ES math groupings

[Anonymous]

My kids Gen Ed class ranged from about 25% of the class below grade level to kids who could have handled advanced math...all in the same class...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I probably didn't explain myself very clearly despite my long-winded post. I am not saying I think my DC should be in the official advanced math. From what I understand, at our school the advanced math kids are working a grade level ahead same as the kids in full time AAP. I am saying that least year it seemed that they grouped the Gen Ed kids by their math scores such that there was a "strong but just missed advanced math" class (which mine seemed to be in), an "average" class, and a "below average/needs math support" class. So DC is upset that this year their math class seems to be more "needs support" kids and none of the kids from last year's class.

I don't think my kid is suited for advanced math, but I know they would be slowed down by kids who failed the SOL and get extra math support. So it would be nice to know if the Gen Ed classes are moving at different paces or if they're all doing the same thing. It's just odd to me that they told us they were putting kids in math classes based on a test last year, but then this year no such test is happening. Part of why we signed them up for Mathnasium was to boost confidence and prevent them from deciding so young that they are "not a math person", which is what happened to me. So I hate to see them feeling like they are in the "dumb" class now even if it's not the case. Sounds like there is zero consistency across schools, and even within schools.

I don’t think it’s common to sort the Gen Ed math classes by levels.

[Anonymous]

6th-8th grade math is a mess right now. FCPS is massively increasing the number of kids accelerated. There is a pilot for 6th grade Algebra increasing the number of students from 30 to 500. Kids who selected Math 7H were moved into Algebra 1H. Kids who selected Math 7 were moved into M7H.

I think there is general confusion as teachers and schools respond to the sudden change that makes little real sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No idea, nobody at the school will tell me. I want my child to be in advanced math but the school refuses while also refusing to tell me why. I got "we test each kid at the beginning of the school year and yours did not reach the threshold to be in advanced math". When I ask "what test", they won't tell me. When I ask "okay, well then what was the score and what was the threshold score" they "can't disclose that information". It's bullshit and more based on who the PTO parents' kids are.

You may not be able to see the test they use for placement. You can ask what your child scored though. If you feel very strongly you can go to the principal and demand your child be in advanced math then. But is your child really that good at math if they didn’t even test in?

This happened to us too. The teacher finally said the advanced math class had two benchmarks- passed advanced on the SOL was one. So then a few weeks later- the SOL report came out and only 9 kids (including mine who was not in advanced math) so I took it to principal and then region principal. She was moved within the week. Currently an engineering major in college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I probably didn't explain myself very clearly despite my long-winded post. I am not saying I think my DC should be in the official advanced math. From what I understand, at our school the advanced math kids are working a grade level ahead same as the kids in full time AAP. I am saying that least year it seemed that they grouped the Gen Ed kids by their math scores such that there was a "strong but just missed advanced math" class (which mine seemed to be in), an "average" class, and a "below average/needs math support" class. So DC is upset that this year their math class seems to be more "needs support" kids and none of the kids from last year's class.

I don't think my kid is suited for advanced math, but I know they would be slowed down by kids who failed the SOL and get extra math support. So it would be nice to know if the Gen Ed classes are moving at different paces or if they're all doing the same thing. It's just odd to me that they told us they were putting kids in math classes based on a test last year, but then this year no such test is happening. Part of why we signed them up for Mathnasium was to boost confidence and prevent them from deciding so young that they are "not a math person", which is what happened to me. So I hate to see them feeling like they are in the "dumb" class now even if it's not the case. Sounds like there is zero consistency across schools, and even within schools.

It is the first week of school. There will be assessments and movement in most classes. Your kid might have been placed in a random group, your kid might have been placed in a group based on grades and iReady scores. Things are likely to shift.

You mentioned that your school is in the pilot for Algebra 1 in 6th grade. That means that kids in the AAP group have been divided into two classes, Algebra 1 and Advanced Math. It might be that some kids from the regular math group were moved into Advanced Math, probably kids who passed advance on the SOL and maybe had higher iReady scores then your child. The other kids stay in regular math and they need to figure out where kids are, the variance in ability, and who is in what group. I would guess that the Admin and Math teachers at your school are swamped right now.

Different schools place students in math using different criteria. Our school used AP designation (no local level IV), iReady scores, SOL scoreas, and an in school assessment. Kids were moved around through the first month of school based on those criteria. The iReady and in school assessment could shift things. My kid was in the Advanced Math group so I am not sure how they handled things in the regular class. I do know that there was not enough space in the Advanced Math class for all the kids who qualified so there was an Advanced Math group in the regular class, there were 8 kids in that group. DS had friends in that group.

[Anonymous]

OP - check your kids performance matters and see if there a math assessment for this year and look at the score. Generally they have them take a test on the material at the beginning of the year and they use that to break into math groups. They also use sol and iready scores. It's possible that the groupings are still in the works so give it this week and check in with your child after Monday and see if there are any updates. If not, then do check in with your teacher.

[Anonymous]

Isn’t it harder to move into Advanced Math in 6th grade because the 5th graders already took the 6th grade SOL as a 5th grader? My DS is principal placed into the AAP Level IV class but is also advanced math. They took the 6th grade SOL last spring. I don’t know if they add new kids to advanced math in 6th grade since it’s 7th grade math. FCPS is not transparent as to how these decisions are made or communicated so I really don’t understand how it all works. I know that despite my child earning advanced pass on SOLs for years, he has been rejected from AAP Level IV every single year since second grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t it harder to move into Advanced Math in 6th grade because the 5th graders already took the 6th grade SOL as a 5th grader? My DS is principal placed into the AAP Level IV class but is also advanced math. They took the 6th grade SOL last spring. I don’t know if they add new kids to advanced math in 6th grade since it’s 7th grade math. FCPS is not transparent as to how these decisions are made or communicated so I really don’t understand how it all works. I know that despite my child earning advanced pass on SOLs for years, he has been rejected from AAP Level IV every single year since second grade.

Meanwhile there are kids level 4 accepted kids struggling... A little sunshine on the hows and whys would be nice

[Anonymous]

They are using the SOL score. This past year was a newer and easier test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t it harder to move into Advanced Math in 6th grade because the 5th graders already took the 6th grade SOL as a 5th grader? My DS is principal placed into the AAP Level IV class but is also advanced math. They took the 6th grade SOL last spring. I don’t know if they add new kids to advanced math in 6th grade since it’s 7th grade math. FCPS is not transparent as to how these decisions are made or communicated so I really don’t understand how it all works. I know that despite my child earning advanced pass on SOLs for years, he has been rejected from AAP Level IV every single year since second grade.

If your kid has received pass advanced on every SOL (science and reading, too), they must be at a school that sends too many to AAP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t it harder to move into Advanced Math in 6th grade because the 5th graders already took the 6th grade SOL as a 5th grader? My DS is principal placed into the AAP Level IV class but is also advanced math. They took the 6th grade SOL last spring. I don’t know if they add new kids to advanced math in 6th grade since it’s 7th grade math. FCPS is not transparent as to how these decisions are made or communicated so I really don’t understand how it all works. I know that despite my child earning advanced pass on SOLs for years, he has been rejected from AAP Level IV every single year since second grade.

If your kid has received pass advanced on every SOL (science and reading, too), they must be at a school that sends too many to AAP.

PP with the kid who has earned pass advanced on every SOL. He’s at a school with Level IV AAP and not many go to the center. I wouldn’t care except it’s always stressful to see if he’ll be principal placed into the classroom he deserves to be in. Last years rejection letter even said “your child is advanced in areas, but receiving adequate services”.