If your child took Algebra 1 in 6th grade..

[Anonymous]

There is a fact that parents and students need to consider wisely. Students are required to complete four years of math. Taking Alg 1 in 6th leads to Calculus in 10 and two more years of required math. Just because a kid is advanced, does not mean they are going to be wanting to take such advanced math later in HS. Additionally, not all HS have a big enough cohort to offer many classes beyond Calculus which could put them at having to take courses through MC.

Also, there will be some missed content when you jump straight into Alg1 and it will be up to the student to bridge these gaps/seek out additional help.

This is not to say a student shouldn’t take Alg1 in 6th, but to show that MCPS isn’t readily recommending it to folks because they a) know there is no need to accelerate so quickly except in rare circumstances, and 2) that what starts out looking great in 6th many times does not seem that way come 10th/11th/12th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child had a 5th grade spring map score of 253 (5th) and 6th fall of 245. At Frost the process (as explained to me at least) was that unless you had very special circumstances all 6th graders were placed in AIM. After a couple weeks teachers made recommendations as to which 6th graders would be good candidates to push to algebra and those students, with approval of parents, had their schedules adjusted. This was not communicated publicly at all but parents in know could put their finger on the scale a bit and AIM teacher if your child could be considered for acceleration. This wasn't a sure thing but at least made sure your child was on the radar. After the first couple weeks the math coordinator reached out and said that my child was on the bubble and they could go either way. They gave the usual warnings of "it could destroy their self esteem if they try and fail" but we decided to proceed anyway.

Its been a great confidence booster for them to be in this accelerated cohort even though there were some challenges as the gaps of skipped material emerged. The school did not make any accomodations or special effort to help head off these gaps and the burden was generally on the student to ask for help.

This is why I want my child to be moved. Is your child doing well? A or B in Math? My kid got a 260 this Fall and in Spring and is in one of the whole school magnets. What will your child take in 7th and 8th in this path?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't remember - it was above the 99th percentile, as her scores always are, but not spectacular like the ones occasionally mentioned here (and that I sometimes doubt are real). Her middle school math coordinator organized tests for those who were interested in moving up to Alg 1, the summer before 6th grade. She was in the Chevy Chase CES before that, and was not picked in the lottery round for the STEM magnet middle school.

She did not apply to a magnet high school, so she's at her home high school at BCC, taking Precalc in 9th grade.

Be warned that every time the subject is discussed on DCUM, an odd duck will chime in to insist that only Potomac schools allow kids to take Alg 1 in 6th. Which is not true. It's only that MCPS keeps this pathway under wraps, so it's usually educated parents in the know who ask to test-in.

I do agree with you that more schools than Potomac schools will allow 6th graders in Algebra I, but it is not typical, and, there are plenty of middle schools that absolutely do not allow it. It doesn't matter how "educated" you are on the matter. There are other ways to get your kid to Pre-Calc in 9th (double up on math in 8th grade for example).

How do we do that? I think the current path at the school my kid is in is AIM6-Algebra1-Geometry.

You take geometry and Algebra II in 8th grade.

Schools allow an extra class? How do they squeeze that in? Or is it 1 class but all the kids learn both in that class?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a fact that parents and students need to consider wisely. Students are required to complete four years of math. Taking Alg 1 in 6th leads to Calculus in 10 and two more years of required math. Just because a kid is advanced, does not mean they are going to be wanting to take such advanced math later in HS. Additionally, not all HS have a big enough cohort to offer many classes beyond Calculus which could put them at having to take courses through MC.

Also, there will be some missed content when you jump straight into Alg1 and it will be up to the student to bridge these gaps/seek out additional help.

This is not to say a student shouldn’t take Alg1 in 6th, but to show that MCPS isn’t readily recommending it to folks because they a) know there is no need to accelerate so quickly except in rare circumstances, and 2) that what starts out looking great in 6th many times does not seem that way come 10th/11th/12th grade.

