SOL in Algebra I

[Anonymous]

I heard a lot of kids got 600 for Algebra 1 Honor this year when they are just in 7th grade. Is it common in middle school?

[Anonymous]

Per my ds, more 7th graders than 8th graders seem to get 600s. In his algebra class there were 2 600s, both 7th graders. In his friend’s class there were 3 600s, also all 7th graders.

[Anonymous]

The average SOL score for Algebra 1 H in 7th grade for the past few years:

2023-2024: Pass Rate was 100%, Passed Advanced rate 68%, Average score 526, Number of students 1,829
2022-2023: Pass Rate was 100%, Passed Advanced rate 69%, Average score 521, Number of students 1,680
2021-2022: Pass Rate was 100%, Passed Advanced rate 70%, Average score 527, Number of students 1,503

Most of the kids will pass advanced with a high score on the Algebra 1 SOL in 7th grade. The kids test into the class and are expected to be able to handle the class.

My kid passed advanced with a 574, he thinks he got one question wrong, but it might have been two. I am not sure if the Algebra 1 SOL is adaptive, it would be hard to see how you would make a subject specific test adaptive but I am sure there is a way.

[Anonymous]

The average SOL score for Algebra 1 in 8th grade for the past few years:

2023-2024: Pass Rate was 95%, Passed Advanced rate 21%, Average score 466, Number of students 6,766
2022-2023: Pass Rate was 93%, Passed Advanced rate 23%, Average score 462, Number of students 6,635
2021-2022: Pass Rate was 94%, Passed Advanced rate 22%, Average score 461, Number of students 6,045

I am not sure if 8th graders have to take Algebra 1 H or if they can take Algebra 1. The scores are very different then the 7th grade students. Still a strong pass rate but far fewer kids passing advanced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Per my ds, more 7th graders than 8th graders seem to get 600s. In his algebra class there were 2 600s, both 7th graders. In his friend’s class there were 3 600s, also all 7th graders.

Interesting, I don't think Carson mixes 7th and 8th graders in Algebra.

[Anonymous]

8th graders can take regular Algebra or Honors.

[Anonymous]

I answered this question on a different discussion. But to restate I said there, if you’re a 7th grader taking algebra the only option for you in FCPS would be taking algebra honers. Now, algebra as an honers class vs algebra are very different. Algebra honers is MUCH harder than regular algebra. The SOL Alg hnrs kids are taking is the regular algebra sol, not the honers one, so the SOL is much easier than what the kids have been doing all year. Plus, your DC will have a desmos graphing calculator the whole time. In most SOLs there are calculator/no calculator sections, but in the Algebra SOL you get not just a calculator but a graphing one the entire test, so your child could quite literally plug everything in the calculator. DDs teacher said it’s the easiest SOL if you’re taking Algebra Honers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I answered this question on a different discussion. But to restate I said there, if you’re a 7th grader taking algebra the only option for you in FCPS would be taking algebra honers. Now, algebra as an honers class vs algebra are very different. Algebra honers is MUCH harder than regular algebra. The SOL Alg hnrs kids are taking is the regular algebra sol, not the honers one, so the SOL is much easier than what the kids have been doing all year. Plus, your DC will have a desmos graphing calculator the whole time. In most SOLs there are calculator/no calculator sections, but in the Algebra SOL you get not just a calculator but a graphing one the entire test, so your child could quite literally plug everything in the calculator. DDs teacher said it’s the easiest SOL if you’re taking Algebra Honers.

Me again- this info is from my DDs algebra teacher who told this to the class. (DD got a 600)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The average SOL score for Algebra 1 in 8th grade for the past few years:

2023-2024: Pass Rate was 95%, Passed Advanced rate 21%, Average score 466, Number of students 6,766
2022-2023: Pass Rate was 93%, Passed Advanced rate 23%, Average score 462, Number of students 6,635
2021-2022: Pass Rate was 94%, Passed Advanced rate 22%, Average score 461, Number of students 6,045

I am not sure if 8th graders have to take Algebra 1 H or if they can take Algebra 1. The scores are very different then the 7th grade students. Still a strong pass rate but far fewer kids passing advanced.

My 8th grader is in honors and has been struggling to pass all year. She’s been going back and forth between a D and an F and will be retaking Algebra 1. The course seems nothing like when my older kid took it. She got a 454 on the SOL. I think the integration of Desmos changed a lot with the SOL and passing numbers but something is still off. Either the FCPS curriculum is way off or the SOL is way too easy because a D student is getting a solid passing score. Is this test a valid measure of anything now?

