Can a sixth grader take algebra 1?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why some people are acting dense.
It's not a course offering or a path but there are exceptions. Your child is an an exception. The magnet program at TPMS does not allow usually allow skipping. The administrator is different at the magnet than the non-magnet program.

In the magnet, there are a handful of kids who were accelerated before coming to the TPMS magnet who will continue on their path. There are very few, and they all came from different schools in different parts of the county.

Yes, by different schools, you mean the ones that allow this in Potomac.

Enough with the tpms and Potomac. Get out of your bubble.

I'd also like to understand why schools in Potomac offer greater enrichement than the rest of the county. Is it because they pay more property taxes?

I wouldn't know because we aren't at Potomac and are at a high farms school that is offering it. I think it depends on the principal/administrators. One issue is the offering of Algebra 2 in 8th and do they have a qualified teacher or can they easily bus kids to the high school and back. There isn't a huge advantage to taking it in 6th vs. 7th.

You need to separate out what goes on at a magnet program vs. regular program. The regular schools are doing it to differentiate with the smart kids shut out of TPMS to keep them at their schools for better test scores. Lets be real. Its not about the kids, its about improving the schools overall test scores.

Can you tell us the name of the high FARMS school that is offering this so we can get an independent verification that this is true and not just more fiction?

It is suspicious that they won't name the school. There's literally no reason to keep it a secret if they aren't just making this up.

Ok, you are right it’s not happening and we are making it up. It does not matter as you would not send your kids there.

Well, I don't know why these anonymous posters can't tell which schools allow this aside from the two everyone knows about. I mean, without more to go on I have to assume it's just a load.

The names of some have been posted in past posts. We don't need to identify where our kids go to school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are no schools in the whole county except for Frost that I know of that "offer" Algebra I in 6th in a pretty open way.

Quite a few other middle schools allow it for individual students on a case by case basis. No, TPMS does not offer it. Neither do any of the other magnets. Because of the nature of the magnet they may have a higher concentration of individual students who were allowed acceleration but there are cases of 1 to 2 students everywhere.

My child is one of them but I wouldn't dare say what school because they may be the only one Many parents don't mention it for the very reason you are seeing on this thread which is a lot of hostility and people putting down other kids and questioning why their own child can't get something too.

Right - I have known occasional cases in Rockville cluster (Wood MS). This is very rare, but the handful of cases, at least about 3-4 years ago (before it became a thing at Frost), were spread out, including in some DCC schools. I believe it is still the case. There was also this thread a few weeks ago started by a DCC parent about math options after algebra 2 in eighth grade. https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1076564.page

(Also, because it is usually rare, parents of these kids are not going to give out the school name on a public forum like DCUM.)

One correction: TPMS does offer to some students; but only if the student has done AIM (if they are from MCPS, and until a couple of years ago it was almost noone) or they have done something equivalent if they are from outside MCPS. Almost every year they used to get a small handful of kids from out of MCPS - privates, home schooled or from out of the country - that qualify for Algebra in sixth grade.

Anyone who says schools in affluent areas provide this kind of acceleration is spouting nonsense. There are advanced learners in Whitman/WJ/Churchill clusters who are denied this kind of acceleration. This seems to depend more on the specific principal/teacher/etc.

TPMS emphatically does not "offer" the class for 6th graders in the way Frost does with a significant number of kids taking it and jumping past AIM. TPMS has very small number of kids who were already accelerated mostly due to being homeschooled, in private school or abroad, and they are just proceeding along their normal sequence. They just happen to be 6th graders. It's not like any student who goes there can sign up for Alg. 1 in 6th. In fact, it's actively discouraged no matter what the MAP score due to their 6th grade math already being very in depth and different from other MCPS math. I'm sure someone will find the one exception of the extraordinary math student who did skip AIM at TPMS but it did not happen in the three years my child has been there. I did hear that there was a child from a few years ago who might be at Blair now who did that but that child was apparently light years ahead of any of the other children and that cannot be measured by MAP alone.

The schools offering it are doing it because many smart kids are not offered spots in TPMS, like mine. AIM is basically pre-algebra. Comparing what happens in TPMS to a regular school/6th grade algebra really isn't even comparable. TPMS has a curriculum for acceleration so it makes sense for them not to offer it. Its something parents should consider when deciding to accept the spot or not. No schools offer 6th grade Algebra. The students are put in 7th/8th grade Algebra (though they try to keep them with mostly 7th graders) and then they move on to Geometry and are put with 8th graders. Some MS, if they have enough students and a teacher qualified, offer Algebra 2 and other kids have to go to the high school.

