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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Who cares about acceleration? I was a top student in Europe, as was my husband, who got a phd from Stanford in a stem field, and we never got any acceleration. What nonsense.

If you want acceleration get a tutor. And I doubt your kid really needs it.[/quote]

+100 (Although, most posters on this board would NEVER agree.)[/quote]

People like the posters above perpetuate the low expectation cycle in DC if you think calculus in high school is the highest you should go.

Also PP who went to Europe is living like it’s 1980’s or 1990’s. I was a top student too and calculus was the top progression.  But then is not now.  The top kids now are not topping out at Calculus in high school.  The majority of STEM majors entering the top colleges have taken math courses past calculus.

Lastly, there are kids who need math past calculus.  They have the aptitude and want it, actually crave it.  In addition, this is offered at almost every high school in the burbs outside of DC.  [/quote]

It's crazy to me that calculus in EIGHTH GRADE is being floated here as something that parents should be what, grateful to get? Go ANYWHERE with strong public schools anywhere in the US and it's completely normal for a steady number of kids to take Algebra in 7th and definitely in 8th.  The low standards we're supposed to accept in DCPS are just nuts. [/quote]

No one is saying people have to feel grateful for it, but basically the posters on this board tried to shame this woman just because her child made it Algebra in 8th grade - when in reality there are MANY students in DCPS who do not. Yes, everyone should have that access. Yes, everyone should have access to it earlier (6th or 7th) IF their child is ready. However, everyone's child might not be. Does that make their children horrible people? No. Are they bad parents because of it? No. And luckily, there are other options for students to catch up in high school if they would also like to do that because of varied options that are available at high schools in DC and beyond. [/quote]

I agree, but calling algebra in 8th "accelerated" is totally ridiculous and harmful for students who don't know any better.

If you don't make it to algebra in 8th, you can forget being an engineer, computer scientist, etc.  You can forget UVA, Virginia Tech, William and Maryland and probably College Park too. 
It's just such a minimal requirement for anyone who is aiming for a top 100 university.

Anyway, off my soapbox.  DCPS should be better preparing students to at least reach calculus in high school.  Not getting there severely limits their college options. 
This is not "acceleration".  Acceleration is taking algebra in 6th-----like some kids at Deal do and most of the kids at Thomas Jefferson and Montgomery Blair (the suburban science magnet schools) do. 
Those of you saying that calculus in high school was not necessary when you grew up in Europe 1992 need to join the reality of college admissions at competitive (not just Ivies but any school above 100) in America in 2022.  [/quote]

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