Path after compacted math

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's hard to get on an offramp. Around the class of 2025 MCPS started accelerating the majority of the kids. Now many are struggling in pre-calc and calculus and having to get tutors to keep up.

Officially, MCPS offers off-ramps every year in middle school, and allows repeating 8th grade Alg1/Geom/Alg2 in 9th, and allows course retakes in hight school, and offers 2-year Algebra 2, as well as 2 levels of Stats and 3 levels of Calculus 1.
The main "problem" with the pathways is that a student might switch from Honors one year to non-Honors the next, instead of doing both Honors but a year later, which slightly decreases weighted GPA.

Do you know someone who requested an off-ramp and get rejected?

What I see is kids that stayed on the ramp all through MS and now in HS there is little option other than taking a non-honors class which affects weighted GPA as you mentioned.

There are many parents pushing their kids to be in the highest class possible in MS without thinking of the long term impacts. Clearly some kids belong on this path and some don't.

Student can retake a class and only keep the higher grade.
https://coursebulletin.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/Home/Introduction#repeating

That solves the "Math every year" requirement and "GPA protection" requirement, except for a slight decrease (<0.02) because there is one less honors class on the transcript (but no corresponding additional non-honors class to drag it down further).

[Anonymous]

From 5/6 kids either go to 6+ in 6th, 7+ in 7th, and Algebra 1 in 8th; or fastest track is AIM/7+ in 6th, algebra 1 in 7th, and Honors Geometry in 8th.

Kids who take math 5 can also do the 6+/7+/Algebra 1 track, or they can do thr “regular” track of Math 6, Math 7, Math 8, holding off on Algebra 1 u til 9th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Echoing the above, to down-shift in 6th grade after Math 5/6 in 5th, take one of:

Math 7 -- a year ahead, but only a year's worth of curricular content, and neither omits nor repeats content from the overall curriculum, typically leading to the same pace in 7th (Math 8) and 8th (Algebra 1). This is a good option if the student absorbed the Math 4/5 & Math 5/6 content well enough, but didn't like the faster pace.

AMP6+ -- will repeat 6th-grade content and then half of 7th-grade content, delivered with the same pace as the ES Math 4/5 & Math 5/6 courses, typically leading to the same pace in 7th (AMP7+), then delivering Algebra 1 in 8th (there is no accelerated Algebra 1 course, itself, it's just a matter of when a student reaches it). This is an option if the student had some trouble absorbing the Math 5/6 content, but wants to get to new content within the year.

Math 6 -- returns the student to the base curricular pathway, repeating the 6th-grade content at a less strenuous pace, leading to Math 7, Math 8 and Algebra 1 in 7th, 8th & 9th grades, reapectively. This is a good option if the student had considerable trouble absorbing the Math 4/5 & Math 5/6 content at the pace delivered. If considering this as a likely choice at this point of the year, one might ask the ES to down-shift the student, now, by moving them from Math 5/6 to Math 5.

There are still other options, but these make the most sense given the OP's description. Talk to your teacher, school Math specialist and, perhaps, the Math 4/5 teacher (to get feedback on the student's experience last year/figure whether they think things might change as the student gets back into the swing of things/gets used to the new teacher).

Do 6th graders take Math 7? It seems logical but maybe not enough students to make it worth while. I thought that this path would be Math 6+ then 7+ (then Algebra).
ES Math 5/6 is Eureka, but MS Math 6 is Illustrative, so it's a different ordering of topics from Compacted. Doing Math 6+/7+ covers all of Illustrative 6-8 in 2 years, which may be more coherent than switching from Eureka 6 to Illustrative 7.
It's not a big deal either way, though.

That used to be an option but is not anymore. At our school 6th graders who previously were out in Math 7 are now in 6+.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Echoing the above, to down-shift in 6th grade after Math 5/6 in 5th, take one of:

Math 7 -- a year ahead, but only a year's worth of curricular content, and neither omits nor repeats content from the overall curriculum, typically leading to the same pace in 7th (Math 8) and 8th (Algebra 1). This is a good option if the student absorbed the Math 4/5 & Math 5/6 content well enough, but didn't like the faster pace.

AMP6+ -- will repeat 6th-grade content and then half of 7th-grade content, delivered with the same pace as the ES Math 4/5 & Math 5/6 courses, typically leading to the same pace in 7th (AMP7+), then delivering Algebra 1 in 8th (there is no accelerated Algebra 1 course, itself, it's just a matter of when a student reaches it). This is an option if the student had some trouble absorbing the Math 5/6 content, but wants to get to new content within the year.

Math 6 -- returns the student to the base curricular pathway, repeating the 6th-grade content at a less strenuous pace, leading to Math 7, Math 8 and Algebra 1 in 7th, 8th & 9th grades, reapectively. This is a good option if the student had considerable trouble absorbing the Math 4/5 & Math 5/6 content at the pace delivered. If considering this as a likely choice at this point of the year, one might ask the ES to down-shift the student, now, by moving them from Math 5/6 to Math 5.

There are still other options, but these make the most sense given the OP's description. Talk to your teacher, school Math specialist and, perhaps, the Math 4/5 teacher (to get feedback on the student's experience last year/figure whether they think things might change as the student gets back into the swing of things/gets used to the new teacher).

Do 6th graders take Math 7? It seems logical but maybe not enough students to make it worth while. I thought that this path would be Math 6+ then 7+ (then Algebra).
ES Math 5/6 is Eureka, but MS Math 6 is Illustrative, so it's a different ordering of topics from Compacted. Doing Math 6+/7+ covers all of Illustrative 6-8 in 2 years, which may be more coherent than switching from Eureka 6 to Illustrative 7.
It's not a big deal either way, though.