[Anonymous]

Last year our son struggled in Algebra 1 but got a pass advanced on the SOL. This year he breezed through geometry but barely passed the SOL. Not sure what that’s about but his teacher said the SOL this year seemed harder than previous years.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The average SOL score for Algebra 1 in 8th grade for the past few years:

2023-2024: Pass Rate was 95%, Passed Advanced rate 21%, Average score 466, Number of students 6,766
2022-2023: Pass Rate was 93%, Passed Advanced rate 23%, Average score 462, Number of students 6,635
2021-2022: Pass Rate was 94%, Passed Advanced rate 22%, Average score 461, Number of students 6,045

I am not sure if 8th graders have to take Algebra 1 H or if they can take Algebra 1. The scores are very different then the 7th grade students. Still a strong pass rate but far fewer kids passing advanced.

My 8th grader is in honors and has been struggling to pass all year. She’s been going back and forth between a D and an F and will be retaking Algebra 1. The course seems nothing like when my older kid took it. She got a 454 on the SOL. I think the integration of Desmos changed a lot with the SOL and passing numbers but something is still off. Either the FCPS curriculum is way off or the SOL is way too easy because a D student is getting a solid passing score. Is this test a valid measure of anything now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Per my ds, more 7th graders than 8th graders seem to get 600s. In his algebra class there were 2 600s, both 7th graders. In his friend’s class there were 3 600s, also all 7th graders.

Presumably that’s because if you’re in algebra in 7th you’ve been shown to have an aptitude for math. If you’re in algebra in 8th you’re just average .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The average SOL score for Algebra 1 in 8th grade for the past few years:

2023-2024: Pass Rate was 95%, Passed Advanced rate 21%, Average score 466, Number of students 6,766
2022-2023: Pass Rate was 93%, Passed Advanced rate 23%, Average score 462, Number of students 6,635
2021-2022: Pass Rate was 94%, Passed Advanced rate 22%, Average score 461, Number of students 6,045

I am not sure if 8th graders have to take Algebra 1 H or if they can take Algebra 1. The scores are very different then the 7th grade students. Still a strong pass rate but far fewer kids passing advanced.

My 8th grader is in honors and has been struggling to pass all year. She’s been going back and forth between a D and an F and will be retaking Algebra 1. The course seems nothing like when my older kid took it. She got a 454 on the SOL. I think the integration of Desmos changed a lot with the SOL and passing numbers but something is still off. Either the FCPS curriculum is way off or the SOL is way too easy because a D student is getting a solid passing score. Is this test a valid measure of anything now?

Desmos changes the game because if your teacher teaches you how to use it effectively, you can use it to backwards engineer the answer to some questions from the provided choices without even knowing the content.

[Anonymous]

My 8th grader is in honors Algebra and has a C-. She got pass advanced on the SOL.

The teacher gives very short tests, and tests are almost the entire grade. SO all the classwork, homework, quizzes makes very little difference. If a test has five questions, and you miss one, that's an 80%. There is no handwritten calculations turned in like in the olden times, so the kids don't get partial credit for getting some of the steps correct. Its just a right or wrong multiple choice. Frankly, obviously, I don't think its great for the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 8th grader is in honors Algebra and has a C-. She got pass advanced on the SOL.

The teacher gives very short tests, and tests are almost the entire grade. SO all the classwork, homework, quizzes makes very little difference. If a test has five questions, and you miss one, that's an 80%. There is no handwritten calculations turned in like in the olden times, so the kids don't get partial credit for getting some of the steps correct. Its just a right or wrong multiple choice. Frankly, obviously, I don't think its great for the kids.

This is how it is for my DD with the D. Homework and classwork counts for almost nothing. Tests are online and graded entirely answer only so any little mistake results in full loss of credit.

When my current 11th grader took Algebra in middle school, tests were all on paper and work had to be shown. Work was graded and feedback was given. Partial credit was also given. Now it’s all full credit or zero and computer graded. Is it like this at every school now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 8th grader is in honors Algebra and has a C-. She got pass advanced on the SOL.

The teacher gives very short tests, and tests are almost the entire grade. SO all the classwork, homework, quizzes makes very little difference. If a test has five questions, and you miss one, that's an 80%. There is no handwritten calculations turned in like in the olden times, so the kids don't get partial credit for getting some of the steps correct. Its just a right or wrong multiple choice. Frankly, obviously, I don't think its great for the kids.

This is how it is for my DD with the D. Homework and classwork counts for almost nothing. Tests are online and graded entirely answer only so any little mistake results in full loss of credit.

When my current 11th grader took Algebra in middle school, tests were all on paper and work had to be shown. Work was graded and feedback was given. Partial credit was also given. Now it’s all full credit or zero and computer graded. Is it like this at every school now?

in china, either you know it or you don't. no partial credit. the main difference, china teachers grade everything--no computer score give your baby grade.