7th grade Math SOL scores and Algebra 1?

[Anonymous]

My daughter had an amazing math teacher in 6th grade and most kids qualified and took algebra in 7th grade. It was a big leap from elementary math to high school math and some kids did not do well. A lot of kids did not do well for geometry. The good thing is, kids can repeat these courses in HS and there is are real consequences.

The most difficult math course in HS for my kid was pre-cal HN in sophomore year. No matter how hard she worked, her grade would not improve, especially for the trig part. But the calculus BC was not bad.

[Anonymous]

Oops, typo:
kids can repeat these courses in HS and there are no real consequencies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child qualified, and I am really surprised by the number of kids we know that qualified but are opting out.

I would guess that a child who scored pass advanced on the 7th grade SOL and 91% or higher on the IAAT has mastered the math 7 material and is prepared for Algebra.

FWIW, Algebra 1 in 7th grade is sort of a basic requirement if one was interested in going to TJ.

Not really. A student can take Algebra 1 in 8th grade and take Geometry over the summer before 9th grade to "catch up" to the students that took Algebra I in 7th grade. The math portion of the TJ admissions exam is not all that hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter had an amazing math teacher in 6th grade and most kids qualified and took algebra in 7th grade. It was a big leap from elementary math to high school math and some kids did not do well. A lot of kids did not do well for geometry. The good thing is, kids can repeat these courses in HS and there is are real consequences.

The most difficult math course in HS for my kid was pre-cal HN in sophomore year. No matter how hard she worked, her grade would not improve, especially for the trig part. But the calculus BC was not bad.

Algebra and Geometry are so different. Some kids seem to do better with Algebra and others with Geometry. Personally, I am a visual thinker and I found Geometry to be much easier than Algebra.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child qualified, and I am really surprised by the number of kids we know that qualified but are opting out.

I would guess that a child who scored pass advanced on the 7th grade SOL and 91% or higher on the IAAT has mastered the math 7 material and is prepared for Algebra.

FWIW, Algebra 1 in 7th grade is sort of a basic requirement if one was interested in going to TJ.

Not really. A student can take Algebra 1 in 8th grade and take Geometry over the summer before 9th grade to "catch up" to the students that took Algebra I in 7th grade. The math portion of the TJ admissions exam is not all that hard.

Yeah but how is this "not really" ?? I swear some people here disagree just for the sake of disagreeing.

The point is you need to have it to get into TJ. And it'll probably will make it easier on the kid if they don't have to "catch up". Sheesh!

[Anonymous]

Kids who have taken Geometry in 8th have a leg up in TJ admission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids who have taken Geometry in 8th have a leg up in TJ admission.

Exactly. Algebra 1 in 7th. Geometry in 8th. If they're so inclined and/or want to go to TJ.

This would probably also help as a good foundation for math AP courses in any High School. And we all know doing well on AP courses is one of the keys to getting into a good college..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child qualified, and I am really surprised by the number of kids we know that qualified but are opting out.

I would guess that a child who scored pass advanced on the 7th grade SOL and 91% or higher on the IAAT has mastered the math 7 material and is prepared for Algebra.

FWIW, Algebra 1 in 7th grade is sort of a basic requirement if one was interested in going to TJ.

Not really. A student can take Algebra 1 in 8th grade and take Geometry over the summer before 9th grade to "catch up" to the students that took Algebra I in 7th grade. The math portion of the TJ admissions exam is not all that hard.

Yeah but how is this "not really" ?? I swear some people here disagree just for the sake of disagreeing.

The point is you need to have it to get into TJ. And it'll probably will make it easier on the kid if they don't have to "catch up". Sheesh!

No, you do not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child qualified, and I am really surprised by the number of kids we know that qualified but are opting out.

I would guess that a child who scored pass advanced on the 7th grade SOL and 91% or higher on the IAAT has mastered the math 7 material and is prepared for Algebra.

FWIW, Algebra 1 in 7th grade is sort of a basic requirement if one was interested in going to TJ.

Not really. A student can take Algebra 1 in 8th grade and take Geometry over the summer before 9th grade to "catch up" to the students that took Algebra I in 7th grade. The math portion of the TJ admissions exam is not all that hard.

Yeah but how is this "not really" ?? I swear some people here disagree just for the sake of disagreeing.

The point is you need to have it to get into TJ. And it'll probably will make it easier on the kid if they don't have to "catch up". Sheesh!

