APS 6th grade pre algebra

[Anonymous]

Hello parents, I have a kid who is very, very good at math but who hasn't made a career of attending extra math classes. I'm trying to get a sense for what math class APS is likely to place her in for 6th grade. Of course, as is usual, APS is very cagey about what cutoffs they're likely to use for placement. This is also a bit of a weird year, as APS has switched to a new test (Math Inventory --> MAP) and this cohort of kids mostly don't have Cogat scores because of covid closures.

If you have or had a 6th grader in pre-algebra, what were their test scores? Had they done a lot of outside math classes? How did pre-algebra go? Was it overly challenging or stressful? Did they need a tutor?

If my kid is going to land in pre-algebra I'll likely have her take an extra math class this spring to firm up any possible gaps, but wouldn't do so if she's likely to land in 6th grade math because I wouldn't want to make it even more boring for her.

[Anonymous]

In my experience, they base math placement completely on test scores (& the cut-offs have changed multiple times over the years). They say they talk to the 5th grade math teacher, but I’m skeptical.
Just know that APS policy is that you CAN parent place, but they will not tell you this explicitly. We had to fight to get my kid into algebra in 7th (test scores weren’t quite what they wanted), and it went well. Kid is currently doing well in algebra II in 9th.
I don’t think extra math classes are necessary, but you could review some things with your child this summer if you’re concerned.

[Anonymous]

Last year, sixth grade pre-algebra required a 550 SOL, 126 CogAT quantitative, 126 Cogat nonverbal, and a 1046 MI quantile. You won't know the SOL scores until you get the placement letter, though, which last year wasn't until July.

I wouldn't worry about doing outside tutoring right now. Pre-algebra for sixth graders has been very doable for both my kids. Consider outside help when they hit intensified geometry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Last year, sixth grade pre-algebra required a 550 SOL, 126 CogAT quantitative, 126 Cogat nonverbal, and a 1046 MI quantile. You won't know the SOL scores until you get the placement letter, though, which last year wasn't until July.

I wouldn't worry about doing outside tutoring right now. Pre-algebra for sixth graders has been very doable for both my kids. Consider outside help when they hit intensified geometry.

Oh, I'll add that we did "parent-place." DS only got a 510 or so on the SOL because he didn't follow instructions. I just had a simple conversation with the math person at his middle school and it was fine.

[Anonymous]

I am personally sick of parent placement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am personally sick of parent placement.

Fortunately that's not the question being asked. It's just a parent trying to get insights from parents who have been there and done than when APS isn't being helpful.

[Anonymous]

Because of parent placement, none of the accelerated math in Arlington middle school is in fact challenging for actually gifted math students. If you are even thinking of extra tutoring, though, sounds like your kid may not actually be so gifted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because of parent placement, none of the accelerated math in Arlington middle school is in fact challenging for actually gifted math students. If you are even thinking of extra tutoring, though, sounds like your kid may not actually be so gifted.

It’s insane. At least they’re honest about it, I guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because of parent placement, none of the accelerated math in Arlington middle school is in fact challenging for actually gifted math students. If you are even thinking of extra tutoring, though, sounds like your kid may not actually be so gifted.

This wasn’t our experience, but okay. Maybe your kid is super gifted. My kid did well in intensified algebra & geometry in MS, but it was a lot of work, and there were definitely smart kids who struggled/needed extra help.

1046 on the MI to take PRE-algebra is ridiculous. It used to be a 1030 to take algebra I. There has been a concerted effort to allow fewer & fewer kids to take the accelerated math track. This is not a secret.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because of parent placement, none of the accelerated math in Arlington middle school is in fact challenging for actually gifted math students. If you are even thinking of extra tutoring, though, sounds like your kid may not actually be so gifted.

This wasn’t our experience, but okay. Maybe your kid is super gifted. My kid did well in intensified algebra & geometry in MS, but it was a lot of work, and there were definitely smart kids who struggled/needed extra help.

1046 on the MI to take PRE-algebra is ridiculous. It used to be a 1030 to take algebra I. There has been a concerted effort to allow fewer & fewer kids to take the accelerated math track. This is not a secret.

