Reply to TJ admission: 8th grade Algebra 2 vs. Geometry

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Given that TJ is a Virginia Governor's STEM school attracting top students from five counties, what is the math pathway for students entering TJ who have completed Geometry, Algebra 2, or Algebra 2 Trig? On one hand, I hear that TJ, as an advanced STEM high school, offers the unique opportunity to pursue advanced math and science courses not available at base high schools. But on the other hand, how practical is it for students who have completed Geometry in 8th grade at normal pace to fully take advantage of these advanced course offerings, like post-multivariable calculus, etc.? Do TJ students skip certain math levels and enroll in AP or even more advanced courses?  [/quote]

If your kid comes in with Geometry: 
[b]Freshman Fall: Statistics
Freshman Spring: Algebra 2
Sophomore Fall: Trigonometry
Sophomore Spring: Pre-calc[/b]
Junior: Calculus
Senior: Math Elective

If your kid comes in with Algebra 2:
Freshman Fall: Statistics
Freshman Spring: Trigonometry
[b]SUMMER[/b]pre-calc (you don't have to do this but a lot of kids do this unless they want to take AP statistics or something because a lot of the stuff is gate-kept behind calculus) 
Sophomore: Calculus
Junior: Math Elective
Senior: Math Elective

If your kid comes in with trigonometry then they take pre-caslc in the spring of their freshman year and move on to calculus in their sophomore year.

Honestly, if you take linear algebra or multivariable calculus in high school, you are likely to be taking them again in college because a good program might not give you a pass on those pre-requisites for more advanced courses.  But if you want to take something like concrete math or more advanced statistics more advanced math coming in would create room on the schedule for it.  I would add a cautionary note that a lot of kids that are very accelerated in math sort of lose the plot as they move through the math progression at a place like TJ where the rigor is no joke.  Unless your kid is going to be some type of math major (e.g. a CS/math major), I don't know if algebra 2 or trigonometry in 8th grade really pays off.  TJ is accelerated enough for most kids, taking calculus as a TJ sophomore with mostly TJ juniors can be tough.  But if your kid is really into math then there is an accelerated math path through TJ for kids that have taken algebra 2 or trig in 8th grade.[/quote]

Are these courses really only 1/2 a year???  [/quote]

Yes some. Kids right for the school thrive with the quicker pace [/quote]

What about at other high schools, like Langley or Mclean?[/quote]

They are year long courses at other schools.

But tirgonometry and pre-calc are covered together in a year long pre-calc course at most other schools.
So only algebra, geometry and algebra 2 are shortened at TJ.  [/quote]
Isn't it only Algebra 2 that's shortened? Geometry is a full year and students had Algebra 1 before coming to TJ.[/quote]

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