One day your children will grow up and start paying their own bills. To successfully transition to economic independence they will need a decent paying career.
High School Math Achievement Predicts College Success
According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics the highest level of math a person takes in high school is a good predictor of the probability of earning a Bachelor’s degree. Almost 70% of high school students who take Calculus go on to graduate from college. Only 30% of high school students graduate from college who stop after intermediate algebra. In other words, students who make it to Calculus in high school are more than twice as likely to graduate from college as those who stop at intermediate algebra!!!
The drastic difference may lie in the overwhelming expense in time and tuition cost to take remedial math in college. Additionally, taking high level math classes in high school requires students to learn time management and study skills which further prepares them for college. These skills are easier to learn in high school where parents and teachers offer more support. College level math professors assume students have already developed the discipline and skills necessary to succeed, as well as the pre-requisite math skills.
Does Going to College Pay the Bills?
In 2014, people with a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree earn a median weekly salary of $1,108.00. Compare that with people who went to college but did not earn a degree. Their median weekly income was $727.00. Finally, people who did not go to college at all had a weekly income of $651.00 (https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2014/data-on-display/education-still-pays.htm). This data indicates a yearly salary difference of almost $24K between someone who gets a Bachelor’s degree and someone who stops after high school.
It seems pretty clear that the best way to set your children up for financial success is to give them the skills necessary to complete their Bachelor’s degree. Successfully completing higher level math courses in high school gives them a great start.
Is It Too Late For Your High School Student Struggling in Math?
If your child is already in high school, and is struggling with the higher level math, Mathnasium can get them on the path to success. The proprietary Mathnasium Method utilizes a curriculum and instructional model that unmasks the mystery and helps them understand the why behind the math. Most students don’t hate math, they hate being frustrated with it—a frustration that has been fostering for many years. Addressing the issue as late as high school will take some effort, but at Mathnasium we’re confident our methodology can change the attitude toward math allowing them to getting back on track and succeeding.
Although filling math concept gaps from middle or even elementary school is late, it’s still better than waiting until college. Kids who aren’t prepared for college pay more for remedial courses and it delays their graduation. These non-credit classes are such a barrier that only 35.1% of students who need remediation in college actually graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in 4 years. https://www.insidehighered.com/sites/default/server_files/files/CCA%20Remediation%20ES%20FINAL.pdf
It’s Never Too Soon To Get Math Help for Your Child.
It’s not fair to set children up for failure. Enrolling students in Algebra before they master the pre-requisite skills is just mean. These unprepared students run the risk of hating math and having their confidence undermined. They may also try to cover-up their learning gaps and never get the help required to succeed.
If your child is in elementary or middle school, you are in luck! The earlier you start on the path to success, the better! We love to start as early as possible because the younger students are like a blank canvas willing to absorb all the info we can throw at them. This is critical to creating a great mathematical foundation for their school career.
Middle school seems to be a time when gaps from elementary school rear their ugly heads. Many parents are surprised when their children who got As in elementary school math start to flounder in middle school. At the first sign of difficulty, don’t assume it is the teacher, or the curriculum, or that it will get better next year…..get help right away.
Math is cumulative building on each learned concept. It may seem subtle in elementary and middle school, but it will quickly become a big issue in high school. At a minimum, get an assessment to determine if there are any gaps or misunderstandings that need be addressed. These issues can be minor and more easily resolved at a younger age.
The Next Step
Give Joe DeFlorio a call at (248) 308-1038 to set up a math assessment. The assessment will look for any math learning gaps. If a math gap is identified, we’ll outline an indivualized course of action for getting your child back on track. This includes a personalized binder of lessons and exercises to target the exact skills that need to be developed. If your child is at or above grade level and no gaps are identified, then we’ll proceed on creating a plan to work on the next up topics to get your child further ahead.
We look forward to hearing from you! Call (248) 308- 1038 today!
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