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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

If posters here don't visit Colleges forum on this site, you might want to. The following thread (discussing students' math placement in colleges) https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1301110.page

And math for Harvard students
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1225943.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a hyperaccelerated kid (AP calc in 8th). Acceleration is fine, if the kid is fully ready and has no foundational gaps. Skipping content once you reach Algebra is idiotic. For most kids, self-studying or using something like Khan academy means that the kid is glossing over the material and retaining very little.

No school anywhere is going to let kids skip core math classes. The kids who are far ahead either skipped ahead early in ES, or they completed accredited classes at a local college or CC. They are also generally math outliers and not just bright kids who want to jump ahead.

Is your kid now going to high school for 4 years? If so, what math are they planning to take and how -- just the normal college math classes (like MV Calc, Linear Alg, DiffEq, non-Euclidian Geom, etc) through DE or community college? Or are they heading to college early?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a hyperaccelerated kid (AP calc in 8th). Acceleration is fine, if the kid is fully ready and has no foundational gaps. Skipping content once you reach Algebra is idiotic. For most kids, self-studying or using something like Khan academy means that the kid is glossing over the material and retaining very little.

No school anywhere is going to let kids skip core math classes. The kids who are far ahead either skipped ahead early in ES, or they completed accredited classes at a local college or CC. They are also generally math outliers and not just bright kids who want to jump ahead.

Is your kid now going to high school for 4 years? If so, what math are they planning to take and how -- just the normal college math classes (like MV Calc, Linear Alg, DiffEq, non-Euclidian Geom, etc) through DE or community college? Or are they heading to college early?

NP here. TJHSST offered MV Calc, Linear Alg, and DiffEq. There was an analysis class as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a hyperaccelerated kid (AP calc in 8th). Acceleration is fine, if the kid is fully ready and has no foundational gaps. Skipping content once you reach Algebra is idiotic. For most kids, self-studying or using something like Khan academy means that the kid is glossing over the material and retaining very little.

No school anywhere is going to let kids skip core math classes. The kids who are far ahead either skipped ahead early in ES, or they completed accredited classes at a local college or CC. They are also generally math outliers and not just bright kids who want to jump ahead.

Is your kid now going to high school for 4 years? If so, what math are they planning to take and how -- just the normal college math classes (like MV Calc, Linear Alg, DiffEq, non-Euclidian Geom, etc) through DE or community college? Or are they heading to college early?

NP here. TJHSST offered MV Calc, Linear Alg, and DiffEq. There was an analysis class as well.

So MV as a freshman, LA as a sophomore, and DiffEq as a junior? Is Linear Alg a full year course at TJ? Is the analysis something that is taken senior year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a hyperaccelerated kid (AP calc in 8th). Acceleration is fine, if the kid is fully ready and has no foundational gaps. Skipping content once you reach Algebra is idiotic. For most kids, self-studying or using something like Khan academy means that the kid is glossing over the material and retaining very little.

No school anywhere is going to let kids skip core math classes. The kids who are far ahead either skipped ahead early in ES, or they completed accredited classes at a local college or CC. They are also generally math outliers and not just bright kids who want to jump ahead.

Is your kid now going to high school for 4 years? If so, what math are they planning to take and how -- just the normal college math classes (like MV Calc, Linear Alg, DiffEq, non-Euclidian Geom, etc) through DE or community college? Or are they heading to college early?

NP here. TJHSST offered MV Calc, Linear Alg, and DiffEq. There was an analysis class as well.

So MV as a freshman, LA as a sophomore, and DiffEq as a junior? Is Linear Alg a full year course at TJ? Is the analysis something that is taken senior year?

I believe it was Calc in 9th, MV 10th, LAlg 11th, Diff Eq 12th. (I'm a new poster, not the one with AP Calc in 8th)

[Anonymous]

On second thought. I think the LAlg was combined with analysis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP might want to just home school and/or have DC start taking courses at NVCC or Montgomery College towards a 2-year degree.

In VA, if all the paperwork is filled out correctly and DC meets every requirement, they can have automatic transfer to a VA 4-year college.

UMD has an automatic transfer pathway but it does not apply to credits earned via DE. Only credits earned after graduating HS.

[Anonymous]

He can just learn everything on his own. He doesn’t need to do it at school. He can self study with Khan and YouTube videos.