Can ask for a placement test into Algebra 1 in 7th grade in middle school?

[Anonymous]

My daughter didn't get 91% percentile in the IAAT, if she advanced pass the 7th grade SOL, can she ask for a placement test into the Algebra 1 at middle school ?

[Anonymous]

No. The IAAT is the placement test.

If she is attending a lower performing non-center school, there is a chance that they will take kids in the high 80s to have the minimum number of 8th graders the following year to justify a geometry class. (You must have at least 8 students to staff a class). If she is attending a center school or a school that typically has 15+ 7th graders in algebra, there is no chance.

--MS algebra teacher

[Anonymous]

The other option is to have her start taking an online algebra class at home like AOPS or there are plenty of really good homeschool algebra programs. She takes algebra at home while taking pre-algebra/math 7 next year. In 8th she takes honors algebra and gets an easy A since she will have already taken algebra and keeps studying topics into algebra 2.

Then she takes geometry the summer between 8th and 9th. In 9th she has caught up to the students who took algebra in 7th. Except she has taken more algebra without having a gap of a year like the student who took geometry in 8th. And has studied some topics from algebra 2. This worked for my child who then got an A in 9th honors algebra 2 while some other students struggled who were advanced into algebra in 7th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The other option is to have her start taking an online algebra class at home like AOPS or there are plenty of really good homeschool algebra programs. She takes algebra at home while taking pre-algebra/math 7 next year. In 8th she takes honors algebra and gets an easy A since she will have already taken algebra and keeps studying topics into algebra 2.

Then she takes geometry the summer between 8th and 9th. In 9th she has caught up to the students who took algebra in 7th. Except she has taken more algebra without having a gap of a year like the student who took geometry in 8th. And has studied some topics from algebra 2. This worked for my child who then got an A in 9th honors algebra 2 while some other students struggled who were advanced into algebra in 7th.

I think this would require taking geometry at home in 8th grade so that she isn't expected to learn a year's worth of math over the summer. It's also a shame that a student who has already taken algebra and can demonstrate their knowledge would need to retake the class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The other option is to have her start taking an online algebra class at home like AOPS or there are plenty of really good homeschool algebra programs. She takes algebra at home while taking pre-algebra/math 7 next year. In 8th she takes honors algebra and gets an easy A since she will have already taken algebra and keeps studying topics into algebra 2.

Then she takes geometry the summer between 8th and 9th. In 9th she has caught up to the students who took algebra in 7th. Except she has taken more algebra without having a gap of a year like the student who took geometry in 8th. And has studied some topics from algebra 2. This worked for my child who then got an A in 9th honors algebra 2 while some other students struggled who were advanced into algebra in 7th.

I think this would require taking geometry at home in 8th grade so that she isn't expected to learn a year's worth of math over the summer. It's also a shame that a student who has already taken algebra and can demonstrate their knowledge would need to retake the class.

I would never have my kid take any other high school math class in the summer but Geometry is the one class that it is totally doable. Getting a really solid foundation in algebra is worth it because it makes algebra 2, precalculus, and even Calculus so much easier. A neighbor is a math teacher and told me the kids that struggle in Calculus don't struggle because of learning the new material in Calculus, most struggle because they aren't solid in algebra. So solving a Calculus problem might involve 3 or 4 steps and 2 of them are going to be from algebra. You need to effortlessly manipulate equations effortlessly. The teacher isn't going to stop to review how to solve the algebra in the problem, you need to automatically know it. My neighbor pointed out a problem like x^2=x (x squared equals 2, find x). So many students can't solve this correctly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The other option is to have her start taking an online algebra class at home like AOPS or there are plenty of really good homeschool algebra programs. She takes algebra at home while taking pre-algebra/math 7 next year. In 8th she takes honors algebra and gets an easy A since she will have already taken algebra and keeps studying topics into algebra 2.

Then she takes geometry the summer between 8th and 9th. In 9th she has caught up to the students who took algebra in 7th. Except she has taken more algebra without having a gap of a year like the student who took geometry in 8th. And has studied some topics from algebra 2. This worked for my child who then got an A in 9th honors algebra 2 while some other students struggled who were advanced into algebra in 7th.

