Math Placement Letters APS

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Anyone’s course request change from algebra intensified to algebra? Wondering why the above would have affected that?

My kid did. I think the cut off for 75% for the 8th grade sol was 440. So they originally went with that for intensified, but then probably moved it to 500. Bummer for my kid because he really wanted to continue taking intensified math.

What does that mean- cutoff for 75%? 440 to 500 is a big jump- why would the other grade changes affect this?

The law says that anyone who scores in the top 25% statewide on the sol needs to be put in intensified math for grades 6-8. For kids in pre algebra (6th and 7th grade), anything above a 440 was in the 25th percentile. That’s too many kids for aps. So instead of creating more sections of intensified algebra, they are saying algebra is already intensified if you are taking it earlier than highschool.

this is wrong, read the actual law please

Ha, YOU should read the actual law:
https://share.google/R2AxGw5VlsviKhEhn

I was wrong about the cut off -- it was 420 for anyone taking the 8th grade sol. Still way too many kids for APS to have in a pipeline to take AP calc.

I don't understand this at all. You're saying 75% of 6th and 7th graders taking pre-algebra got BELOW a 420? That makes no sense since you only passed with a 400.

NP. The cutoff is based on state scores— not just APS. And it’s anyone who took the 8th grade SOL, readdress of when they took it and what math class they took that year.

You're totally making stuff up as scores for this past year haven't even been posted by Virginia yet. They've only posted 23-24. Math SOL standards changed in the interim so we don't know the current percentiles.

https://p1pe.doe.virginia.gov/apex/f?p=152:1:16522701869968:::::

I’m not making anything up. It’s all right here:

https://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching-learning-assessment/k-12-standards-instruction/mathematics

See where it shows the upper quartile for each grade? For 2025.

That information doesn't even make sense. There are 7th graders taking the Algebra SOL, 8th Grade SOL and 7th grade SOL. Is that an average across all SOL tests? There's no distinction as to what SOL test is being given.

Do those taking Math 7, presumably the weakest math students in the grade, need an Intensified Pre-algebra option in 8th if they have an SOL score above 421 per this new law? That's crazy.

There needs to be more information and an actual plan. You can't discern anything from this jumble.

Good point, they should do it by class/SOL not grade. Blame Youngkin, he's not interested in really helping schools are students, just scoring political points and going to school privatization. This is what we get when the VA gov doesn't even send his own kids to our schools. Not invested at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone’s course request change from algebra intensified to algebra? Wondering why the above would have affected that?

My kid did. I think the cut off for 75% for the 8th grade sol was 440. So they originally went with that for intensified, but then probably moved it to 500. Bummer for my kid because he really wanted to continue taking intensified math.

What does that mean- cutoff for 75%? 440 to 500 is a big jump- why would the other grade changes affect this?

The law says that anyone who scores in the top 25% statewide on the sol needs to be put in intensified math for grades 6-8. For kids in pre algebra (6th and 7th grade), anything above a 440 was in the 25th percentile. That’s too many kids for aps. So instead of creating more sections of intensified algebra, they are saying algebra is already intensified if you are taking it earlier than highschool.

this is wrong, read the actual law please

Ha, YOU should read the actual law:
https://share.google/R2AxGw5VlsviKhEhn

I was wrong about the cut off -- it was 420 for anyone taking the 8th grade sol. Still way too many kids for APS to have in a pipeline to take AP calc.

I don't understand this at all. You're saying 75% of 6th and 7th graders taking pre-algebra got BELOW a 420? That makes no sense since you only passed with a 400.

NP. The cutoff is based on state scores— not just APS. And it’s anyone who took the 8th grade SOL, readdress of when they took it and what math class they took that year.

You're totally making stuff up as scores for this past year haven't even been posted by Virginia yet. They've only posted 23-24. Math SOL standards changed in the interim so we don't know the current percentiles.

https://p1pe.doe.virginia.gov/apex/f?p=152:1:16522701869968:::::

I’m not making anything up. It’s all right here:

https://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching-learning-assessment/k-12-standards-instruction/mathematics

See where it shows the upper quartile for each grade? For 2025.

That information doesn't even make sense. There are 7th graders taking the Algebra SOL, 8th Grade SOL and 7th grade SOL. Is that an average across all SOL tests? There's no distinction as to what SOL test is being given.