Many of the kids I know doing it (not TPMS) are generally smart kids and/or the parents supplemented at home themselves (what we did), had tutors or did something like Kumon. We worked ahead in ES because the curriculum didn't cover what we thought it should and was lacking in basics such as teaching kids the math facts and traditional ways. Ours hated all the strategy work so we taught them old school math, which is probably why the MAP scores were higher. To get the higher MAP scores, it isn't strictly IQ, but also working ahead either with workbooks or tutor/tutoring programs (or just a really smart kid).

I find it interesting that my child tested higher in MAP than the kids offered the TPMS spots and my child wasn't offered a spot (before the new lottery).

However, there is not a huge advantage to skipping AIM and doing Algebra in 6th vs. 7th. But, there should be consistency and it offered in all the schools but the issue really comes in when it comes to what happens with Algebra 2 and can the MS offer it vs. students going to the HS.

Can 100% confirm TPMS offers it. Got a call this week asking if they could test our kid for Algebra since it was already clear after evals (no idea if it was MAP or otherwise) signaled that AIM would not be a good fit. It wasn’t something we asked for and it isn’t a slam dunk (they’re testing the kid next week) but this is non-magnet TPMS.

What kind of evals could they possibly have done that would give them such overwhelming data this early on that they would decide this? No one has taken the MAP yet. My child’s school has not even started math in math yet. Instruction begins next week. It’s not a high farms school.

Honestly? Absolutely no idea. I just know what the math specialist told us. We didn’t ask for it, and we’ll know more next week when the test happens. I only replied because people were in the thread saying that it didn’t happen. Just wanted to point out it did, and they told us if the kid tested well enough, we’d have the option to consider putting them in algebra. Not sure if we will even if they score well enough.

I believe you and I appreciate your posting. Tbh, I hope your child is placed in the appropriate course for him/her. I hope this for all children. I have commented upthread that my personal issue is that the process is not standardized or transparent. If your child has been identified that is great! What’s not great is that there are obviously hundreds in other schools who are being given inequitable access this very resource without any good reason. Mcps literally yells equity equity equity and then makes the most baffling policies (or tbh lack thereof).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why some people are acting dense.
It's not a course offering or a path but there are exceptions. Your child is an an exception. The magnet program at TPMS does not allow usually allow skipping. The administrator is different at the magnet than the non-magnet program.

In the magnet, there are a handful of kids who were accelerated before coming to the TPMS magnet who will continue on their path. There are very few, and they all came from different schools in different parts of the county.

Yes, by different schools, you mean the ones that allow this in Potomac.

Enough with the tpms and Potomac. Get out of your bubble.

I'd also like to understand why schools in Potomac offer greater enrichement than the rest of the county. Is it because they pay more property taxes?

I wouldn't know because we aren't at Potomac and are at a high farms school that is offering it. I think it depends on the principal/administrators. One issue is the offering of Algebra 2 in 8th and do they have a qualified teacher or can they easily bus kids to the high school and back. There isn't a huge advantage to taking it in 6th vs. 7th.

You need to separate out what goes on at a magnet program vs. regular program. The regular schools are doing it to differentiate with the smart kids shut out of TPMS to keep them at their schools for better test scores. Lets be real. Its not about the kids, its about improving the schools overall test scores.

Can you tell us the name of the high FARMS school that is offering this so we can get an independent verification that this is true and not just more fiction?

It is suspicious that they won't name the school. There's literally no reason to keep it a secret if they aren't just making this up.

Ok, you are right it’s not happening and we are making it up. It does not matter as you would not send your kids there.

Well, I don't know why these anonymous posters can't tell which schools allow this aside from the two everyone knows about. I mean, without more to go on I have to assume it's just a load.

The names of some have been posted in past posts. We don't need to identify where our kids go to school.

These threads are a lot less helpful when people won't post what school they are at. My kids went to Newport Mill and they never listed Algebra as an option on my 6th graders form, but obviously that doesn't mean it didn't happen for somebody else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are no schools in the whole county except for Frost that I know of that "offer" Algebra I in 6th in a pretty open way.

