Algebra II is a little tough in Saxon. It covers trig and stuff, things he’d likely hit in senior high. Having done it, I wouldn’t recommend it before senior high unless the kid is really precocious in math.
If you’re going to be starting him in Algebra, it’s not too late to go the Saxon route. If you were starting Saxon later into Algebra, after Algebra 1/2 for example, it might be an issue but I’m not familiar with other curriculum so I don’t know how they compare. I wouldn’t worry though, if he didn’t have the earlier grades in Saxon (54-87). As long as he’s got a good grasp of the basics, I don’t think that starting with Algebra 1/2 you’d have to worry about missing anything.
Since he’s twelve (in 7th grade?), you could do the Algebra 1/2 I, II, Advanced Math, and Calculus and it is only 5 years worth of math. He shouldn’t have any trouble with the 1/2 and should get most of the way through the Algebra I without any difficulty.
If he gets bogged down, you can always slow down in the later grades and skip calc. There’s no shame in that. Many people don’t get it the first time through even at the college level. That still leaves 6 years to do four years of math and get through the Advanced Math.
Saxon sounds like the best program. I like that it combines algebra and geometry; I just wish I’d started him on it earlier.
I should mention that he’ll turn 13 this year, so if he takes the Saxon route beginning with Algebra 1/2, he won’t finish Advanced Mathematics until the year he turns 17. He really should be on a faster track because he’s strong in science and math. (And his father expects much more; he himself completed two years of calculus in high school and won a scholarship in math. So, we’re under some pressure here...) ;-)
Did you find that Saxon enables independent study? I’ll need to focus more on my younger two sons while the older one studies.
Thanks again, btw, for all your advice!