Trying to find statistics on this is frustratingly hard. Here is the general pattern I saw in my quick research.

Algebra 1 in 8th grade is not common in the US. It seems like the highest percentage I could find was 43% but that study only used data up to 2015. A more recent study found that only 65% of schools even offered Algebra 1 in 8th grade. Another article points to a decline in the number of students taking Algebra 1 in 8th grade. Three articles with the data I quickly gathered are listed below.

Northern Virginia brings together a lot of families who have parents with masters and Doctorates, both degrees are actually uncommon across the US. Stats show that around 14% of Americans have a Masters Professional Certificate or PhD. That number is far higher in this area. We have a lot of parents who are very invested int heir kids education because education is important to them. As such, we have public school systems that offer programs and classes more aggressively. This area is not the norm for the US. I have no problem with kids taking Algebra 1 in 6th or 7th grade if the kids are ready for it, and there are kids ready for it. I don't think we should be pushing Algebra 1 in 8th grade for everyone because there are kids who are simply not ready and that is ok. But Algebra in 8th grade is acceleration as is Calculus in HS. I understand that it is more commonplace in our area, but it is not across the country.

And it is ok for our area to have a different pattern. The population here is different and that influences school offerings, that is appropriate. I am happy that my kid has the chance to take more challenging math. He loves math and is strong in it, why shouldn't he be challenged?

https://www.nwea.org/blog/2025/research-reveals-the-pros-and-cons-of-algebra-in-eighth-grade/

The article above is an interesting read on the subject. For this conversation, I will point to the statistics that the peak percentage of Algebra in 8th grade was 43%.

https://www.chalkbeat.org/2024/02/07/eighth-grade-algebra-access-math-tracking-rand-report/

The above report finds that Algebra in 8th grade is geographically dependent. Only 65% of schools offered an Algebra class for 8th graders but does not present a percentage of kids takign Algebra by 8th grade.

https://www.nagb.gov/naep/mathematics.html

NAEP states that fewer 8th graders are taking Algebra 1 in 8th grade in 2024 compared to 2019 without giving the number.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Back in the 1950s, high schools taught calculus like any other math topic. No one saw it as accelerated —just part of a solid education. But by the 1990s, U.S. education started getting softer. Now, it's Asian American students leading the charge to remind the country that preparing youth for today’s STEM demands means bringing back general education standards, like learning calculus in high school, just as before. It’s time to ditch the identity-based entitlement mindset and return to the American way of learning math through practice and hard work.

Now even algebra is considered accelerated.

My dad is a STEM PhD who graduated HS in the '70s and his suburban district absolutely didn't offer calc in high school. He went to school with several people who went on to be leading tech entrepeneurs of their time (well before the current crop of tech bros). All of them had to wait until college to take calc. He's still a little baffled that STEM types pretty much have to take calc in high school now.

Not saying our current pathways are bad; I like them. It's just not true, though, that everyone took calc in the 50s. The data shows our expectations in math have been steadily increasing over time until recently when scores started sliding.

Facts:
Accelerated is a basic term in education. It’s not a buzzword. It’s been around for decades.

From the National Association for Gifted Children:
https://nagc.org/page/glossary
Acceleration
A strategy of progressing through education at rates faster or ages younger than the norm. This can occur through grade skipping or subject acceleration (e.g., a fifth-grade student taking sixth-grade math).

Definition from a red state:
https://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/7690/urlt/0070108-gift_accel.pdf
Acceleration refers to the practice of
presenting curriculum content earlier
or at a faster pace.
There are many different ways to
accelerate the curriculum. These op-
tions offer the flexibility needed to help
meet the individual needs of gifted
students:
• acceleration in one or more subject
areas
• grade skipping
• Advanced Placement programs

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure why there are all the insults, it is kind of ridiculous.

The majority of kids will not take Calculus and a good chunk of those kids will go to college. I graduated from HS with 3 years of math, went to college, and earned a PhD. Calculus is not the end all and be all of math for college bound students.

Taking Calculus in HS requires taking Algebra 1 in 8th grade, which is an acceleration. Algebra 1 is traditionally, in the US, and 9th grade math class.