Quite a few other middle schools allow it for individual students on a case by case basis. No, TPMS does not offer it. Neither do any of the other magnets. Because of the nature of the magnet they may have a higher concentration of individual students who were allowed acceleration but there are cases of 1 to 2 students everywhere.

My child is one of them but I wouldn't dare say what school because they may be the only one Many parents don't mention it for the very reason you are seeing on this thread which is a lot of hostility and people putting down other kids and questioning why their own child can't get something too.

Right - I have known occasional cases in Rockville cluster (Wood MS). This is very rare, but the handful of cases, at least about 3-4 years ago (before it became a thing at Frost), were spread out, including in some DCC schools. I believe it is still the case. There was also this thread a few weeks ago started by a DCC parent about math options after algebra 2 in eighth grade. https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1076564.page

(Also, because it is usually rare, parents of these kids are not going to give out the school name on a public forum like DCUM.)

One correction: TPMS does offer to some students; but only if the student has done AIM (if they are from MCPS, and until a couple of years ago it was almost noone) or they have done something equivalent if they are from outside MCPS. Almost every year they used to get a small handful of kids from out of MCPS - privates, home schooled or from out of the country - that qualify for Algebra in sixth grade.

Anyone who says schools in affluent areas provide this kind of acceleration is spouting nonsense. There are advanced learners in Whitman/WJ/Churchill clusters who are denied this kind of acceleration. This seems to depend more on the specific principal/teacher/etc.

TPMS emphatically does not "offer" the class for 6th graders in the way Frost does with a significant number of kids taking it and jumping past AIM. TPMS has very small number of kids who were already accelerated mostly due to being homeschooled, in private school or abroad, and they are just proceeding along their normal sequence. They just happen to be 6th graders. It's not like any student who goes there can sign up for Alg. 1 in 6th. In fact, it's actively discouraged no matter what the MAP score due to their 6th grade math already being very in depth and different from other MCPS math. I'm sure someone will find the one exception of the extraordinary math student who did skip AIM at TPMS but it did not happen in the three years my child has been there. I did hear that there was a child from a few years ago who might be at Blair now who did that but that child was apparently light years ahead of any of the other children and that cannot be measured by MAP alone.

The schools offering it are doing it because many smart kids are not offered spots in TPMS, like mine. AIM is basically pre-algebra. Comparing what happens in TPMS to a regular school/6th grade algebra really isn't even comparable. TPMS has a curriculum for acceleration so it makes sense for them not to offer it. Its something parents should consider when deciding to accept the spot or not. No schools offer 6th grade Algebra. The students are put in 7th/8th grade Algebra (though they try to keep them with mostly 7th graders) and then they move on to Geometry and are put with 8th graders. Some MS, if they have enough students and a teacher qualified, offer Algebra 2 and other kids have to go to the high school.

Many of the kids I know doing it (not TPMS) are generally smart kids and/or the parents supplemented at home themselves (what we did), had tutors or did something like Kumon. We worked ahead in ES because the curriculum didn't cover what we thought it should and was lacking in basics such as teaching kids the math facts and traditional ways. Ours hated all the strategy work so we taught them old school math, which is probably why the MAP scores were higher. To get the higher MAP scores, it isn't strictly IQ, but also working ahead either with workbooks or tutor/tutoring programs (or just a really smart kid).

I find it interesting that my child tested higher in MAP than the kids offered the TPMS spots and my child wasn't offered a spot (before the new lottery).

However, there is not a huge advantage to skipping AIM and doing Algebra in 6th vs. 7th. But, there should be consistency and it offered in all the schools but the issue really comes in when it comes to what happens with Algebra 2 and can the MS offer it vs. students going to the HS.

Can 100% confirm TPMS offers it. Got a call this week asking if they could test our kid for Algebra since it was already clear after evals (no idea if it was MAP or otherwise) signaled that AIM would not be a good fit. It wasn’t something we asked for and it isn’t a slam dunk (they’re testing the kid next week) but this is non-magnet TPMS.

What kind of evals could they possibly have done that would give them such overwhelming data this early on that they would decide this? No one has taken the MAP yet. My child’s school has not even started math in math yet. Instruction begins next week. It’s not a high farms school.

Honestly? Absolutely no idea. I just know what the math specialist told us. We didn’t ask for it, and we’ll know more next week when the test happens. I only replied because people were in the thread saying that it didn’t happen. Just wanted to point out it did, and they told us if the kid tested well enough, we’d have the option to consider putting them in algebra. Not sure if we will even if they score well enough.