No, you do not.

http://www.fcps.edu/pla/TJHSST_Admissions/forms/Freshman/Fairfax_Stdnt_Hndbk_2012.pdf

MATHEMATICS
This portion of the test includes arithmetic, algebra, probability, statistics, and geometry. All mathematics problems are based on materials covered in a widely used Grade 7 curriculum, but the curriculum is just an outline. Knowing how to respond to novel situations creatively is an important indication of mathematical ability. Since one purpose of this test is to identify students who will benefit from a specialized high school, there will be many such questions on the test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child qualified, and I am really surprised by the number of kids we know that qualified but are opting out.

I would guess that a child who scored pass advanced on the 7th grade SOL and 91% or higher on the IAAT has mastered the math 7 material and is prepared for Algebra.

FWIW, Algebra 1 in 7th grade is sort of a basic requirement if one was interested in going to TJ.

Not really. A student can take Algebra 1 in 8th grade and take Geometry over the summer before 9th grade to "catch up" to the students that took Algebra I in 7th grade. The math portion of the TJ admissions exam is not all that hard.

Yeah but how is this "not really" ?? I swear some people here disagree just for the sake of disagreeing.

The point is you need to have it to get into TJ. And it'll probably will make it easier on the kid if they don't have to "catch up". Sheesh!

No, you do not.

http://www.fcps.edu/pla/TJHSST_Admissions/forms/Freshman/Fairfax_Stdnt_Hndbk_2012.pdf

MATHEMATICS
This portion of the test includes arithmetic, algebra, probability, statistics, and geometry. All mathematics problems are based on materials covered in a widely used Grade 7 curriculum, but the curriculum is just an outline. Knowing how to respond to novel situations creatively is an important indication of mathematical ability. Since one purpose of this test is to identify students who will benefit from a specialized high school, there will be many such questions on the test.

http://www.fcps.edu/pla/TJHSST_Admissions/eligibility_freshman_winter_math%20requirement.html

Math Requirements:

Applicants to the freshman class at TJHSST must be taking a full-year of Algebra 1 for high school credit or a higher level math course in grade 8 to apply to TJHSST. Algebra 1, Part A does not satisfy the math prerequisite for freshman application.

[Anonymous]

What is Algebra 1 part A? We don't have that as a option in our course catalog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child qualified, and I am really surprised by the number of kids we know that qualified but are opting out.

I would guess that a child who scored pass advanced on the 7th grade SOL and 91% or higher on the IAAT has mastered the math 7 material and is prepared for Algebra.

FWIW, Algebra 1 in 7th grade is sort of a basic requirement if one was interested in going to TJ.

Not really. A student can take Algebra 1 in 8th grade and take Geometry over the summer before 9th grade to "catch up" to the students that took Algebra I in 7th grade. The math portion of the TJ admissions exam is not all that hard.

Yeah but how is this "not really" ?? I swear some people here disagree just for the sake of disagreeing.

The point is you need to have it to get into TJ. And it'll probably will make it easier on the kid if they don't have to "catch up". Sheesh!

No, you do not.

Looks like you're wrong. And also look at statistics - from what I've heard, pretty much no one has been admitted that didn't have Algebra 1 or the equivalent training (home schooled??).

[Anonymous]

Algebra 1 is required. Geometry is helpful.

[Anonymous]

I don't have the link to the chart handy at the moment, but most of the successful TJ applicants are taking Honors Geometry in eighth grade. Each year for the last few years, the school has been accepting fewer and fewer students who are taking Algebra I in eighth grade.

So, while the requirements may say one thing, in reality, an applicant who takes algebra in seventh and geometry in eighth grade has a better chance of acceptance. The caveat though, is that the child needs to be able to do really well in these courses to get the grades needed and have the possibility of a great recommendation from a math teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child qualified, and I am really surprised by the number of kids we know that qualified but are opting out.

I would guess that a child who scored pass advanced on the 7th grade SOL and 91% or higher on the IAAT has mastered the math 7 material and is prepared for Algebra.

FWIW, Algebra 1 in 7th grade is sort of a basic requirement if one was interested in going to TJ.

Not really. A student can take Algebra 1 in 8th grade and take Geometry over the summer before 9th grade to "catch up" to the students that took Algebra I in 7th grade. The math portion of the TJ admissions exam is not all that hard.

Yeah but how is this "not really" ?? I swear some people here disagree just for the sake of disagreeing.

The point is you need to have it to get into TJ. And it'll probably will make it easier on the kid if they don't have to "catch up". Sheesh!

No, you do not.

Looks like you're wrong. And also look at statistics - from what I've heard, pretty much no one has been admitted that didn't have Algebra 1 or the equivalent training (home schooled??).

Agreed -- Algebra I in 8th grade is required.