Forum Index
»
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)
Algebra 2 is currently offered at TPMS
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
The irony is that folks on this very board lost their everloving minds and claimed this group would be the least selective ever. There was all sort of chest beating, claims that schools like Cold Spring had been "shut out," and even a lawsuit. |
Anonymous
Citation? |
Anonymous
How do you know it was "no thanks"? Functions is an accelerated Alg 2 + Precalc class for well-prepared geniuses like your kid. Would it be so different if your kid took non-Functions Alg 2 in 8th and then took... the same Functions class that they actually took? |
Anonymous
I saw the same report. The mccpta gifted Ed committee requested the data using some sort of foia or mpia. The data is supposed to be voluntarily published on some regular basis by mcps but they wouldn’t provide it so it needed to be requested through this process which costs money. The piece the GEC didn’t obtain was who actually matriculated. Yeah maybe they extended offers to locally normed students in high farms schools with an unnormed 60th percentile, but it’s unclear if any such students accepted the spot and matriculated. |
Anonymous
You sound like you never lived in the real world. Principals can be bad at their job and not know how to deal with an advanced student because they may be new at the job or the school first serve this demographic. They don’t want/can to hire new staff for algebra 1, 2 or geometry, or have a terrible relationship with the principal at the nearby high school so they won’t accept middle schoolers. You can’t rely on the central office to enforce this policy because they don’t provide money for it or can’t make the high school accept students. The process of placement at some schools may take into consideration the maturity and how sociable the child is, if he can handle the 8th grade environment at the local school that may consist of hormonal teenagers with little academic interest etc. Bottom line is there’s a multitude of factors for math placement, ranging from reasonable to arbitrary to unfair. Just because your child had a certain score doesn’t mean he’s entitled to automatic Algebra placement, just as he’s not entitled to automatic admission to a particular university. |
Anonymous
I think a lot of this is just to get people worked up. There is data that MCCPTA got through a FOIR that shows different local norms used based on a school's FARMS. For example, a low-farms school had their top 15% in the 95%+ range whereas the highest FARMS school was something like 60%. In other words, there is some truth to what they're saying but it's a bit more complicated. If you really want to see the real numbers go join their Facebook group and look it up. |
Anonymous
Many of the kids in Functions had taken Algebra 2, and that supposedly made it easier. Mine had taught themselves a lot of the material in MS on their own. It was not an easy class even for them, but they still managed to pull off an A. Going over Algebra 2 again in 9th might've been better than having to sit through kids learning 9x9 in compacted but who knows? |
Anonymous
It's so annoying to have to insist and get creative, though. Our kid came from a CES, in pool for the magnet but lost a seat in the subsequent lottery. They were refused a spot in 6th grade Algebra 1 at their home middle school. This was smack in the middle of the pandemic, so we enrolled in the Virtual Academy of MCPS, who was delighted to put our kid in Algebra 1, and then we returned to our home school for 7th grade where they were placed in Honors Geometry on the strength of having passed 6th grade Algebra 1 (very easily, I might add). Honors Geo is also very easy. So essentially we bypassed the idiotic gatekeepers at her home school. We can't do anything about the rest of the classes being dull as ditchwater (they're in advanced everything else that can be advanced), but at least math class is not a miserable experience... |
Anonymous
So these are all good points. But as you say, the factors range from reasonable to arbitrary to unfair. Should we just throw our hands up at the arbitrary and unfair part or should we hope/wish/request/demand/advocate for changes that improve access for students that will better meet their needs? I agree no one is entitled to Algebra placement but I disagree that kids shouldn’t be entitled to a fair process that prioritizes meeting their academic needs. |
Anonymous
Sure, but just because some kid is placed in algebra at the “wealthy Potomac school” for a particular test score doesn’t mean every child at any school with the same score should be given the same accommodation, simply because the school may not have the resources or the critical mass of students. That doesn’t make it unfair. In my experience doing the legwork and trying to find a solution with the school administration usually works if the requests are reasonable. This being said, I switched schools for my son because the one he attended would not make any accommodation, mainly because they just didn’t know how to handle it, and it’s easier to default to no. The administration at the school he’s enrolled now is much more helpful. While I hear your frustration, I don’t think your child was treated unfairly, it’s just it was not the right school for your child. It happens all the time, that’s why privates and charters exist. |
Anonymous
Well said! |
Anonymous
Really, are you that lame that you sock puppet your own posts? You can advocate for meeting your child’s academic needs but at the end of the day he’s not entitled to individualized education. You claim the process is unfair based on a MAP score, I disagree. The result will be based on the student level, what the school can do, and I might add how pleasant and helpful you are in dealing with the administration. Demanding a placement with a MAP score in hand is the opposite of helpful and pleasant. |
Anonymous
|
I wrote a song about it. Want to hear it, here it goes:
Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLgo9drgZ6g Go to Blair, sir Two Thousand Twenty Three. MCPS Pardon me, did you go to Blair, sir? That depends, who's asking? Oh, well sure, sir, I'm a DC Urban Mother, I'm at your service, sir, I have been stal--looking for you I'm getting nervous-- Sir, I heard your name in forum, I was seeking an accelerated course of study When I got sort of out of sorts with a buddy of yours I may have punched her; It's a blur, sir; the coach of math up at Takoma? You punched Manchester? Yes! I wanted to do what you did, Algebra in 6th, then go to SMACS in high school She looked at me like I was stupid, I'm not stupid! So how'd you do it? Get to Algebra so fast? It was my wealthy elementary and AoPS class. You're from Potomac, of course! I'm in Olney, I wish that I had known Then I could prove Larlo's worth more than anyone enriched at home Can I buy you a boba? That would be nice While we're talking, let me offer you some free advice: Post less What? Read more Ha Don't go posting conspiracies that you go for You can't be serious You want a helping hand? Yes Fools who spam DCUM wind up banned. |
Anonymous
|
Anonymous
You’re responding to me and assuming the school treated my child unfairly, but this isn’t true. I didn’t want to accelerate my own kid for a variety of reasons, in spite of outlier high scores and flawless grades. My issue is entirely with the suboptimal process that, for whatever reason, people want to defend at the expense of hundreds of kids. |