Not being in Math 4/5?

[Anonymous]

Now under C2.0, there appears to be only 1 point in time to get on the acceleration train and that is between 3 and 4th grade, and a student can only be accelerate 1year (unless, maybe, they go to summer school in high school to get ahead). I think this is bad education policy.

This is apparently not the case all of the time. In our school the Compacted Math class added a significant number of students between 4th and 5th grades. In fact, the 5/6 Compacted Math class is the largest 5th grade math class at the school with 31 students. It can be so big because it is technically a middle school class (and therefore could go up to 35 students).

Exactly how students are chosen to join Compacted Math - whether in 4th or 5th grade - is not at all clear. Whether there is an evaluation that takes place to consider whether children in the advanced math course should continue in that course is not clear either.

[Anonymous]

Schools are not allowed to add students to the compacted math program between 4th and 5th because it is a two year course unless there is special permission from the county. However I think there will be some way to accelerate in middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Now under C2.0, there appears to be only 1 point in time to get on the acceleration train and that is between 3 and 4th grade, and a student can only be accelerate 1year (unless, maybe, they go to summer school in high school to get ahead). I think this is bad education policy.

This is apparently not the case all of the time. In our school the Compacted Math class added a significant number of students between 4th and 5th grades. In fact, the 5/6 Compacted Math class is the largest 5th grade math class at the school with 31 students. It can be so big because it is technically a middle school class (and therefore could go up to 35 students).

Exactly how students are chosen to join Compacted Math - whether in 4th or 5th grade - is not at all clear. Whether there is an evaluation that takes place to consider whether children in the advanced math course should continue in that course is not clear either.

Actually, the county has made it pretty clear. See the decision of the MD School board that was linked previously. There is also information on the MCPS website.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Schools are not allowed to add students to the compacted math program between 4th and 5th because it is a two year course unless there is special permission from the county. However I think there will be some way to accelerate in middle school.

How do you know this? Just curious because it contradicts poster before you.

[Anonymous]

I know of students added to Compacted Math 5/6 who were not in Compacted Math 4/5. No special permission from the county.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks to the helpful PP(s) who posted the link to the curriculum and explanation. I have found the school's communication re compacted math to be dismal. As in: last year, I discovered the existence of compacted math from my 4th grade DD who mentioned that there was an advanced math class. No notification of the existence of this class to parents of children who were not selected.

My daughter is a good, solid math student (with several ESs in math topics on her report card and scoring advanced on standardized tests). No teacher has mentioned compacted math for her. I decided that I did not want to push it. I looked at the "standard" common core progression, and in my opinion, that actually *is* an accelerated track already! I was an advanced math student myself, above grade level in a competitive private school, and followed the exact progression of the standard common core track (AP Calc in my senior year). This was an appropriately challenging speed for me. I was a really good math student, but not headed to study math in college. I think that the number of students who are truly ready to do AP Calc in Jr year of high school are very few.

This year in my daughter's school, more than 1/4 of the class is in the compacted math class. It is the largest math class (by number of students). I'm feeling pretty comfortable with my daughter's placement at the moment. I completely understand/relate to the OP's concern. Lack of transparency by the school exacerbates those worries!

I love your post! Thanks for the voice of reason.