AoPs advertisement, again!

[Anonymous]

There are thousands of FCPS students who complete Algebra 1 in 7th grade. There is nothing wrong if your child needs to be on a normal or slower math path.

[Anonymous]

My friend’s son got above 91% on the IATT and then didn’t advance pass the SOL and she called the guidance counselor and still got him in to Alg 1. So they’d probably let you do it but I don’t recommend it. Alg 1 in 7th was hard enough for my kid who got 99% on the IATT and advanced pass on the SOL. It’s not a joke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My friend’s son got above 91% on the IATT and then didn’t advance pass the SOL and she called the guidance counselor and still got him in to Alg 1. So they’d probably let you do it but I don’t recommend it. Alg 1 in 7th was hard enough for my kid who got 99% on the IATT and advanced pass on the SOL. It’s not a joke.

This is good advice. My DD cruised through math throughout ES. She's taking Alg 1 HN in 7th grade and it is the hardest class she's ever taken. She's getting through it and averages 1 hour a night of homework or review.

[Anonymous]

It nis a high school level class with all the requirements of a high school level class. the pace is faster then what most kids have seen. The demands for organization and completion are very different. I am not sure that the material is harder, per se, but that it is faster and there are less supports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. The IAAT is the placement test.

If she is attending a lower performing non-center school, there is a chance that they will take kids in the high 80s to have the minimum number of 8th graders the following year to justify a geometry class. (You must have at least 8 students to staff a class). If she is attending a center school or a school that typically has 15+ 7th graders in algebra, there is no chance.

--MS algebra teacher

This is not correct. You can contact the school directly and tell the admin you want your child in Algebra. They evaluate her (no test) profile and if agreeable, give you a form.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. The IAAT is the placement test.

If she is attending a lower performing non-center school, there is a chance that they will take kids in the high 80s to have the minimum number of 8th graders the following year to justify a geometry class. (You must have at least 8 students to staff a class). If she is attending a center school or a school that typically has 15+ 7th graders in algebra, there is no chance.

--MS algebra teacher

This is not correct. You can contact the school directly and tell the admin you want your child in Algebra. They evaluate her (no test) profile and if agreeable, give you a form.

This is only if the SOL is pretty high, correct? My child scored in high 80s but from a well performing center school. But his teacher really believes in him as a student and will support if SOL’s are good. Don’t know chances but we will try.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. The IAAT is the placement test.

If she is attending a lower performing non-center school, there is a chance that they will take kids in the high 80s to have the minimum number of 8th graders the following year to justify a geometry class. (You must have at least 8 students to staff a class). If she is attending a center school or a school that typically has 15+ 7th graders in algebra, there is no chance.

--MS algebra teacher

We moved to a low performing school with the hopes of getting an automatic entry into TJ. But having enough students interested in enrolling in geometry to justify class is an issue. Bad decision to chase the 1.5% quota per school and relocate here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. The IAAT is the placement test.

If she is attending a lower performing non-center school, there is a chance that they will take kids in the high 80s to have the minimum number of 8th graders the following year to justify a geometry class. (You must have at least 8 students to staff a class). If she is attending a center school or a school that typically has 15+ 7th graders in algebra, there is no chance.

--MS algebra teacher

We moved to a low performing school with the hopes of getting an automatic entry into TJ. But having enough students interested in enrolling in geometry to justify class is an issue. Bad decision to chase the 1.5% quota per school and relocate here.

What school? We're in a school that the VDOE lists as needing support. There are multiple sections of 7th grade algebra

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. The IAAT is the placement test.

If she is attending a lower performing non-center school, there is a chance that they will take kids in the high 80s to have the minimum number of 8th graders the following year to justify a geometry class. (You must have at least 8 students to staff a class). If she is attending a center school or a school that typically has 15+ 7th graders in algebra, there is no chance.

--MS algebra teacher

This is not correct. You can contact the school directly and tell the admin you want your child in Algebra. They evaluate her (no test) profile and if agreeable, give you a form.

Depends on the school. I have taught at 4 FCPS schools, and only 1 was willing to fudge numbers. (It was one where typically only 3-4 7th graders officially qualified for algebra 1 each year) The other 3 held strict to the requirements.