Anonymous
02/20/2026 09:13
Subject: Is a good performance in 7th grade a good predictor for HS performance?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Former math teacher here. Anyone who tells you that 100% in Math in 7th grade is easy don't listen to them. Its an impressive performance. I taught 7th grade at both top and public middle school before switching career to be an actuary. 100% as a final grade is not common.
Congrats to your daughter.
Disagree. It’s easy and schools often offer kids opportunities to do corrections. Any kid with math aptitude isn’t going to be in 7th grade math in 7th grade
My school district does not allow any 7th grader to take 8th grade and higher classes in 7th grade.
That’s extremely unfortunate.
I know. I went to school in Mali (West Africa). I took calculus 1 in 9th grade, in one of the poorest country in the world. By the time I came here for college I had already taken courses in calculus 1 to 3 and physics 1 and 2 and Intro to Organic chemistry. And I wasn't even an honors student. These classes I listed were standard classes.
We use some online tutors from poverty countries and its amazing how much better educated they are and at a much higher level.
7 grade math can range from 7th grade math to Algebra or Geometry.
Anonymous
02/20/2026 09:09
Subject: Is a good performance in 7th grade a good predictor for HS performance?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If it’s in public school, it’s not impressive.
I went to a public school in NYC. I will disagree with your assertion about public schools
How long ago? Was it a school you had to be accepted to?
10 years ago. It was a specialized public HS for aviation in Queens. It was not super competitive, but I had a good enough education and was challenged enough to have the necessary grades and courses to be accepted to Purdue for Aerospace engineering. I graduated Purdue with a 3.6 GPA
So my experience with public school was good. I don't have kids yet so I can't judge the quality of public education in VA. But NYC wow. Even the non competitive HS are so good with an unbelievably high level of advanced courses.
Not wow at all. NY struggles to get majority of kids proficient, just like the rest of the country. NYC charter schools are doing remarkably better than public
https://nypost.com/2025/12/05/us-news/nearly-half-of-students-across-ny-state-fail-to-make-the-grade-on-math-english-tests-data/
Anonymous
02/20/2026 08:33
Subject: Is a good performance in 7th grade a good predictor for HS performance?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If it’s in public school, it’s not impressive.
I went to a public school in NYC. I will disagree with your assertion about public schools
How long ago? Was it a school you had to be accepted to?
10 years ago. It was a specialized public HS for aviation in Queens. It was not super competitive, but I had a good enough education and was challenged enough to have the necessary grades and courses to be accepted to Purdue for Aerospace engineering. I graduated Purdue with a 3.6 GPA
So my experience with public school was good. I don't have kids yet so I can't judge the quality of public education in VA. But NYC wow. Even the non competitive HS are so good with an unbelievably high level of advanced courses.
Anonymous
02/19/2026 13:04
Subject: Is a good performance in 7th grade a good predictor for HS performance?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Given that the Ivy League doesn't do merit aid, you mean the tier below. I am going to assume he either had a stellar profile, or had a hook, or both. We cannot assume that for OP's kid.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:NO.
Also, college admissions these days are CUTTHROAT and scholarships don't even begin to cover the total cost of attendance (a scholarship for a fifth of the cost is considered rare and special).
All it means is that your daughter currently has no academic problems. Is she on the fastest tracks in her school? If she isn't, she's not going to be top of the pack in high school. If there's only one track, then her school isn't up to snuff. She might still develop problems in high school if she chooses advanced/AP courses that she's not prepared for.
I say this in the context of you not having money saved for college. A kid needs to show academic achievement to earn merit aid. Merit aid is a cold calculation on the part of the college as to whether your kid is a flight risk to a rival, slightly better school. So merit aid will be achievable at colleges that are safety choices for your child - ie, less prestigious than those she could otherwise get into sans merit.
I don't know if your income will get her financial aid.
