Reply to Algebra in 6th grade - new selection process?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Question is will a college view a kid who took algebra in a 6th grade pilot not offered universally differently than one who took it in 7th and I think the answer is no.  This race to the math finish line is absurd.

Also FCPS either should roll it out to all schools or none of them.  [/quote]

Schools have already been differentiating between kids taking Algebra in 6,7,8,and 9th grade. This is not a new thing. I don't think that schools are looking at most rigerous as "This district offers Algebra 1 in 6th grade, so we expect candidates to have DE math classes." I think that most schools understand that math has different paths and that is fine.

I think that there are some parents/kids hoping that they can knock out 4 years of HS math by Freshmen or Sophomore year and then have space for other classes. That won't work for more selective colleges, they want 4 years of math in HS. For a kid taking Algebra in 6th grade that means they will have 7 years of HS math. That can include multi-variate calc, linear algebra, and whatever classes are offered after that. It could mean Calc AB, Cal BC, and AP Stats. There are math paths in HS that allow you to step off the acceleration train if a kid is more interested in the humanities or a college program outside of STEM.

Less selective colleges might not care if you don't take 7 years of HS math and allow for kids to take electives that they find interesting. It could allow kids to graduate early, taking an English class in the summer.

I don't see the point of taking Algebra in 6th grade unless you have a kid that is really bored in math AND enjoys math. You are signing them up for a far harder class then most kids will take, if they don't love math then I wouldn't do it. I would have allowed my kid to take it had it been offered but he loves math and is strong in it. He has friends who are strong in math and are less interested who I am pretty sure would not have taken it. Many of his friends choose Math 7H over Algebra in 7th grade, I can't see them in Algebra in 6th even if they qualified.

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