Algebra in sixth?
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Anonymous
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In LCPS, test is given to advanced 5th graders who take the 8th grade SOL. If they score 82% they will be eligible to take Algebra in 6th grade. This year, that test allows them to take prealgebra in 6th grade.
The cutoff is very high, and no one who takes algebra in 6th needs to take the class again. |
Anonymous
Thank you for this information. I'll share information I've received directly from VDOE in 2019 when I inquired about the possibility of taking a higher-than-grade level SOL. "The section on Student Achievement Expectations in the Standards of Accreditation require that students are assessed at the conclusion of the highest level of instruction they receive. Therefore, a student may only be assessed at a higher grade level if he or she is enrolled in an accelerated course above grade level. If the student is on grade level then the student would take the SOL for the grade level content for which he or she is enrolled." I take it that those students count as being enrolled in an accelerated course above grade level (and not that LCPS ignores VDOE). Do all such "advanced 5th graders" take the 8th grade SOL or is this by student/parent choice? Also, this is just my personal assessment, I do not find 82% a very high cutoff, provided the test is still like this example. I would personally allow at most 3 wrong, not 9. Unless the test is given under a strict time limit (< 1h). |
Anonymous
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LCPS Math Office and the Research Office set the cutoff levels, based on correlation with actual performance of kids in Algebra. The 6th graders are generally among the top students in the classes.
The 5th graders take the test in February, so this is probably not an actual SOL, but something equivalent. I'm sure parents can opt out of this test if they are not interested. |
Anonymous
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Followup, I don't know about the number of wrong questions, but I know of someone who scored 79, so it is not likely out of 50. Not sure about time limits.
Eligibility to take the test is based off of Winter MAP scores, previous SOLs, and other test data. |
Anonymous
This was the process we used. My DS took regular AAP math in 4th grade and then in 5th grade he took 6th grade AAP math (so he skipped AAP 5th grade math). We did this with the permission of the principle and all of the other conditions were met such that in 5th grade he joined the 6th grade AAP class for math only. Then in 6th grade he went to the MS and took Algebra I HN first period (before elementary school started) and then one of us had to drive him from the middle school to the elementary school to start his day (we were lucky that the timing worked out just right). During his 6th grade math class he either worked on his HW for Algebra or helped other kids in the class with their math. He was the only kid in his grade to do this but not the only kid from the school over the years. His MS offers Algebra II/Trig HN for the few kids that either do what my DS did or that decide to take Geometry and Algebra II the same year or Geometry over the summer (which I would never advise). Would we do this again? Yes. It was a headache with all of the scheduling and long days for DS in 6th grade but it was absolutely the right call for him. He is in 8th grade now happily taking Algebra II/Trig HN. |
Anonymous
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What previous poster said was accurate. I don’t really know what criteria they used but I got a call from math resource teacher at our school for DC to attend the 6th grade AAP math class in the fall of 5th grade. As far as I know this was not something a parent could request because I never did. At our school you can take the middle school bus in the morning to get to MS and a bus provided transport back to his elementary school to start the ES day. But as with anything else I think each school handles things differently. I have heard of other schools allowing kids to take Algebra I online at their ES school so they don’t have such a long day but I was happy DC would be in an actual classroom. It did make for a long day and I think this scheduling would only work if you are at a center school since these schools have the latest start times.
On another note, I think you pretty much have an idea of whether your kid is on this track or not. My DC had been receiving math pullouts with the resource teacher prior to 5th grade. I think they probably use this time to evaluate the kids and look at test scores to invite the kids to join the grade ahead. It is never a big cohort. It varies year to year but at our center school it is always fewer than 10 kids. I think most school like to keep the criteria a mystery so they don’t have pushy parents trying to push the kids up. This worked out really well for my DC and he has not had any issues being pushed this far ahead but it could be different for each kid. When I asked what made the kids who got moved up successful the resource teacher said it never had to do with their math ability but whether they had the maturity to handle this schedule, to be with older kids and be ok with the heightened expectations for middle schoolers. My DC has no desire for TJ and being additional year ahead in math will not really make any difference in his future. So don’t feel like this is something you have to push for. It can only harm them if they don’t do well. |
Anonymous
| For LCPS, they were using a simulated SOL, and I think it was easier than the item linked, which covers many topics that I would expect to be part of algebra. |
Anonymous
| My 1st grade son is on this same track. He is currently going into a 3rd grade AAP class (for Math only). This placement was done by the AART at our school and the Principal. He is on track to take Algebra in 5th grade. We are told that he is very much of an “outlier.” |
Anonymous
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There are probably more recent threads on this topic, but this is the one I found with a search, so reviving this to ask further.
Can any others parents whose kids were on this track chime in about how it worked out for their child taking AAP 6th grade math in 5th grade, and Algebra I Honors in 6th grade? Or how you made the decision to go this route or not? We got a letter home this week about having our 4th grade son take an assessment test this summer for possible placement into AAP 6th grade math next year as a 5th grader. I don’t think of him as a math whiz, but he’s definitely bright and loves math, and he was SUPER proud to bring home that letter and show it to us. He’s 2E with ADHD and likely ASD (not diagnosed by developmental Ped, but categorized as ASD on his IEP based on the school testing and evaluation in 1st and 4th grades). To my knowledge he doesn’t need or get any support during math, just in-class support for starting/staying on writing tasks, small group environment for testing, and pull outs for social skills development. If he does well on the assessment, I’m not sure yet what would be the right thing for him - and of course it’s a conversation we should have with the school. (I also didn’t know if AAP would be right for him, but the school assured me it was, and he has done great with it.) I guess I’m just looking for information or feedback from other parents who have been in the same spot. Thank you! |
Anonymous
By advanced 5th graders do you mean 5th graders who are taking 6th grade math? An 8th grade SOL seems very inappropriate for that population. |
Anonymous
I've seen kids with similar diagnosis, do well in an ever higher math track, alg 1 in 6th grade, alg 2/trig in 8th grade. |
Anonymous
LCPS doesn't have 5th graders taking 6th grade math as a regular thing. They pick the top 5th graders to take this testing. It is 8th grade SOL because algebra is a 9th grade class. This process has changed, with now they give out the 7th grade SOL for testing to get into prealgebra, and anyone can take the testing regardless of teacher recommendation. The SOL 7 and SOL 8 are pretty similar. Students who do well can take algebra. They might give students IAAT, though in some schools I heard anyone who got over 90% on the mock SOL was automatically eligible for algebra. Cutoff for prealgebra is 82%, which is 27/33 correct. |
Anonymous
To be clear, the SOL 7 is only for eligibility for math acceleration and is not put in the school or student's stats. All these kids will take the 5th grade SOL. |
Anonymous
Thank you for the response, PP, I appreciate it! |
Anonymous
I’d have him test and place him wherever the school recommends. What’s to lose? Worst case, he drops down to a lower math during the year. |