HS STEM magnet entrance requirements

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This year, there is not a magnet Geometry class for 9th. A couple of kids did it over the summer. Everyone is in Precalculus or Functions.

How are SMACS magnet Precalculus and Functions different from how school Algebra 2 + Precalculus, besides being accelerated? Or is speed the only difference?

Please be specific if you can. I've heardvit's "deeper" and "more work" but not specifically what that means. I'd love to hear from someone who has had kids in both Magnet SMACS and neighborhood high school math class

The neighborhood high school math class doesn’t combine algebra II and precalculus into a single class. Functions does that in 2 semesters. Magnet precalculus does it in 3. They also go into the subject deeper as you’ve said.

But deeper how? What's on the functions syllabus/hw/tests that isn't on the non-magnet honors algebra 2 and precalc syllabus/hw/tests?

Why does it matter? It's Algebra 2 and pre-calc all in one course. Is that not challenging enough? The kids that already took Algebra 2 were in 8th were in the same class with the advanced students coming from Geometry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
MCAP is not relevant. If your child has all As and scores above the 99th percentile in 7th grade spring and 8th grade fall MAPs they might have a shot. Also need to be taking geometry in 8th for stem magnets and aids some enthusiasm for learning and proven interest in the subject in the day and prompts.

I don't think geometry is a requirement. Blair has magnet geometry as an option, but I would imagine there aren't many kids in that boat.

+1. About 1/4 of the magnet kids take geometry in 9th.

That’s not even a tiny bit true at Blair.

DD graduated 3 years ago and it was the exactly the case for her year. 1 class of magnet geometry, 2 classes of precalc and 1 class of functions. Some kids who took geometry repeated it after struggling in precalc as well. Maybe it has changed...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
MCAP is not relevant. If your child has all As and scores above the 99th percentile in 7th grade spring and 8th grade fall MAPs they might have a shot. Also need to be taking geometry in 8th for stem magnets and aids some enthusiasm for learning and proven interest in the subject in the day and prompts.

I don't think geometry is a requirement. Blair has magnet geometry as an option, but I would imagine there aren't many kids in that boat.

+1. About 1/4 of the magnet kids take geometry in 9th.

That’s not even a tiny bit true at Blair.

DD graduated 3 years ago and it was the exactly the case for her year. 1 class of magnet geometry, 2 classes of precalc and 1 class of functions. Some kids who took geometry repeated it after struggling in precalc as well. Maybe it has changed...

I will add that I have no idea hwo many kids were in each class. Maybe the Geo class was smaller.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
MCAP is not relevant. If your child has all As and scores above the 99th percentile in 7th grade spring and 8th grade fall MAPs they might have a shot. Also need to be taking geometry in 8th for stem magnets and aids some enthusiasm for learning and proven interest in the subject in the day and prompts.

I don't think geometry is a requirement. Blair has magnet geometry as an option, but I would imagine there aren't many kids in that boat.

+1. About 1/4 of the magnet kids take geometry in 9th.

That makes no sense to give the slots to those kids.

And it doesn't make sense that a student with high enough MAP-M scores to get into the magnet wouldn't already be in the standard accelerated pathway which has them taking geometry in 8th grade.

Some families purposely slow things down in MS to ensure a stronger foundation. Particularly when they can take magnet Geometry in HS or over the summer.

And some magnet kids-- I've known a handful at Blair-- come from private middle schools where geometry is not offered, so 9th grade (or the summer before) is their earliest opportunity to take it. This doesn't mean they aren't still talented in STEM, and they've done well in the magnet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This year, there is not a magnet Geometry class for 9th. A couple of kids did it over the summer. Everyone is in Precalculus or Functions.

How are SMACS magnet Precalculus and Functions different from how school Algebra 2 + Precalculus, besides being accelerated? Or is speed the only difference?

Please be specific if you can. I've heardvit's "deeper" and "more work" but not specifically what that means. I'd love to hear from someone who has had kids in both Magnet SMACS and neighborhood high school math class

The neighborhood high school math class doesn’t combine algebra II and precalculus into a single class. Functions does that in 2 semesters. Magnet precalculus does it in 3. They also go into the subject deeper as you’ve said.

But deeper how? What's on the functions syllabus/hw/tests that isn't on the non-magnet honors algebra 2 and precalc syllabus/hw/tests?