Do those taking Math 7, presumably the weakest math students in the grade, need an Intensified Pre-algebra option in 8th if they have an SOL score above 421 per this new law? That's crazy.

There needs to be more information and an actual plan. You can't discern anything from this jumble.

Good point, they should do it by class/SOL not grade. Blame Youngkin, he's not interested in really helping schools are students, just scoring political points and going to school privatization. This is what we get when the VA gov doesn't even send his own kids to our schools. Not invested at all.

The part people are skipping over is that the law begins by telling the school district to create a policy:

HB2686 requires each school board to develop and adopt a policy that sets forth the criteria for students in grades five through eight to be eligible to enroll in advanced or accelerated mathematics.

Also, students only have to be auto enrolled in an advanced class to the extent that a class is available. So there's no need for the school to offer Intensified Pre-algebra to 8th graders who got a 421 on the Math 7 SOL if such a class isn't offered, as long as the district has a plan for accelerated and advanced coursework.

The law starts this year, but there's really an additional buffer year with changes being required for the start of the 2026 school year. I'm surprised APS hasn't announced an actual policy proposal yet, but I guess we'll see what they roll out in a few weeks.

[Anonymous]

Here we are in "early August". Still crickets on the math placement letters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here we are in "early August". Still crickets on the math placement letters.

Didn't we get letters saying that on Aug. 20th we'd get schedules?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here we are in "early August". Still crickets on the math placement letters.

Our school said they’d come out August 8. I guess we’ll see.

[Anonymous]

Our math placement letter with a description of the various math classes for 6th grade is in parentvue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our math placement letter with a description of the various math classes for 6th grade is in parentvue.

The letter is up for my 7th grader too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our math placement letter with a description of the various math classes for 6th grade is in parentvue.

Can someone please share the cutoffs they're using for 6th grade placement?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our math placement letter with a description of the various math classes for 6th grade is in parentvue.

Can someone please share the cutoffs they're using for 6th grade placement?

There are 3 math classes for 6th grade this year: Math 6, Math 6 Advanced, and Pre-Algebra for 6th Graders. The letter specifies "minimum score indicating a student might be ready for a 2-year compacted curriculum in grade 6." My read is that this refers to Math 6 Advanced. These minimum scores are:
Sol 5: 466+
CogAT Quantitative: 126+
CogAT Nonverbal: 126+
CogAT Composite: 126+
NWEA MAP Achievement Percentile: 90th+

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our math placement letter with a description of the various math classes for 6th grade is in parentvue.

Can someone please share the cutoffs they're using for 6th grade placement?

There are 3 math classes for 6th grade this year: Math 6, Math 6 Advanced, and Pre-Algebra for 6th Graders. The letter specifies "minimum score indicating a student might be ready for a 2-year compacted curriculum in grade 6." My read is that this refers to Math 6 Advanced. These minimum scores are:
Sol 5: 466+
CogAT Quantitative: 126+
CogAT Nonverbal: 126+
CogAT Composite: 126+
NWEA MAP Achievement Percentile: 90th+

Interesting. Does anyone have the pre-algebra for 6th cutoffs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our math placement letter with a description of the various math classes for 6th grade is in parentvue.

Can someone please share the cutoffs they're using for 6th grade placement?

There are 3 math classes for 6th grade this year: Math 6, Math 6 Advanced, and Pre-Algebra for 6th Graders. The letter specifies "minimum score indicating a student might be ready for a 2-year compacted curriculum in grade 6." My read is that this refers to Math 6 Advanced. These minimum scores are:
Sol 5: 466+
CogAT Quantitative: 126+
CogAT Nonverbal: 126+
CogAT Composite: 126+
NWEA MAP Achievement Percentile: 90th+

126+ was the Cogat cutoff for pre-algebra for 6th graders last year. It's strange they're using that for the cutoff for Math 6 Advanced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our math placement letter with a description of the various math classes for 6th grade is in parentvue.

Can someone please share the cutoffs they're using for 6th grade placement?