That said, I have no issue with kids who are strong in math placing into Algebra early when they are ready for it. My kid is taking it without any issue in 7th grade. About 10% of the 7th graders take Algebra 1. And that is fine. It is not an extra burden on the schools, they already have teachers for the class. It isn’t adding bussing or anything else admin wise. It is fine.

Let them move at the pace that they need. I don’t see why this is an issue?

Algebra 1 by 8th grade and calculus by 12th grade is normal path, not acceleration.

Accelerated would mean student going beyond AP Calculus, and does dual enrollment math courses.

https://www.youtube.com/w...rBy7sKX46I

False. Algebra 1 in 8th and calculus in 12th is accelerated in the US.

It is common, but still accelerated. Period. It’s not even up for debate.

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure why there are all the insults, it is kind of ridiculous.

The majority of kids will not take Calculus and a good chunk of those kids will go to college. I graduated from HS with 3 years of math, went to college, and earned a PhD. Calculus is not the end all and be all of math for college bound students.

Taking Calculus in HS requires taking Algebra 1 in 8th grade, which is an acceleration. Algebra 1 is traditionally, in the US, and 9th grade math class.

That said, I have no issue with kids who are strong in math placing into Algebra early when they are ready for it. My kid is taking it without any issue in 7th grade. About 10% of the 7th graders take Algebra 1. And that is fine. It is not an extra burden on the schools, they already have teachers for the class. It isn’t adding bussing or anything else admin wise. It is fine.

Let them move at the pace that they need. I don’t see why this is an issue?

Algebra 1 by 8th grade and calculus by 12th grade is normal path, not acceleration.

Accelerated would mean student going beyond AP Calculus, and does dual enrollment math courses.

https://www.youtube.com/w...rBy7sKX46I

I am not sure why there are all the insults, it is kind of ridiculous.

The majority of kids will not take Calculus and a good chunk of those kids will go to college. I graduated from HS with 3 years of math, went to college, and earned a PhD. Calculus is not the end all and be all of math for college bound students.

Taking Calculus in HS requires taking Algebra 1 in 8th grade, which is an acceleration. Algebra 1 is traditionally, in the US, and 9th grade math class.

That said, I have no issue with kids who are strong in math placing into Algebra early when they are ready for it. My kid is taking it without any issue in 7th grade. About 10% of the 7th graders take Algebra 1. And that is fine. It is not an extra burden on the schools, they already have teachers for the class. It isn’t adding bussing or anything else admin wise. It is fine.

Let them move at the pace that they need. I don’t see why this is an issue?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the dumb ass RWNJ troll who doesn’t know what “accelerated” means:

Pg 24 https://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/9UGLF242CE53/$file/Math%20Study%20-%20Final%20Report%20v14%20lzh.pdf

For the dumb shts in the back:

This is exactly the kind of woke nonsense that got Superintendent Karen Garza pushed out. Her reports were so far left, even liberals considered them extreme.

I graduated HS in a purple area of a red state in the early 2000s and this was our exact math progression. Average students did pre-calc/trig as HS seniors and then college calculus as freshmen if their majors required it. Advanced students did Algebra 1 in 8th and AP Calc as seniors. There was no formal path more accelerated than that, but we always had a few (less than 10) students who either came from private or did a bunch of outside enrichment so they could do AP Calc as juniors, and then additional college level math at the local college as seniors.

Point is, this has been THE math progression for a few generations. Look at the graduation requirements, HS Calc is not on there. Now there is a big push in education/a trend to get all kids into Calculus as HS seniors, but it’s still considered acceleration.

I graduated in the late 90s and did AP calc as a junior with AP Statistics via satellite TV as a senior. I can assure you there was no private school involved and no outside enrichment available within 100 miles of my very rural Virginia school. Calc in high school is and should be the minimum expectation for those going on to college. Stop trying to dumb down the curriculum. You are what is holding this country back.

Anonymous wrote:This is the dumbest tangent I've seen on dcum in quite awhile. Of course Calc in 12th is "accelerated."

+1

Super dumb tangent.

This is just basic education terminology.

Normal pace is AP Calculus BC in 12th grade. Accelerated is AP calculus BC in 10th grade.

