My son is taking Algebra 1 in 9th grade. Is he doomed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is much more important that your son understand math than that he reach a particular class. It might mean if he wants to study Comp Sci or Math or some sciences in college, he'll need to be prepared to take a summer course or be on the 5 year plan, and it might mean getting into MIT will be close to impossible (which it already is) but that's not a big deal.

I am a programmer and I hire other programmers. I have yet to ask someone what grade they were in when they took Alg 1, or whether they had to take summer courses because they needed a retake of Calc 2. Your son will be fine.

This is such a good point. Much more important to have a solid foundation in math than to rush ahead. I question the wisdom all these kids taking summer classes to jump ahead because many of them will have a hard time absorbing all the content in such a short time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SAT includes precalc and most kids take that in11th grade. Your DS won’t have precalc until senior year so you’ll probably want to think about extra SAT math prep.

I thought the SAT only went up through Algebra II

It does.

Redesigned SAT has precalc concepts. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - CHC offers a summer honors geometry class. If your DS feels as though he really wants to take calc in HS, though as many pp have pointed out, it’s likely unnecessary, he could take that next summer.

Is DS doing any of the summer camps there this summer?

Yes, I think that is what he will do next summer. He isn't doing any other camps there but he is doing two of them at Loyola- cyber-something camp and study skills. If CH had come out with their study skills camp dates earlier, he would've done that one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would have not have him try and retest when he really doesn't have a solid grasp of algebra even after taking it in 7thand 8th. It may be the curriculum the school was using in middle school. Did he have a textbook or was it a curriculum the school district created that had random worksheets going home?

It was the curriculum from the Archdiocese in Baltimore. Maybe there is more of Algebra 1 than they got through which is why he didn't recognize some of the stuff on the study guide.

[Anonymous]

(sighs)

I took Algebra I as a freshmen, Algebra II (no trig) as a sophomore, and Geometry as a Junior. No math Senior year. I did not go to an Ivy or a near Ivy. I went to a small, liberal arts private school. I ended up going straight into a top 20 Graduate School program in my field, earned my PhD and have a very successful career.

The advice I have given all of my nieces and nephews, apply to the schools that you think are going to be a good fit for you and don't worry if they are a prestige school or not. Yes, the networking at the Ivies and other prestige schools can be useful but if you are good at networking at those schools you will probably be good at using whatever schools network you attend. And you will probably do a good job of developing a professional network.

There is no need to be hung up on going to one of the TOP UNIVERSITIES.

https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2016/demo/p20-578.pdf

About 33% of the adult population has earned a Bachelors Degree. If your child earns a degree from an accredited University they should be in a good place to land a good job.

And they are probably not excluded from STEM careers. They might need to take some extra classes at the beginning of their university career and then apply to the STEM programs for admittance.

Essentially, your child will be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do public schools offer all math classes in the summer?

FCPS does. It’s online for most schools. But only Honors in geometry. I would not have a kid do summer A2 or Pre-Calc. And I would not have a math kid settle for the non-Honors 5 week version. If you are going to accelerate, take Geometry and A1 together. Or summer Honors geometry.

We are thinking my DS will do summer Geom Hons next year. He qualified for 7th grade alg. I hons, but chose not to do it. He is top in his class in math 7 hons and is naturally strong in math. So, he'll do Alg. I Hons. in 8th and then jump up with the Geom Hons during the summer to get back on the fast track.

My question: Do you think the summer Geom. Hons is sufficient for getting the material? Will it have any negative impact on Alg. II Hon or pre-calc?

[Anonymous]

No he's not doomed.

[Anonymous]

No, OP. Your child is not doomed.

[Anonymous]

I haven't read all five pages of replies, but OP, my DS was in a Catholic HS and he took Algebra I in 9th grade, then doubled up on math in 10th grade, taking Geometry and Alg. 2 at the same time. Not sure if that's a possibility at your school?

But if not, please don't lose any sleep over this. Who says he even wants to major in math or computer science? If he's thinking that now, a LOT can change before he's applying to colleges. My DS was sure he wanted to be a chemistry major, but by the time 12th grade rolled around, he had taken some other courses that he loved and resonated with him, changing his intended major. He's 27 now and happily in that "other"career.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I haven't read all five pages of replies, but OP, my DS was in a Catholic HS and he took Algebra I in 9th grade, then doubled up on math in 10th grade, taking Geometry and Alg. 2 at the same time. Not sure if that's a possibility at your school?

But if not, please don't lose any sleep over this. Who says he even wants to major in math or computer science? If he's thinking that now, a LOT can change before he's applying to colleges. My DS was sure he wanted to be a chemistry major, but by the time 12th grade rolled around, he had taken some other courses that he loved and resonated with him, changing his intended major. He's 27 now and happily in that "other"career.

OP here. Yes, they said he could double up on math during his sophomore year but I don't think that's a good idea for him. Summer geometry is a better plan. He has been interested in computers for years and while things may change, I want him to have the opportunity to get into it in college instead of the door being closed to him.

[Anonymous]

Such BS. He will be fine and get into good colleges.

[Anonymous]

How does the hs schedule classes? 8 for the year or 4/4 half year? Can he take Algebra 1/geometry both in 9th followed by Algebra 2/pre-calc in 10th?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How does the hs schedule classes? 8 for the year or 4/4 half year? Can he take Algebra 1/geometry both in 9th followed by Algebra 2/pre-calc in 10th?

They said he could double up on Geometry and Algebra 2 his sophomore year. Not a good idea for him.

[Anonymous]

Yes. He is doomed. But not for the reasons you think. Math has nothing to do with it. Having a parent who overreacts and places his entire worth on fulfilling a proscribed set of academic expectations will be more damaging than taking a class appropriate to his level. Ease up helicopter parent. Let him find his own way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. He is doomed. But not for the reasons you think. Math has nothing to do with it. Having a parent who overreacts and places his entire worth on fulfilling a proscribed set of academic expectations will be more damaging than taking a class appropriate to his level. Ease up helicopter parent. Let him find his own way.

Maybe you need to actually read this thread. She wasn’t worried. Other parents reacted weird and it made her wonder why.