MAP-M 6+ in 5th grade

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So MCPS will provide guidance like 5th graders score 250+ (just as example) in Spring MAP Math 6+ test can choose algebra 1 at 6th grade? Or how should it work? I am sure just depending on individual school is not a good solution. MCPS should provide the guidance for all middle school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is run by ineffective and unsupportive leaders who don’t actual care about the schools or kids. Our school fought back when the memo arrived and yet no one at the top cared or listened. We are told to follow orders even though the decision is not good for kids. It’s awful and parents should be reaching out to the math dept and directors. They don’t listen to teachers.

Why would the people at the top even think this was helpful? Could this provide a better indication of who is ready for Algebra in 6th than the current methods which seem to be up to each school are inconsistent?

You didn't hear this from me but all the noise about the WPS offering Algebra in 6th to students has raised equity concerns among the top brass. Apparently, the first step in addressing it is to collect accurate metrics by using the 6th-grade MAP-M at the end of 5th.

It all makes sense now.

Should. Won't. Limits their options.

As the parent of an older kid and looking back, I am not convinced that anyone needs to be taking Algebra in 6th grade. For reference, my kid had a 260 at the end of 3rd grade and took Algebra in 7th. Finishing HS having taken Calc BC in 10th, Linear Alg, AP stats, and Vector Calculus. That's plenty of math!

Having access to Algebra in 6th enables kids to better on MS contest math that requires knowledge of both Algebra and Geometry. Also, seems like it would provide a boost to MAP-M since that's about exposure which in turn impacts magnet admissions. It's all kind of a racket about how people like to improve their kid's odds by hoarding these opportunities.

If you are taking Algebra in 6th, your MAP is Blair-ready before you even take these classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So MCPS will provide guidance like 5th graders score 250+ (just as example) in Spring MAP Math 6+ test can choose algebra 1 at 6th grade? Or how should it work? I am sure just depending on individual school is not a good solution. MCPS should provide the guidance for all middle school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is run by ineffective and unsupportive leaders who don’t actual care about the schools or kids. Our school fought back when the memo arrived and yet no one at the top cared or listened. We are told to follow orders even though the decision is not good for kids. It’s awful and parents should be reaching out to the math dept and directors. They don’t listen to teachers.

Why would the people at the top even think this was helpful? Could this provide a better indication of who is ready for Algebra in 6th than the current methods which seem to be up to each school are inconsistent?

You didn't hear this from me but all the noise about the WPS offering Algebra in 6th to students has raised equity concerns among the top brass. Apparently, the first step in addressing it is to collect accurate metrics by using the 6th-grade MAP-M at the end of 5th.

It all makes sense now.

Should. Won't. Limits their options.

As the parent of an older kid and looking back, I am not convinced that anyone needs to be taking Algebra in 6th grade. For reference, my kid had a 260 at the end of 3rd grade and took Algebra in 7th. Finishing HS having taken Calc BC in 10th, Linear Alg, AP stats, and Vector Calculus. That's plenty of math!

What is the point of doing this much math in high school vs just going onto college?

English, Science, History, Arts, age-matched peer group, and of course free beats $1000+/course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So MCPS will provide guidance like 5th graders score 250+ (just as example) in Spring MAP Math 6+ test can choose algebra 1 at 6th grade? Or how should it work? I am sure just depending on individual school is not a good solution. MCPS should provide the guidance for all middle school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is run by ineffective and unsupportive leaders who don’t actual care about the schools or kids. Our school fought back when the memo arrived and yet no one at the top cared or listened. We are told to follow orders even though the decision is not good for kids. It’s awful and parents should be reaching out to the math dept and directors. They don’t listen to teachers.

Why would the people at the top even think this was helpful? Could this provide a better indication of who is ready for Algebra in 6th than the current methods which seem to be up to each school are inconsistent?

You didn't hear this from me but all the noise about the WPS offering Algebra in 6th to students has raised equity concerns among the top brass. Apparently, the first step in addressing it is to collect accurate metrics by using the 6th-grade MAP-M at the end of 5th.

It all makes sense now.

Should. Won't. Limits their options.

