My son has pursued a mix of classes, based on his interest and ability. He is not the strongest math student, but wanted to take algebra as an 8th grader, so we allowed him to do that. I actually took algebra in 8th grade myself, more than 30 years ago. I struggled and ended up opting to repeat algebra in the 9th grade, and so was very open to DS doing that as well. In the end, he didn't need to, and was able to take Algebra II as a freshman, earning As and Bs. He opted to take regular (not honors) geometry as a 10th grader, which was fine with me. He is earning As in that class.

On the other hand, he took a high-school level geography class as an 8th grader, absolutely loved it, and was recommended for an AP history class as a 9th grader. I thought it was ridiculous myself, but he took the class, did well, earned a 4 on the exam. He is taking AP government as a sophomore, again doing very well. But he has decided not to take anymore AP classes and will switch to IB classes next year (although he doesn't intend to pursue an IB diploma) because he hopes that IB classes will allow more in-depth study and not so much "teaching to the test."

I just go with the flow.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks PPs. I just toured the local high school and there seems to be an AP craze so that high schoolers can get right to that college work. One parent actually asked why her parent had to wait until 10th grade to start taking APs. I know that I will either have to get with the program or look for an environment that will allow a little more room for development. My DS is young for her class and I suspect not ready for the jump into the accelerated world that is today's HS. Perhaps that's a topic for a different forum!

We opted out of APs for my DC. He got into a very good college based on his SATs. I would say if you could get As, go for it but I think colleges would rather see your kid do better in the classes that they take than poorly in harder classes.

8:13 again. Another thing to consider is that the ACT and SAT don't cover calculus (at least that is my understanding). So if your student is already in calculus junior year, he/she will probably need to spend extra time reviewing material he covered years earlier. That has been my son's experience with the SAT, anyway.

I kind of regret having accepted our school's recommendation that my son accelerate in math. He is a straight A student because he works hard, but he is not a math whiz and is not at all interested in math or STEM for college. The demands of the higher level math courses have made him reluctant to sign up for other challenging courses that might have interested him more. We were told that the more selective colleges expect 4 years of math no matter how far you get, which means your student will be in the second year of calculus or beyond senior year. If you don't expect your kid to be interested in math at that level, I would not encourage acceleration. I know it is hard not to succumb to the pressure, though. DS is going to take Statistics senior year in lieu of the second year of calculus, and like the PP above I think that will be very useful for a number of future endeavors.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just find it interesting when parents of 8th graders taking what's typically 9th or 10th grade subjects then worry about too much or fast advancement in high school. You put you kid on this track. And yes, most colleges like to see 4 high school years of math, English, science, history and a foreign language proficiency. So if your kid starts high school at Algebra 2/Trig, that will be a mighty math load over four years. But that's not the school's fault. Ironic that you then need to search for a low stress environment when the stress was of your own making.

As far as math placement goes, generally parents go with the school's placement. You can't talk your way into 8th grade geometry, you need test scores. I'm not sure that you can easily dial back classes, either. I know at least one kid who signed up for gen chem and 3 weeks into class got relocated to the honors class without the child or parent requesting it.

We went with the schools placement and put our ds in Algebra I honors in 7th grade. He has done well, but not great, so we're going to slow it down and have him do Algebra again in 8th. He's not in love with math, and won't ever need multi-variable calculus, so we've decided to kick it back a notch and make sure the basics are solid before he moves forward.

Anonymous wrote:She can take AP Stat in 12th grade if she doesn't want to take multivariable calc. Lots of kids at our school do that.

On language I think the track would be French 3, 4, 5, AP right? so that would cover 4 years. Or she can do 2 more years of French and then try a new language. I'd probably do at least 3, if not 4 years of language though.

Honestly I think all high school kids should have to take statistics. Such a useful course.

Anonymous wrote:I just find it interesting when parents of 8th graders taking what's typically 9th or 10th grade subjects then worry about too much or fast advancement in high school. You put you kid on this track. And yes, most colleges like to see 4 high school years of math, English, science, history and a foreign language proficiency. So if your kid starts high school at Algebra 2/Trig, that will be a mighty math load over four years. But that's not the school's fault. Ironic that you then need to search for a low stress environment when the stress was of your own making.