There are 3 math classes for 6th grade this year: Math 6, Math 6 Advanced, and Pre-Algebra for 6th Graders. The letter specifies "minimum score indicating a student might be ready for a 2-year compacted curriculum in grade 6." My read is that this refers to Math 6 Advanced. These minimum scores are:
Sol 5: 466+
CogAT Quantitative: 126+
CogAT Nonverbal: 126+
CogAT Composite: 126+
NWEA MAP Achievement Percentile: 90th+

126+ was the Cogat cutoff for pre-algebra for 6th graders last year. It's strange they're using that for the cutoff for Math 6 Advanced.

I don't think these are hard lines. My child exceeded most of these scores and was placed in pre-algebra. The letter also says: "Additional information that can be used to determine mathematics course placement includes: teacher recommendations based on classroom performance, parent recommendations, student interest and preference for mathematical challenge, and demonstrated aptitude through grades, portfolios, or classroom observations." The one "hard line" I am aware of is the new state law that all students scoring in the top 25% of the 5th grade SOL be placed in an advanced math class in 6th grade. But both Math 6 Advanced and Pre-Algebra could as advanced, for the state's purposes. It will be interesting to see the number of students enrolled in each of these classes when APS enrollment data comes out in the fall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our math placement letter with a description of the various math classes for 6th grade is in parentvue.

Can someone please share the cutoffs they're using for 6th grade placement?

There are 3 math classes for 6th grade this year: Math 6, Math 6 Advanced, and Pre-Algebra for 6th Graders. The letter specifies "minimum score indicating a student might be ready for a 2-year compacted curriculum in grade 6." My read is that this refers to Math 6 Advanced. These minimum scores are:
Sol 5: 466+
CogAT Quantitative: 126+
CogAT Nonverbal: 126+
CogAT Composite: 126+
NWEA MAP Achievement Percentile: 90th+

126+ was the Cogat cutoff for pre-algebra for 6th graders last year. It's strange they're using that for the cutoff for Math 6 Advanced.

I don't think these are hard lines. My child exceeded most of these scores and was placed in pre-algebra. The letter also says: "Additional information that can be used to determine mathematics course placement includes: teacher recommendations based on classroom performance, parent recommendations, student interest and preference for mathematical challenge, and demonstrated aptitude through grades, portfolios, or classroom observations." The one "hard line" I am aware of is the new state law that all students scoring in the top 25% of the 5th grade SOL be placed in an advanced math class in 6th grade. But both Math 6 Advanced and Pre-Algebra could as advanced, for the state's purposes. It will be interesting to see the number of students enrolled in each of these classes when APS enrollment data comes out in the fall.

Can you share the SOL and MAP cutoffs for 6th grade pre-algebra this year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our math placement letter with a description of the various math classes for 6th grade is in parentvue.

Can someone please share the cutoffs they're using for 6th grade placement?

There are 3 math classes for 6th grade this year: Math 6, Math 6 Advanced, and Pre-Algebra for 6th Graders. The letter specifies "minimum score indicating a student might be ready for a 2-year compacted curriculum in grade 6." My read is that this refers to Math 6 Advanced. These minimum scores are:
Sol 5: 466+
CogAT Quantitative: 126+
CogAT Nonverbal: 126+
CogAT Composite: 126+
NWEA MAP Achievement Percentile: 90th+

126+ was the Cogat cutoff for pre-algebra for 6th graders last year. It's strange they're using that for the cutoff for Math 6 Advanced.

I don't think these are hard lines. My child exceeded most of these scores and was placed in pre-algebra. The letter also says: "Additional information that can be used to determine mathematics course placement includes: teacher recommendations based on classroom performance, parent recommendations, student interest and preference for mathematical challenge, and demonstrated aptitude through grades, portfolios, or classroom observations." The one "hard line" I am aware of is the new state law that all students scoring in the top 25% of the 5th grade SOL be placed in an advanced math class in 6th grade. But both Math 6 Advanced and Pre-Algebra could as advanced, for the state's purposes. It will be interesting to see the number of students enrolled in each of these classes when APS enrollment data comes out in the fall.

Can you share the SOL and MAP cutoffs for 6th grade pre-algebra this year?

The placement letter only shares the cut offs listed above.

[Anonymous]

I'm thrilled they are offering Math 6 Advanced. I know she's a hard worker and will do well in Math 6 advanced, but I was NOT sure we'd have a good result in pre-algebra as a 6th grader. This middle option is perfect for kids like her.