As the parent of an older kid and looking back, I am not convinced that anyone needs to be taking Algebra in 6th grade. For reference, my kid had a 260 at the end of 3rd grade and took Algebra in 7th. Finishing HS having taken Calc BC in 10th, Linear Alg, AP stats, and Vector Calculus. That's plenty of math!

Having access to Algebra in 6th enables kids to better on MS contest math that requires knowledge of both Algebra and Geometry. Also, seems like it would provide a boost to MAP-M since that's about exposure which in turn impacts magnet admissions. It's all kind of a racket about how people like to improve their kid's odds by hoarding these opportunities.

If you are taking Algebra in 6th, your MAP is Blair-ready before you even take these classes.

That may be. However, there are very few SMACS slots compared to demand for them, and admissions is by competitive review -- those deemed best get in, and having an even higher MAP score contributes to an applicant's profile for consideration (only one factor, but it's not like they'd take the lower-scoring candidate, all other factors being equal). It's not general-qualification-with-lottery, as they made elementary and middle magnet programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So MCPS will provide guidance like 5th graders score 250+ (just as example) in Spring MAP Math 6+ test can choose algebra 1 at 6th grade? Or how should it work? I am sure just depending on individual school is not a good solution. MCPS should provide the guidance for all middle school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is run by ineffective and unsupportive leaders who don’t actual care about the schools or kids. Our school fought back when the memo arrived and yet no one at the top cared or listened. We are told to follow orders even though the decision is not good for kids. It’s awful and parents should be reaching out to the math dept and directors. They don’t listen to teachers.

Why would the people at the top even think this was helpful? Could this provide a better indication of who is ready for Algebra in 6th than the current methods which seem to be up to each school are inconsistent?

You didn't hear this from me but all the noise about the WPS offering Algebra in 6th to students has raised equity concerns among the top brass. Apparently, the first step in addressing it is to collect accurate metrics by using the 6th-grade MAP-M at the end of 5th.

It all makes sense now.

Should. Won't. Limits their options.

As the parent of an older kid and looking back, I am not convinced that anyone needs to be taking Algebra in 6th grade. For reference, my kid had a 260 at the end of 3rd grade and took Algebra in 7th. Finishing HS having taken Calc BC in 10th, Linear Alg, AP stats, and Vector Calculus. That's plenty of math!

Having access to Algebra in 6th enables kids to better on MS contest math that requires knowledge of both Algebra and Geometry. Also, seems like it would provide a boost to MAP-M since that's about exposure which in turn impacts magnet admissions. It's all kind of a racket about how people like to improve their kid's odds by hoarding these opportunities.

If you are taking Algebra in 6th, your MAP is Blair-ready before you even take these classes.

That may be. However, there are very few SMACS slots compared to demand for them, and admissions is by competitive review -- those deemed best get in, and having an even higher MAP score contributes to an applicant's profile for consideration (only one factor, but it's not like they'd take the lower-scoring candidate, all other factors being equal). It's not general-qualification-with-lottery, as they made elementary and middle magnet programs.

Can't say for sure, but I don't think admissions committee considers an "absurdly high" MAP over an "extremely high" MAP. They've been trained enough in "equity" to know to disregard that, and they know that MAP's ceiling is far below Blair's expectations. They don't care whether your kid is far above mediocre Geometry vs far above mediocre Algebra 2. They happily take kids who are far above mediocre Algebra 1, and put them in Geometry class. The raison d'etre of SMACS Magnet is that regular schools and regular tests like MAP don't meet these kids' potential.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So MCPS will provide guidance like 5th graders score 250+ (just as example) in Spring MAP Math 6+ test can choose algebra 1 at 6th grade? Or how should it work? I am sure just depending on individual school is not a good solution. MCPS should provide the guidance for all middle school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is run by ineffective and unsupportive leaders who don’t actual care about the schools or kids. Our school fought back when the memo arrived and yet no one at the top cared or listened. We are told to follow orders even though the decision is not good for kids. It’s awful and parents should be reaching out to the math dept and directors. They don’t listen to teachers.

Why would the people at the top even think this was helpful? Could this provide a better indication of who is ready for Algebra in 6th than the current methods which seem to be up to each school are inconsistent?

