Anonymous wrote:Don't private schools provide resources so kids don't fall behind? I mean, isn't that why people pay 30-40k/year?? Even in public schools, Alg 1 is a 7th grade math for many kids.

Yeah, in the public schools the kids take these classes before they are ready to and receive a less than thorough understanding of the subject, the effects of which can last a lifetime. That's one reason we chose private.

Anonymous wrote:My child is not math-minded and will not be pursuing a major in a STEM field. She had PreAlg in 8th, Alg. 1 in 9th, Geom Honors in 10th, Alg 2 in 11th, PreCalc in 12th. Excellent grades but only slightly above average math scores on standardized tests. I guess they were offset by great scores in other areas because she was accepted at her top 2 choices of UMD and Villanova. Maybe not the big name schools others wanted but neither she nor we were looking for a big name to brag about and think these were good options for her. Play to your child's strengths.

When I think of our children and their futures, I always remember the John Lennon quote about school and what he wanted to be when he grew up. He said 'happy' and he was told he didn't understand the question. He responded that the questioner didn't understand life.

My DH and I want our children to be happy. STEM and happiness are neither causal nor exclusionary but in the best case scenario, STEM should be a good fit for the child. Sounds like you and your DS want the best fit for your child. That is good parenting. Way to go in supporting your daughter in making the right choice for her!

My child is not math-minded and will not be pursuing a major in a STEM field. She had PreAlg in 8th, Alg. 1 in 9th, Geom Honors in 10th, Alg 2 in 11th, PreCalc in 12th. Excellent grades but only slightly above average math scores on standardized tests. I guess they were offset by great scores in other areas because she was accepted at her top 2 choices of UMD and Villanova. Maybe not the big name schools others wanted but neither she nor we were looking for a big name to brag about and think these were good options for her. Play to your child's strengths.

There is a huge difference in math curriculum for public and private schools so in many respects this set of posts is comparing apples to oranges. I teach accelerated math (honors, TAG and super-TAG) in a Northern Virginia middle school. I also have taught high school math in a private school frequently mentioned in these forums.

In general, the Algebra I taught in private high schools for most 9th grade students encompasses the Alg I plus Alg II that is taught in public schools. A good rule of thumb is that the amount of material covered in a public school in a year is about 1/3 to 1/2 of what is covered in a good or acceptable private school.

Message to OP: many children entering private high schools, whether from private or public, are routed into Alg I after the results of their placement tests. If your child takes Alg I in 8th grade in public school, s/he still probably will end up taking it again in 9th grade at the private school. And chances are your son/daughter will see that many of the students in Alg I at the private also are re-taking the course, even if they took Alg I in 8th grade at a private. It won't hurt. It never hurts to have strong Algebra skills.

Also, don't panic at the breathless cries and hysterics of others that your child will be behind taking Alg I in 9th grade in a private school. Your child won't be behind and and those people don't know enough about the schools and curriculum to be able say much that could be helpful. As I said in my first paragraph, it is apples and oranges.

My DS and I have had 3 children progress through private elementary and secondary schools frequently mentioned in these forums. Over the years, for 9th grade, one was placed in Honors Algebra I, one in Honors Alg I/Geo, and one in Honors Geometry, based on the results of the schools' own placement tests. It all worked out. 2 of our children are now in Ivy schools and the third will be in the fall. For admissions, no one even blinked at the kid who was in Alg I in 9th grade.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had my kids take Algebra in 8th grade and retake it in 9th grade.

Grades in 8th grade are meaningless... Algebra is the most important Math for science and business.

One son did well in 8th and I had him take honors Algebra in 9th.

The only downside is their PSAT scores will freak you out since they have no Geometry and Algebra 2.

Slow and steady!

My family is dyslexic and mostly Engineers, so math is not really a weakness, but I believe in a strong base and acceleration is useless beyond making parents feel their kids are better than other kids.

You take PSAT in November of Junior year. Kids who took Algebra in 8th will, presumably, have Geometry and a fair amount of Algebra 2 before then.

