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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I have a child who did Algebra in 6th and a child who did Algebra in 7th.

The benefit of a fast track is:

1. Avoiding boredom and being appropriately challenged.
2. Getting noticed positively for college admissions (although these days a lot of students take Algebra 1 in 7th, so in itself that's not newsworthy).

[b]The disadvantages are:[/b]

1. [b]Getting into difficulties later in the more advanced math classes. [/b] Age-old question: is it better to have straight As in an easy class, or Bs in a hard class?

It's not always possible to know in advance how your child will do. I'm the sort of person who is willing to try, and then support my kids with tutors, or teacher them myself at home, or, if need be, take a slower track (although that never happened). 
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There is no evidence for the claim that you "get into difficulties later" - it's politically motivated misinformation that was spread by, for instance, proponents of VMPI.

The longitudinal numbers show a different picture: students who are screened to take Algebra I earlier do better in it and they do better later.  (Run SOL statistics, for instance.)
[/quote]

I know multiple kids who were identified as gifted, scored well, and accelerated in math by two years.  They ended up taking a less adv math (not honors) because they were struggling. It made them hate math. Too many kids are being pushed to do algebra in 7th IMHO. There should be stricter standards for accelerating that much. 
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Nah, they should start Algebra earlier but offer a more applied/business/engineering but still honors version. [/quote]

They were struggling with both the concepts and pace. Two ended up with Bs or lower, I believe.

Offer algebra in 7th to only the very most capable kids. Current eval metrics aren’t working. Raise the bar. 
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Do the kids that get Bs retake algebra?  While a good grade, would someone doing accelerated math want only a A for their high school transcript?[/quote]

They do not retake the class, they earned a B. In FCPS the parents can ask for the grade to be expunged and the child would continue on to Geometry. I suspect that a child earning a B in Algebra H in 7th grade would be able to move to Math 7 Honors and then take Algebra Honors in 8th grade. Kids can tell pretty early in the school year if the math is going to be very challenging, a series of C’s or B’s on the first set of quizzes and/or tests would be a sign to drop a level if you are worried about a grade less then an A on a report card.

There are also a good number of colleges who won’t look down on a B in Algebra Honors in 7th grade. A “B” is a solid grade and the grade is weighted so it is not going to destroy a GPA. If you are set on trying for an Ivy League or top 20 school then you need to weigh 6 years of HS math on a transcript with Bs and 4-5 years of HS math with an A. [/quote]

In the 10 minute of attention your application gets, they aren't "weighing" your middle school Algebra grade. They are looking at GPA and AP scores and 12th grade classes. Expungements MS grades that lower your GPA.
If you GPA is below 3.0 (so a B increases GPA), your GPA is already a lost cause, because no one cares if it is 2.95 or 2.98[/quote]

DS got a B+ in Algebra in 7th which is a 3.3 (3.8 weighted).  Is this a grade to keep or will it weigh down his HS GPA?  We have a few weeks to decide and I don't know who to ask about this.[/quote]If you expect him to get a weighted GPA above 3.8 in HS expunge it, otherwise don't. Simple.[/quote]

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