I believe you and I appreciate your posting. Tbh, I hope your child is placed in the appropriate course for him/her. I hope this for all children. I have commented upthread that my personal issue is that the process is not standardized or transparent. If your child has been identified that is great! What’s not great is that there are obviously hundreds in other schools who are being given inequitable access this very resource without any good reason. Mcps literally yells equity equity equity and then makes the most baffling policies (or tbh lack thereof).

There is no such thing as equity or anything else MCPS screams. If you want your child to advance, you need to get a tutor (and MCPS offers them for free) or supplement at home. There is no standard as you can see for Algebra in 6th. It as just offered on our registration form/no test and we just needed the 5th grade teacher to sign off but I was told they also look at MAP scores and I think they wanted 250+ for them to agree. Our child was placed in it and I know other kids whose parents were called offering to place them in. Some accepted, some didn't. Other schools test in, other schools don't have it.

A huge issue is Algebra 2 as most MS don't offer it so they either need a large enough group and a teacher capable or those kids have to go to the HS and they need the schedules to match up and coordinate bus service.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why some people are acting dense.
It's not a course offering or a path but there are exceptions. Your child is an an exception. The magnet program at TPMS does not allow usually allow skipping. The administrator is different at the magnet than the non-magnet program.

In the magnet, there are a handful of kids who were accelerated before coming to the TPMS magnet who will continue on their path. There are very few, and they all came from different schools in different parts of the county.

Yes, by different schools, you mean the ones that allow this in Potomac.

Enough with the tpms and Potomac. Get out of your bubble.

I'd also like to understand why schools in Potomac offer greater enrichement than the rest of the county. Is it because they pay more property taxes?

I wouldn't know because we aren't at Potomac and are at a high farms school that is offering it. I think it depends on the principal/administrators. One issue is the offering of Algebra 2 in 8th and do they have a qualified teacher or can they easily bus kids to the high school and back. There isn't a huge advantage to taking it in 6th vs. 7th.

You need to separate out what goes on at a magnet program vs. regular program. The regular schools are doing it to differentiate with the smart kids shut out of TPMS to keep them at their schools for better test scores. Lets be real. Its not about the kids, its about improving the schools overall test scores.

Can you tell us the name of the high FARMS school that is offering this so we can get an independent verification that this is true and not just more fiction?

It is suspicious that they won't name the school. There's literally no reason to keep it a secret if they aren't just making this up.

Ok, you are right it’s not happening and we are making it up. It does not matter as you would not send your kids there.

Well, I don't know why these anonymous posters can't tell which schools allow this aside from the two everyone knows about. I mean, without more to go on I have to assume it's just a load.

The names of some have been posted in past posts. We don't need to identify where our kids go to school.

These threads are a lot less helpful when people won't post what school they are at. My kids went to Newport Mill and they never listed Algebra as an option on my 6th graders form, but obviously that doesn't mean it didn't happen for somebody else.

Newport Mills does not offer it from what I understand but other DCC schools do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why some people are acting dense.
It's not a course offering or a path but there are exceptions. Your child is an an exception. The magnet program at TPMS does not allow usually allow skipping. The administrator is different at the magnet than the non-magnet program.

In the magnet, there are a handful of kids who were accelerated before coming to the TPMS magnet who will continue on their path. There are very few, and they all came from different schools in different parts of the county.

Yes, by different schools, you mean the ones that allow this in Potomac.

Enough with the tpms and Potomac. Get out of your bubble.

I'd also like to understand why schools in Potomac offer greater enrichement than the rest of the county. Is it because they pay more property taxes?

I wouldn't know because we aren't at Potomac and are at a high farms school that is offering it. I think it depends on the principal/administrators. One issue is the offering of Algebra 2 in 8th and do they have a qualified teacher or can they easily bus kids to the high school and back. There isn't a huge advantage to taking it in 6th vs. 7th.

You need to separate out what goes on at a magnet program vs. regular program. The regular schools are doing it to differentiate with the smart kids shut out of TPMS to keep them at their schools for better test scores. Lets be real. Its not about the kids, its about improving the schools overall test scores.

Can you tell us the name of the high FARMS school that is offering this so we can get an independent verification that this is true and not just more fiction?

It is suspicious that they won't name the school. There's literally no reason to keep it a secret if they aren't just making this up.

