Iowa Test (IAAT) results

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think FCPS has adopted the “let them” mentality. I can imagine the endless appeals for AAP, and requests for exceptions to prereq standards take a lot of resources to adjudicate, at a time when resources are already strained.

So if you want to put Larla in Algebra next year when she is barely keeping up with Math 6 this year, go ahead. Clearly as a parent, you know your child better than the teachers/administrators/test writers. And if she withdraws and ends up in a pre-algebra class with 45 kids, who cares. Or she fails algebra and gets to high school with that on her transcript. Who cares.

Parents are now empowered to choose their kids’ educational destiny, and it will probably save some money in the long run.

Our poor, poor teachers. They are going to be left trying to create miracles out of messes.

[Anonymous]

This is my limited experience.

DS. Always excellent at Math. No prep for IAAT. 99th percentile. 600 Math 7 SOL. Took Algebra in 7th. Easy high A all year.

DD. Always very strong in Math, but not a huge standout. Was not sure she wanted to take Algebra in 7th. 98th percentile on IAAT with no prep. 555 on Math 7 SOL. Getting an A in Honors Algebra but is working hard to maintain that.

DD has two friends who got 88th and 89th percentile on the IAAT. Not sure about Math SOL. Both are taking Algebra in 7th. One has a B+ and one had a B but it just dropped to B-.

[Anonymous]

The push is to get more kids in Algebra 1 in 8th grade, why drop the requirements for Algebra 1 H when the goal is 8th grade? Push for more kids to be in 7th H and not just 7th so they can succeed in Algebra in 8th grade.

Stupid move.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The push is to get more kids in Algebra 1 in 8th grade, why drop the requirements for Algebra 1 H when the goal is 8th grade? Push for more kids to be in 7th H and not just 7th so they can succeed in Algebra in 8th grade.

Stupid move.

They're doing that too. Multiple middle schools are no longer offering math 7, the only options for 7th grade are now math 7 honors, regular algebra 1, or algebra 1 honors.

[Anonymous]

Regular Algebra in 7th is new, it used to be that regular Algebra was offered in 8th but not 7th.

Just focus on getting more kids into Algebra in 8th. 7th grade should be for the kids who are really ready for acceleration and can maintain it through HS. Regular Algebra in 7th is not going to do much for those kids because they are not likely to be the ones wanting to take multivariate calculus as seniors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Regular Algebra in 7th is new, it used to be that regular Algebra was offered in 8th but not 7th.

Just focus on getting more kids into Algebra in 8th. 7th grade should be for the kids who are really ready for acceleration and can maintain it through HS. Regular Algebra in 7th is not going to do much for those kids because they are not likely to be the ones wanting to take multivariate calculus as seniors.

Regular, not honors, algebra in 7th?! What the heck. Then they will have gaps if they take honors math later on. And even if they don’t really “belong” in algebra in 7th, they probably would do fine in algebra honors in 8th and then up through AP Calc.

Math pathways are so all over the place now. There are two AP Precalc (AB and BC) classes at our school. Precalc isn’t a college course! Why wouldn’t they just have people take honors/regular Precalc and then decide if they want to do AB or BC calculus instead of tracking them one year earlier. All nuts.

[Anonymous]

This is such a bad idea.

[Anonymous]

Starting with the current students rising to grade 7 in the fall of 2025, the Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test (IAAT) will no longer be used as a requirement for enrollment. Instead, families of students who meet the above criteria may select either Mathematics 7 Honors or Algebra 1 Honors.

https://www.fcps.edu/academics/advanced-academic-programs-aap/middle/honors-grades-7-8

[Anonymous]

NP. DS is in 6th grade AAP. He's not "mathy" like his older sibling but wants to take Algebra I in 7th grade like his older sibling did. He got a 480 on the SOL last year and I don't know whether he will score above 500 on the SOL this year or not. We haven't gotten the IAAT score back yet but they aren't counting it this year. We had planned on him taking Math 7H next year because I doubt he would qualify under the old pre-reqs.

Now that they have made Algebra I "easier" to get into for 7th graders, if he scores above 500 on the SOL, should we let him take it? The class may be a notch lower than when his older sibling took it and keeping him out may not be as appropriate anymore. Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is my limited experience.

DS. Always excellent at Math. No prep for IAAT. 99th percentile. 600 Math 7 SOL. Took Algebra in 7th. Easy high A all year.

DD. Always very strong in Math, but not a huge standout. Was not sure she wanted to take Algebra in 7th. 98th percentile on IAAT with no prep. 555 on Math 7 SOL. Getting an A in Honors Algebra but is working hard to maintain that.

DD has two friends who got 88th and 89th percentile on the IAAT. Not sure about Math SOL. Both are taking Algebra in 7th. One has a B+ and one had a B but it just dropped to B-.

My experience is this

DD: Quite good at math just little confidence. 99th percentile with no prep besides timed test prep. 588 Math 7 SOL. Taking Algebra now in 7th. Getting easy high A.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. DS is in 6th grade AAP. He's not "mathy" like his older sibling but wants to take Algebra I in 7th grade like his older sibling did. He got a 480 on the SOL last year and I don't know whether he will score above 500 on the SOL this year or not. We haven't gotten the IAAT score back yet but they aren't counting it this year. We had planned on him taking Math 7H next year because I doubt he would qualify under the old pre-reqs.

Now that they have made Algebra I "easier" to get into for 7th graders, if he scores above 500 on the SOL, should we let him take it? The class may be a notch lower than when his older sibling took it and keeping him out may not be as appropriate anymore. Thoughts?

Teacher here. I would talk to your child’s teacher. They would have a better idea. I know which kids should take it in my class and who would benefit from 7H to build a stronger foundation.

[Anonymous]

Scores came home today. My son ranked 84 percentile. Says exceeded expectation. But as we all know they will not be using the Iowa anymore. Any other parents care to share what their student received?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Scores came home today. My son ranked 84 percentile. Says exceeded expectation. But as we all know they will not be using the Iowa anymore. Any other parents care to share what their student received?

You are most likely to find scores on the AAP Forum as they trickle in. The old standard had been a score in the 91st percentile and pass advanced on the SOL to take Algebra 1 H in 7th grade. DS was in the 99th percentile last year and scored a 600 on the SOL. He has not had any problems with Algebra 1 H.

I would talk to your child's teacher about Algebra in 7th grade but I would be hesitant to enroll a student with anything under 95th percentile. The IAAT is not that hard, you can look up the questions. It is a timed test which can be tricky for kids but many of the questions are pretty easy and should be easily answered quickly. They had the IAAT in place for a reason but the push to get more kids into Algebra in MS is causing FCPS to make it easier to enroll in 7th grade. This makes no sense to me since the push is for Algebra in 8th grade and any 6th grader in Advanced Math or AAP is on track for Algebra in 8th grade, there is no need to rush kids into Algebra in 7th grade.

Any way, check the AAP forum, you will find more discussion there. And please know that there are parents whose kids qualified under the old system who end up expunging the grade and retaking Algebra in 8th grade because they struggle with the class. It is a HS math class and moves at that pace. The Honors class has extensions that mean it moves more quickly than the regular Algebra class. There is a good amount of work and regular quizzes and tests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Scores came home today. My son ranked 84 percentile. Says exceeded expectation. But as we all know they will not be using the Iowa anymore. Any other parents care to share what their student received?

Was it 84 percentile correct or 84% NPR? My child got 3 questions wrong which was 95% correct but 98% NPR.

[Anonymous]

Still nothing in the mail or from school; what is going on? almost 2 months of secrecy. Why?