The typical in-state flagship is 30-40K a year, total cost of attendance. UMD and UVA have become VERY competitive. Many high schoolers with a 4.5 weighted GPA and AP courses and solid extra-curriculars, etc, do not get in. Community college then pipeline to 4-year college will be cheaper. She can apply to private out-of-state colleges who might give her enough merit aid to bring it down to in-state costs (because of geographic diversity, if she applies sufficiently far away).
That's the gist. You would not need to be so nitpicky about her grades if there was no financial issue. But here, you do. Also, it's not just grades that matter - choice of extra-curriculars and how personal and thoughtful the essays are, is also critical. AI can't really help with a truly personal essay (at least, not the AI of today!).
- parent of college and high school kids.
We were told the same exact thing PP. Maybe our son got lucky, but he did get merit aid at Top 15. I don't know I feel like the parents and their kids who are obsessed with Top 10 or nothing often end up disappointed. I think there is that X factor that can break in your favor if you don't discouraged from the stories of perfect kids who got rejected from every top 10.
He is an Eagle scout. And it did help because he did an amazing project.
That's relevant, and something OP should be aware of in the extra-curricular department. It's not all gpa and test scores.
Anonymous
02/19/2026 13:01
Subject: Is a good performance in 7th grade a good predictor for HS performance?
Good performance in Middle School is definitely an indicator, but not a given. It shows that your child is organized, motivated, and capable of doing the work. To some extent, they complete the work, turn it in, pay attention, and follow the rules. They probably have some combination of natural ability and work ethic.
As things get harder, these skills will benefit them. But they may not be enough to do as well. You may find that they need to study more, do extra work, or get a bit of help for a more challenging course. But if they keep up these habits, and are willing to do that extra work as needed, they should also do well in high school.
As things get harder, these skills will benefit them. But they may not be enough to do as well. You may find that they need to study more, do extra work, or get a bit of help for a more challenging course. But if they keep up these habits, and are willing to do that extra work as needed, they should also do well in high school.
Anonymous
02/19/2026 12:21
Subject: Is a good performance in 7th grade a good predictor for HS performance?
My kid has a 180% in science, 120% in history, and pretty much over 100% in every class. Clearly they give ample extra credit…
Anonymous
02/19/2026 11:17
Subject: Is a good performance in 7th grade a good predictor for HS performance?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If it’s in public school, it’s not impressive.
I went to a public school in NYC. I will disagree with your assertion about public schools
How long ago? Was it a school you had to be accepted to?
Anonymous
02/19/2026 11:01
Subject: Is a good performance in 7th grade a good predictor for HS performance?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:NO.
Also, college admissions these days are CUTTHROAT and scholarships don't even begin to cover the total cost of attendance (a scholarship for a fifth of the cost is considered rare and special).
All it means is that your daughter currently has no academic problems. Is she on the fastest tracks in her school? If she isn't, she's not going to be top of the pack in high school. If there's only one track, then her school isn't up to snuff. She might still develop problems in high school if she chooses advanced/AP courses that she's not prepared for.
I say this in the context of you not having money saved for college. A kid needs to show academic achievement to earn merit aid. Merit aid is a cold calculation on the part of the college as to whether your kid is a flight risk to a rival, slightly better school. So merit aid will be achievable at colleges that are safety choices for your child - ie, less prestigious than those she could otherwise get into sans merit.
I don't know if your income will get her financial aid.
The typical in-state flagship is 30-40K a year, total cost of attendance. UMD and UVA have become VERY competitive. Many high schoolers with a 4.5 weighted GPA and AP courses and solid extra-curriculars, etc, do not get in. Community college then pipeline to 4-year college will be cheaper. She can apply to private out-of-state colleges who might give her enough merit aid to bring it down to in-state costs (because of geographic diversity, if she applies sufficiently far away).
That's the gist. You would not need to be so nitpicky about her grades if there was no financial issue. But here, you do. Also, it's not just grades that matter - choice of extra-curriculars and how personal and thoughtful the essays are, is also critical. AI can't really help with a truly personal essay (at least, not the AI of today!).