Why does it matter? It's Algebra 2 and pre-calc all in one course. Is that not challenging enough? The kids that already took Algebra 2 were in 8th were in the same class with the advanced students coming from Geometry.

It matters because some students have already studied Precalculus, and 1 or 2 semesters of Functions might be redundant for them, or might not be if the class has something more in it.

It matters because many parents speak of Functions in mysterious tones and hours of daily homework, and it's not clear if that's because they are referring to students jumping in from Geometry (possibly from outside enrichment), or students who got B's in Algebra 2, or students who got As in Algebra and also do enrichment, or what.

SMACS has confusing class structures, names, and descriptions (like Precalculus which has Geometry as prerequisite and is 3 semesters at Blair and 4 semesters at Poolesville, but replaces 4 semesters of Algebra 2 and Precalculus at home school)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This year, there is not a magnet Geometry class for 9th. A couple of kids did it over the summer. Everyone is in Precalculus or Functions.

How are SMACS magnet Precalculus and Functions different from how school Algebra 2 + Precalculus, besides being accelerated? Or is speed the only difference?

Please be specific if you can. I've heardvit's "deeper" and "more work" but not specifically what that means. I'd love to hear from someone who has had kids in both Magnet SMACS and neighborhood high school math class

The neighborhood high school math class doesn’t combine algebra II and precalculus into a single class. Functions does that in 2 semesters. Magnet precalculus does it in 3. They also go into the subject deeper as you’ve said.

But deeper how? What's on the functions syllabus/hw/tests that isn't on the non-magnet honors algebra 2 and precalc syllabus/hw/tests?

Why does it matter? It's Algebra 2 and pre-calc all in one course. Is that not challenging enough? The kids that already took Algebra 2 were in 8th were in the same class with the advanced students coming from Geometry.

It matters because some students have already studied Precalculus, and 1 or 2 semesters of Functions might be redundant for them, or might not be if the class has something more in it.

It matters because many parents speak of Functions in mysterious tones and hours of daily homework, and it's not clear if that's because they are referring to students jumping in from Geometry (possibly from outside enrichment), or students who got B's in Algebra 2, or students who got As in Algebra and also do enrichment, or what.

SMACS has confusing class structures, names, and descriptions (like Precalculus which has Geometry as prerequisite and is 3 semesters at Blair and 4 semesters at Poolesville, but replaces 4 semesters of Algebra 2 and Precalculus at home school)

So you don't have kids in the program. What does it matter to you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This year, there is not a magnet Geometry class for 9th. A couple of kids did it over the summer. Everyone is in Precalculus or Functions.

How are SMACS magnet Precalculus and Functions different from how school Algebra 2 + Precalculus, besides being accelerated? Or is speed the only difference?

Please be specific if you can. I've heardvit's "deeper" and "more work" but not specifically what that means. I'd love to hear from someone who has had kids in both Magnet SMACS and neighborhood high school math class

The neighborhood high school math class doesn’t combine algebra II and precalculus into a single class. Functions does that in 2 semesters. Magnet precalculus does it in 3. They also go into the subject deeper as you’ve said.

But deeper how? What's on the functions syllabus/hw/tests that isn't on the non-magnet honors algebra 2 and precalc syllabus/hw/tests?

Why does it matter? It's Algebra 2 and pre-calc all in one course. Is that not challenging enough? The kids that already took Algebra 2 were in 8th were in the same class with the advanced students coming from Geometry.

It matters because some students have already studied Precalculus, and 1 or 2 semesters of Functions might be redundant for them, or might not be if the class has something more in it.

It matters because many parents speak of Functions in mysterious tones and hours of daily homework, and it's not clear if that's because they are referring to students jumping in from Geometry (possibly from outside enrichment), or students who got B's in Algebra 2, or students who got As in Algebra and also do enrichment, or what.

SMACS has confusing class structures, names, and descriptions (like Precalculus which has Geometry as prerequisite and is 3 semesters at Blair and 4 semesters at Poolesville, but replaces 4 semesters of Algebra 2 and Precalculus at home school)

You do not need to worry about your kid being bored in SMCS math classes.

Homework in SMCS varies since there are kids that are very quick workers and some that are not. Kids that do not love math will struggle, especially if they are on the functions path.

