My son is currently in math 7HN. He has a September bday and I didn't want my 11 yo taking a high school course. When I met with his teacher, she said she will not allow her kids to take algebra in 7th because their brains are not developmentally able to fully understand abstract concepts. I have since read that elsewhere (untangled). My view is just because you can doesn't mean that you should. Especially when we see that college is all a crapshoot. It's the careful balance of being strategic, but enjoying your one life. Same reason he will not go to tj.

Anonymous wrote:My kid took algebra in 7th. No regrets. Honestly, she was peeved when she discovered that there were kids who took algebra in 6th, and she had not had that opportunity.

Why didn't she have that opportunity?

In senior year of high school, my DC doesn't need to be in a math class beyond AP Calc BC. Count backwards. I'm sure DC will have an full schedule with many worthwhile activities.

Anonymous wrote:And they did Math 7HN instead, do you regret it?
Concerned about rigor needed in 12th grade..

Have them do the math they want to try now. If that’s algebra and it’s too much for them, drop them back and no harm no foul. If do other math and too easy, catch up in summer. This isn’t what you are worried about, but for what it’s worth to know anyway, whatever chose, it won’t be what gets them in to XYC college or keeps them out of that college.

My kid is in Math 7H (didn’t qualify for Alg in 7th) and has mentioned a few times that it’s too easy, wish they were in Algebra. I would hesitate not to encourage my kid if they qualified.

If the kid qualifies, why not let the kid decide? I'd lay out the pros and cons of skipping ahead, and then go with the kid's decision. If the kid is undecided, then I'd talk to the 6th grade AAP math teacher for their recommendation.

I wouldn't hold back a kid who qualified for Algebra and wanted to take it. I also wouldn't force a kid to take it if they really prefer M7H.

DD took Algebra1in 6th grade full year, Geometry in 7th grade full year, Algebra-2 in 8th full year. Never took summer math course.

Anonymous wrote:My kid took algebra in 7th. No regrets. Honestly, she was peeved when she discovered that there were kids who took algebra in 6th, and she had not had that opportunity. She took dual enrollment Linear algebra and multi in 12th. She’s now excelling in a demanding engineering program in college.

I don’t have the angst about early algebra that many people on the board do. I took algebra 1 in 7th in the 80s. In college I took calculus 2 and 3 with high school students who were dual enrolled and excelled in the classes. Many kids are ready for more challenging math in middle school.

Ditto to the bolded, but in the 90s. I actually did struggle along the way (Algebra 2 with Trigonometry was a killer), but by the time I reached Calc 3 it was smooth sailing.

My DD took Algebra 1 in 6th grade and was allowed to skip Geometry when we were in another state. She and some of her friends in the gifted program were ready for it and got bored sitting in low grade math courses. It really depends on the kid.

My kid took algebra in 7th. No regrets. Honestly, she was peeved when she discovered that there were kids who took algebra in 6th, and she had not had that opportunity. She took dual enrollment Linear algebra and multi in 12th. She’s now excelling in a demanding engineering program in college.

I don’t have the angst about early algebra that many people on the board do. I took algebra 1 in 7th in the 80s. In college I took calculus 2 and 3 with high school students who were dual enrolled and excelled in the classes. Many kids are ready for more challenging math in middle school.

We will place DC in Algebra 1 H because they are ready for it. They love math competitions and do math for fun. We know friends who are not considering Algebra 1 even with IAAT scores in the 95th - 99th percentile because they know it will not be a good fit for their kid.

Ask your kid for their thoughts. Do they want to do it if there is a choice? Do they understand what it requires in terms of homework, increased quizzes, increased tests, and a faster pace?

Both of my kids were eligible to take Algebra 1 in 7th (97 and 98 percentiles on IAAT and Pass Advanced on SOLs). Both of my kids declined and took Math 7HN.

For our first, seventh grade was the virtual year (2020-2021), and we were all concerned about how that would go. For our second, we were all comfortable with waiting after seeing how things went with our first.

Both kids are STEM-inclined, and our preference is to take the more advanced math classes at college rather than during HS.

Anonymous wrote:My first took Algebra in 7th and my second is strongly leaning toward waiting until 8th even if she is eligible (got 98th percentile on IAAT). Taking Algebra in 8th still means Calculus in 12th. That to me is plenty rigorous.

NP. Why are you leaning towards waiting? Is your 2nd interested in a STEM discipline?

My first took Algebra in 7th and my second is strongly leaning toward waiting until 8th even if she is eligible (got 98th percentile on IAAT). Taking Algebra in 8th still means Calculus in 12th. That to me is plenty rigorous.

And they did Math 7HN instead, do you regret it?
Concerned about rigor needed in 12th grade..