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<p>Yes, that’s right. My son, and a few other homeschooled kids we know locally, joined the [UMTYMP[/url</a>] program at sixth-grade age, taking algebra I (in his case, for the second time, after the [url=<a href=“http://epgy.stanford.edu/courses/math/M011/]EPGY”>http://epgy.stanford.edu/courses/math/M011/]EPGY</a> algebra I](<a href=“http://www.itcep.umn.edu/umtymp/]UMTYMP[/url”>http://www.itcep.umn.edu/umtymp/) course) and algebra II that school year. That school year had 150 students (five sections with 30 students each) in the UMTYMP first-year program. The second year my son had geometry (not his first time for that course, either) and precalculus at seventh-grade age, among 120 fellow students (four sections with 30 students each). Now he is in calculus I (and just getting into new material) at eighth-grade age, with about 80 classmates (five workshop sections of 16 students each). UMTYMP’s calculus I course, which takes all school year, is just like a one-semester honors calculus course at the U of MN as to syllabus (but different as to mode of instruction) and would adequately prepare most students for the AP calculus AB exam. The calculus II course (next school year) would be ample preparation for the AP calculus BC exam, which it might be expedient for my son to take. </p>
<p>We are looking at Exeter and Andover for next year and have interviews scheduled on-campus the first week of January. Exeter’s math team is quite impressive, and Andover’s physics team is too. What we have found by touring local independent high schools is that very few schools in Minnesota (possibly NO schools in Minnesota) offer any more opportunity for advanced, in-depth study of math and science than we have already arranged here through UMTYMP and our local gifted homeschooling support group. After touring the last few [NAIS](<a href=“http://www.nais.org/]NAIS[/url]-affiliated”>http://www.nais.org/)-affiliated</a> private day schools we haven’t already visited, we will tour some of the top public schools in town, all of which are available to us through Minnesota’s open enrollment statute. Thus far we find that with VERY FEW exceptions, top math and science kids in Minnesota are in UMTYMP, and stay in UMTYMP, if they are looking for the best opportunity to advance in their domains of interest. So what we are looking for, really, is a good fit for putting together a challenging program in all the other NON-math and NON-science subjects a high schooler should study, in a social environment that encourages achievement and community involvement. Our homeschooling support group’s joint classes involve my son with a great group of kids that he likes very well and that I think are good examples to him, but for us parents to keep those classes going we have to do a lot of administrative tasks (e.g., hiring teachers) and a lot of driving in the midst of our busy lives in a sprawling metropolitan area. </p>
<p>Different educational choices involve different trade-offs. Because Exeter and Andover are so conspicuous nationally in offering math and science courses much more advanced than those at most high schools, I’m a bit surprised, as I indicated, that few of the students who come forward to enroll at those schools are taking advantage of the most advanced courses they could take. Marite’s point is quite correct that it is just plain unusual nationally for students younger than twelfth-graders to take the kind of courses that are available at Red and Blue, and certainly the private day schools here in Minnesota that have very good national reputations offer nothing of that kind. For the rare student who really, truly wants to take an AP calculus BC course at tenth-grade age, Exeter and Andover are possibilities, as is the much more commonly encountered (but still quite rare) choice of early part-time enrollment in a college math course. Minnesota kids with that desire generally stick with UMTYMP. UMTYMP is a great program, but we are looking at what is best to do for humanities courses and sports involvement over the next few years, hence our decision to apply to Exeter and Andover, with an interview visit planned to see what those schools are like.</p>