You didn't hear this from me but all the noise about the WPS offering Algebra in 6th to students has raised equity concerns among the top brass. Apparently, the first step in addressing it is to collect accurate metrics by using the 6th-grade MAP-M at the end of 5th.

It all makes sense now.

Should. Won't. Limits their options.

As the parent of an older kid and looking back, I am not convinced that anyone needs to be taking Algebra in 6th grade. For reference, my kid had a 260 at the end of 3rd grade and took Algebra in 7th. Finishing HS having taken Calc BC in 10th, Linear Alg, AP stats, and Vector Calculus. That's plenty of math!

Having access to Algebra in 6th enables kids to better on MS contest math that requires knowledge of both Algebra and Geometry. Also, seems like it would provide a boost to MAP-M since that's about exposure which in turn impacts magnet admissions. It's all kind of a racket about how people like to improve their kid's odds by hoarding these opportunities.

If you are taking Algebra in 6th, your MAP is Blair-ready before you even take these classes.

That may be. However, there are very few SMACS slots compared to demand for them, and admissions is by competitive review -- those deemed best get in, and having an even higher MAP score contributes to an applicant's profile for consideration (only one factor, but it's not like they'd take the lower-scoring candidate, all other factors being equal). It's not general-qualification-with-lottery, as they made elementary and middle magnet programs.

Can't say for sure, but I don't think admissions committee considers an "absurdly high" MAP over an "extremely high" MAP. They've been trained enough in "equity" to know to disregard that, and they know that MAP's ceiling is far below Blair's expectations. They don't care whether your kid is far above mediocre Geometry vs far above mediocre Algebra 2. They happily take kids who are far above mediocre Algebra 1, and put them in Geometry class. The raison d'etre of SMACS Magnet is that regular schools and regular tests like MAP don't meet these kids' potential.

Programs like SMACS don't have enough seats to take everybody who would benefit from them. Why wouldn't they take the higher MAP if all other factors were equal? Families looking to have a better chance may take that slight edge for their children that would be conferred by exposure to courses a year earlier than MCPS provides within their standard acceleration options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So MCPS will provide guidance like 5th graders score 250+ (just as example) in Spring MAP Math 6+ test can choose algebra 1 at 6th grade? Or how should it work? I am sure just depending on individual school is not a good solution. MCPS should provide the guidance for all middle school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is run by ineffective and unsupportive leaders who don’t actual care about the schools or kids. Our school fought back when the memo arrived and yet no one at the top cared or listened. We are told to follow orders even though the decision is not good for kids. It’s awful and parents should be reaching out to the math dept and directors. They don’t listen to teachers.

Why would the people at the top even think this was helpful? Could this provide a better indication of who is ready for Algebra in 6th than the current methods which seem to be up to each school are inconsistent?

You didn't hear this from me but all the noise about the WPS offering Algebra in 6th to students has raised equity concerns among the top brass. Apparently, the first step in addressing it is to collect accurate metrics by using the 6th-grade MAP-M at the end of 5th.

It all makes sense now.

Should. Won't. Limits their options.

As the parent of an older kid and looking back, I am not convinced that anyone needs to be taking Algebra in 6th grade. For reference, my kid had a 260 at the end of 3rd grade and took Algebra in 7th. Finishing HS having taken Calc BC in 10th, Linear Alg, AP stats, and Vector Calculus. That's plenty of math!

Having access to Algebra in 6th enables kids to better on MS contest math that requires knowledge of both Algebra and Geometry. Also, seems like it would provide a boost to MAP-M since that's about exposure which in turn impacts magnet admissions. It's all kind of a racket about how people like to improve their kid's odds by hoarding these opportunities.

If you are taking Algebra in 6th, your MAP is Blair-ready before you even take these classes.

That may be. However, there are very few SMACS slots compared to demand for them, and admissions is by competitive review -- those deemed best get in, and having an even higher MAP score contributes to an applicant's profile for consideration (only one factor, but it's not like they'd take the lower-scoring candidate, all other factors being equal). It's not general-qualification-with-lottery, as they made elementary and middle magnet programs.

