Originally Posted by
m4nash
Do you know what your state’s requirements are for math in high school? In Our district they require everyone to be enrolled in math all 4 years in high school.
My older sons both took (or will take) Geometry in 8th grade, but I regret that decision for my oldest. He wants to be a music major in college and now he will take Calculus as a Junior in high school and rather than get to take an extra music class his senior year he can take Differential Equations or maybe AP Statistics, which he isn’t excited about.
Our public schools even offer a more accelerated math track where you take Algebra II in 8th grade, but that just seems like something that would only be a good fit for a select few.
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I think this is good to consider. My DD was on an accelerated track similar to the one your DS is being offered (took AP Calc BC as a Junior) and my DS is one year accelerated beyond that (taking Calc BC as a Sophomore). In our district, it's not super unusual to offer Geometry in 8th grade, so even though not all MSs offer it, most do. I have mixed feelings about Math acceleration. I think it probably did my DD a disservice...she was pretty good at Math, but I don't think she needed to go as fast as she did. She's majoring in Public Policy/Intl Studies with a minor in Econ and never loved Math. For my DS, he's extremely good at Math, but also not interested in science/math/engineering as a possible path right now. While I think he would have been bored on a different track, I wish I had slowed him down and made him take AB and then BC Calc only because I don't think he really learned BC remotely this year.
MS is a tough time socially and I would definitely keep that in mind when you consider what input to let him have. I think you're right that lots of kids expand their friend groups in middle school, but I also have friends who forced their DS to go to a more academic MS and most of his friends went elsewhere and it turned out to be super tough socially. You know your kiddo best and I would strongly encourage him to branch out and take the oppty, but if you're worried about him socially, maybe let him pass.
Mom to a DD (8/02) and a DS (6/05)