No Algebra I in 8th - what to do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One reason we stayed in MCPS. Kid 1 did Alg 1 in 7th, kid 2 did Alg 1 in 6th. MCPS offers AP Stats, AP Calc (AB and BC), multivariable calculus and dual enrollment with community college should kids want more. We know a kid who took a math class at UMD for 12th grade.

Is MCPS keeping this type of acceleration? I have heard that they are eliminating some of these types of offerings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One reason we stayed in MCPS. Kid 1 did Alg 1 in 7th, kid 2 did Alg 1 in 6th. MCPS offers AP Stats, AP Calc (AB and BC), multivariable calculus and dual enrollment with community college should kids want more. We know a kid who took a math class at UMD for 12th grade.

Is MCPS keeping this type of acceleration? I have heard that they are eliminating some of these types of offerings.

I hope so! I haven't heard anything from MCPS, and the thing is, Alg 1 in 6th was never an official pathway in the first place, and never announced or displayed on math pathway slides for incoming parents - not in my two kids' BCC cluster, at any rate. We heard about it through the grapevine, and requested this placement of the middle school math coordinator the summer before 6th. DD was bused to her high school for Alg 2 in 8th grade, and that worked well: their Alg 2 was in first period, and since high school starts earlier, when you factor in commute time, the 3 kids who were on the bus were able to return to their middle school for second period without being late. She has enough math classes in her high school to do math every year. This year, she's in 10th grade and AP Calc BC was a breeze. Next year, she'll do multivariable, and then she wants to do AP Stats, because she's considering a major in biology, for which statistics is very useful.

MCPS used to do the "bussing to high school thing" for world languages as well, to accommodate kids who spoke that foreign language at home and who tested into higher levels of that language in MCPS middle schools. But I heard this might have been eliminated, at least for our cluster. We considered it for my oldest years ago, since we speak another language at home, but decided instead to keep our kids enrolled in their weekend native language school and take a third language in MCPS.

I certainly hope that Alg 1 in 7th is still offered! That seems like a standard pathway to me.

[Anonymous]

I would question the overall academics of a school without Algebra 1 in 8th. Are the humanities and sciences also behind?

[Anonymous]

Many religious HS allow for Alg1 in 9th with Geometry over the summer following.

Yes, MCPS is still keep Alg 1 in 8th or in 7th depending on student performance.

[Anonymous]

MCPS is talking about doing away with compacted math 4/5 and 5/6 which would probably do away with 7th grade Algebra 1 being a standard pathway. But this is in conjunction with MD mandated “integrated Algebra I and II” which does away with geometry so the new pathway would be
8th - Integrated Algebra I
9th - Integrated Algebra II
10th - PreCalc
11th - Calc AB or BC
12th - Calc BC or multivariate

[Anonymous]

Would it be worth talking to the school about this? A curriculum that doesn't allow anyone to reach calculus in 12th grade, even if they want to and are capable, seems outdated.

[Anonymous]

FCPS has Algebra in 6th grade, although the program has not been rolled out well and their selection process is highly questionable. Algebra 1 in 7th grade has been around for ages, about 15% of FCPS students took A1H in 7th grade. Kids take Calc in 11th grade, most will take BC and skip AB. They take multivariate calc and linear algebra in 12th grade.

I think Algebra 1 in 8th grade is probably the right place for a good number of kids but you can go to college without Calculus, even top tier colleges, because most majors don’t require that level of math. Math is the one subject where I would 100% say you follow your kids lead and don’t push them too hard. It is ok to take Algebra in 9th but I think most kids are ready for it in 8th grade.

[Anonymous]

Summer geometry is the most usual approach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am going to be in the same situation with an overseas private school before moving back to FCPS when my child enters 9th. I've been debating whether to have child take Algebra 1 online outside of school concurrently in 8th or over the summer, then start in geometry for 9th; or take Algebra 1 in 9th and then take summer geometry. I agree Calculus in 12th is important.

algebra 1 concurrently and/or in summer. Maybe both (learn algebra independently then do summer alg)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One reason we stayed in MCPS. Kid 1 did Alg 1 in 7th, kid 2 did Alg 1 in 6th. MCPS offers AP Stats, AP Calc (AB and BC), multivariable calculus and dual enrollment with community college should kids want more. We know a kid who took a math class at UMD for 12th grade.