If they take high school credits in MS they still have to take 4 more years in high school? DDs aim is to go to Blair or Poolesville and without the Algebra 1 in 6th is it even possible?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a fact that parents and students need to consider wisely. Students are required to complete four years of math. Taking Alg 1 in 6th leads to Calculus in 10 and two more years of required math. Just because a kid is advanced, does not mean they are going to be wanting to take such advanced math later in HS. Additionally, not all HS have a big enough cohort to offer many classes beyond Calculus which could put them at having to take courses through MC.

Also, there will be some missed content when you jump straight into Alg1 and it will be up to the student to bridge these gaps/seek out additional help.

This is not to say a student shouldn’t take Alg1 in 6th, but to show that MCPS isn’t readily recommending it to folks because they a) know there is no need to accelerate so quickly except in rare circumstances, and 2) that what starts out looking great in 6th many times does not seem that way come 10th/11th/12th grade.

Here comes the math department head.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a fact that parents and students need to consider wisely. Students are required to complete four years of math. Taking Alg 1 in 6th leads to Calculus in 10 and two more years of required math. Just because a kid is advanced, does not mean they are going to be wanting to take such advanced math later in HS. Additionally, not all HS have a big enough cohort to offer many classes beyond Calculus which could put them at having to take courses through MC.

Also, there will be some missed content when you jump straight into Alg1 and it will be up to the student to bridge these gaps/seek out additional help.

This is not to say a student shouldn’t take Alg1 in 6th, but to show that MCPS isn’t readily recommending it to folks because they a) know there is no need to accelerate so quickly except in rare circumstances, and 2) that what starts out looking great in 6th many times does not seem that way come 10th/11th/12th grade.

If they take high school credits in MS they still have to take 4 more years in high school? DDs aim is to go to Blair or Poolesville and without the Algebra 1 in 6th is it even possible?

Yep. The HS credit earned in MS doesn't get you out of mathematics - and it's also part of the HS GPA under most circumstances, so you want those grades to be good.

It's not about the number of math credits or how high up you go. Math every. single. year. that your child is a student in MCPS. So what looks exciting now (getting to algebra and geometry more quickly) could look really bad later on if the high-speed background doesn't stand up to two years of post-calculus study at the end of HS - especially if you are aiming for the kind of college that might be more impressed with As than they would be with hyper-acceleration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

This is why I want my child to be moved. Is your child doing well? A or B in Math? My kid got a 260 this Fall and in Spring and is in one of the whole school magnets. What will your child take in 7th and 8th in this path?

My child is now in 8th (Hon Algebra 2) and has been getting straight A's. They are extremely self directed and is the type to re-write their notes when they get home from school and do extra problems of their own initiative. Not one of the math "stars" but does the work diligently.

Frost has a teacher who teaches Alg 2 in school though they warn every year that it is not a guarantee and students may need to walk to Wootton in the morning. I'm guessing part of the reason they are open to students accelerating is to maintain enough of a cohort to justify offering Alg2 in school. I can imagine at other middle schools that it becomes a logistical hassle for counselors and math department.

Our plan for High school is Precal -> BC Calc -> Multi Var Calc -> AP Stats. Still on the fence about this as a 1 year break in calc before college could lose momentum.
Depending on schedule load we may decide to do AB Calc then BC Calc to slow things down or maybe do AP Stats first and then do BC Calc as a junior. One of the reasons to accelerate was to open options up in high school. Having AP Stats early may help with research internships or projects, or if they have an interest in physics makes Physics C as a junior an easier path with AP Calc as a sophomore. Again, opens up options, even for a kid who is not brilliant at math but mature enough to keep up with the work.

[Anonymous]

There are countless threads on this damn topic. Search. Stop starting new ones you tiger parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't remember - it was above the 99th percentile, as her scores always are, but not spectacular like the ones occasionally mentioned here (and that I sometimes doubt are real). Her middle school math coordinator organized tests for those who were interested in moving up to Alg 1, the summer before 6th grade. She was in the Chevy Chase CES before that, and was not picked in the lottery round for the STEM magnet middle school.

