Reply to Algebra 1 in 9th grade

Forum Index » Private & Independent Schools

Reply to "Algebra 1 in 9th grade"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]There is a huge difference in math curriculum for public and private schools so in many respects this set of posts is comparing apples to oranges.  I teach accelerated math (honors, TAG and super-TAG) in a Northern Virginia middle school.  I also have taught high school math in a private school frequently mentioned in these forums.

In general, the Algebra I taught in private high schools for most 9th grade students encompasses the Alg I plus Alg II that is taught in public schools.  A good rule of thumb is that the amount of material covered in a public school in a year is about 1/3 to 1/2 of what is covered in a good or acceptable private school.

Message to OP: many children entering private high schools, whether from private or public, are routed into Alg I after the results of their placement tests.  If your child takes Alg I in 8th grade in public school, s/he still probably will end up taking it again in 9th grade at the private school.  And chances are your son/daughter will see that many of the students in Alg I at the private also are re-taking the course, even if they took Alg I in 8th grade at a private.  It won't hurt.  It never hurts to have strong Algebra skills.

Also, don't panic at the breathless cries and hysterics of others that your child will be behind taking Alg I in 9th grade in a private school.  Your child won't be behind and and those people don't know enough about the schools and curriculum to be able say much that could be helpful.  As I said in my first paragraph, it is apples and oranges.

My DS and I have had 3 children progress through private elementary and secondary schools frequently mentioned in these forums.  Over the years, for 9th grade, one was placed in Honors Algebra I, one in Honors Alg I/Geo, and one in Honors Geometry, based on the results of the schools' own placement tests.  It all worked out.  2 of our children are now in Ivy schools and the third will be in the fall. [b] For admissions, no one even blinked at the kid who was in Alg I in 9th grade.  
[/b]
[/quote]

But if most of the other kids at your child's school took Alg I in 8th, it seems that would place your child at a disadvantage with the admissions committee. [/quote]

And also, yes it's great you DC got into an Ivy, but how do you know his math progression didn't make admissions blink?[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics