What are the math pathways after 3rd?
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Anonymous
| Reading the 5th grade MAP thread with great interest… but spinning off here. I have a 3rd grader who at least on the 2nd grade MAP scored a 240. Apparently with just 10 more points she could qualify for the math magnet (lol, kidding) but in all seriousness we’ve been frustrated for a while that there is an outright refusal to accelerate. We know options open up in 4th but I’m not fully clear what those are at this point and what we need to do to make sure she can be on the accelerated track. I’ve looked on the MCPS website but am really confused about compacted vs AIM and such and it seems like MCPS is generally moving away from the accelerated track? Would love to hear what other folks’ experience has been…. |
Anonymous
|
Following are the math courses for 4th-8th grades:
(1) Regular track: Math 4, Math 5, Math 6/AMP 6+, Math 7/AMP 7+, Math 8. (2) Regular accelerated track: Math4/5, Math 5/6, AMP7+, Algebra 1, Geometry These 2 tracks should cover 99% of MCPS students. The few lucky students may get: (3) Special accelerated track: Math 4/5, AIM, Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2 |
Anonymous
|
Should say'
(1) Regular track: Math 4, Math 5, Math 6/AMP 6+, Math 7/AMP 7+, Math 8/Algebra |
Anonymous
Interesting. How do they decide which students get track 3? |
Anonymous
Track 3 as you mentioned is probably available in a handful of CES schools |
Anonymous
It depends on the school. For us it was no AIM, Compacted math, Algebra 1 in 6th. |
Anonymous
Some kids move in to the county at an already accelerated pace in late elementary or MS. Others come in to K/1/2 from private and ended up with a split grade plan in early elementary. |
Anonymous
| Very few are on track three. It’s comes down to testing and true need. Note that these students will likely need to take math at the HS in 8th grade, be on track for Calc in 10th and still need two additional years of math to graduate. |
Anonymous
Remember, there must be enough Grade 5 students in order for the elementary school to offer an advance math class beyond Math 5/6 |
Anonymous
| Placement in a higher grade's math is available, typically if all enrichment options have been employed and still not seen to meet the student's need. Per MCPS AEI in past interactions, this may happen for a handful (single digits) across the system each year. That may or may not be tied to reports (and troll posts, here) about a school or schools arranging for AIM (a middle school accelerated class) for a set of 5th graders. |
Anonymous
| Do you get to choose between Math 6 and AMP 6+? |
Anonymous
The issue with Calc in 10th is not all schools offer multivariable or other advanced math classes, just something to think about we didn't know. |
Anonymous
No. CES is a *humanities* magnet. Some of the students in the magnet are taking on-grade math in 4th and 5th, then others are taking compacted math, and the likelihood of sufficient kids to fill an AIM or AMP7+ class in 5th grade is remote if not fantastical. Honestly I've never heard of AIM or AMP7+ being offered in 5th grade, as I can't imagine that an ES will have the luxury of a teacher to teach such a class much less students to fill the class (remember that at some schools even compacted math is virtual). I can see where perhaps a student could be bussed to a middle school for the class but maybe someone else has evidence of that happening. More likely (but also, VERY atypical) is Math 4/5 in 4th, 5/6 in 6th, then Algebra 1 as a 6th grader. Lots of threads on DCUM you can search for about getting admittance to Algebra in 6th, I think a few middle schools offer it but not many. The regular accelerated track is much more typical which can be supplemented in-school by things like math team in MS. (and obviously there is always outside enrichment, math competitions, etc. if you have the $$) |
Anonymous
| As others have noted these tracks can be school dependent. Share your school, folks can give you direct experience. There are also always exceptions. |
Anonymous
Middle schools arrange class placement based on central recommendation (for those in the magnet lottery) or review of scores/grades & coordination with elementary teacher/math specialist input. Families interested in alternate placement to that which might be expected should reach out to the middle school in the spring of 5th, before classes/resources are planned, to allow MS staff to consider that, and request an appropriate follow-up timeframe to reconnect about it. Responses across the system may vary, but that can be related to logistics (class sizing, etc.) as much as (or more than) any relative desire to accommodate/resist family/caregiver requests. |