Reply to Algebra 1 in 9th grade

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[quote=Anonymous][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.  
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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]

Because I've been at the school since our child matriculated there and have spoken with folks in the Admissions department fairly frequently about one of my students.  During one of our conversations I raised the issue because I was curious.  Our only connection with this school is our child; we are not legacies, etc, so I already knew we didn't get a boost there.

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