Anyone move their DC to algebra in 6th

[Anonymous]

Successfully? What scores do you need to be placed in Algebra 1 in 6th grade?

[Anonymous]

There is no set score. You ask the middle school math coordinator to test your child, and if they feel the potential is there, they will approve the switch.

However some MCPS clusters try to discourage this practice.

At Westland 5 years ago, the math coordinator gave my kid an algebra test (the content taught in Algebra 1), and because she got a few wrong answers out of several pages of questions, he refused to let her into the class. Essentially the bar was to have already mastered the material taught in the class you were asking to attend! It was obviously set up for the kids to be refused entry.

Due to the pandemic, we switched my kid to the Virtual Academy of MCPS, where they were happy to enroll her in Algebra 1 in 6th grade, and then she returned to Westland in 7th grade, in Honors Geometry. She was bused to BCC, along with two other kids, to take Algebra 2 in 8th.

She's getting straight As in her accelerated track at BCC. Academics have never been a problem for her.

I resent that Westland math coordinator, who apparently refused quite a lot of kids that year, because that was the year they switched to a lottery system for the middle school magnet, and as a result, some strong STEM kids didn't get a spot and tried to find acceleration in their home middle schools. And now I don't think the Virtual Academy exists any more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Successfully? What scores do you need to be placed in Algebra 1 in 6th grade?

Yes, a number of years ago when not every middle school had AIM (not even called that anymore I don't think). The counselor recommended the switch on the first day of school.

Not sure if schools are still doing this.

[Anonymous]

Just have a plan ahead for what math they will take for all 4 years of HS (which is required by the state).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no set score. You ask the middle school math coordinator to test your child, and if they feel the potential is there, they will approve the switch.

However some MCPS clusters try to discourage this practice.

At Westland 5 years ago, the math coordinator gave my kid an algebra test (the content taught in Algebra 1), and because she got a few wrong answers out of several pages of questions, he refused to let her into the class. Essentially the bar was to have already mastered the material taught in the class you were asking to attend! It was obviously set up for the kids to be refused entry.

Due to the pandemic, we switched my kid to the Virtual Academy of MCPS, where they were happy to enroll her in Algebra 1 in 6th grade, and then she returned to Westland in 7th grade, in Honors Geometry. She was bused to BCC, along with two other kids, to take Algebra 2 in 8th.

She's getting straight As in her accelerated track at BCC. Academics have never been a problem for her.

I resent that Westland math coordinator, who apparently refused quite a lot of kids that year, because that was the year they switched to a lottery system for the middle school magnet, and as a result, some strong STEM kids didn't get a spot and tried to find acceleration in their home middle schools. And now I don't think the Virtual Academy exists any more.

What’s your kid’s 4-year math plan at BCC? We sent our Algebra-in-6th kid to Blair instead of BCC because there weren’t enough math classes at BCC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no set score. You ask the middle school math coordinator to test your child, and if they feel the potential is there, they will approve the switch.

However some MCPS clusters try to discourage this practice.

At Westland 5 years ago, the math coordinator gave my kid an algebra test (the content taught in Algebra 1), and because she got a few wrong answers out of several pages of questions, he refused to let her into the class. Essentially the bar was to have already mastered the material taught in the class you were asking to attend! It was obviously set up for the kids to be refused entry.

Due to the pandemic, we switched my kid to the Virtual Academy of MCPS, where they were happy to enroll her in Algebra 1 in 6th grade, and then she returned to Westland in 7th grade, in Honors Geometry. She was bused to BCC, along with two other kids, to take Algebra 2 in 8th.

She's getting straight As in her accelerated track at BCC. Academics have never been a problem for her.

I resent that Westland math coordinator, who apparently refused quite a lot of kids that year, because that was the year they switched to a lottery system for the middle school magnet, and as a result, some strong STEM kids didn't get a spot and tried to find acceleration in their home middle schools. And now I don't think the Virtual Academy exists any more.

What’s your kid’s 4-year math plan at BCC? We sent our Algebra-in-6th kid to Blair instead of BCC because there weren’t enough math classes at BCC.

PP you replied to. One kid we know is doing math at UMD. We might do that, or maybe a CC class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just have a plan ahead for what math they will take for all 4 years of HS (which is required by the state).

With upcoming boundary change and implementing regional programs, some (including me) can't know for sure which high school their child will attend, or what math classes will be offered there.