Is MCPS keeping this type of acceleration? I have heard that they are eliminating some of these types of offerings.

I hope so! I haven't heard anything from MCPS, and the thing is, Alg 1 in 6th was never an official pathway in the first place, and never announced or displayed on math pathway slides for incoming parents - not in my two kids' BCC cluster, at any rate. We heard about it through the grapevine, and requested this placement of the middle school math coordinator the summer before 6th. DD was bused to her high school for Alg 2 in 8th grade, and that worked well: their Alg 2 was in first period, and since high school starts earlier, when you factor in commute time, the 3 kids who were on the bus were able to return to their middle school for second period without being late. She has enough math classes in her high school to do math every year. This year, she's in 10th grade and AP Calc BC was a breeze. Next year, she'll do multivariable, and then she wants to do AP Stats, because she's considering a major in biology, for which statistics is very useful.

MCPS used to do the "bussing to high school thing" for world languages as well, to accommodate kids who spoke that foreign language at home and who tested into higher levels of that language in MCPS middle schools. But I heard this might have been eliminated, at least for our cluster. We considered it for my oldest years ago, since we speak another language at home, but decided instead to keep our kids enrolled in their weekend native language school and take a third language in MCPS.

I certainly hope that Alg 1 in 7th is still offered! That seems like a standard pathway to me.

She should DE calc-based probability and stats. AP stats is a bit of a joke, especially for someone with a calc background.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Sounds like online Algebra I in 8th grade school year or 9th grade summer doing Geometry would be the best bets. Unless we decide to make a school change. That seems extreme if there are other options, but maybe a change could have other upsides that I’m not considering right now.

When my child moved from a small private back to public, they took intensive algebra for the first semester and intensive geo in the second and then was back on track.

[Anonymous]

My DC went to a small Catholic K-8 which offered only one math class per year, meaning pre-Algebra level math in 8th grade. They worked in Khan Academy to get ahead and were able to test into an accelerated Alg I / Geometry class for 9th grade at their new HS. So far they have done great and will be in Alg II for 10th grade.

[Anonymous]

NP- I am interested in switching my kids from public to catholic school for several reasons, but the math is holding me back. I don't understand how kids at these small, affluent schools are not getting through algebra 1. This worse than when I was in Catholic school when math was still bad, but not like this. Has anyone had success with doing homeschool algebra classes during the school year?

[Anonymous]

Assuming your DC are reasonable good at math, I would find a way for them to take algebra in eight grade whether that means working with your school, finding an independent program, or switching to another school. My DC’s school offers three math tracks in 8th grade - pre-algebra, algebra, and geometry - and I think that’s pretty common at least among the larger Catholic schools. Some smaller schools only offer through algebra, but I think it’s unusual to not offer algebra in 8th.

I have one DS at Gonzaga and another starting this fall. Most boys who are on an honors track there are taking at least Geometry in 9th and some are taking Algebra II/ Trig. Granted, some start with Algebra I and there is an option to take Geometry during the summer between 9th and 10th, but I think having to start in Algebra I (if your kids are reasonably good at math) puts your them at a real disadvantage in HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP- I am interested in switching my kids from public to catholic school for several reasons, but the math is holding me back. I don't understand how kids at these small, affluent schools are not getting through algebra 1. This worse than when I was in Catholic school when math was still bad, but not like this. Has anyone had success with doing homeschool algebra classes during the school year?

Just ask the Catholic school about the math pathway. Ours gets everyone through Algebra I with a little geometry. This is actually probably better than you’d do at public for your average student, but worse for a truly gifted math student. Most of those “truly gifted” math students are doing a lot of work outside of school though, so they may do that at public or private.