Can't say for sure, but I don't think admissions committee considers an "absurdly high" MAP over an "extremely high" MAP. They've been trained enough in "equity" to know to disregard that, and they know that MAP's ceiling is far below Blair's expectations. They don't care whether your kid is far above mediocre Geometry vs far above mediocre Algebra 2. They happily take kids who are far above mediocre Algebra 1, and put them in Geometry class. The raison d'etre of SMACS Magnet is that regular schools and regular tests like MAP don't meet these kids' potential.

Programs like SMACS don't have enough seats to take everybody who would benefit from them. Why wouldn't they take the higher MAP if all other factors were equal? Families looking to have a better chance may take that slight edge for their children that would be conferred by exposure to courses a year earlier than MCPS provides within their standard acceleration options.

It’s not hard to learn algebra at or before 6th grade outside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So MCPS will provide guidance like 5th graders score 250+ (just as example) in Spring MAP Math 6+ test can choose algebra 1 at 6th grade? Or how should it work? I am sure just depending on individual school is not a good solution. MCPS should provide the guidance for all middle school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is run by ineffective and unsupportive leaders who don’t actual care about the schools or kids. Our school fought back when the memo arrived and yet no one at the top cared or listened. We are told to follow orders even though the decision is not good for kids. It’s awful and parents should be reaching out to the math dept and directors. They don’t listen to teachers.

Why would the people at the top even think this was helpful? Could this provide a better indication of who is ready for Algebra in 6th than the current methods which seem to be up to each school are inconsistent?

You didn't hear this from me but all the noise about the WPS offering Algebra in 6th to students has raised equity concerns among the top brass. Apparently, the first step in addressing it is to collect accurate metrics by using the 6th-grade MAP-M at the end of 5th.

It all makes sense now.

Should. Won't. Limits their options.

As the parent of an older kid and looking back, I am not convinced that anyone needs to be taking Algebra in 6th grade. For reference, my kid had a 260 at the end of 3rd grade and took Algebra in 7th. Finishing HS having taken Calc BC in 10th, Linear Alg, AP stats, and Vector Calculus. That's plenty of math!

Did he take a course over the summer? How does he get to calc bc in 10th ? Mine was on algebra 1 in 6th track when he took calc bc in 10th.
Algebra 1 in 6th
Geometry in 7th
Algebra 2 in 8th
Precalc In 9th
Calc bc in 10th
MV calc in 11th
AP stat and linear algebra in 12th

How can you get to calc bc in 10th if you dont take algebra 1 in 6th? U will have to take some other course over the summer then

No courses over summer. Took functions class at SMCS magnet in 9th.
Alg 1 7th
Geometry 8th
Functions 9th
Calc BC 10th
Linear Algebra and AP Stats 11th
Vector Calculus 12th

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So MCPS will provide guidance like 5th graders score 250+ (just as example) in Spring MAP Math 6+ test can choose algebra 1 at 6th grade? Or how should it work? I am sure just depending on individual school is not a good solution. MCPS should provide the guidance for all middle school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is run by ineffective and unsupportive leaders who don’t actual care about the schools or kids. Our school fought back when the memo arrived and yet no one at the top cared or listened. We are told to follow orders even though the decision is not good for kids. It’s awful and parents should be reaching out to the math dept and directors. They don’t listen to teachers.

Why would the people at the top even think this was helpful? Could this provide a better indication of who is ready for Algebra in 6th than the current methods which seem to be up to each school are inconsistent?

You didn't hear this from me but all the noise about the WPS offering Algebra in 6th to students has raised equity concerns among the top brass. Apparently, the first step in addressing it is to collect accurate metrics by using the 6th-grade MAP-M at the end of 5th.

It all makes sense now.

Should. Won't. Limits their options.

As the parent of an older kid and looking back, I am not convinced that anyone needs to be taking Algebra in 6th grade. For reference, my kid had a 260 at the end of 3rd grade and took Algebra in 7th. Finishing HS having taken Calc BC in 10th, Linear Alg, AP stats, and Vector Calculus. That's plenty of math!

What is the point of doing this much math in high school vs just going onto college?