She did not apply to a magnet high school, so she's at her home high school at BCC, taking Precalc in 9th grade.

Be warned that every time the subject is discussed on DCUM, an odd duck will chime in to insist that only Potomac schools allow kids to take Alg 1 in 6th. Which is not true. It's only that MCPS keeps this pathway under wraps, so it's usually educated parents in the know who ask to test-in.

I do agree with you that more schools than Potomac schools will allow 6th graders in Algebra I, but it is not typical, and, there are plenty of middle schools that absolutely do not allow it. It doesn't matter how "educated" you are on the matter. There are other ways to get your kid to Pre-Calc in 9th (double up on math in 8th grade for example).

How do we do that? I think the current path at the school my kid is in is AIM6-Algebra1-Geometry.

You take geometry and Algebra II in 8th grade.

Schools allow an extra class? How do they squeeze that in? Or is it 1 class but all the kids learn both in that class?

The extra class is Alg II. It takes the place of an elective spot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a fact that parents and students need to consider wisely. Students are required to complete four years of math. Taking Alg 1 in 6th leads to Calculus in 10 and two more years of required math. Just because a kid is advanced, does not mean they are going to be wanting to take such advanced math later in HS. Additionally, not all HS have a big enough cohort to offer many classes beyond Calculus which could put them at having to take courses through MC.

Also, there will be some missed content when you jump straight into Alg1 and it will be up to the student to bridge these gaps/seek out additional help.

This is not to say a student shouldn’t take Alg1 in 6th, but to show that MCPS isn’t readily recommending it to folks because they a) know there is no need to accelerate so quickly except in rare circumstances, and 2) that what starts out looking great in 6th many times does not seem that way come 10th/11th/12th grade.

I'm a PP whose kid did Alg 1 in 6th. I don't know whether there were gaps, but my kid just breezed through it. We hadn't paid for a tutor or enrichment, but she told me after the fact that whenever she didn't understand something, she would just watch a Khan Academy video. She said that in an off-hand way, as if it wasn't even worth mentioning. Now she's in precalc in 9th grade, and it's not hard, but she told me that for the time in her life, she can't do something other than math in math class: usually she reads in every class, because she finishes her work early. She still does most of her math homework in class.

Yes, parents should know that high school requires math every year. After diff equations, we are planning on having her sign up for a class at UMD, because that's what another kid did in our circle. Or she can take an easier math class in MCPS. Or Montgomery College. There are options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a fact that parents and students need to consider wisely. Students are required to complete four years of math. Taking Alg 1 in 6th leads to Calculus in 10 and two more years of required math. Just because a kid is advanced, does not mean they are going to be wanting to take such advanced math later in HS. Additionally, not all HS have a big enough cohort to offer many classes beyond Calculus which could put them at having to take courses through MC.

Also, there will be some missed content when you jump straight into Alg1 and it will be up to the student to bridge these gaps/seek out additional help.

This is not to say a student shouldn’t take Alg1 in 6th, but to show that MCPS isn’t readily recommending it to folks because they a) know there is no need to accelerate so quickly except in rare circumstances, and 2) that what starts out looking great in 6th many times does not seem that way come 10th/11th/12th grade.

If they take high school credits in MS they still have to take 4 more years in high school? DDs aim is to go to Blair or Poolesville and without the Algebra 1 in 6th is it even possible?

Yep. The HS credit earned in MS doesn't get you out of mathematics - and it's also part of the HS GPA under most circumstances, so you want those grades to be good.

It's not about the number of math credits or how high up you go. Math every. single. year. that your child is a student in MCPS. So what looks exciting now (getting to algebra and geometry more quickly) could look really bad later on if the high-speed background doesn't stand up to two years of post-calculus study at the end of HS - especially if you are aiming for the kind of college that might be more impressed with As than they would be with hyper-acceleration.