My kid came from Geometry and did not have hours of homework. But he is a very strong and quick working math student who should have been accelerated earlier. Not sure if any of the content was repetitive for kids coming from Algebra 2. All worked out for everyone in the end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
MCAP is not relevant. If your child has all As and scores above the 99th percentile in 7th grade spring and 8th grade fall MAPs they might have a shot. Also need to be taking geometry in 8th for stem magnets and aids some enthusiasm for learning and proven interest in the subject in the day and prompts.

I don't think geometry is a requirement. Blair has magnet geometry as an option, but I would imagine there aren't many kids in that boat.

+1. About 1/4 of the magnet kids take geometry in 9th.

That’s not even a tiny bit true at Blair.

DD graduated 3 years ago and it was the exactly the case for her year. 1 class of magnet geometry, 2 classes of precalc and 1 class of functions. Some kids who took geometry repeated it after struggling in precalc as well. Maybe it has changed...

You’re talking about 7 years ago. Obviously not relevant to what is happening today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This year, there is not a magnet Geometry class for 9th. A couple of kids did it over the summer. Everyone is in Precalculus or Functions.

How are SMACS magnet Precalculus and Functions different from how school Algebra 2 + Precalculus, besides being accelerated? Or is speed the only difference?

Please be specific if you can. I've heardvit's "deeper" and "more work" but not specifically what that means. I'd love to hear from someone who has had kids in both Magnet SMACS and neighborhood high school math class

The neighborhood high school math class doesn’t combine algebra II and precalculus into a single class. Functions does that in 2 semesters. Magnet precalculus does it in 3. They also go into the subject deeper as you’ve said.

But deeper how? What's on the functions syllabus/hw/tests that isn't on the non-magnet honors algebra 2 and precalc syllabus/hw/tests?

Why does it matter? It's Algebra 2 and pre-calc all in one course. Is that not challenging enough? The kids that already took Algebra 2 were in 8th were in the same class with the advanced students coming from Geometry.

It matters because some students have already studied Precalculus, and 1 or 2 semesters of Functions might be redundant for them, or might not be if the class has something more in it.

It matters because many parents speak of Functions in mysterious tones and hours of daily homework, and it's not clear if that's because they are referring to students jumping in from Geometry (possibly from outside enrichment), or students who got B's in Algebra 2, or students who got As in Algebra and also do enrichment, or what.

SMACS has confusing class structures, names, and descriptions (like Precalculus which has Geometry as prerequisite and is 3 semesters at Blair and 4 semesters at Poolesville, but replaces 4 semesters of Algebra 2 and Precalculus at home school)

If you have a kid who has already completed precalculus in 8th grade then you discuss this with Mr O. I’m sure functions is plenty challenging enough but it’s also possible to go straight to calculus or analysis or whatever they call magnet calculus. In fact you could even go straight to one of the higher math electives if appropriate. I think there’s one kid who has done that this year. But for the vast majority of geniuses in this program functions and precalculus are a challenge. They are still only 14 or 15 years old, there is no need for so much pressure at this point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This year, there is not a magnet Geometry class for 9th. A couple of kids did it over the summer. Everyone is in Precalculus or Functions.

How are SMACS magnet Precalculus and Functions different from how school Algebra 2 + Precalculus, besides being accelerated? Or is speed the only difference?

Please be specific if you can. I've heardvit's "deeper" and "more work" but not specifically what that means. I'd love to hear from someone who has had kids in both Magnet SMACS and neighborhood high school math class

The neighborhood high school math class doesn’t combine algebra II and precalculus into a single class. Functions does that in 2 semesters. Magnet precalculus does it in 3. They also go into the subject deeper as you’ve said.

But deeper how? What's on the functions syllabus/hw/tests that isn't on the non-magnet honors algebra 2 and precalc syllabus/hw/tests?

Although you don't need to take Algebra2+ for functions, you need to get a recommendation from spending a week in factoring camp the previous summer.

Functions are recommended for students who already have taken Algebra 2 or Precalc; however, if you're especially ambitious you can take it after geometry with a recommendation.

People say it involves more work than Precalc like an additional hour or three of homework per night.

Magnet math is more rigorous and uses proofs more than regular HS math.