Because that was the higher-level math curriculum in SMCS. As part of SMCS they also take the final at UMD for Linear Algebra and Vector Calculus and receive credit and a grade in those classes. Combined with 5 on AP Calc BC I believe that will be 16 credits of math out of the gate at UMD. Very helpful for a CS major and/or math double major or minor.

All said, my kid would have loved to take Algebra in 6th but that was not an option. Just wanted to point out that there are still many paths to extensive math without it. I worry about the non-mathy kid that gets put on that path because later grades will be very rough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So MCPS will provide guidance like 5th graders score 250+ (just as example) in Spring MAP Math 6+ test can choose algebra 1 at 6th grade? Or how should it work? I am sure just depending on individual school is not a good solution. MCPS should provide the guidance for all middle school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is run by ineffective and unsupportive leaders who don’t actual care about the schools or kids. Our school fought back when the memo arrived and yet no one at the top cared or listened. We are told to follow orders even though the decision is not good for kids. It’s awful and parents should be reaching out to the math dept and directors. They don’t listen to teachers.

Why would the people at the top even think this was helpful? Could this provide a better indication of who is ready for Algebra in 6th than the current methods which seem to be up to each school are inconsistent?

You didn't hear this from me but all the noise about the WPS offering Algebra in 6th to students has raised equity concerns among the top brass. Apparently, the first step in addressing it is to collect accurate metrics by using the 6th-grade MAP-M at the end of 5th.

It all makes sense now.

Should. Won't. Limits their options.

As the parent of an older kid and looking back, I am not convinced that anyone needs to be taking Algebra in 6th grade. For reference, my kid had a 260 at the end of 3rd grade and took Algebra in 7th. Finishing HS having taken Calc BC in 10th, Linear Alg, AP stats, and Vector Calculus. That's plenty of math!

Having access to Algebra in 6th enables kids to better on MS contest math that requires knowledge of both Algebra and Geometry. Also, seems like it would provide a boost to MAP-M since that's about exposure which in turn impacts magnet admissions. It's all kind of a racket about how people like to improve their kid's odds by hoarding these opportunities.

If you are taking Algebra in 6th, your MAP is Blair-ready before you even take these classes.

That may be. However, there are very few SMACS slots compared to demand for them, and admissions is by competitive review -- those deemed best get in, and having an even higher MAP score contributes to an applicant's profile for consideration (only one factor, but it's not like they'd take the lower-scoring candidate, all other factors being equal). It's not general-qualification-with-lottery, as they made elementary and middle magnet programs.

Can't say for sure, but I don't think admissions committee considers an "absurdly high" MAP over an "extremely high" MAP. They've been trained enough in "equity" to know to disregard that, and they know that MAP's ceiling is far below Blair's expectations. They don't care whether your kid is far above mediocre Geometry vs far above mediocre Algebra 2. They happily take kids who are far above mediocre Algebra 1, and put them in Geometry class. The raison d'etre of SMACS Magnet is that regular schools and regular tests like MAP don't meet these kids' potential.

Programs like SMACS don't have enough seats to take everybody who would benefit from them. Why wouldn't they take the higher MAP if all other factors were equal? Families looking to have a better chance may take that slight edge for their children that would be conferred by exposure to courses a year earlier than MCPS provides within their standard acceleration options.

Because MCPS very much doesn't want to bias admission toward parents gaming the system, and they understand the limitations of the metric, and because it's the "Science, Math and Computer Science" program; not the "Math, Math, and Math" program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So MCPS will provide guidance like 5th graders score 250+ (just as example) in Spring MAP Math 6+ test can choose algebra 1 at 6th grade? Or how should it work? I am sure just depending on individual school is not a good solution. MCPS should provide the guidance for all middle school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is run by ineffective and unsupportive leaders who don’t actual care about the schools or kids. Our school fought back when the memo arrived and yet no one at the top cared or listened. We are told to follow orders even though the decision is not good for kids. It’s awful and parents should be reaching out to the math dept and directors. They don’t listen to teachers.

Why would the people at the top even think this was helpful? Could this provide a better indication of who is ready for Algebra in 6th than the current methods which seem to be up to each school are inconsistent?