This is correct with one clarification. The HS classes taken in MS don’t get counted in your MCPS HS GPA unless the help your gpa be higher. They do show on the transcript though, so colleges will see them and can recalculate however they wish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a fact that parents and students need to consider wisely. Students are required to complete four years of math. Taking Alg 1 in 6th leads to Calculus in 10 and two more years of required math. Just because a kid is advanced, does not mean they are going to be wanting to take such advanced math later in HS. Additionally, not all HS have a big enough cohort to offer many classes beyond Calculus which could put them at having to take courses through MC.

Also, there will be some missed content when you jump straight into Alg1 and it will be up to the student to bridge these gaps/seek out additional help.

This is not to say a student shouldn’t take Alg1 in 6th, but to show that MCPS isn’t readily recommending it to folks because they a) know there is no need to accelerate so quickly except in rare circumstances, and 2) that what starts out looking great in 6th many times does not seem that way come 10th/11th/12th grade.

I'm a PP whose kid did Alg 1 in 6th. I don't know whether there were gaps, but my kid just breezed through it. We hadn't paid for a tutor or enrichment, but she told me after the fact that whenever she didn't understand something, she would just watch a Khan Academy video. She said that in an off-hand way, as if it wasn't even worth mentioning. Now she's in precalc in 9th grade, and it's not hard, but she told me that for the time in her life, she can't do something other than math in math class: usually she reads in every class, because she finishes her work early. She still does most of her math homework in class.

Yes, parents should know that high school requires math every year. After diff equations, we are planning on having her sign up for a class at UMD, because that's what another kid did in our circle. Or she can take an easier math class in MCPS. Or Montgomery College. There are options.

Yes there are options but what those options are and how students like them may vary. For examples not every HS offers multivariable. Not every parent wants their kid in college classes. If the kid only wants to take one college class like math, they may have to take it in the evening in order to align the rest of the courses they want. And they may find out they are tired of really advance math classes but don’t have a choice because they’ve already taken Calc as a sophomore.

[Anonymous]

Its the end of November??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a fact that parents and students need to consider wisely. Students are required to complete four years of math. Taking Alg 1 in 6th leads to Calculus in 10 and two more years of required math. Just because a kid is advanced, does not mean they are going to be wanting to take such advanced math later in HS. Additionally, not all HS have a big enough cohort to offer many classes beyond Calculus which could put them at having to take courses through MC.

Also, there will be some missed content when you jump straight into Alg1 and it will be up to the student to bridge these gaps/seek out additional help.

This is not to say a student shouldn’t take Alg1 in 6th, but to show that MCPS isn’t readily recommending it to folks because they a) know there is no need to accelerate so quickly except in rare circumstances, and 2) that what starts out looking great in 6th many times does not seem that way come 10th/11th/12th grade.

If they take high school credits in MS they still have to take 4 more years in high school? DDs aim is to go to Blair or Poolesville and without the Algebra 1 in 6th is it even possible?

Sure. Most kids don’t take Alg1 in 6th. The bigger cohort takes Alg1 in 7th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a fact that parents and students need to consider wisely. Students are required to complete four years of math. Taking Alg 1 in 6th leads to Calculus in 10 and two more years of required math. Just because a kid is advanced, does not mean they are going to be wanting to take such advanced math later in HS. Additionally, not all HS have a big enough cohort to offer many classes beyond Calculus which could put them at having to take courses through MC.

Also, there will be some missed content when you jump straight into Alg1 and it will be up to the student to bridge these gaps/seek out additional help.

This is not to say a student shouldn’t take Alg1 in 6th, but to show that MCPS isn’t readily recommending it to folks because they a) know there is no need to accelerate so quickly except in rare circumstances, and 2) that what starts out looking great in 6th many times does not seem that way come 10th/11th/12th grade.

If they take high school credits in MS they still have to take 4 more years in high school? DDs aim is to go to Blair or Poolesville and without the Algebra 1 in 6th is it even possible?

Of course this is possible. If fact, the majority of kids coming into Poolesville took Alg 1 in 7th. They end up in the same class as the kids that already took Algebra 2. Let me said it again, everyone ends up in the same class.