- parent of college and high school kids.
Is income inequality in the US the reason why courses like calculus are considered advanced in HS? In many countries around the world, these courses are standard.
In many countries in the world schools are not educating every child, we do in the US. In many countries in the world, the kids attending school are the kids who are identified as smart or fit the right political/cultural profile or have the money to pay for their kid to attend school. You don’t have the same diversity of abilities in school. In the US, every child is expected to attend school and schools are expected to teach them, regardless of the child's ability or interest in being there.
Calculus is taken by something like 25% of American students. There are kids, like myself, who have learning issues who don’t make it to Calculus. I still earned a PhD in a field that didn’t require that level of math. We understand that not every child is going to be strong in every area and that is acceptable. I don’t think that same mentality exists in most countries.
This is 100000% correct. Refecting back, I realized I was selected into a scientific curriculum and others who could have had the same opportunity did not because of lack of space. Our education system offers the best education only to those who meet certain criteria. Those who are average or whose potential is yet to be seen are dumped into what we call "useless" fields such as literature etc. Math and and science was for the "smart" kids
PP you are so correct. In the US anyone can have a an opportunity to take calculus. In fact I didn't know this was possible some parents here in the US can even override the schools decision and have their kids put into higher classes.
Anonymous
02/19/2026 08:07
Subject: Is a good performance in 7th grade a good predictor for HS performance?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:NO.
Also, college admissions these days are CUTTHROAT and scholarships don't even begin to cover the total cost of attendance (a scholarship for a fifth of the cost is considered rare and special).
All it means is that your daughter currently has no academic problems. Is she on the fastest tracks in her school? If she isn't, she's not going to be top of the pack in high school. If there's only one track, then her school isn't up to snuff. She might still develop problems in high school if she chooses advanced/AP courses that she's not prepared for.
I say this in the context of you not having money saved for college. A kid needs to show academic achievement to earn merit aid. Merit aid is a cold calculation on the part of the college as to whether your kid is a flight risk to a rival, slightly better school. So merit aid will be achievable at colleges that are safety choices for your child - ie, less prestigious than those she could otherwise get into sans merit.
I don't know if your income will get her financial aid.
The typical in-state flagship is 30-40K a year, total cost of attendance. UMD and UVA have become VERY competitive. Many high schoolers with a 4.5 weighted GPA and AP courses and solid extra-curriculars, etc, do not get in. Community college then pipeline to 4-year college will be cheaper. She can apply to private out-of-state colleges who might give her enough merit aid to bring it down to in-state costs (because of geographic diversity, if she applies sufficiently far away).
That's the gist. You would not need to be so nitpicky about her grades if there was no financial issue. But here, you do. Also, it's not just grades that matter - choice of extra-curriculars and how personal and thoughtful the essays are, is also critical. AI can't really help with a truly personal essay (at least, not the AI of today!).
- parent of college and high school kids.
Is income inequality in the US the reason why courses like calculus are considered advanced in HS? In many countries around the world, these courses are standard.
In many countries in the world schools are not educating every child, we do in the US. In many countries in the world, the kids attending school are the kids who are identified as smart or fit the right political/cultural profile or have the money to pay for their kid to attend school. You don’t have the same diversity of abilities in school. In the US, every child is expected to attend school and schools are expected to teach them, regardless of the child's ability or interest in being there.
Calculus is taken by something like 25% of American students. There are kids, like myself, who have learning issues who don’t make it to Calculus. I still earned a PhD in a field that didn’t require that level of math. We understand that not every child is going to be strong in every area and that is acceptable. I don’t think that same mentality exists in most countries.
Anonymous
02/19/2026 08:02
Subject: Re:Is a good performance in 7th grade a good predictor for HS performance?
