Middle School/High School Math Question

[Anonymous]

If your middle schooler earns two high school credits in middle school (Algebra and Geometry) do they still have to take a full four years of math in high school? Or do they need just two years? Thank you!

[Anonymous]

They need to take the full 4 years, which is why some parents of older kids caution against rushing kids through the curriculum in ES and MS.

So, if your child finishes geometry in 8th, then they are on track to take AP Calculus in 11th, leaving one more year of math after that. A lot of kids choose AP Statistics.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it's a state requirement. Four years of math while in HS.

[Anonymous]

Some kids start Algebra 1 in 6th, in which case they are bused to the high school in 8th grade for first period math, then return to their school for the rest, with the understanding that they'll need to fill in math classes with dual enrollment at the community college or take whatever optional math classes are available at their high school.

[Anonymous]

Hmm, I’m pretty sure high school math courses taken in MS count towards the four math credits needed for a MD diploma.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hmm, I’m pretty sure high school math courses taken in MS count towards the four math credits needed for a MD diploma.

Yes but you still have to take math class every year in HS, even if you have already met your requirement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some kids start Algebra 1 in 6th, in which case they are bused to the high school in 8th grade for first period math, then return to their school for the rest, with the understanding that they'll need to fill in math classes with dual enrollment at the community college or take whatever optional math classes are available at their high school.

You're only eligible for that acceleration if you're at one of the W feeders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hmm, I’m pretty sure high school math courses taken in MS count towards the four math credits needed for a MD diploma.

No the PP was correct. You still need to take 4 years in HS regardless of what you take in MS.

[Anonymous]

This is the official language:

STATE REQUIREMENT FOR STUDENTS GRADUATING IN 2018 AND LATER: Students graduating in 2018 and later must be enrolled in a math course in each year of high school. This may result in students earning more than 4 credits in math for graduation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some kids start Algebra 1 in 6th, in which case they are bused to the high school in 8th grade for first period math, then return to their school for the rest, with the understanding that they'll need to fill in math classes with dual enrollment at the community college or take whatever optional math classes are available at their high school.

You're only eligible for that acceleration if you're at one of the W feeders.

Not every W feeder MS has it. Not every W feeder MS feeder ES supports acceleration beyond "compacted" math 4/5 & 5/6 for cohorts of the size needed to justify the MS offering Algebra 1 earlier than 7th grade (CM 4/5 -> CM 5/6 -> AIM - Algebra 1).

What some of those schools have is a sizeable cohort of parents who push to ensure that their kids are exposed to more advanced material outside of school (tutoring, math camps, home study on Khan Academy or the like) and then leverage their kids' demonstrable learning to approach the school administration in large enough numbers to wrestle the accommodation out of them and advance to Algebra 1 a year earlier than the aforementioned path. That's not counting the few super-advanced kids who are given accommodation individually, which appears to be an incredibly difficult administrative hill to climb, especially as MCPS is pressed overly by some while others don't even have the opportunity to discover how capable their children are in the first place.

Once a school has opened up a pathway, it's easier for parents to continue to request/demand that it stay. Having a parent population more connected/in-the-know is what seems to facilitate the original accommodation. That's where the W schools typically have an advantage. MCPS-based identification of advanced student ability is sorely lacking, and schools with less informed/less involved parents then tend not to see the same results.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some kids start Algebra 1 in 6th, in which case they are bused to the high school in 8th grade for first period math, then return to their school for the rest, with the understanding that they'll need to fill in math classes with dual enrollment at the community college or take whatever optional math classes are available at their high school.

You're only eligible for that acceleration if you're at one of the W feeders.

This is incorrect. Blair and Einstein feeders do this too. It’s not just W’s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some kids start Algebra 1 in 6th, in which case they are bused to the high school in 8th grade for first period math, then return to their school for the rest, with the understanding that they'll need to fill in math classes with dual enrollment at the community college or take whatever optional math classes are available at their high school.

You're only eligible for that acceleration if you're at one of the W feeders.

My kid took Algebra in 6th at an RM feeder. There were a few kids who did...couple years back. Maybe it changed though. There are options along the way to slow it down a bit like by taking CALC AB and then CALC BC. Good for a kid not planning a STEM major.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hmm, I’m pretty sure high school math courses taken in MS count towards the four math credits needed for a MD diploma.

It's 4 math credits while in high school. Very clear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some kids start Algebra 1 in 6th, in which case they are bused to the high school in 8th grade for first period math, then return to their school for the rest, with the understanding that they'll need to fill in math classes with dual enrollment at the community college or take whatever optional math classes are available at their high school.

You're only eligible for that acceleration if you're at one of the W feeders.

Completely wrong. Some wealthy clusters actively discourage it, because they are worried about overly-competitive parents forcing their kids into upper math levels, and some lower-income schools encourage it, because they want to see their brightest students pushing themselves. It's at the discretion of each school cluster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some kids start Algebra 1 in 6th, in which case they are bused to the high school in 8th grade for first period math, then return to their school for the rest, with the understanding that they'll need to fill in math classes with dual enrollment at the community college or take whatever optional math classes are available at their high school.

You're only eligible for that acceleration if you're at one of the W feeders.

While not technically a W school, the Bethesda-Chevy Chase cluster actively discourages this. My child was barred from taking Algebra 1 in 6th grade even though she was well-qualified for it.