There are real benefits to passing Algebra I by 8th grade. On average, students who do so are more likely to continue to take and succeed in advanced math courses through high school. Taking Algebra I in middle school also puts students on a trajectory to reach high levels of high school math. This makes them competitive and prepared to pursue science and math majors in college.
Beyond just the ability to problem-solve everyday tasks and challenges, having basic and advanced math skills leads to well-paid careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). In 2021, people employed in STEM jobs earned nearly $20,000 per year more than non-STEM workers.
In Philadelphia, far too few students have the opportunity to take Algebra I, blocking their education and career opportunities. For example, there were 401 eighth graders who passed the math PSSA in 2025 and likely would have done well in algebra but, because their schools didn’t offer it, they lost their chance.
Those kids lost their chance to attend the highly competitive Masterman School in Philadelphia, ranked the 8th best high school in the country, which requires applicants to take Algebra I in middle school. On a broader scale, those students may have also lost access to good STEM careers, which account for 21% of Philadelphia jobs.
There is significant racial disparity in American STEM employment – and in access to Algebra I in the School District of Philadelphia (SDP). In 2021, only 15% of the Hispanic workforce and a mere 8% of the Black workforce were in STEM occupations. Among SDP 7th and 8th graders, Black (24%) and Hispanic (34%) students are much less likely to have access to 8th grade algebra than white (71%) and Asian (68%) students.
Children First is not alone trying to solve the problem. “Algebra I is a gateway to future achievement,” said SDP Superintendent Dr. Tony Watlington last year, when he announced a new partnership with the University of Pennsylvania to boost Algebra I instruction. And the District has prioritized math in a $70 million upgrade to instructional resources. These initiatives are a step in the right direction, but not enough until every Philadelphia student can take algebra by 8th grade.
Philadelphia Councilmember Isaiah Thomas is spearheading a public hearing at City Hall to discuss the importance of algebra in middle school and the steps SDP plans to take to boost access. That hearing is next Thursday, August 6th from approximately 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM (depending on the duration of a morning hearing on pre-school pushout). Children First will be there, sharing our latest fact sheet, Eighth Grade Algebra: The Missing Variable for STEM Success in Philadelphia, that breaks down the problem – and the solutions.
Join us at City Council chambers or watch the hearing online. Together we can boost middle school Algebra I access exponentially!