My kid has been a straight A student in MS. He took Algebra 1 H and a foreign language in 7th grade. He doesn’t study at home a ton. It feels like the material he is working on isn’t challenging, with the exception of the foreign language. That said, he has friends who are in similar classes who do have homework, a lot of it, and who are working hard for B’s and A’s.
Do I think this means he will do well in HS? I don’t know. I think it means he is intelligent enough to do very well in HS. I don’t know how he will respond when he is taking AP classes with more homework and studying involved. We are working with him now to try and develop the attitude of studying for tests in advance but that is hard when he can do well without studying. I hope that his intelligence will keep him on the same path in HS but I know that study skills and learning how to review and do that extra work is important as well.
We acknowledge that he is doing well in school but try and focus on the effort. We praise him when he goes to study for a test ahead of time. We remind him that it is a good idea to do so even for the classes he doesn’t need to and discuss why that is important.
We are saving for college. It would be great if he keeps his grades high and gets a bunch of merit aid, because we are not going to get financial aid. We are a donut hole family and we know it. Merit aid would help him attend where ever he wants to go with the savings that we have. Right now, he can safely attend any public school in our area and a good number of private schools. Merit aid would stretch that.
Do I think this means he will do well in HS? I don’t know. I think it means he is intelligent enough to do very well in HS. I don’t know how he will respond when he is taking AP classes with more homework and studying involved. We are working with him now to try and develop the attitude of studying for tests in advance but that is hard when he can do well without studying. I hope that his intelligence will keep him on the same path in HS but I know that study skills and learning how to review and do that extra work is important as well.
We acknowledge that he is doing well in school but try and focus on the effort. We praise him when he goes to study for a test ahead of time. We remind him that it is a good idea to do so even for the classes he doesn’t need to and discuss why that is important.
We are saving for college. It would be great if he keeps his grades high and gets a bunch of merit aid, because we are not going to get financial aid. We are a donut hole family and we know it. Merit aid would help him attend where ever he wants to go with the savings that we have. Right now, he can safely attend any public school in our area and a good number of private schools. Merit aid would stretch that.
Anonymous
02/19/2026 06:21
Subject: Is a good performance in 7th grade a good predictor for HS performance?
Anonymous wrote:OP encourage your daughter. Tell her how proud you are and how impressed you are. Tell her you are her biggest fan. And watch her stay consistent. Dads can really make or break their daughters.
+1!! Also since you like math, try to get more directly involved in her math education. She may benefit from a little push. Also don’t be afraid to reach out to talk to her math teachers.
Anonymous
02/19/2026 06:18
Subject: Is a good performance in 7th grade a good predictor for HS performance?
My current 8th grader has all As. High honor roll last 2 marking periods. It’s misleading though because she has adhd and goes to private. She has small class sizes ( 12-16) and has teacher support when needed.
I think she will struggle in HS which is huge with larger classes..
I think she will struggle in HS which is huge with larger classes..
Anonymous
02/19/2026 06:18
Subject: Is a good performance in 7th grade a good predictor for HS performance?
I think it is a good start! On the one hand, it is easier these days to get good grades. On the other hand, getting good grades at a young age means your daughter is capable of focus and organization, and also sees the value of doing well.
You didn’t say where your daughter is in school but I suggest doing a lot of research on the high school options and how to best prepare for college.
You didn’t say where your daughter is in school but I suggest doing a lot of research on the high school options and how to best prepare for college.
Anonymous
02/19/2026 06:17
Subject: Is a good performance in 7th grade a good predictor for HS performance?
Anonymous wrote:If it’s in public school, it’s not impressive.
I went to a public school in NYC. I will disagree with your assertion about public schools
Anonymous
02/19/2026 06:14
Subject: Is a good performance in 7th grade a good predictor for HS performance?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I have four kids. All four had straight As in 7th grade. One of the four barely graduated high school.
Let me guess he is a boy lol
Nope. Girl. Ended up on her feet just fine as an adult.