Poolesville - Math path
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Anonymous
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My DC is interested in the SMACS program at Poolesville. He did algebra in grade 7 and Geometry in grade 8. Is he following the right Math path to get admitted for this program?
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Anonymous
This path is fine. It is not a guarantee to get in the program, though - your dc will need to test high enough, apply, all that, too. |
Anonymous
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Thank you. He did not get in to Roberto Clemente magnet program. Does the middle school magnet program offer Algebra in grade 6, Geometry in grade 7 and Algebra 2 in grade 8?
I heard Poolesville SMACs do not offer Algebra 2? This is what is very confusing for us. |
Anonymous
I have a child at Clemente and most of the students are taking geometry in 8th grade. So your son is fine to attend smacs with the math level he is on. |
Anonymous
| They take a class called magnet pre-Cal which is a scary title for a kid who hadn’t yet had Algebra 2. However, the “class” is really a two year class. Algebra 2 HARD first year. pre-Cal HARD the second year. I think it’s magnet Pre-Cal 1 the first year and magnet Pre-Cal 2 the second. I have a kid at PHS in magnet but not SMCs. |
Anonymous
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SMACs parent here. Most of the kids took Geometry in 8th Grade. There were a handful that took it in 7th.
They test the kids on math skills when they get there and the advanced kids all end up in the same math class regardless of what they took in 8th grade. |
Anonymous
| Magnet Precalc is a three semester combination of algebra II and pre-calc. Some kids struggle with it and drop down to Magnet geometry even if they have taken non-magnet geometry. There is also a two semester version called Functions that you have to be invited to attend. Most of the Functions kids took ALgebra II in 8th. |
Anonymous
| Go to the school website and see under magnet you will see the curriculum. |
Anonymous
Anonymous
| 16:31 - what you described is for Blair, which is different for PHS SMCS. Thanks for caring enough to offer input. |
Anonymous
I thought they were exactly the same? Sorry |
Anonymous
Huh?? The PP got it directly from PHS SMCS website. It is right under the Magnet Math pathways |
Anonymous
PHS parent here. You can see the math pathways here https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/poolesvillehs/magnet/smcs/ Also I don't think its true that "most" kids in Functions took Algebra 2 in 8th. Some, yes. Mine did not. |
Anonymous
| SMCS parent of a 9th grader here. The hard part is getting in. There will be a summer camp to help prepare the students and they hit the ground running when school starts and then test them again to separate them again. My child moved to functions. She said a lot of kids have tutors as it is a huge learning curve for some. The Clemente kids do better as they are used to pacing, pressure and have had more exposure to higher content. My daughter also said ALL children there use Khan academy to help them or preview new content. My DD also takes mat courses at colleges over the summer. But, focus on getting in first. The teachers there are disappointed with their pool of kids selected and complain of holes I learning due to the virtual 18 Mos. So they will probably be more selective next year. Good luck! My daughter absolutely loves this program and her school. |
Anonymous
| Pp here, I forgot to mention that Dd took Gometry in 8th, and took Algebra 2 as an online course and then pre cal online. Therefore, she pased the test to start functions. |