Not sure where you went to school but I went to public school in Kentucky and I remember quite vividly an early maths curriculum very different from what you seem to recall. I will include the schools that I attended for what it's worth.
Goshen Elementary, Goshen, Ky
grade 1 - addition, subtraction, shapes, numbers generally under 10, digital time
grade 2 - addition, subtraction, 'doubling', 'tripling', analogue time
grade 3 - multiplication up to 12x12, 'negative' numbers, perimeters and areas
grade 4 - remainder based division up to 144/12, geometric rules of simple shapes
grade 5 - review and expand on all the above, prepare for tests
South Oldham Middle School, Crestwood, Ky
grade 6 - review earlier stuff, introduce negative numbers, multiplication of large numbers
grade 7 - long division, introduction to exponents, general euclidean geometry
grade 8 - algebraic functions, simple trigonometry, exponential growth and decay, compound interest, triangulation and other applications of 6-8, prepare for tests
Shelby County High School, Shelbyville, Ky
grade 9 - euclidean geometry, algebraic functions
grade 10 - matrix algebra, simple trigonometry
grade 11 and up were AP classes and thus cost money so I did not take them.
Interestingly enough though, our stories merge perfectly after 9th grade.