Indicator: Successful completion of Algebra I by 9th grade

Why it matters

Completion of Algebra I by grade 9 is highly predictive of later outcomes, including high school graduation and success in college, and proficiency in algebra is linked to job readiness and higher earnings once students enter the workforce. In addition, Algebra I can act as a “gatekeeper” for access to upper-level math courses that are drivers of college readiness and college completion. White students are more likely than Black and Latino students to take Algebra I earlier and pass the course. Of students who took Algebra I in grade 8, for example, 64 percent of Black students and 72 percent of Latino students received a passing grade, compared to 85 percent of White students. Preparing students for rigorous math coursework in middle school and early high school has been shown to help close racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic achievement gaps.