6th graders can take Math 7, especially as noted above (having taken 5/6 and having reasonably absorbed the concepts, but not really relishing the accelerated pace). It might let them go deeper on the 7th-grade topics if the teacher can manage the intended differentiated in-curriculum enrichments.

Math 5/6 now uses Eureka Math 5 and Illustrative Math 6, so there shouldn't be the curricular disconnect between Math 5/6 in 5th and Math 7 in 6th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Echoing the above, to down-shift in 6th grade after Math 5/6 in 5th, take one of:

Math 7 -- a year ahead, but only a year's worth of curricular content, and neither omits nor repeats content from the overall curriculum, typically leading to the same pace in 7th (Math 8) and 8th (Algebra 1). This is a good option if the student absorbed the Math 4/5 & Math 5/6 content well enough, but didn't like the faster pace.

AMP6+ -- will repeat 6th-grade content and then half of 7th-grade content, delivered with the same pace as the ES Math 4/5 & Math 5/6 courses, typically leading to the same pace in 7th (AMP7+), then delivering Algebra 1 in 8th (there is no accelerated Algebra 1 course, itself, it's just a matter of when a student reaches it). This is an option if the student had some trouble absorbing the Math 5/6 content, but wants to get to new content within the year.

Math 6 -- returns the student to the base curricular pathway, repeating the 6th-grade content at a less strenuous pace, leading to Math 7, Math 8 and Algebra 1 in 7th, 8th & 9th grades, reapectively. This is a good option if the student had considerable trouble absorbing the Math 4/5 & Math 5/6 content at the pace delivered. If considering this as a likely choice at this point of the year, one might ask the ES to down-shift the student, now, by moving them from Math 5/6 to Math 5.

There are still other options, but these make the most sense given the OP's description. Talk to your teacher, school Math specialist and, perhaps, the Math 4/5 teacher (to get feedback on the student's experience last year/figure whether they think things might change as the student gets back into the swing of things/gets used to the new teacher).

Do 6th graders take Math 7? It seems logical but maybe not enough students to make it worth while. I thought that this path would be Math 6+ then 7+ (then Algebra).
ES Math 5/6 is Eureka, but MS Math 6 is Illustrative, so it's a different ordering of topics from Compacted. Doing Math 6+/7+ covers all of Illustrative 6-8 in 2 years, which may be more coherent than switching from Eureka 6 to Illustrative 7.
It's not a big deal either way, though.

That used to be an option but is not anymore. At our school 6th graders who previously were out in Math 7 are now in 6+.

Providing all the options that MCPS central makes available can end up being a mamagement challenge for the schools, and principals rule the roost. Depending on the expected needs/levels of the incoming class (and even the needs of the on-grade-level rising 7th graders), the particular school might make a decision to utilize 6+ (and then 7+) instead of 7 (and then 8) for those coming from 5/6 but not recommended for AIM (or 7+ in its stead). If a student/family feels the plaacement isn't right, though, they should reach out to the counselor & Math specialist at the school to see if an accommodation can be made.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Is the path in gray boxes only available at the wealthier schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Is the path in gray boxes only available at the wealthier schools?

It's only available in Montgomery County, Virginia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Is the path in gray boxes only available at the wealthier schools?

Yes, they appear unlocked for parents whose children are zoned to one of the affluent schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Is the path in gray boxes only available at the wealthier schools?

Yes, they appear unlocked for parents whose children are zoned to one of the affluent schools.

There appears to be at least one elementary school with enough parent push and administration acquiescence to have some variation of Math 5/6 given to a group of 4th graders, who then take AIM (or a variarion) in 5th via a MS teacher and then take Algebra 1 in 6th grade. It is almost certain that this group engages in significant outside enrichment (home study/tutoring) to get their children to the point where they can make such a request in numbers great enough to have that arrangement.

For any real outlier, not having the cohort, there is the possibility of such Math grade-skipping on an individual basis. However, it appears to be heavily resisted by schools/the county, and may take a number of repeated requests/appeals to make it happen (and not as a whole cohort, of course).

Why MCPS doesn't make this clear is, well, pretty clear, even if rather unjust and counter to their equity focus. Just to be clear, myself, I'm not advocating for gunning for Algebra in 6th, but I think MCPS should be working to identify and accommodate giftedness regardless of locale or parent push, whether in Math or another subject.

[Anonymous]

Plenty of keeps drop down from Honors around Alg II or Pre-Cal. Some then move back up and some just stay the new course. It’s fine either way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Is the path in gray boxes only available at the wealthier schools?

Yes, they appear unlocked for parents whose children are zoned to one of the affluent schools.

There appears to be at least one elementary school with enough parent push and administration acquiescence to have some variation of Math 5/6 given to a group of 4th graders, who then take AIM (or a variarion) in 5th via a MS teacher and then take Algebra 1 in 6th grade. It is almost certain that this group engages in significant outside enrichment (home study/tutoring) to get their children to the point where they can make such a request in numbers great enough to have that arrangement.

For any real outlier, not having the cohort, there is the possibility of such Math grade-skipping on an individual basis. However, it appears to be heavily resisted by schools/the county, and may take a number of repeated requests/appeals to make it happen (and not as a whole cohort, of course).

Why MCPS doesn't make this clear is, well, pretty clear, even if rather unjust and counter to their equity focus. Just to be clear, myself, I'm not advocating for gunning for Algebra in 6th, but I think MCPS should be working to identify and accommodate giftedness regardless of locale or parent push, whether in Math or another subject.

BINGO!