Algebra Honors final

[Anonymous]

My DC attends Longfellow. The final average was approximately 75%. Are finals curved? I find it unusual that many students’ grades declined and many DC’s classmates are now retaking the course. Is this standard for FCPS final examinations?

[Anonymous]

Oh my! This is terrible! Someone should notify principal.

[Anonymous]

Did all the students miss the same problems? There could be an issue with some test questions.

[Anonymous]

My guess is most kids got used to taking tests twice to get higher grades and finals don’t allow retakes. Grades going into final were inflated by retakes and kids weren’t ready for the one chance to get it right final and scores reflected that.

[Anonymous]

We’re still waiting on the score from a different Longfellow algebra 1H teacher.

[Anonymous]

My DC felt the retake exams were considerably more difficult and there was not any partial credit. DC scored lower on every retake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC felt the retake exams were considerably more difficult and there was not any partial credit. DC scored lower on every retake.

What was corrective action had to take to do retake? The FCPS gives list of options for teachers for how to manage retakes is why asking.

[Anonymous]

I teach algebra at a different school. For the 14 years I’ve taught the course, the final exam grades have always averaged lower than unit test grades. We put basic questions (something from every unit, but on a scale of 1-10 these are level 3/4 question difficulty).

I don’t know what it is. We review, we spiral content throughout the year, the standards build throughout units. I’m not sure if retaining things is the problem or motivation the last week of school or not understanding the importance of a major test, or retakes killing initial attempts…

Luckily since it’s only a max of 10% of their final grades, it really can’t change their class grade more than half a letter. If they are retaking the whole course because their 90.4 dropped to an 88.9, then I don’t know what to say.

You do have the right to look at the final. Schools have to keep them on hand for a year after they are given, so if you want to analyze it to see what your kid missed by all means ask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I teach algebra at a different school. For the 14 years I’ve taught the course, the final exam grades have always averaged lower than unit test grades. We put basic questions (something from every unit, but on a scale of 1-10 these are level 3/4 question difficulty).

I don’t know what it is. We review, we spiral content throughout the year, the standards build throughout units. I’m not sure if retaining things is the problem or motivation the last week of school or not understanding the importance of a major test, or retakes killing initial attempts…

Luckily since it’s only a max of 10% of their final grades, it really can’t change their class grade more than half a letter. If they are retaking the whole course because their 90.4 dropped to an 88.9, then I don’t know what to say.

You do have the right to look at the final. Schools have to keep them on hand for a year after they are given, so if you want to analyze it to see what your kid missed by all means ask.

Math teacher above says sees final average always lower than test grades. If same in Longfellow and more kids in algebra early, maybe that impacts too? Longfellow is one of the schools doing Algebra Access Network Improvement Community.

https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/DBUHQC4991CD/$file/Academic%20Matters%20-%20%20Algebra%201.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC attends Longfellow. The final average was approximately 75%. Are finals curved? I find it unusual that many students’ grades declined and many DC’s classmates are now retaking the course. Is this standard for FCPS final examinations?

The average grade on the final was a 75% or in the class?

If the average grade on the final exam was a 75% I can see a kids dropping a half grade, if they were on the edge.

Are the kids retaking the class C students? I would not have my kid retake a B. But I have seen enough posts about parents askign if they should expunge a B+ and have their kid retake the class, which is crazy to me.

That said, Algebra 1H is a high school level class. Some kids who test in might have the math skills to handle the material but are not ready to handle the pace and requirements of a class meant for 9th graders. Doing well in school, even when you are smart, is more then your raw intelligence. It involves executive functioning, curiosity, and resilience. Executive functioning takes time to build and grow, plenty of smart 7th grades might not have the EF to be able to handle a class like Algebra 1H.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone see the final exam grade again, or do the see the grade for the course on the transcript?

[Anonymous]

Algebra honors in 7th has requirement to pass advance on SOL but 8th graders can just take and don’t have to test in

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I teach algebra at a different school. For the 14 years I’ve taught the course, the final exam grades have always averaged lower than unit test grades. We put basic questions (something from every unit, but on a scale of 1-10 these are level 3/4 question difficulty).

I don’t know what it is. We review, we spiral content throughout the year, the standards build throughout units. I’m not sure if retaining things is the problem or motivation the last week of school or not understanding the importance of a major test, or retakes killing initial attempts…

Luckily since it’s only a max of 10% of their final grades, it really can’t change their class grade more than half a letter. If they are retaking the whole course because their 90.4 dropped to an 88.9, then I don’t know what to say.

You do have the right to look at the final. Schools have to keep them on hand for a year after they are given, so if you want to analyze it to see what your kid missed by all means ask.

My son does terrible on finals. I think part of it is that he is so burnt out by the end of the year that he just can’t study effectively. He also has trouble remembering a full year of content at one time. So, he works hard for 3.4/4
quarters of the school year so that his grades are high enough to absorb the drop at the end of the year.

[Anonymous]

Is your kid in 7th grade? The push to take algebra earlier and earlier is not a good thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone see the final exam grade again, or do the see the grade for the course on the transcript?

Kids see on last report card and then no one ever sees again after that- transcript just shows whatever the one final overall grade is and is not broken up by quarters. Colleges never see final exam grades.