Reply to Is 8th grade pre-algebra or algebra?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP here, my kid is in Math 7 (regular, not honors) and has an A (with the help of a tutor, to be honest). [/quote]

The jump from Math 7 to Algebra is a big one for a lot of kids.  The county's policy of saying a C or better in Math 7 is good enough to move on to Algebra is laughable and creating classrooms full of students who are struggling greatly in Algebra and it will spill over to upper level classes.

Their attempt to "fix" this problem is to start having kids skip Math 7 instead and take Pre-Algebra (Math 8) as a 7th grader.  The jump will still be big but not as big as the Math 7 to Algebra jump.  You and I have kids who were caught in these transition years where this wasn't an option and it's been a challenge for us.

My daughter took regular Math 7 in 7th grade b/c math was a struggle for her and there was no teamed option for Math 7H (basically Pre-Algebra/Math 8 with extensions).  When she moved into 8th, we were fully prepared to just have her take Pre-Algebra but the school *finally* got on board with teamed Algebra and was offering it for the first time.  Because my daughter had an A in Math 7, she was recommended to move on to Algebra.  Let's just say, thank the Lord I know what I'm doing b/c I basically tutor her every night and catch her up on all the skills she missed by skipping over Pre-Algebra.  And now we're, unfortunately, on a path where we'll have to figure out advanced math classes for her.

If you're prepared to pay for a tutor to get her through Algebra successfully, then go for it.  If you think at all that she'll need a more solid foundation before moving on, then I'd wait and just do Pre-Algebra in 8th.  All this changes if for some reason you're at an IB school and need to have Algebra done by 8th.[/quote]

Algebra in 8th grade has been the standard in FCPS for years, over a decade.[/quote]

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