you can take calculus at my local high school. before, you needed to take algebra I in eighth grade to take it since the system is as such: (also, eighth is funny looking. eighth? wtf.)
Algebra Ia --> Algebra Ib --> Geometry Ia
| |
|-------------' Personal Finances
\|/
Algebra I --> Geometry --> Algebra II --> Precalculus --> AP Calculus
| /|\ |
| | \|/
Geometry Ia ------' Statistics --> AP Statistics
Now, they have more classes due to a new scheduling system, so pretty much anyone can take Calculus or what have you by the end of schooling. a and b are the halves of the subject, 1a is the first half, 1b, the second. Geometry 1b was deprecated [a word you only find in programming] due to not enough students taking it. Also, Personal Finances is a class of it's own.. It's basically a class teaching you how to do your own taxes, manage a budget, manage a small business' finances, and other business business money stuff. There needs to be more classes like that... Also, a "home economics" on steroids should be required.. You wouldn't believe how many Americans there are that don't even know how to cook or do their own fucking laundry. XD