9th grade? This seems ludicrously late to me. I had algebra introduced in third grade (8-9 years old) and had a far easier time throughout school as a result.

9th grade? This seems ludicrously late to me. I had algebra introduced in third grade (8-9 years old) and had a far easier time throughout school as a result. I've since gone on to have an interest in mathematics in my adult life. What reason could there possibly be for delaying its introduction until so late in one's school life?