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My 8th grade DD switched schools this year. She took algebra in 7th gr but was placed in a second year algebra course in her new school based on the entrance test, which showed a few gaps in her algebra knowledge (new school teaches algebra over 2 years). Now 6 weeks into the school year, I realize I should have pushed for geometry instead, and had a tutor to work on gap areas (she's mathy but has no interest in being an engineer, so I figured why have her risk paying the price in HS for a marginal 7th gr algebra class...might as well know algebra inside out and backwards).

Since 8th gr will basically be a year of in-depth algebra review, DD wants to take geometry online or self study to get it over with before high school. I've read some threads on here about geometry. I like the positive feedback on AoPS online class, but the class about to start is full. Saw the negative feedback on EPGY's tutor supported geometry. Does anyone have experience with the CTY class? or the AoPS books alone (my daughter's teacher is also the geometry teacher and I could probably arrange regular tutoring/support for a book). Any other options out there that you'd recommend? Thanks in advance for your advice.

Personally, I would make a skip into Geometry the hill I'm willing to die on. Geometry is almost the only place in US public schools where children receive any instruction in formal logic, which makes it far more important than just shapes and equations, and all students can benefit regardless of their future career plans. I would be concerned about moving that into an online arena or compressed study. On the other hand, your DD sounds like an excellent candidate for online or compressed study in her Algebra.

As to "two years of Algebra", this is a course where Algebra I is spread amount two years instead of a "Algebra II course" correct? If this is true, I am sure this a very slow course.

Check with your school/district for their rules before you do this. In my district you CAN NOT get into their honors math classes and will not "skip" you in geometry, for placement into Algebra II unless you take their geometry class. I do know student who were out of town in 8th grade who ran against this brick wall.

As to where you can take it there are quite a number of online High Schools out there and this will be offered at quite a number of them. Since we have never done any of these programs I don't want to recommend one in particular. We do enjoy the Art of Problem Solving but I'm not sure if their course counts for "credit".

1. Do try to switch from Algebra to Geometry in the regular school (for the reasons stated by the other posters above).

2. If you choose to do geometry outside the regular school (maybe in addition to), choose AOPS over EPGY and CTY (Thinkwell).

I looked at CTY (thinkwell) math and science offerings and did not particularly like them. I actually got one science course and never used it.

I'd use the AOPS books (textbook+solution manual) + alcumus + local support/tutoring. (Good local support could be more useful than the online class. And AOPS books and alcumus are great on their own.)

Just weighing in here real quick on Geometry via home study. We opted to homeschool this year and went with Switched On Schoolhouse. We bought Geometry (about 100 bucks, though you might get for 89 dollars online at their site or even Amazon) for our 13 yo 8th grader.

We paced it out to a year long class because that's how it would have been given if we'd been able to move to a different school district last summer. Our current school district offers it as a semester class only.

I'm not a "mathy" person, so the bulk of it falls to my husband to grade her work and to explain things she might have trouble with. Had he not been a math-type of person, I would have truly hesitated.

The SOS does not have a workbook, which is a drawback. Lesson questions on a computer do OK, but really, in my hubby's opinion, you need something for reinforcement outside of a computer-based instruction. I ended up getting our state's textbook at a Goodwill for reference because sometimes the SOS wasn't crystal clear on some of the finer points.

She struggled a lot at the very beginning and required some handholding from my hubby. If we are able to move this school year, she would be able to join a class in progress and take the state test. If she were to finish it and we were unable to move, the school district we plan to move to would allow her to take the state test when it's regularly given, even if she took it at home. This would allow her to get high school credit for the class.

I hope this helps! I know you asked about other programs, but I agree with the above poster who said local support/tutoring may be necessary. I also agree with many who said to take a stand and try to get your child into the geometry if you can. My hubby told me that he learned geometry on his own in a self-paced math class and really wish it had been a real teacher teaching it. He felt it was his weakest math.

Thank you all for your quick and helpful replies. I am going to meet with DDs teacher this week. I am leaning toward starting the AOPS books (and I'll have to look at alcumus, as I have not yet done so before) and seeing if DD can 'catch up' to where her teacher thinks her geometry class is this tri-mester. I'll see if the teacher is willing to assess her at the end of the first trimester in geometry and make a final determination then as to whether or not she could switch over..and based on the algebra assessment, get DD tutored for those areas that she shows weaker knowledge. I'll contact the few private schools that DD is looking at for HS to see if they'd take independent geometry, and contact our local public HS, which is probably fine with it. Interestingly, we're seeing a big push away from the cram down of math, even in private schools here. The primary reason DD's school added the 2nd year algebra I/intro to geometry class was due to feedback from the two private (well known and respected) schools here for which it is a feeder, as all these straight A algebra/geometry kids start right into honors Algebra II and all of a sudden struggle, and don't have the foundation they thought they had. After this year, our local public MS from which my child transferred will no longer offer geometry at all....
My daughter is not PG. She is HG though. How 'gifted' do you have to be to be assured that your average smart child's brain development is sufficient in 7th grade to truly comprehend algebra? But I digress...thank you all again!

Agree - the AoPS books are really nice to follow on your own, and Alcumus (free) is a good incentive for most.

One of the important aspects of the on-line class at AoPS is personal grading of proofs with specific comments.

You might find this thread on my DS's experience with AoPS intro to geometry useful:
http://giftedissues.davidsongifted....7284/AoPS_Intro_to_Geometry_course_.html

The huge plus about AoPS for me is that the classes are taught and graded by incredibly smart people. Way beyond your common or garden variety US Maths teacher. The feedback is always apt and some of the alternative solutions presented are really insightful.