Anonymous wrote:Facts:

Accelerated is a basic term in education. It’s not a buzzword. It’s been around for decades.

https://nagc.org/page/glossary
Acceleration
A strategy of progressing through education at rates faster or ages younger than the norm. This can occur through grade skipping or subject acceleration (e.g., a fifth-grade student taking sixth-grade math).

Red state definition
https://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/7690/urlt/0070108-gift_accel.pdf
Acceleration refers to the practice of
presenting curriculum content earlier
or at a faster pace.
There are many different ways to
accelerate the curriculum. These op-
tions offer the flexibility needed to help
meet the individual needs of gifted
students:
• acceleration in one or more subject
areas
• grade skipping
• Advanced Placement programs





Pg 24 https://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/9UGLF242CE53/$file/Math%20Study%20-%20Final%20Report%20v14%20lzh.pdf

This has been rejected by the board, and the superintendent was let go for putting out reports like the above.

FCPS now encourages students to take algebra in middle school itself, so that AP Calculus is an option in High School following normal math progression. There is nothing accelerated about it. Accelerated would mean student going beyond AP Calculus, and does dual enrollment math courses.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrBy7sKX46I

This is the dumbest tangent I've seen on dcum in quite awhile. Of course Calc in 12th is "accelerated." But it's also only mildly accelerated and normal for college bound kids, just like any other AP class.

But from the FCPS grid: It's absurd to call Calc in 11th grade "Hyperaccelerated." Accelerating by 2 years is pretty normal for moderately gifted children. It's solidly accelerated, but there's nothing "hyper" about it. The kids taking Calc in 8th or 9th grade are "hyperaccelerated." 11th grade calc is the standard "top track" at most US schools.

Anonymous wrote:
Back in the 1950s, high schools taught calculus like any other math topic. No one saw it as accelerated —just part of a solid education. But by the 1990s, U.S. education started getting softer. Now, it's Asian American students leading the charge to remind the country that preparing youth for today’s STEM demands means bringing back general education standards, like learning calculus in high school, just as before. It’s time to ditch the identity-based entitlement mindset and return to the American way of learning math through practice and hard work.

Now even algebra is considered accelerated.

Facts:

Accelerated is a basic term in education. It’s not a buzzword. It’s been around for decades.

https://nagc.org/page/glossary
Acceleration
A strategy of progressing through education at rates faster or ages younger than the norm. This can occur through grade skipping or subject acceleration (e.g., a fifth-grade student taking sixth-grade math).

Red state definition
https://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/7690/urlt/0070108-gift_accel.pdf
Acceleration refers to the practice of
presenting curriculum content earlier
or at a faster pace.
There are many different ways to
accelerate the curriculum. These op-
tions offer the flexibility needed to help
meet the individual needs of gifted
students:
• acceleration in one or more subject
areas
• grade skipping
• Advanced Placement programs





Pg 24 https://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/9UGLF242CE53/$file/Math%20Study%20-%20Final%20Report%20v14%20lzh.pdf

Back in the 1950s, high schools taught calculus like any other math topic. No one saw it as accelerated —just part of a solid education. But by the 1990s, U.S. education started getting softer. Now, it's Asian American students leading the charge to remind the country that preparing youth for today’s STEM demands means bringing back general education standards, like learning calculus in high school, just as before. It’s time to ditch the identity-based entitlement mindset and return to the American way of learning math through practice and hard work.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Calculus has been a standard part of the high school curriculum for decades, with a formalized AP Math course introduced in 1955. AP Calculus AB followed in 1969, created alongside AP Calculus BC to replace the original, comprehensive AP Math exam with two distinct calculus tracks.

For centuries, calculus was never labeled as “accelerated”—it was simply part of the expected progression for advanced math students in high school. The idea of calling it accelerated only emerged in the past two decades, driven by a push for “math equity” from activist circles, however it has been largely rejected as excessively ideological and lowering standards. But, that doesn’t mean the woke stop trying.

You are full of sht. It was “accelerated” 35 years ago when I took it in HS.

When the woke exhaust their tiny arsenal of fed buzzwords, they fall back on their favorite four-letter vocabulary—how ironic!

“Accelerated” isn’t a buzzword, troll. ESAD.