the standard curriculum is not designed for the top students it’s not a question of learning calculus that's easy the question is how to keep up with your potential.
If you understand calculus and diff EQ you can do 95% of the useful math for most walks of life. But getting to that point at 16 is not much more useful than getting there at 20. What’s often harder and more interesting is to get into topology and number theory so you can start to explore higher math.
PS: High level math completions in the US are also focused on a wider range of math skills. With a little effort you can start to step out of the "normal mold" and compete at that level.
> What’s often harder and more interesting is to get into topology and number theory so you can start to explore higher math.
If you learn the basic ideas of calculus when you're 12, this is not going to dissuade you from learning about topology and number theory too. Prime numbers pretty much sell themselves.
If you understand calculus and diff EQ you can do 95% of the useful math for most walks of life. But getting to that point at 16 is not much more useful than getting there at 20. What’s often harder and more interesting is to get into topology and number theory so you can start to explore higher math.
PS: High level math completions in the US are also focused on a wider range of math skills. With a little effort you can start to step out of the "normal mold" and compete at that level.