We chose Algebra 1H in 7th and Geometry for 8th even though our DD is unlikely to pursue a STEM track. She's doing great in math and we want to expose her to the most rigorous curriculum she can handle. The added benefit is she'll have a solid math foundation for the PSAT and SAT by her junior year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Colleges don't care about this garbage at all.

They don't trust the quality of your school's post Calc-AB education. They see that most students who accelerate further have to retake advanced calculus anyway.

Huh? If you pay GMU you get college credit that will transfer to many schools.

In my personal case I was a technical but not math major and went to a college that organized calculus differently than most. If not for multivariable I would have been taking extra calc in college for my major. The extra calc was nice for freeing up space in college for my interests beyond just my major.

I found multivar and linear far easier than BC.

Anonymous wrote:Colleges don't care about this garbage at all.

They don't trust the quality of your school's post Calc-AB education. They see that most students who accelerate further have to retake advanced calculus anyway.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most kids are ready to take Algebra 1 in 6th grade and are extremely successful, as national data proves.

This is false. Most kids are not ready. I teach 6th so I would know.

There's a troll on this forum who is obsessed with algebra 1 in 6th (especially for under-represented minorities, claiming to be one and the parent of one). No matter what you say, you will not convince said troll. I believe everyone serious on here already is on your side, 6th grade teacher. Also thanks for doing what you do!

Colleges don't care about this garbage at all.

Check the other dozen active and recent threads.

If the child is able to do Algebra at 7, why do you want wait until 8th? What is the child doing in the 7th as alternative? finishing calc bc early and NOT pursuing math is fine, as long as the child can articulate what he wants to do with his college life.

Think JMU track vs VT track.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the responses so far, just trying to get some practical insight at this point. I guess the question boils down possible college admission advantages or disadvantages as I look forward to their later in high school math options.

Does it boost college applications if a child is on a track where they took geometry as an 8th grader and thus Calculus as a Junior?

Does it hurt college applications if a child took geometry as an 8th grader, but doesn't "progress" into Multivariable Calculus as a senior, and instead takes statistics as a senior.

Is Multivariable Calculus a difficult class to do well in for most of these kids who took Geometry it as an 8th grader?

I think most would agree that when applying to competitive schools like VT and UMD for STEM majors, it helps to have a more advanced Math track. This is especially true if you go to a more competitive FCPS school where most are doing the same.

Thanks for the responses so far, just trying to get some practical insight at this point. I guess the question boils down possible college admission advantages or disadvantages as I look forward to their later in high school math options.

Does it boost college applications if a child is on a track where they took geometry as an 8th grader and thus Calculus as a Junior?

Does it hurt college applications if a child took geometry as an 8th grader, but doesn't "progress" into Multivariable Calculus as a senior, and instead takes statistics as a senior.

Is Multivariable Calculus a difficult class to do well in for most of these kids who took Geometry it as an 8th grader?

Anonymous wrote:Most kids are ready to take Algebra 1 in 6th grade and are extremely successful, as national data proves.

This is false. Most kids are not ready. I teach 6th so I would know.

Most kids are ready to take Algebra 1 in 6th grade and are extremely successful, as national data proves.

Make choices that fit your child. If your child loves math and wants to be challenged, then let them take Algebra 1 H in 7th grade. If your child is good at math but they don't wnat to take Algebra 1 H in 7th grade, let them take 7th H.

There is nothing wrong with taking Algebra in 8th grade, I took it in 9th grade and did just fine in life. Most kids take Algebra in 8th grade and some in 9th grade. Make a choice that fits the child you have.

Assuming a test smart and organized student has the option to take Algebra as a 7th grader and Geometry as an 8th grader, and would not have any problems academically and grade-wise (assuming they'll get A's in both), what are the reasons to do this as opposed to taking Algebra in 8th and Geometry in 9th?

If they don't have any particular interest in Math beyond Calculus, why not just track to take Calculus as a senior, as opposed as a junior?

Trying to understand why this would be a benefit - is there access to higher level courses in high school, or a college admissions bump?

Also, if someone does end up taking Calculus as a junior, then as a senior does not take Multivariable Calculus but instead statistics, would this hurt their college applications? And is Multivariable Calculus hard or a pain, or no big deal for this cohort of students - is it worth avoiding or not a big deal?