You didn't hear this from me but all the noise about the WPS offering Algebra in 6th to students has raised equity concerns among the top brass. Apparently, the first step in addressing it is to collect accurate metrics by using the 6th-grade MAP-M at the end of 5th.

It all makes sense now.

Should. Won't. Limits their options.

As the parent of an older kid and looking back, I am not convinced that anyone needs to be taking Algebra in 6th grade. For reference, my kid had a 260 at the end of 3rd grade and took Algebra in 7th. Finishing HS having taken Calc BC in 10th, Linear Alg, AP stats, and Vector Calculus. That's plenty of math!

Having access to Algebra in 6th enables kids to better on MS contest math that requires knowledge of both Algebra and Geometry. Also, seems like it would provide a boost to MAP-M since that's about exposure which in turn impacts magnet admissions. It's all kind of a racket about how people like to improve their kid's odds by hoarding these opportunities.

If you are taking Algebra in 6th, your MAP is Blair-ready before you even take these classes.

That may be. However, there are very few SMACS slots compared to demand for them, and admissions is by competitive review -- those deemed best get in, and having an even higher MAP score contributes to an applicant's profile for consideration (only one factor, but it's not like they'd take the lower-scoring candidate, all other factors being equal). It's not general-qualification-with-lottery, as they made elementary and middle magnet programs.

Can't say for sure, but I don't think admissions committee considers an "absurdly high" MAP over an "extremely high" MAP. They've been trained enough in "equity" to know to disregard that, and they know that MAP's ceiling is far below Blair's expectations. They don't care whether your kid is far above mediocre Geometry vs far above mediocre Algebra 2. They happily take kids who are far above mediocre Algebra 1, and put them in Geometry class. The raison d'etre of SMACS Magnet is that regular schools and regular tests like MAP don't meet these kids' potential.

Programs like SMACS don't have enough seats to take everybody who would benefit from them. Why wouldn't they take the higher MAP if all other factors were equal? Families looking to have a better chance may take that slight edge for their children that would be conferred by exposure to courses a year earlier than MCPS provides within their standard acceleration options.

It’s not hard to learn algebra at or before 6th grade outside.

Unless you don't have the family support structure for outside enrichment. $$$ -> support -> early/additional exposure -> higher score -> increased chance of admission.

[Anonymous]

If your family doesn't support education, you are extremely unlikely to survive SMACS, which has a lot of intense homework.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So MCPS will provide guidance like 5th graders score 250+ (just as example) in Spring MAP Math 6+ test can choose algebra 1 at 6th grade? Or how should it work? I am sure just depending on individual school is not a good solution. MCPS should provide the guidance for all middle school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is run by ineffective and unsupportive leaders who don’t actual care about the schools or kids. Our school fought back when the memo arrived and yet no one at the top cared or listened. We are told to follow orders even though the decision is not good for kids. It’s awful and parents should be reaching out to the math dept and directors. They don’t listen to teachers.

Why would the people at the top even think this was helpful? Could this provide a better indication of who is ready for Algebra in 6th than the current methods which seem to be up to each school are inconsistent?

You didn't hear this from me but all the noise about the WPS offering Algebra in 6th to students has raised equity concerns among the top brass. Apparently, the first step in addressing it is to collect accurate metrics by using the 6th-grade MAP-M at the end of 5th.

It all makes sense now.

Should. Won't. Limits their options.

As the parent of an older kid and looking back, I am not convinced that anyone needs to be taking Algebra in 6th grade. For reference, my kid had a 260 at the end of 3rd grade and took Algebra in 7th. Finishing HS having taken Calc BC in 10th, Linear Alg, AP stats, and Vector Calculus. That's plenty of math!

Having access to Algebra in 6th enables kids to better on MS contest math that requires knowledge of both Algebra and Geometry. Also, seems like it would provide a boost to MAP-M since that's about exposure which in turn impacts magnet admissions. It's all kind of a racket about how people like to improve their kid's odds by hoarding these opportunities.

If you are taking Algebra in 6th, your MAP is Blair-ready before you even take these classes.