Ok, you are right it’s not happening and we are making it up. It does not matter as you would not send your kids there.

Well, I don't know why these anonymous posters can't tell which schools allow this aside from the two everyone knows about. I mean, without more to go on I have to assume it's just a load.

The names of some have been posted in past posts. We don't need to identify where our kids go to school.

These threads are a lot less helpful when people won't post what school they are at. My kids went to Newport Mill and they never listed Algebra as an option on my 6th graders form, but obviously that doesn't mean it didn't happen for somebody else.

It's not an option at DC's DCC school either but she has a friend who is accelerated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why some people are acting dense.
It's not a course offering or a path but there are exceptions. Your child is an an exception. The magnet program at TPMS does not allow usually allow skipping. The administrator is different at the magnet than the non-magnet program.

In the magnet, there are a handful of kids who were accelerated before coming to the TPMS magnet who will continue on their path. There are very few, and they all came from different schools in different parts of the county.

Yes, by different schools, you mean the ones that allow this in Potomac.

Enough with the tpms and Potomac. Get out of your bubble.

I'd also like to understand why schools in Potomac offer greater enrichement than the rest of the county. Is it because they pay more property taxes?

I wouldn't know because we aren't at Potomac and are at a high farms school that is offering it. I think it depends on the principal/administrators. One issue is the offering of Algebra 2 in 8th and do they have a qualified teacher or can they easily bus kids to the high school and back. There isn't a huge advantage to taking it in 6th vs. 7th.

You need to separate out what goes on at a magnet program vs. regular program. The regular schools are doing it to differentiate with the smart kids shut out of TPMS to keep them at their schools for better test scores. Lets be real. Its not about the kids, its about improving the schools overall test scores.

Can you tell us the name of the high FARMS school that is offering this so we can get an independent verification that this is true and not just more fiction?

It is suspicious that they won't name the school. There's literally no reason to keep it a secret if they aren't just making this up.

Ok, you are right it’s not happening and we are making it up. It does not matter as you would not send your kids there.

Well, I don't know why these anonymous posters can't tell which schools allow this aside from the two everyone knows about. I mean, without more to go on I have to assume it's just a load.

The names of some have been posted in past posts. We don't need to identify where our kids go to school.

These threads are a lot less helpful when people won't post what school they are at. My kids went to Newport Mill and they never listed Algebra as an option on my 6th graders form, but obviously that doesn't mean it didn't happen for somebody else.

Newport Mills does not offer it from what I understand but other DCC schools do.

Not really - nobody can list a single DCC school that does. The only schools that are known to do this are a few wealthy ones in Potomac and there's no credible evidence to the contrary. Simply saying there's an MCPS school that you can't name doesn't count.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why some people are acting dense.
It's not a course offering or a path but there are exceptions. Your child is an an exception. The magnet program at TPMS does not allow usually allow skipping. The administrator is different at the magnet than the non-magnet program.

In the magnet, there are a handful of kids who were accelerated before coming to the TPMS magnet who will continue on their path. There are very few, and they all came from different schools in different parts of the county.

Yes, by different schools, you mean the ones that allow this in Potomac.

Enough with the tpms and Potomac. Get out of your bubble.

I'd also like to understand why schools in Potomac offer greater enrichement than the rest of the county. Is it because they pay more property taxes?

I wouldn't know because we aren't at Potomac and are at a high farms school that is offering it. I think it depends on the principal/administrators. One issue is the offering of Algebra 2 in 8th and do they have a qualified teacher or can they easily bus kids to the high school and back. There isn't a huge advantage to taking it in 6th vs. 7th.

You need to separate out what goes on at a magnet program vs. regular program. The regular schools are doing it to differentiate with the smart kids shut out of TPMS to keep them at their schools for better test scores. Lets be real. Its not about the kids, its about improving the schools overall test scores.

Can you tell us the name of the high FARMS school that is offering this so we can get an independent verification that this is true and not just more fiction?

It is suspicious that they won't name the school. There's literally no reason to keep it a secret if they aren't just making this up.

Ok, you are right it’s not happening and we are making it up. It does not matter as you would not send your kids there.

Well, I don't know why these anonymous posters can't tell which schools allow this aside from the two everyone knows about. I mean, without more to go on I have to assume it's just a load.

The names of some have been posted in past posts. We don't need to identify where our kids go to school.

