well, but I didn't realized that we were going to be making decisions about high school credit while he is still in elementary school. My son already knows how to do Algebra and he thinks its so easy. Math always came natural to him. He is a die hard STEM kid. His interests are medicine and engineering. However, he gravitates more to medicine. My other concern is that in 8th grade he will have to take math at River Hill School which isn't our zoned high school. I will find out next Monday more detail information at the Middle School Accelerated G/T Mathematics Orientation for parents. I already have a long of list of questions to ask at the orientation. Maybe I'm worried for nothing, but I still have reservations.

I'm looking at the letter right now and this is the breakdown of the accelerated math program:
Grade Level/ Course
6th- Algebra I G/T
7th- Geometry
8th - Algebra II G/T
9th - Precalculus G/T
10th - AP Calculus AB
11th - AP Calculus C
12th - AP Statistics, and/or Discrete Mathematics, and/or Differential Equations

NP (and I didn't read everything else)

Take a deep breath - it will be fine. If your teacher is thrilled, your kid is well placed. Algebra 1 is the same course across the state, and your child will most likely find it boring. If they are in the G/T class, they will get extensions.
My DC1 had this pathway in MCPS:
6th- Algebra I
7th- H Geometry
8th - H Algebra II
9th - IB Precalculus
10th - AP Calculus B/C & AP Physics C & AP Statistics
11th - Multivariable Calculus (MVC)
12th - IB HL Math
DC2 has almost the same pathway, except he skipped a grade. So he started taking the classes at the same age as DC1, but one grade level later (Algebra 1 in 7th), but he still has ended up being compacted into a combo Alg2/precalc in 9th grade and will take Calculus in 10th grade still.

The typical way that MCPS handles 8th grade Algebra 2 is the students takes the bus to HS for math 1st period, and then there is a school bus to take the kid back to their middle school after HS 1st period, in time for MS 2nd period. HCPS sounds similar. Just make sure you understand the plan, but your child won't be the first to do that. Your list has options for speeding up or slowing down in high school - you can make those decisions later.
Congratulations!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am currently a fifth-grader moving on to sixth grade this fall at Watts Middle School in Ohio, and I have received much praise from all of my teachers regarding my higher level of intelligence and maturity (especially in my writing where this year I served as Editor-In-Cheif of my school's newspaper), and obviously my MAP and other cognitive state tests scores were beyond higher than my fellow classmates. However, with all of the confusion going on with the coronavirus, I wonder if I will be enrolled in Algebra I class (my teachers have mentioned the possibility to me multiple times), so if anybody knows the requirements for that, a brief but informative reply is all I need. Thank you for your time.

This board is focused on Maryland, which also has a Montgomery County. I’d suggest you find someone local to ask. School districts vary widely.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

If your child really loves math and gets bored/finds even accelerated math easy, then taking Algebra 1 in 6th is the way to go. My son found the accelerated math in 5th still too easy. He was placed in Algebra in 6th and excelled this year (this is Moco). Said if he had been in IM he would have been bored. So if your child loves math and prefers being challenged go for Algebra (if it's offered at your school- in most Moco schools, algebra isn't offered in 6th). If a child really enjoys math, I wouldn't worry to much about the pathway. If they don't like math, even if they are good at it, maybe don't take algebra in 6th due to concerns listed by other posters.

[Anonymous]

I know this is very late, but just as advice it all parents, I took algebra in sixth grade and I am sure your son will be fine.

[Anonymous]

I know this is very late, but just as advice it all parents, I took algebra in sixth grade and I am sure your son will be fine.

[Anonymous]

Why on earth dig up this three+ year old thread when there are a ton of other threads on this subject? The paradigms discussed already have changed.

Lock it up. There are more relevant places to discuss this.

[Anonymous]

Algebra I should never be allowed until 9th grade:

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