Is it possible to skip taking geometry for 8th grader?

[Anonymous]

Is is possible to request skipping taking geometry for 8th grader (and take the high school 9th grade level math)?
If so what is the requirement? (Map is currently at 99% tile at 7 and 8th grade levels.)

[Anonymous]

The 9th grade level math would be either Algebra 1 or Geometry.

Are you asking for them to skip Geometry and take Algebra 2? If so, why? I can't imagine MCPS would pay for your kid to be bussed to the high school to take Alg. 2, if there's a math class they haven't taken available at their school.

[Anonymous]

Kid gets bored with content she already knows, and is ready for algebra 2. Just wanted to know if there's a mechanism for it. Thanks for sharing any experience from anyone.

[Anonymous]

No, except they can take it in summer school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kid gets bored with content she already knows, and is ready for algebra 2. Just wanted to know if there's a mechanism for it. Thanks for sharing any experience from anyone.

Geometry is a graduation requirement, so she'd need to take it eventually.

Do you have evidence that she knows Geometry? It's not on the 7th or 8th grade MAP, so those scores aren't relevant.

[Anonymous]

Geometry is on the SAT and the GRE. It also teaches a different kind of thinking than algebra. Skipping it is a bad idea. Thinking you are too smart for it is a perfect example of not knowing what you don't know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, except they can take it in summer school.

Got it. Where to locate the information about offering in summer school?

[Anonymous]

Geometry is the most eloquent of math subjects. That’s your biggest chance to fall in love with math. STEM majors and math majors reflect on this! I wouldn’t have skipped it ever!

[Anonymous]

You are saying they just intuitively know geometry? Or they do math enrichment outside of school and it was already covered for them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is is possible to request skipping taking geometry for 8th grader (and take the high school 9th grade level math)?
If so what is the requirement? (Map is currently at 99% tile at 7 and 8th grade levels.)

99%tile is where the score ranks nationwide. A large number of MCPS students fall in the 99th percentile. It is not an indication of understanding 99% of 8th grade math (geometry).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are saying they just intuitively know geometry? Or they do math enrichment outside of school and it was already covered for them?

It is that they have done math enrichment outside of school for the entire course. It there a way to get tested to pass or any other option? Parents also want to be sure that topics have been mastered. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Geometry is the most eloquent of math subjects. That’s your biggest chance to fall in love with math. STEM majors and math majors reflect on this! I wouldn’t have skipped it ever!

Totally agree - not to skip learning geometry but to skip the course taught at school; wondering if it is an option at all. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are saying they just intuitively know geometry? Or they do math enrichment outside of school and it was already covered for them?

It is that they have done math enrichment outside of school for the entire course. It there a way to get tested to pass or any other option? Parents also want to be sure that topics have been mastered. Thanks.

So you chose to teach her things outside of school and now want the school to accommodate that?
No, I don’t think that’s possible.

[Anonymous]

I don't think MCPS will let someone skip geometry, it's a graduation requirement and cannot be substituted by any other math class. You can always ask, of course.

The math coordinator at our middle school suggested that DD double up - that she take two math classes in one year. I didn't even know how that would have worked. DD preferred to take Algebra 1 in 6th, then Honors Geo in 7th, and Algebra 2 in 9th. It made more sense.

My friend's son took Algebra 2 in the summer of 8th grade and then placed into pre-calc in 9th.

[Anonymous]

08:34 again - also, if it's for this current school year, we're Oct 30th. It's highly unlikely MCPS will let a student parachute into Algebra 2 right now. They can also be a bit finicky with placement tests: when DD did her placement test to attend Algebra 1, the questions were ABOUT algebra 1, and she needed to get them all right. I was expecting pre-algebra questions, just to assess whether she was prepared, but no. I've heard that the placement test and decisions are entirely at the school's discretion, however. If I were your math coordinator, I would insist on a geometry test and expect full mastery, then assess her mastery of the first quarter of algebra 2. But since it's a graduation requirement, I don't think they'll allow your kid to skip Geometry.