Dropping down a math level in MS to increase GPA later (in HS)?

[Anonymous]

DC did compacted math in ES and is now in the top math stratum in MS. DC earns comfortable Bs in math and As in absolutely everything else. DC is not (not, not, not) a STEM kid and has never had any interest in anything even remotely resembling STEM. Do we pull back a level or two in grades 7-8 in order to enhance the chances of easier As later? Probably not particularly worried about strength of math schedule given that DC will major in something not-STEM in college anyway. Are there caveats or success stories that people can share?

[Anonymous]

Easier A's? I guess you're being honest. Better reason is: more time for other subjects, more comfortable with the math level. A greater, deeper command of the material would be most important. A very solid foundation in Algebra 1 and 2 is essential for higher level math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC did compacted math in ES and is now in the top math stratum in MS. DC earns comfortable Bs in math and As in absolutely everything else. DC is not (not, not, not) a STEM kid and has never had any interest in anything even remotely resembling STEM. Do we pull back a level or two in grades 7-8 in order to enhance the chances of easier As later? Probably not particularly worried about strength of math schedule given that DC will major in something not-STEM in college anyway. Are there caveats or success stories that people can share?

If you do this, do it before she hits Algebra 1. Why would you pull her back 2 levels? What grade is she in and what math class is she taking now?

[Anonymous]

We’re pulling our AIM 6th grader out of that path, but not so he can get easy As in high school. We have an older child and have seen how much some of these advanced kids struggle as 9th graders in Honors Algebra 2 (not all, of course!). For some, it’s a level of stress that is unnecessary and not good for their mental health.

[Anonymous]

I did this with my younger son and it’s been great. Taking honors alg 2 in 10th had been a breeze and I am sure he would have struggled last year.

[Anonymous]

We pulled our DC off the advanced track between 5th and 6th and glad we did (4-5 was pandemic). We felt the fundamentals were most important and kid is not an aspiring engineer. I think DC would have done fine but we decided to prioritize world language and not overly stress on the math. They’ll still get to Calc in high school.

[Anonymous]

OP here - thanks so much for the advice thus far. DC's current math class is AIM or AMP7 (AIM, I think?). It's the fastest/highest one available during grade 6 at DC's MS. And it's definitely being taught well - it's just that DC isn't internalizing it, and it's only going to get harder. Math when I was in HS was taught essentially as a series of (increasingly complex) memorized steps, but our kids are now being walked through (without understanding it yet) how and why problems are solved in certain ways. The contextual, holistic side of all this is totally lost on DC.

I very much appreciate the things that math can do for the mind, but it seems to me that not everyone needs calculus. Do people think (or know from experience) that not taking calc significantly compromises college admissions if the rest of the schedule and grades are strong? That's the background to the "getting As" part of my initial message. I'm not in a STEM career, and the math I need daily has to do with being a literate-skeptical member of adult society: interpreting statistics, making good estimates, crunching very basic data, handling finances, checking budgets. I'd rather see DC have a sound foundation in algebra and geometry (as others have observed) and really _learn_ something in a stats course then scrape a mediocre grade in calc, but I don't want to hold back the college apps if getting DC through calc seems essential.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks so much for the advice thus far. DC's current math class is AIM or AMP7 (AIM, I think?). It's the fastest/highest one available during grade 6 at DC's MS. And it's definitely being taught well - it's just that DC isn't internalizing it, and it's only going to get harder. Math when I was in HS was taught essentially as a series of (increasingly complex) memorized steps, but our kids are now being walked through (without understanding it yet) how and why problems are solved in certain ways. The contextual, holistic side of all this is totally lost on DC.

I very much appreciate the things that math can do for the mind, but it seems to me that not everyone needs calculus. Do people think (or know from experience) that not taking calc significantly compromises college admissions if the rest of the schedule and grades are strong? That's the background to the "getting As" part of my initial message. I'm not in a STEM career, and the math I need daily has to do with being a literate-skeptical member of adult society: interpreting statistics, making good estimates, crunching very basic data, handling finances, checking budgets. I'd rather see DC have a sound foundation in algebra and geometry (as others have observed) and really _learn_ something in a stats course then scrape a mediocre grade in calc, but I don't want to hold back the college apps if getting DC through calc seems essential.

So you don’t need to decide on calc now. Even if you pull back a year and do Algebra 1 in 8th instead of 7th (or repeat it in 8th), they can still do Calc as a senior, or opt for AP Stats instead. For stem and business, colleges want to see calc in high school. Some top colleges want calc for everyone while an increasing number are starting to recognize the value of Stats for non-stem and non-business majors. As long as they get through Alg 1 in 8th, the options remain open.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like pulling back is a perfectly reasonable thing for you to do.

I won't help college admissions, if that's what you're asking (aiming for straight As, but with slower math track). But it probably won't hurt too much, either.

[Anonymous]

A tons of kids did this at our DC's very competitive middle school. It's very normal and I personally think it's a smart move to create more time for your child to explore other subjects that are interesting to them. The accelerated track in MCPS is too much for most kids especially if they already know they will not be pursuing stem.

[Anonymous]

Go for it, OP!!! I know kids who have taken Calc as 10th graders and never wanted to study math again.

[Anonymous]

I wish my DDs' would have done this. I wish they would have had a more solid foundation of skills prior to taking calculus. My youngest DD is struggling in calculus now as a junior. Squeaking by with a C.

[Anonymous]

Most of his friends will be in the more advanced class, how does he feel about that ?

[Anonymous]

I think the best option is algebra in 7th then repeat algebra in 8th. 2 years allows a solid foundation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC did compacted math in ES and is now in the top math stratum in MS. DC earns comfortable Bs in math and As in absolutely everything else. DC is not (not, not, not) a STEM kid and has never had any interest in anything even remotely resembling STEM. Do we pull back a level or two in grades 7-8 in order to enhance the chances of easier As later? Probably not particularly worried about strength of math schedule given that DC will major in something not-STEM in college anyway. Are there caveats or success stories that people can share?

One thing to consider is what HS your kid will end up in. If it's a lower rated HS, you may want to keep her in the existing trajectory. Just thinking ahead from a college perspective and also who she will be in classes with. We're at a lower rated HS and glad that my kid is in the most rigorous classes available for her grade.