These threads are a lot less helpful when people won't post what school they are at. My kids went to Newport Mill and they never listed Algebra as an option on my 6th graders form, but obviously that doesn't mean it didn't happen for somebody else.

Newport Mills does not offer it from what I understand but other DCC schools do.

Not really - nobody can list a single DCC school that does. The only schools that are known to do this are a few wealthy ones in Potomac and there's no credible evidence to the contrary. Simply saying there's an MCPS school that you can't name doesn't count.

Right…..ll

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are no schools in the whole county except for Frost that I know of that "offer" Algebra I in 6th in a pretty open way.

Quite a few other middle schools allow it for individual students on a case by case basis. No, TPMS does not offer it. Neither do any of the other magnets. Because of the nature of the magnet they may have a higher concentration of individual students who were allowed acceleration but there are cases of 1 to 2 students everywhere.

My child is one of them but I wouldn't dare say what school because they may be the only one Many parents don't mention it for the very reason you are seeing on this thread which is a lot of hostility and people putting down other kids and questioning why their own child can't get something too.

Right - I have known occasional cases in Rockville cluster (Wood MS). This is very rare, but the handful of cases, at least about 3-4 years ago (before it became a thing at Frost), were spread out, including in some DCC schools. I believe it is still the case. There was also this thread a few weeks ago started by a DCC parent about math options after algebra 2 in eighth grade. https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1076564.page

(Also, because it is usually rare, parents of these kids are not going to give out the school name on a public forum like DCUM.)

One correction: TPMS does offer to some students; but only if the student has done AIM (if they are from MCPS, and until a couple of years ago it was almost noone) or they have done something equivalent if they are from outside MCPS. Almost every year they used to get a small handful of kids from out of MCPS - privates, home schooled or from out of the country - that qualify for Algebra in sixth grade.

Anyone who says schools in affluent areas provide this kind of acceleration is spouting nonsense. There are advanced learners in Whitman/WJ/Churchill clusters who are denied this kind of acceleration. This seems to depend more on the specific principal/teacher/etc.

TPMS emphatically does not "offer" the class for 6th graders in the way Frost does with a significant number of kids taking it and jumping past AIM. TPMS has very small number of kids who were already accelerated mostly due to being homeschooled, in private school or abroad, and they are just proceeding along their normal sequence. They just happen to be 6th graders. It's not like any student who goes there can sign up for Alg. 1 in 6th. In fact, it's actively discouraged no matter what the MAP score due to their 6th grade math already being very in depth and different from other MCPS math. I'm sure someone will find the one exception of the extraordinary math student who did skip AIM at TPMS but it did not happen in the three years my child has been there. I did hear that there was a child from a few years ago who might be at Blair now who did that but that child was apparently light years ahead of any of the other children and that cannot be measured by MAP alone.

The schools offering it are doing it because many smart kids are not offered spots in TPMS, like mine. AIM is basically pre-algebra. Comparing what happens in TPMS to a regular school/6th grade algebra really isn't even comparable. TPMS has a curriculum for acceleration so it makes sense for them not to offer it. Its something parents should consider when deciding to accept the spot or not. No schools offer 6th grade Algebra. The students are put in 7th/8th grade Algebra (though they try to keep them with mostly 7th graders) and then they move on to Geometry and are put with 8th graders. Some MS, if they have enough students and a teacher qualified, offer Algebra 2 and other kids have to go to the high school.

Many of the kids I know doing it (not TPMS) are generally smart kids and/or the parents supplemented at home themselves (what we did), had tutors or did something like Kumon. We worked ahead in ES because the curriculum didn't cover what we thought it should and was lacking in basics such as teaching kids the math facts and traditional ways. Ours hated all the strategy work so we taught them old school math, which is probably why the MAP scores were higher. To get the higher MAP scores, it isn't strictly IQ, but also working ahead either with workbooks or tutor/tutoring programs (or just a really smart kid).

I find it interesting that my child tested higher in MAP than the kids offered the TPMS spots and my child wasn't offered a spot (before the new lottery).

However, there is not a huge advantage to skipping AIM and doing Algebra in 6th vs. 7th. But, there should be consistency and it offered in all the schools but the issue really comes in when it comes to what happens with Algebra 2 and can the MS offer it vs. students going to the HS.

