This article was originally published in Chalkbeat.
Having access to Algebra 1 in eighth grade can often make or break a student’s path to high school calculus, which in turn, is often a gateway to selective colleges as well as science and engineering careers.
But many eighth graders can’t take Algebra 1 — regardless of how well they did on their seventh grade state math test. And when New York City parents are exploring middle school options for their fifth graders, they might not realize the consequences a school’s math offerings might have for their students’ education trajectory…