Has your child ever asked why he needs to take algebra as part of his high school academics? Here are just a few reasons:
- Taking algebra is becoming inevitable. Many states now require four years of math in high school.
- Algebra is the gateway to advanced mathematics and science in high school.
- The benefits of taking rigorous mathematics and science courses extend to students heading into the job market and to both two- and four-year colleges.
- Two-year colleges often require all students to gain an understanding of intermediate algebra prior to graduation, regardless of their course of study.
- Four-year colleges and universities typically require up to four years of high school mathematics preparation as part of their college admission requirements..
- Many colleges have an advanced mathematics requirement for graduation.
- Provides good career job training. In the job market, workers who have strong mathematics and science backgrounds in high school are more likely to be employed and generally earn more than workers with fewer math and science courses, even if they have not gone on to college.
- In today's knowledge-based economy, math courses provide an important foundation for high-paying, high-tech jobs that require post-secondary training.
Sources: "Building Knowledge Economies: Education in a Global and Competitive World," by Bruno Laporte, International Federation of Engineering Education SocietiesConference, September, 2007; United States Department of Education, "Mathematics Equals Opportunity," online, October 10, 1997.