Rules of the CHUH Math and Science Curriculum

Over the course of this school year, my focus has been on preparing my eighth grader for high school and beyond.  I was mentally patting myself on the back for getting the planning underway in the fall, only to realize in December that I have already dropped the ball on something.

One of my daughter's teachers noticed how well she has been doing in her math class and suggested that she could be advanced.  Of course, I enthusiastically began inquiring about how to make that happen.  To my dismay, I was told that it was a little too late in the year for jumping from Pre-Algebra into Algebra I.  I was disappointed, but figured there would be another opportunity for advancement next year.  However, after studying math course offerings in grades 9-12, I realized that it would be almost impossible.

You see, the normal math sequence in CHUH schools goes like this:

8th grade - Pre-Algebra

9th grade - Algebra I

10th grade - Geometry

11th grade - Algebra II

12th grade - Pre-Calculus (or another math elective)

That means, at her current rate, my daughter will not get the opportunity to take Calculus AP, which I feel is a-must for her college planning.  

The disappointment only deepened after we received her tentative schedule for 9th grade.  Because we missed our chance to advance her into Algebra I this year, she will not be eligible to take Honors Science or Honors Math next year.   Algebra I is a pre-requisite for Honors Science, and the lowest Honors math course the school offers is Geometry.

I have sought advice from middle and high school counselors, as well as at the district level.  So far there is little hope.  The only chance she might have is, if our high school implements block scheduling as expected in the 2012-2013 school year, completing Geometry over the course of the fall semester and Algebra II in the spring.  However, at this point in the planning, nothing is certain, so no one is able to properly reassure us.

I hope putting my story out there will spare other families from unknowingly committing a similar oversight.  Please ask your child's teachers and counselors about his/her performance often.  Failing to do so may limit your child's academic options and cause a lot of stress and difficulties in planning his/her future.

If any of you are interested in the outcome of my quest to find the best solution, please reply - I will continue making posts on this subject as I get new information.