Reply to Retaking Algebra I in 9th grade

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]It's interesting how many posters are advocating moving OP's DC forward even though she struggled in the class even with a tutor.  Everyone seems more focused on pushing her along so she can take AP calculus than on the fact that she doesn't seem to have mastered the course at all.  OP, I would consider having her repeat the course in 9th grade.  You don't want her hating math or doing poorly in future math classes because she doesn't have the appropriate foundation before moving forward.  Solid grades without AP calculus will look a lot better that terrible grades in all her math class, including AP calculus.[/quote]

OP here:  thank you so much for this advice.  We had pretty much decided to do just this and your post confirmed it for us.  The priority for us is mastery of the material.  Having had an older child who took stats not calculus, we're not too concerned about this adversely affecting college admissions down the road.  Perhaps she can take geometry next summer if the repeat of Algebra goes well.  Anyway, thanks again! [/quote]

You are setting the bar too low. You should set it a little bit higher unless your child is ok with NVCC. Hard work is sometimes necessary unless she just wants to forego college and do something that doesn't require college education. If she doesn't "master" the material in 9th grade then repeat it again in 10th grade because it doesn't matter how long it might take as long as she masters the material on her own schedule?[/quote]

You clearly don't have a child of college age yet.   :roll:  Only in this area do parents like you insist that taking math on a "normal" schedule (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Stats or Precalc.) is somehow "setting the bar too low".  Plenty of excellent colleges are just fine with this, as long as four years of high school math have been completed.  Not every child is interested in being a STEM major.  [/quote]

"--- The hard, cruel fact of the math line-up is that YES you need to plow through the math courses as quick as you can because it is depth of coursework that colleges will look at by the end of junior year, especially if you apply early decision. This means you must take as much math, and at as many levels (honors, IB, AP) as your child can handle before applications go in EA or ED in November of senior year or even Jan. of Senior year. Our DS entered langley behind in math because his private didn't accelerate fast enough. The offerings at Langley (this is just off the top of my head) are Algebra I, & II (honors and AP); pre-calculus (same with honors and AP); Calculus; Computer Science; AP Calculus; AP statistics; Linear equations; Probability and STatistics; Trigonometry; and Matrix Algebra. There are more, I just can't remember them all. Almost all are offered on the AP or Honors track. I don't think this is fair or right, but the sad fact is that the colleges have pushed the first one or two years of college down on our nation's private and public schools, so you have to show advanced math courses taken (well) by the end of Junior year. We learned the hard way with first DC who applied to college with only having finished Calculus under his belt (jr. year) and then Computer Science (senior year). No. 2 child is taking pre-calculus this summer so will enter junior year taking Calculus and then more advanced math next summer and another advanced math course senior year. However, if your child is not heading towards college, disregard all the above and let them enjoy life. I don't agree with the current system, but the hard fact is that you must show advanced math coursework if you want to get into any good college or university."[/quote]

this is bad advice but consistent with what parents do at Langley.[/quote]

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