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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Not OP but we encountered this at SJC and they didn't budge on placement. They also did not allow for a retake then or at the end of the summer. If you don't make the Geometry cutoff for the summer you are SOL. You have no options to take it on your own and test out, etc. Its a bad system which leaves capable kids behind. We are currently stuck in it and assessing how much of an overall impact we think it will have. I do believe there is another opportunity to test into a summer program between 11th and 12th but thats pretty darn late.[/quote]

This is good to know. I believe that Good Counsel is the same.  Many of our middle schoolers who were in Algebra and even Geometry all only tested into Algebra I. However, those Geometry students who went to other high schools ended up in Algebra II and have done well.[/quote]

What is wrong with your middle school's instruction that many students can't pass an Algebra 1 test after taking the class?[/quote]
NP. It’s a more widespread issue than you seem to think. SSSAS found that so many kids coming in from k-8s and other schools having taken Alg 1 in 7th and Geometry in 8th had gaps in both classes that they created a special combined 9th grade Algebra/Geometry class that is tailored each year to the specific gaps of those students so that none of them have to fully repeat a class (they don’t need a full repetition) or be forced off an advanced track that would allow them to take AP Calc in 12th. They aren’t fully prepared for Algebra 2, certainly not the Advanced or Honors Alg2/Trig that would get them to AP Calc. By taking the hybrid class, they have a chance of doing well enough to get on the advanced/honors track rather than being penalized for the failure of their previous schools. And the kids aren’t from just one or two k-8s, they come in from quite a range. Makes me think there’s just a real challenge in getting through all of the HS-level material in MS versions of these math classes. [/quote]

I think SSSAS's approach seems really great. Having gaps in your knowledge is not something that shows lack of math ability or potential. I don't think it's an issue of a particular school but just that the curriculums across schools don't necessarily line up. One school might put more emphasis on a certain unit in Alg. 1 and others might wait on that topic and put that in Alg. 2.

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