The math coordinator in my district really fights the trend for more and more kids to take Algebra early. Not a lot of parents I know like him. He feels that too many kids are taking math too early, and find themselves in problems in High School when they can't keep up. What he does do to try and prevent this is to make his tests about abstract thinking.
He's probably right. If he's putting questions that require abstract thinking on his tests, he's also probably trying to ensure that students have a good foundation in mathematics.