My children took it November of Sophomore year.

Your kids took a practice test in November of Sophomore year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't private schools provide resources so kids don't fall behind? I mean, isn't that why people pay 30-40k/year?? Even in public schools, Alg 1 is a 7th grade math for many kids.

Well, obviously, you can't afford the tuition, so you just don't get to know why. Too bad for you.

What an ass! Parents like this make all private families look bad.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had my kids take Algebra in 8th grade and retake it in 9th grade.

Grades in 8th grade are meaningless... Algebra is the most important Math for science and business.

One son did well in 8th and I had him take honors Algebra in 9th.

The only downside is their PSAT scores will freak you out since they have no Geometry and Algebra 2.

Slow and steady!

My family is dyslexic and mostly Engineers, so math is not really a weakness, but I believe in a strong base and acceleration is useless beyond making parents feel their kids are better than other kids.

You take PSAT in November of Junior year. Kids who took Algebra in 8th will, presumably, have Geometry and a fair amount of Algebra 2 before then.

My children took it November of Sophomore year.

Oct of Junior year is the "official" one for NMSF.

Anonymous wrote:Some big 3 schools do not offer 9th grade Algebra 1.

Some do:

http://www.sidwell.edu/upper-school/academics/math-department/index.aspx

https://bbk12e1-cdn.myschoolcdn.com/ftpimages/416/misc/misc_151240.pdf

http://www.potomacschool.org/academics/us/grad-requirements/index.aspx

NCS appears not to offer Algebra 1 in HS and St. Albans and Maret aren't specific on their websites. It's hard to believe these schools would deliberately offer a track that doesn't lead to strong college placement.

Anonymous wrote:Have fun in community college.

Well our matriculation is hugely successful and we don't make fun of children going to CC... Academics and morality.

Some big 3 schools do not offer 9th grade Algebra 1.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On a side note, the top students in private schools don't take algebra until 8th grade?

In fcps the most advance kids take algebra in 6th and the top take it in 7th. Average, run of the mill bright kids take it in 8th and the remainder in 9th.

Is it typical for private kids not to accelerate math?

Much less emphasis on acceleration, but I think algebra in 7th and geometry in 8th is fairly common.

Our school encourages parents to NOT accelerate math but will allow it.

Have fun in community college.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had my kids take Algebra in 8th grade and retake it in 9th grade.

Grades in 8th grade are meaningless... Algebra is the most important Math for science and business.

One son did well in 8th and I had him take honors Algebra in 9th.

The only downside is their PSAT scores will freak you out since they have no Geometry and Algebra 2.

Slow and steady!

My family is dyslexic and mostly Engineers, so math is not really a weakness, but I believe in a strong base and acceleration is useless beyond making parents feel their kids are better than other kids.

You take PSAT in November of Junior year. Kids who took Algebra in 8th will, presumably, have Geometry and a fair amount of Algebra 2 before then.

My children took it November of Sophomore year.

Anonymous wrote:I had my kids take Algebra in 8th grade and retake it in 9th grade.

Grades in 8th grade are meaningless... Algebra is the most important Math for science and business.

One son did well in 8th and I had him take honors Algebra in 9th.

The only downside is their PSAT scores will freak you out since they have no Geometry and Algebra 2.

Slow and steady!

My family is dyslexic and mostly Engineers, so math is not really a weakness, but I believe in a strong base and acceleration is useless beyond making parents feel their kids are better than other kids.

You take PSAT in November of Junior year. Kids who took Algebra in 8th will, presumably, have Geometry and a fair amount of Algebra 2 before then.

Anonymous wrote:On a side note, the top students in private schools don't take algebra until 8th grade?

In fcps the most advance kids take algebra in 6th and the top take it in 7th. Average, run of the mill bright kids take it in 8th and the remainder in 9th.

Is it typical for private kids not to accelerate math?

Much less emphasis on acceleration, but I think algebra in 7th and geometry in 8th is fairly common.