Math credits for graduation

[mom2three]

How many years of math will your student have when he graduates for high school?

 

We are in the state of Texas, and the schools here require 4 years of math. My son is not a math person, so I am wondering if he will need 4 years for colleges.

 

Thank you.

[Hunter's Moon]

I'll have 4 years.

 

Geometry

Algebra II

Precalc/Trig.

Calc

[Jeannie in NJ]

Nj reguires 3 years with those being at least Algebra 1, geometry, alg. 2. My dd will be going to a culinary school for her associates. If she was going to a 4 year school, I would have her take 4 years of math in high school

[Jann in TX]

As long as you get through Algebra 1, Geometry and Algebra 2 you will be fine... the Texas public schools are transitioning to where ALL students must complete (pass) Pre-Calc before they receive a state diploma...

 

The trouble is that MANY students just are not capable of completing Pre-Calc as a teen... AND MOST college degrees do not require any Math above College Algebra!

 

I've had recent students get full scholarships with only Algebra 2 (as highest level of Math).

 

Also note: the majority of students who take Pre-Calc in high school will REPEAT this level in college (if needed for their degree program)... the high schools are having to really water it down so a large enough percentage will pass.

[K-FL]

Florida state universities require 4 yrs (Alg I & higher) for entrance so that's what #2 & #3 will be doing.

[DebbS]

We'll have 4 years - Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra II (all through Singapore NEM) and then Pre-Calc probably as dual credit just because I don't want to teach it. Another 4th year option for a student who does not want to go on to calc would be a course in Probability and Statistics.

[LoriM]

Whether he'll "need" four credits of math for college admission is one thing. I'd encourage you to have your student study math every semester of high school, and expect your student to have at least two semesters of higher math in college, no matter what career field he plans to enter. Even if your student is still struggling to be a better Algebra student, it's a good fight, and one he should continue to have. There is no "absolute" time in life where one is too late to learn Algebra (or Geometry, if that's the harder thing), and the beauty of homeschooling is that you don't have to have a deadline for finishing a book. Just do the next lesson, and do more problems until you understand it well, and it's easy to do. Then do the next lesson. And the next.

 

I love the quote that says, "Whenever a student tells me they are finished studying math, I tell them to listen carefully. They'll hear the doors closing."

 

I had a daughter who was "not a math student." She changed dramatically in a five year span to meet my expectation that "every well-educated person completes the Calculus sequence." She ended up with a BA in mathematics because that was the "easy" major to get to graduate early. GRIN.

 

I have another daughter who is "not a math student"...we'll see where she ends up, but right now she makes a bundle tutoring high school math. Not her favorite subject, but she sees the value in the skill. :)

[Wendi]

As of 2015, when ds will (hopefully) graduate, our state requirements will be:

 

Algebra I

Algebra II

Geometry

another math course for which Algebra II is a prerequisite

 

This is also what is required by the university in our town.

 

So I'm planning on Alg I, Geom, Alg II, Trig. My son is weak in math right now, so I'm a little concerned. It's possible he'll need to go to a community college to get his math skills up to par before entering a university (if that's his plan by then).

 

Wendi

Edited July 21, 2010 by Wendi

[Chris in VA]

Ds had 4 years in high school, Algebra to Pre-calc. He only needed one class in college for his cinema program. (He took Math For Liberal Arts, which is lots of logic and weird math stuff! lol)

Even tho his college said 3 years of hs math was fine (algebra and above) I wanted him to have as much as he could, even if it was consumer math or statistics. It's good for the brain.

[momtotkbb]

Alg I plus three higher level maths are required for us.

[Photo Ninja]

How many years of math are needed to enter a college depends on the college. Some expect four years of high school math. Some are fine with three. The only way to know is to check the entrance details for colleges your ds may attend.

 

My dc don't like math, but did have 4 math credits (Algebra 2, Geometry, Algebra at the cc, and Statistics at the cc). They can do math, but don't like it. They ended up deciding to take some math courses at the cc so they could get them done in a semester instead of a full year, and get college credit at the same time. My dc were motivated to get done with math requirements.

 

They still use math in their science classes, though, so math is still needed. That is something to consider for your ds,even though he is not a 'mathy' kid. He needs enough math skill to be able to do well in science classes.

 

If your ds is going to go to a cc instead of to a four year college after high school then he may not need to have four years of high school math. Check with your local cc to see what it expects.