That may be. However, there are very few SMACS slots compared to demand for them, and admissions is by competitive review -- those deemed best get in, and having an even higher MAP score contributes to an applicant's profile for consideration (only one factor, but it's not like they'd take the lower-scoring candidate, all other factors being equal). It's not general-qualification-with-lottery, as they made elementary and middle magnet programs.

Can't say for sure, but I don't think admissions committee considers an "absurdly high" MAP over an "extremely high" MAP. They've been trained enough in "equity" to know to disregard that, and they know that MAP's ceiling is far below Blair's expectations. They don't care whether your kid is far above mediocre Geometry vs far above mediocre Algebra 2. They happily take kids who are far above mediocre Algebra 1, and put them in Geometry class. The raison d'etre of SMACS Magnet is that regular schools and regular tests like MAP don't meet these kids' potential.

Programs like SMACS don't have enough seats to take everybody who would benefit from them. Why wouldn't they take the higher MAP if all other factors were equal? Families looking to have a better chance may take that slight edge for their children that would be conferred by exposure to courses a year earlier than MCPS provides within their standard acceleration options.

Because MCPS very much doesn't want to bias admission toward parents gaming the system, and they understand the limitations of the metric, and because it's the "Science, Math and Computer Science" program; not the "Math, Math, and Math" program.

So you're saying that they wouldn't take the higher score if there were no other factors in the profile that differentiated the candidates? If there was only one spot left and they had to choose? That strains credulity.

If they don't want parents to game the system, they need to do a much better job. MCPS rank & file know this and could do it. MCPS brass don't care to let them, as they have other priorities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So MCPS will provide guidance like 5th graders score 250+ (just as example) in Spring MAP Math 6+ test can choose algebra 1 at 6th grade? Or how should it work? I am sure just depending on individual school is not a good solution. MCPS should provide the guidance for all middle school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is run by ineffective and unsupportive leaders who don’t actual care about the schools or kids. Our school fought back when the memo arrived and yet no one at the top cared or listened. We are told to follow orders even though the decision is not good for kids. It’s awful and parents should be reaching out to the math dept and directors. They don’t listen to teachers.

Why would the people at the top even think this was helpful? Could this provide a better indication of who is ready for Algebra in 6th than the current methods which seem to be up to each school are inconsistent?

You didn't hear this from me but all the noise about the WPS offering Algebra in 6th to students has raised equity concerns among the top brass. Apparently, the first step in addressing it is to collect accurate metrics by using the 6th-grade MAP-M at the end of 5th.

It all makes sense now.

Should. Won't. Limits their options.

As the parent of an older kid and looking back, I am not convinced that anyone needs to be taking Algebra in 6th grade. For reference, my kid had a 260 at the end of 3rd grade and took Algebra in 7th. Finishing HS having taken Calc BC in 10th, Linear Alg, AP stats, and Vector Calculus. That's plenty of math!

Having access to Algebra in 6th enables kids to better on MS contest math that requires knowledge of both Algebra and Geometry. Also, seems like it would provide a boost to MAP-M since that's about exposure which in turn impacts magnet admissions. It's all kind of a racket about how people like to improve their kid's odds by hoarding these opportunities.

If you are taking Algebra in 6th, your MAP is Blair-ready before you even take these classes.

That may be. However, there are very few SMACS slots compared to demand for them, and admissions is by competitive review -- those deemed best get in, and having an even higher MAP score contributes to an applicant's profile for consideration (only one factor, but it's not like they'd take the lower-scoring candidate, all other factors being equal). It's not general-qualification-with-lottery, as they made elementary and middle magnet programs.

Can't say for sure, but I don't think admissions committee considers an "absurdly high" MAP over an "extremely high" MAP. They've been trained enough in "equity" to know to disregard that, and they know that MAP's ceiling is far below Blair's expectations. They don't care whether your kid is far above mediocre Geometry vs far above mediocre Algebra 2. They happily take kids who are far above mediocre Algebra 1, and put them in Geometry class. The raison d'etre of SMACS Magnet is that regular schools and regular tests like MAP don't meet these kids' potential.

