Benefits of taking Algebra 1 in 6th grade

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where are these schools where parents aren’t enrolling high scoring students in A1H? At my DC’s school nearly all the kids are enrolling. I have no idea what their scores are, but they can’t all be high.

Me. I'm one of those parents who isn't enrolling my rising 6th grader in Algebra next year. We're in the West Po pyramid. Our ES indicated that there will not be enough Algebra students in 6th grade next year to allow for an in-person teacher, so it would be taught virtually. And I have no desire to relive the virtual school experience we had from Covid Kindergarten.

Also, I think 2 years ahead in math is enough. I'm not convinced that it's developmentally appropriate for 11 year olds to learn formal algebra.

If my kid loved math, and showed an interest in higher level learning algebra, sure, we'd give it a try. But this kid is not all that interested, so what's the rush?

I do hope that those that take it in 6th grade have a great experience, though!

[Anonymous]

It’s all about bragging rights

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So how many rising 6th grader do we think have scores above 245 on the MAP and a pass advance on the SOL?

Who knows. We haven’t gotten the SOL back yet but my kid had over 245 on MAP in February and I’m still not enrolling her in A1H in 6th. I’m sure she can handle it but I see no point in this level of acceleration and where it puts her in HS. Very easy decision.

same. my 5th grader (and 4th grader) were over 245 for the winter map. both pass advance on SOL. we won’t be enrolling them in 6th algebra

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where are these schools where parents aren’t enrolling high scoring students in A1H? At my DC’s school nearly all the kids are enrolling. I have no idea what their scores are, but they can’t all be high.

what pyramid are you in. we are in langley and i know a lot who arent

[Anonymous]

McLean pyramid. Everyone is doing it here.

[Anonymous]

Langley pyramid. DC got a 251 on MAP. We don’t have the SOL yet. I left it to DC’s choice and the choice was to take Algebra. I get the sense many friends are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:McLean pyramid. Everyone is doing it here.

Also in McLean pyramid and a lot are opting out. Initially everyone was opting in, but then parents started talking and realized many of us didn’t want this, even for our high performing/scoring kids.

[Anonymous]

If you’re doing 6th grade Algebra, does your school have an actual in person teacher or is it online?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you’re doing 6th grade Algebra, does your school have an actual in person teacher or is it online?

We are in an FCPS MS that has 6th grade, so, yes. The setup there seems much more suited to handle 6th grade algebra. They took every 6th grade algebra student and put them in the same Flexible Instruction Time. they then used that time for pre algebra skills they skipped over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you’re doing 6th grade Algebra, does your school have an actual in person teacher or is it online?

We are in an FCPS MS that has 6th grade, so, yes. The setup there seems much more suited to handle 6th grade algebra. They took every 6th grade algebra student and put them in the same Flexible Instruction Time. they then used that time for pre algebra skills they skipped over.

I can see how it would be a lot easier if 6th is MS for you! Did they give you any indication what your kid would be taking in 8th grade then and if they’d have to go to the HS for it or if they’ll bring in a teacher or what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you’re doing 6th grade Algebra, does your school have an actual in person teacher or is it online?

We are in an FCPS MS that has 6th grade, so, yes. The setup there seems much more suited to handle 6th grade algebra. They took every 6th grade algebra student and put them in the same Flexible Instruction Time. they then used that time for pre algebra skills they skipped over.

I can see how it would be a lot easier if 6th is MS for you! Did they give you any indication what your kid would be taking in 8th grade then and if they’d have to go to the HS for it or if they’ll bring in a teacher or what?

All middle schools will have algebra 2 classes as long as there are at least 12 kids that qualify (should be every middle school)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you’re doing 6th grade Algebra, does your school have an actual in person teacher or is it online?

We are in an FCPS MS that has 6th grade, so, yes. The setup there seems much more suited to handle 6th grade algebra. They took every 6th grade algebra student and put them in the same Flexible Instruction Time. they then used that time for pre algebra skills they skipped over.

I can see how it would be a lot easier if 6th is MS for you! Did they give you any indication what your kid would be taking in 8th grade then and if they’d have to go to the HS for it or if they’ll bring in a teacher or what?

They did not. It was all quite rushed last summer. Honestly, we didn't put a ton of thought into it. It was offered, he excels at math with no enrichment, and he was interested.. so we did it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you’re doing 6th grade Algebra, does your school have an actual in person teacher or is it online?

We are in an FCPS MS that has 6th grade, so, yes. The setup there seems much more suited to handle 6th grade algebra. They took every 6th grade algebra student and put them in the same Flexible Instruction Time. they then used that time for pre algebra skills they skipped over.

we are in langley pyramid. all elementary schools did the pilot 6th algebra this year. 4 of them had in person. one virtual

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Langley pyramid. DC got a 251 on MAP. We don’t have the SOL yet. I left it to DC’s choice and the choice was to take Algebra. I get the sense many friends are.

Does an 11 year old understand the impact of taking a high school class in 6th grade? Are you getting a tutor for all the pre algebra materials not yet covered?

Same score but we made the decision not to enroll and explained to our child. Is she capable, yes, but it is not about ability, it is about a gap in knowledge. Do we want to spend the summer doing pre algebra, no? She can’t learn by osmosis.

[Anonymous]

Oakton pyramid. Got MAP more than 250. No sol score yet. Seems like DC is the only one opt out. With an older sibling got 99% on iaat and 600 sol to take algebra1 in 7th, I think the foundation is too important to skip, and I don’t want to put DC in outside school math class.