[Anonymous]

It varies by school. For us, school offered it to kids with a MAP score of 250 or above (or possibly 240, I'm not sure) and a teacher recommendation. It was offered as an option on our course selection, so we just chose it, and the children were placed in it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no set score. You ask the middle school math coordinator to test your child, and if they feel the potential is there, they will approve the switch.

However some MCPS clusters try to discourage this practice.

At Westland 5 years ago, the math coordinator gave my kid an algebra test (the content taught in Algebra 1), and because she got a few wrong answers out of several pages of questions, he refused to let her into the class. Essentially the bar was to have already mastered the material taught in the class you were asking to attend! It was obviously set up for the kids to be refused entry.

Due to the pandemic, we switched my kid to the Virtual Academy of MCPS, where they were happy to enroll her in Algebra 1 in 6th grade, and then she returned to Westland in 7th grade, in Honors Geometry. She was bused to BCC, along with two other kids, to take Algebra 2 in 8th.

She's getting straight As in her accelerated track at BCC. Academics have never been a problem for her.

I resent that Westland math coordinator, who apparently refused quite a lot of kids that year, because that was the year they switched to a lottery system for the middle school magnet, and as a result, some strong STEM kids didn't get a spot and tried to find acceleration in their home middle schools. And now I don't think the Virtual Academy exists any more.

What’s your kid’s 4-year math plan at BCC? We sent our Algebra-in-6th kid to Blair instead of BCC because there weren’t enough math classes at BCC.

Do plan it out, we made that mistake with one of our kids and it was a problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no set score. You ask the middle school math coordinator to test your child, and if they feel the potential is there, they will approve the switch.

However some MCPS clusters try to discourage this practice.

At Westland 5 years ago, the math coordinator gave my kid an algebra test (the content taught in Algebra 1), and because she got a few wrong answers out of several pages of questions, he refused to let her into the class. Essentially the bar was to have already mastered the material taught in the class you were asking to attend! It was obviously set up for the kids to be refused entry.

Due to the pandemic, we switched my kid to the Virtual Academy of MCPS, where they were happy to enroll her in Algebra 1 in 6th grade, and then she returned to Westland in 7th grade, in Honors Geometry. She was bused to BCC, along with two other kids, to take Algebra 2 in 8th.

She's getting straight As in her accelerated track at BCC. Academics have never been a problem for her.

I resent that Westland math coordinator, who apparently refused quite a lot of kids that year, because that was the year they switched to a lottery system for the middle school magnet, and as a result, some strong STEM kids didn't get a spot and tried to find acceleration in their home middle schools. And now I don't think the Virtual Academy exists any more.

What’s your kid’s 4-year math plan at BCC? We sent our Algebra-in-6th kid to Blair instead of BCC because there weren’t enough math classes at BCC.

PP you replied to. One kid we know is doing math at UMD. We might do that, or maybe a CC class.

Yes, that’s what we were trying to avoid. Glad it will work out for your DC!

[Anonymous]

Plan out the four year plan. Also determine if yours is a kid that really likes math or is just good at it. If they don’t really love it and want more math I would not accelerate to Algebra in 6th because they are going to be sick of the advanced math sooner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Plan out the four year plan. Also determine if yours is a kid that really likes math or is just good at it. If they don’t really love it and want more math I would not accelerate to Algebra in 6th because they are going to be sick of the advanced math sooner.

I agree it is worth assessing if your kid can do it or wants to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Plan out the four year plan. Also determine if yours is a kid that really likes math or is just good at it. If they don’t really love it and want more math I would not accelerate to Algebra in 6th because they are going to be sick of the advanced math sooner.

Mine still want advanced math in hs and logistically it’s been hard as our school has few offerings.

[Anonymous]

Is this still a problem for the kids who take algebra in 7th grade? I have kid who is fine in math. She took AIM in 6th grade last year, so Algebra was the next class in the track. She is not passionate about math, but pushes herself to get A’s. Any recommendations? We are in the BCC cluster too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this still a problem for the kids who take algebra in 7th grade? I have kid who is fine in math. She took AIM in 6th grade last year, so Algebra was the next class in the track. She is not passionate about math, but pushes herself to get A’s. Any recommendations? We are in the BCC cluster too.

8th. -geometry
9th algebra 2
10th pre-calc
11th AP Calc AB/ BC
12th AP Calc BC if AB done in 11th or AP Stats or multivariable

There, see, totally done. Not every school will have these options but BCC does