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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I am wondering how many top 3 (5/6 will do, too) private school students put off Algebra 1 until 9th grade. MY DC will not be taking it in 8th next year, and though [b]I know this is for the best[/b], I am concerned about how this will effect DC going forward. School has assured me that although the cohort in 8th not taking algebra is small, the one taking Algebra 1 in 9th expands. Also, how detrimental to DC's college prospects will it be to not have a strong math course behind them? [b]DC does well in all other areas (A-s and B+s) and I think will do better in math by not being pushed too far ahead (DC is very young for grade, along with minor processing and working memory issues). [/b]Really I am just looking for some positive experiences and outcomes for those who are similar. I know this is not the greatest of circumstances, and it is stressing me out a bit, so some positive feedback would be much appreciated![/quote]

OP -- You already know what is best for your child -- trust that instinct. Especially in private school, our experience has been that the difficulty/intensity of advanced math classes increases quite dramatically in 9th-12th. If your child is already struggling and will require tutors and lots of extra effort and time to take Algebra in 8th, this may likely be to the detriment of his or her other classes (and also to his or her general well-being (yes, some of us -- even in the Big 3s -- place high value on that)). Do not listen to folks who say you are shutting off any of your child's future STEM-related opportunities by making the wise, and advised, decision to allow your child to firm up foundational math in middle school. As others have mentioned, if math ends up becoming a favorite subject in high school and potential college major (unlikely given current situation), you may find summer options to allow him/her to catch up. If you're mainly worried about college admissions chances, it is more important that he/she keeps up grades and takes the most rigorous classes he/she is capable of taking and doing well in -- it will not help to be pushed into Algebra sooner than ready and have other grades go down. And plenty of folks don't decide until they're already in college that they want to pursue a STEM field -- it is not too late to do so then, and it will not matter at that point whether Algebra was taken in 8th or 9th! Good luck.[/quote]

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