I think it’s really awful to put kids in a class they’re not developmentally ready for, and, of course, it will all hit the fan eventually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because of parent placement, none of the accelerated math in Arlington middle school is in fact challenging for actually gifted math students. If you are even thinking of extra tutoring, though, sounds like your kid may not actually be so gifted.

This wasn’t our experience, but okay. Maybe your kid is super gifted. My kid did well in intensified algebra & geometry in MS, but it was a lot of work, and there were definitely smart kids who struggled/needed extra help.

1046 on the MI to take PRE-algebra is ridiculous. It used to be a 1030 to take algebra I. There has been a concerted effort to allow fewer & fewer kids to take the accelerated math track. This is not a secret.

I think it’s really awful to put kids in a class they’re not developmentally ready for, and, of course, it will all hit the fan eventually.

I agree that kids should go into classes that are developmentally appropriate, which is why DS is in pre-algebra even though he was originally placed in math 6.

If your kid is already all the way through middle school, they got into the accelerated track when the standards were lower. That's not relevant to the appropriateness of parent-placement today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because of parent placement, none of the accelerated math in Arlington middle school is in fact challenging for actually gifted math students. If you are even thinking of extra tutoring, though, sounds like your kid may not actually be so gifted.

This wasn’t our experience, but okay. Maybe your kid is super gifted. My kid did well in intensified algebra & geometry in MS, but it was a lot of work, and there were definitely smart kids who struggled/needed extra help.

1046 on the MI to take PRE-algebra is ridiculous. It used to be a 1030 to take algebra I. There has been a concerted effort to allow fewer & fewer kids to take the accelerated math track. This is not a secret.

I think it’s really awful to put kids in a class they’re not developmentally ready for, and, of course, it will all hit the fan eventually.

I agree that kids should go into classes that are developmentally appropriate, which is why DS is in pre-algebra even though he was originally placed in math 6.

If your kid is already all the way through middle school, they got into the accelerated track when the standards were lower. That's not relevant to the appropriateness of parent-placement today.

There are kids that actually meet the requirements today. If yours don’t, they shouldn’t be in the class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because of parent placement, none of the accelerated math in Arlington middle school is in fact challenging for actually gifted math students. If you are even thinking of extra tutoring, though, sounds like your kid may not actually be so gifted.

This wasn’t our experience, but okay. Maybe your kid is super gifted. My kid did well in intensified algebra & geometry in MS, but it was a lot of work, and there were definitely smart kids who struggled/needed extra help.

1046 on the MI to take PRE-algebra is ridiculous. It used to be a 1030 to take algebra I. There has been a concerted effort to allow fewer & fewer kids to take the accelerated math track. This is not a secret.

I think it’s really awful to put kids in a class they’re not developmentally ready for, and, of course, it will all hit the fan eventually.

I agree that kids should go into classes that are developmentally appropriate, which is why DS is in pre-algebra even though he was originally placed in math 6.

If your kid is already all the way through middle school, they got into the accelerated track when the standards were lower. That's not relevant to the appropriateness of parent-placement today.

There are kids that actually meet the requirements today. If yours don’t, they shouldn’t be in the class.

Well, the person in charge of math at DS's middle school disagrees, but still, your opinions about parent placement that are based on your child's experiences aren't relevant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because of parent placement, none of the accelerated math in Arlington middle school is in fact challenging for actually gifted math students. If you are even thinking of extra tutoring, though, sounds like your kid may not actually be so gifted.

This wasn’t our experience, but okay. Maybe your kid is super gifted. My kid did well in intensified algebra & geometry in MS, but it was a lot of work, and there were definitely smart kids who struggled/needed extra help.

1046 on the MI to take PRE-algebra is ridiculous. It used to be a 1030 to take algebra I. There has been a concerted effort to allow fewer & fewer kids to take the accelerated math track. This is not a secret.

Yup. I think it's great they are raising the bar.

[Anonymous]

They sometimes move kids after the start of the year. If they do not get placed in pre-Algebra they still might end up there. I think it's much better to have them get a confidence boost of moving up over possibly being in a class over their head. My child reports that there are some kids who really slow his class down, including his friend who was parent placed.