As far as math placement goes, generally parents go with the school's placement. You can't talk your way into 8th grade geometry, you need test scores. I'm not sure that you can easily dial back classes, either. I know at least one kid who signed up for gen chem and 3 weeks into class got relocated to the honors class without the child or parent requesting it.

Anonymous wrote:I have no sympathy for parents who find their child in this predicament. Look for enrichment elsewhere. High school classes should be for high schoolers.

I can see the case for Geometry and/or Algebra I being a HS class. But a foreign language is different.

There's nothing developmentally to suggest that students are not ready to study a foreign language until age 14. (In fact, the opposite is true; the earlier a child starts, the easier it is to learn.) Maybe the problem is that the whole foreign language system (from level I all the way to level VI) is pushing the students too hard, too fast. Learning a language is like running a marathon, not a sprint. It's a shame that the college admissions process interferes with this.

Anonymous wrote:I just find it interesting when parents of 8th graders taking what's typically 9th or 10th grade subjects then worry about too much or fast advancement in high school. You put you kid on this track. And yes, most colleges like to see 4 high school years of math, English, science, history and a foreign language proficiency. So if your kid starts high school at Algebra 2/Trig, that will be a mighty math load over four years. But that's not the school's fault. Ironic that you then need to search for a low stress environment when the stress was of your own making.

This. Not piling on OP, but to all middle school parents: take notice.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those of you jumping all over the OP -- do you have kids this age yet? I do, and can tell you that in some schools in MoCo (the better ones) it is quite commonplace for advanced 8th graders to take high school level math and foreign language classes. I'm not saying you cannot opt out, but it's not just the pushy parents whose children are recommended for and take the high school classes. In fact, the school guidance counselors sort of encourage it.

Yep, and we're just telling you that you could be pushing your kid to no good end.

I think it's like nuclear disarmament: No country will drop their weapons until the other side does. The Race to Nowhere won't end until parents and schools collectively agree to change the system.

I hear what you're saying but parents never stop being parents so they should, (sorry) but parent! Look at the course book in middle school, high school, even college, ask questions about the course path (so, if my 6th grader takes Algebra . . . . etc.) Be responsible for your decisions. But please, at least notice the idiocy of putting the 7th grader in Algebra 1 and then complaining about the high school stress level.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those of you jumping all over the OP -- do you have kids this age yet? I do, and can tell you that in some schools in MoCo (the better ones) it is quite commonplace for advanced 8th graders to take high school level math and foreign language classes. I'm not saying you cannot opt out, but it's not just the pushy parents whose children are recommended for and take the high school classes. In fact, the school guidance counselors sort of encourage it.

Yep, and we're just telling you that you could be pushing your kid to no good end.

I think it's like nuclear disarmament: No country will drop their weapons until the other side does. The Race to Nowhere won't end until parents and schools collectively agree to change the system.

Anonymous wrote:Those of you jumping all over the OP -- do you have kids this age yet? I do, and can tell you that in some schools in MoCo (the better ones) it is quite commonplace for advanced 8th graders to take high school level math and foreign language classes. I'm not saying you cannot opt out, but it's not just the pushy parents whose children are recommended for and take the high school classes. In fact, the school guidance counselors sort of encourage it.

Yep, and we're just telling you that you could be pushing your kid to no good end.

Those of you jumping all over the OP -- do you have kids this age yet? I do, and can tell you that in some schools in MoCo (the better ones) it is quite commonplace for advanced 8th graders to take high school level math and foreign language classes. I'm not saying you cannot opt out, but it's not just the pushy parents whose children are recommended for and take the high school classes. In fact, the school guidance counselors sort of encourage it.

I have no sympathy for parents who find their child in this predicament. Look for enrichment elsewhere. High school classes should be for high schoolers.

And it just sounds dumb that a parent wouldn't have looked at what students would take in 12th grade, 11th etc and plotted out a successful curriculum for their child. Sometimes you have to work backwards.

geez just let middle schoolers be middle schoolers.

I have a friend who is a therapist to teens in this area, she said if she had 100 hours a day she coudl fill them with over stressed teens who have parents that push them and push them.