Doubling up on math

[Anonymous]

Does MCPS allow a kid to take Algebra I and Geometry concurrently in 8th grade? Or Geometry and Algebra II in 9th?

[Anonymous]

Why would the student want to do this?

If anything take the extra course in the summer but not concurrently.

Mine are very advanced in math we never did this.

[Anonymous]

Why?

[Anonymous]

I doubt they would let you double up at that level, because they are generally taken in sequence. At higher levels, you can double uo. For example, you could take Statistics concurrently with Linear Algebra.

I’m not sure why you want to double up, but you need to know that Maryland requires students to take math every year they’re in school, regardless of their level. You can’t get the requirement out of the way by taking extra now.

[Anonymous]

OP here: we moved here after living abroad for several years where math education was not accelerated. He started 6th grade behind and Accelerated Math 6 Plus worked fine last year. He is social and also low-key kid, so he didn't say anything about being bored in Accelerated Math 7 Plus. But his teacher mentioned that he completes work quickly and then busies himself by distracting his classmates. When confronted, he confirmed. If he were in 6th grade now, we'd ask to move him to Algebra I in 7th, but he's in 7th and can't skip. Hence the question. Thank you for recommendations.

[Anonymous]

Some kids take AlgII the summer between 8th and 9th. It is tough to get the whole thing in over the summer though.I would think Algebra will be new material for him and he will be ok after this year. There is much repitition before algebgra.

[Anonymous]

We tried this. The answer was technically, yes it was allowed. But when it came to scheduling, we were told that classes were full and the second math class was a low priority in the scheduling system so it didn't happen.

[Anonymous]

11:51 again.
OP-- we were in a similar situation and were worried that kid would look weaker than classmates when applying to school by being a year behind some other students. We asked the counselor to write the explanation in the counselor's letter, and kid had AP-BC calc senior year which was in any case at our school designated as 'the most rigorous track' (the fact that many kids went onto multivariate senior year, notwithstanding).

Obviously, it's impossible to know how this was ultimately viewed by colleges but kid did get into Ivy so it clearly wasn't seen in too negative a light

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why?

+1

[Anonymous]

Your best bet is to take geometry in the summer between 8th and 9th. Typically the way geometry is taught. It's not really part of the sequence so in some ways it's easier to go from algebra 1 to algebra 2 anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does MCPS allow a kid to take Algebra I and Geometry concurrently in 8th grade? Or Geometry and Algebra II in 9th?

I've never seen that. What I have seen is Algebra in 8th, Geometry in summer school, Algebra 2 in 9th. However, geometry is on the SAT, and I've heard that some who take the summer class might not be as prepared for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I doubt they would let you double up at that level, because they are generally taken in sequence. At higher levels, you can double uo. For example, you could take Statistics concurrently with Linear Algebra.

I’m not sure why you want to double up, but you need to know that Maryland requires students to take math every year they’re in school, regardless of their level. You can’t get the requirement out of the way by taking extra now.

+1 DC took AP Calc BC and AP stats at the same time and has taken two math classes at a time ever since. Not all HS offer enough math classes to do this, though.

[Anonymous]

Middle school is not the most flexible. You should think more about high school for double math (Geometry + AlgII in 9th Grade), or as others suggested using the summer.

[Anonymous]

When we asked whether DD could take Algebra 1 in 6th grade, the math coordinator at her school balked a little and suggested instead that she take Algebra 1 and Geometry in 7th. He was pretty shady (gave DD a really hard test to claim she didn't have the Algebra 1 level), so we didn't trust him, and reading a PP's experience, we might have ended up with scheduling issues. She did end up taking Algebra 1 in 6th, and is in Honors Geometry in 7th - no issues.

I suggest taking Geometry in the summer, and really buckle down. It can be confusing for those who have more of an algebraic mind.

[Anonymous]

I had my kid repeat algebra in 8th because or remorse learning fiasco. They said he could do geometry same time.