Middle Schools Math Differentiation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are the public and charter Middle Schools that follow a math differentiation approach for their students? We know about Deal, Hardy, and BASIS. What else? Let’s make a list.

DC International School (DCI) has math differentiation. A student can be in:

1. Regular grade-level math class with an additional support math class (in lieu of an elective class)
2. Regular grade-level math class
3. Accelerated math class (eg. in 6th grade it's accelerated 6th + 7th grade standards)
4. Twice accelerated math class (eg. two grades ahead)

[Anonymous]

At Stuart-Hobson, we place students who are ready in accelerated math classes. Over 1/3 of our 6th graders are currently taking Math 7 and are on track for Algebra next year.

[Anonymous]

Every DCPS middle school will offer an accelerated math track starting next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every DCPS middle school will offer an accelerated math track starting next year.

Please say more about it! Accelerated to Geometry?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every DCPS middle school will offer an accelerated math track starting next year.

OK but if there is no one above grade level and the overwhelming majority of kids are below grade level, is it really accelerated or grade level for few minority of kids?

You can name the course anything you want but in reality what is it teaching?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every DCPS middle school will offer an accelerated math track starting next year.

OK but if there is no one above grade level and the overwhelming majority of kids are below grade level, is it really accelerated or grade level for few minority of kids?

You can name the course anything you want but in reality what is it teaching?

I’ll also add that it’s relative. In DCPS, accelerated means Calculus by 12th.

Above is not accelerated at majority of schools in burbs. That is standard track

[Anonymous]

I thought that every DCPS middle school already offered Algebra 1 in 8th. What is changing, exactly?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought that every DCPS middle school already offered Algebra 1 in 8th. What is changing, exactly?

They don't all offer it. The Education Campuses that go pk-8th don't always have it. Because they have like 20 8th graders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought that every DCPS middle school already offered Algebra 1 in 8th. What is changing, exactly?

They don't all offer it. The Education Campuses that go pk-8th don't always have it. Because they have like 20 8th graders.

That’s at most four schools, right?There are only 5-6 ECs that serve PK-8, and at least two of those—OA and Francis—have more like 70-90 8th graders, and offer Algebra. The smaller schools absolutely should offer Algebra, and DCPS in my opinion does need to figure out how to equalize math opportunities across different schools regardless of size and location, but bringing four schools up to speed doesn’t seem like such a big shift for DCPS generally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought that every DCPS middle school already offered Algebra 1 in 8th. What is changing, exactly?

They don't all offer it. The Education Campuses that go pk-8th don't always have it. Because they have like 20 8th graders.

That’s at most four schools, right?There are only 5-6 ECs that serve PK-8, and at least two of those—OA and Francis—have more like 70-90 8th graders, and offer Algebra. The smaller schools absolutely should offer Algebra, and DCPS in my opinion does need to figure out how to equalize math opportunities across different schools regardless of size and location, but bringing four schools up to speed doesn’t seem like such a big shift for DCPS generally.

Well, it means they'll have to teach Algebra to just a handful of kids who are ready for it, which also means they have to accelerate a group of 7th graders so that they are ready. It's not impossible, it's a matter of their willingness to staff it i.e. pay for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought that every DCPS middle school already offered Algebra 1 in 8th. What is changing, exactly?

Algebra 1 in 8th gets you to Calculus in 12th from what I understand. Not accelerated in my book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought that every DCPS middle school already offered Algebra 1 in 8th. What is changing, exactly?

Algebra 1 in 8th gets you to Calculus in 12th from what I understand. Not accelerated in my book.

It's accelerated in that the standard curriculum has 7th grade math, then 8th grade math, then Algebra I. So the schools that offer Algebra I to 8th graders have to figure out how they're going to compress the curriculum to get the kids ready. Or lengthen the math portion of the day. It's a logistical question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every DCPS middle school will offer an accelerated math track starting next year.

Please say more about it! Accelerated to Geometry?

At a minimum Algebra 1 in 8th grade. If your student is ready for more, that’s something you can and should advocate for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought that every DCPS middle school already offered Algebra 1 in 8th. What is changing, exactly?

Algebra 1 in 8th gets you to Calculus in 12th from what I understand. Not accelerated in my book.

Maybe stop being a snob and open your eyes to the fact that even at well-performing schools, some students are not ready for Algebra until 9th grade. Because some people just aren't that great at math. It's okay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought that every DCPS middle school already offered Algebra 1 in 8th. What is changing, exactly?

Algebra 1 in 8th gets you to Calculus in 12th from what I understand. Not accelerated in my book.

It's accelerated in that the standard curriculum has 7th grade math, then 8th grade math, then Algebra I. So the schools that offer Algebra I to 8th graders have to figure out how they're going to compress the curriculum to get the kids ready. Or lengthen the math portion of the day. It's a logistical question.

They don’t have to figure it out. The curriculum offers an accelerated pathway that covers 6th-8th grade standards over the course of 2 years.