Programs like SMACS don't have enough seats to take everybody who would benefit from them. Why wouldn't they take the higher MAP if all other factors were equal? Families looking to have a better chance may take that slight edge for their children that would be conferred by exposure to courses a year earlier than MCPS provides within their standard acceleration options.

It’s not hard to learn algebra at or before 6th grade outside.

Unless you don't have the family support structure for outside enrichment. $$$ -> support -> early/additional exposure -> higher score -> increased chance of admission.

Yes, WPES creates an easy path to Algebra in 6th. This is one of the many ways the affluent ensure their offspring are able to hoard opportunities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NWEA says to not switch tests mid-year.

https://connection.nwea.org/s/article/Transition-student-from-2-5-to-6-Reading-or-Math-test-1405101729354?language=en_US

It's really fun to read NWEA docs, where they talk about how they don't understand how their own test works, and how some of their docs contradict their other docs.

https://connection.nwea.org/s/article/Why-do-I-see-the-same-math-growth-projection-for-all-of-my-5th-grade-students?language=en_US

MAP is really a nonsense test. It's loosely correlated to knowledge of Common Core topics, but the specifics are quite woo.

Pishaw! MCPS knows better.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:So MCPS will provide guidance like 5th graders score 250+ (just as example) in Spring MAP Math 6+ test can choose algebra 1 at 6th grade? Or how should it work? I am sure just depending on individual school is not a good solution. MCPS should provide the guidance for all middle school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is run by ineffective and unsupportive leaders who don’t actual care about the schools or kids. Our school fought back when the memo arrived and yet no one at the top cared or listened. We are told to follow orders even though the decision is not good for kids. It’s awful and parents should be reaching out to the math dept and directors. They don’t listen to teachers.

Why would the people at the top even think this was helpful? Could this provide a better indication of who is ready for Algebra in 6th than the current methods which seem to be up to each school are inconsistent?

You didn't hear this from me but all the noise about the WPS offering Algebra in 6th to students has raised equity concerns among the top brass. Apparently, the first step in addressing it is to collect accurate metrics by using the 6th-grade MAP-M at the end of 5th.

It all makes sense now.

Should. Won't. Limits their options.

As the parent of an older kid and looking back, I am not convinced that anyone needs to be taking Algebra in 6th grade. For reference, my kid had a 260 at the end of 3rd grade and took Algebra in 7th. Finishing HS having taken Calc BC in 10th, Linear Alg, AP stats, and Vector Calculus. That's plenty of math!

Having access to Algebra in 6th enables kids to better on MS contest math that requires knowledge of both Algebra and Geometry. Also, seems like it would provide a boost to MAP-M since that's about exposure which in turn impacts magnet admissions. It's all kind of a racket about how people like to improve their kid's odds by hoarding these opportunities.

If you are taking Algebra in 6th, your MAP is Blair-ready before you even take these classes.

That may be. However, there are very few SMACS slots compared to demand for them, and admissions is by competitive review -- those deemed best get in, and having an even higher MAP score contributes to an applicant's profile for consideration (only one factor, but it's not like they'd take the lower-scoring candidate, all other factors being equal). It's not general-qualification-with-lottery, as they made elementary and middle magnet programs.

Can't say for sure, but I don't think admissions committee considers an "absurdly high" MAP over an "extremely high" MAP. They've been trained enough in "equity" to know to disregard that, and they know that MAP's ceiling is far below Blair's expectations. They don't care whether your kid is far above mediocre Geometry vs far above mediocre Algebra 2. They happily take kids who are far above mediocre Algebra 1, and put them in Geometry class. The raison d'etre of SMACS Magnet is that regular schools and regular tests like MAP don't meet these kids' potential.

Programs like SMACS don't have enough seats to take everybody who would benefit from them. Why wouldn't they take the higher MAP if all other factors were equal? Families looking to have a better chance may take that slight edge for their children that would be conferred by exposure to courses a year earlier than MCPS provides within their standard acceleration options.

It’s not hard to learn algebra at or before 6th grade outside.

Unless you don't have the family support structure for outside enrichment. $$$ -> support -> early/additional exposure -> higher score -> increased chance of admission.

Why would students without family support be able to survive the SMAC program?
Family plays a critical role in children’s education.