MCPS - HS plan for advanced student in lower math placement

[Anonymous]

DS has gone to parochial school through 8th grade and will be entering MCPS for high school next year. We are discovering that these paths are very different and it can create challenges with HS course placement. Most importantly, DS is only taking pre-Algebra in eighth grade. He scored a 95% national percentile on MAP math and a similar score on the Catholic school high school placement test. So, we think he is learning math pretty well at the slower pace. Nonetheless, he needs to take Algebra next year and I just realized there is not even an Honors section of Algebra at his high school. So, clearly, in public school, Algebra is where the kids who are not doing well are. (This is not true in his parochial school - it just depends on what they are good at and how they learn).

DS is twice exceptional and while he is gifted, he has a slower processing speed. We would prefer for him not to be shut out of higher level classes, particularly in science where he excels, due to lower level math placement. He needs more cognitive engagement and critical thinking to be engaged in school - otherwise he is Bored. Are there any creative solutions to planning his high school coursework to enable him to be in more challenging classes, particularly for science? Any way to skip ahead in Math coursework at this point to enable enrollment in higher level science?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS has gone to parochial school through 8th grade and will be entering MCPS for high school next year. We are discovering that these paths are very different and it can create challenges with HS course placement. Most importantly, DS is only taking pre-Algebra in eighth grade. He scored a 95% national percentile on MAP math and a similar score on the Catholic school high school placement test. So, we think he is learning math pretty well at the slower pace. Nonetheless, he needs to take Algebra next year and I just realized there is not even an Honors section of Algebra at his high school. So, clearly, in public school, Algebra is where the kids who are not doing well are. (This is not true in his parochial school - it just depends on what they are good at and how they learn).

DS is twice exceptional and while he is gifted, he has a slower processing speed. We would prefer for him not to be shut out of higher level classes, particularly in science where he excels, due to lower level math placement. He needs more cognitive engagement and critical thinking to be engaged in school - otherwise he is Bored. Are there any creative solutions to planning his high school coursework to enable him to be in more challenging classes, particularly for science? Any way to skip ahead in Math coursework at this point to enable enrollment in higher level science?

Yeah, I mean, he will need to take Algebra 1 in 9th. I’d recommend he take honors geometry over the summer btw 9th & 10th and then honors algebra 2 in 10th. This will put him in precalc in 11th so he can get to calculus in 12th and then he can take a challenging physics class concurrently. This path is totally fine. I wouldn’t do any math course for original credit besides geometry in the summer because there isn’t enough time to get the depth and breadth.

[Anonymous]

Thanks! It is good to hear that he can take honors geometry in between 9th and 10th grades. One of the online MCPS websites seems to indicate you couldn't take any original credit math class in the summer.

With calculus in 12th, he can take a challenging physics class concurrently. That is what he would enjoy. He loves engineering and physics. Any other suggestions of courses to take what would be good for a kid like this? Strong in Social Studies too......

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks! It is good to hear that he can take honors geometry in between 9th and 10th grades. One of the online MCPS websites seems to indicate you couldn't take any original credit math class in the summer.

With calculus in 12th, he can take a challenging physics class concurrently. That is what he would enjoy. He loves engineering and physics. Any other suggestions of courses to take what would be good for a kid like this? Strong in Social Studies too......

Take PP advice as its good. That is one of the problems with some of the privates is that they have a much slower math track.

[Anonymous]

There is no honors version of algebra becauee in MCPS, advanced students are accelerated and simply take it earlier. He could take both algebra and honors geometry next year. There is no way to get out of algebra; the state requires it.

[Anonymous]

Your kid can still take A1 in summer 8-9, and G in 9, then A2 in summer 9-10, then precal in 10, still very advanced.

Anonymous wrote:DS has gone to parochial school through 8th grade and will be entering MCPS for high school next year. We are discovering that these paths are very different and it can create challenges with HS course placement. Most importantly, DS is only taking pre-Algebra in eighth grade. He scored a 95% national percentile on MAP math and a similar score on the Catholic school high school placement test. So, we think he is learning math pretty well at the slower pace. Nonetheless, he needs to take Algebra next year and I just realized there is not even an Honors section of Algebra at his high school. So, clearly, in public school, Algebra is where the kids who are not doing well are. (This is not true in his parochial school - it just depends on what they are good at and how they learn).

DS is twice exceptional and while he is gifted, he has a slower processing speed. We would prefer for him not to be shut out of higher level classes, particularly in science where he excels, due to lower level math placement. He needs more cognitive engagement and critical thinking to be engaged in school - otherwise he is Bored. Are there any creative solutions to planning his high school coursework to enable him to be in more challenging classes, particularly for science? Any way to skip ahead in Math coursework at this point to enable enrollment in higher level science?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks! It is good to hear that he can take honors geometry in between 9th and 10th grades. One of the online MCPS websites seems to indicate you couldn't take any original credit math class in the summer.

With calculus in 12th, he can take a challenging physics class concurrently. That is what he would enjoy. He loves engineering and physics. Any other suggestions of courses to take what would be good for a kid like this? Strong in Social Studies too......

Take PP advice as its good. That is one of the problems with some of the privates is that they have a much slower math track.

Agree. That is the math the ensures the most solid foundation based on where you student is currently while allowing for acceleration. After that your child can choose the honors or regular math track to help best align with sciences.

[Anonymous]

Either take geometry in summer or double up geometry and algebra 2 sophomore yr.

[Anonymous]

What do the HS Catholic schools do? They double up in math and science in grades 11 and 12. He will be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Either take geometry in summer or double up geometry and algebra 2 sophomore yr.

I would double up freshman year, not sophomore year.

[Anonymous]

Does he have an IEP or 504 with extended time? My gifted and learning disabled, ADHD, ASD kid had an IEP for most of his MCPS schooling, double time because his processing speed is so low, and use of the calculator because he has dyscalculia.

[Anonymous]

I would double up in 9th with Alg 1 and Geometry. Summer school is really fast and geometry is on the SAT and ACT.

[Anonymous]

I’m in a similar boat. DD in 8th taking pre algebra in Christian school but finds it too easy. Also ADHD.
Going to MCPS for HS. I was going to email her registration card in next week, is there an option to do Algebra over the summer? How involved is it? Then do Geometry in 9th?
Or is the better plan Geometry between 9th-10th?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would double up in 9th with Alg 1 and Geometry. Summer school is really fast and geometry is on the SAT and ACT.

Agree. I would not do a math course for original credit over the summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m in a similar boat. DD in 8th taking pre algebra in Christian school but finds it too easy. Also ADHD.
Going to MCPS for HS. I was going to email her registration card in next week, is there an option to do Algebra over the summer? How involved is it? Then do Geometry in 9th?
Or is the better plan Geometry between 9th-10th?

There is no way you can learn a year of math in a couple of weeks.