Can 100% confirm TPMS offers it. Got a call this week asking if they could test our kid for Algebra since it was already clear after evals (no idea if it was MAP or otherwise) signaled that AIM would not be a good fit. It wasn’t something we asked for and it isn’t a slam dunk (they’re testing the kid next week) but this is non-magnet TPMS.

What kind of evals could they possibly have done that would give them such overwhelming data this early on that they would decide this? No one has taken the MAP yet. My child’s school has not even started math in math yet. Instruction begins next week. It’s not a high farms school.

Honestly? Absolutely no idea. I just know what the math specialist told us. We didn’t ask for it, and we’ll know more next week when the test happens. I only replied because people were in the thread saying that it didn’t happen. Just wanted to point out it did, and they told us if the kid tested well enough, we’d have the option to consider putting them in algebra. Not sure if we will even if they score well enough.

I believe you and I appreciate your posting. Tbh, I hope your child is placed in the appropriate course for him/her. I hope this for all children. I have commented upthread that my personal issue is that the process is not standardized or transparent. If your child has been identified that is great! What’s not great is that there are obviously hundreds in other schools who are being given inequitable access this very resource without any good reason. Mcps literally yells equity equity equity and then makes the most baffling policies (or tbh lack thereof).

I’m a TPMS parent of an 8th grader and I don’t believe you. Perhaps you were confused and they are trying to decide if he should be in AIM or 6th grade math? They have been very clear over the past two years there that they do not do this. They only place 6th graders in algebra reluctantly if they have completed AIM in 5th.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why some people are acting dense.
It's not a course offering or a path but there are exceptions. Your child is an an exception. The magnet program at TPMS does not allow usually allow skipping. The administrator is different at the magnet than the non-magnet program.

In the magnet, there are a handful of kids who were accelerated before coming to the TPMS magnet who will continue on their path. There are very few, and they all came from different schools in different parts of the county.

Yes, by different schools, you mean the ones that allow this in Potomac.

Enough with the tpms and Potomac. Get out of your bubble.

I'd also like to understand why schools in Potomac offer greater enrichement than the rest of the county. Is it because they pay more property taxes?

I wouldn't know because we aren't at Potomac and are at a high farms school that is offering it. I think it depends on the principal/administrators. One issue is the offering of Algebra 2 in 8th and do they have a qualified teacher or can they easily bus kids to the high school and back. There isn't a huge advantage to taking it in 6th vs. 7th.

You need to separate out what goes on at a magnet program vs. regular program. The regular schools are doing it to differentiate with the smart kids shut out of TPMS to keep them at their schools for better test scores. Lets be real. Its not about the kids, its about improving the schools overall test scores.

Can you tell us the name of the high FARMS school that is offering this so we can get an independent verification that this is true and not just more fiction?

It is suspicious that they won't name the school. There's literally no reason to keep it a secret if they aren't just making this up.

Ok, you are right it’s not happening and we are making it up. It does not matter as you would not send your kids there.

Well, I don't know why these anonymous posters can't tell which schools allow this aside from the two everyone knows about. I mean, without more to go on I have to assume it's just a load.

The names of some have been posted in past posts. We don't need to identify where our kids go to school.

These threads are a lot less helpful when people won't post what school they are at. My kids went to Newport Mill and they never listed Algebra as an option on my 6th graders form, but obviously that doesn't mean it didn't happen for somebody else.

Newport Mills does not offer it from what I understand but other DCC schools do.

Not really - nobody can list a single DCC school that does. The only schools that are known to do this are a few wealthy ones in Potomac and there's no credible evidence to the contrary. Simply saying there's an MCPS school that you can't name doesn't count.

One poster keeps claiming there's a DCC school that does this but refuses to name it which seems fishy to me.

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Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why some people are acting dense.
It's not a course offering or a path but there are exceptions. Your child is an an exception. The magnet program at TPMS does not allow usually allow skipping. The administrator is different at the magnet than the non-magnet program.

In the magnet, there are a handful of kids who were accelerated before coming to the TPMS magnet who will continue on their path. There are very few, and they all came from different schools in different parts of the county.

Yes, by different schools, you mean the ones that allow this in Potomac.

Enough with the tpms and Potomac. Get out of your bubble.

I'd also like to understand why schools in Potomac offer greater enrichement than the rest of the county. Is it because they pay more property taxes?

I wouldn't know because we aren't at Potomac and are at a high farms school that is offering it. I think it depends on the principal/administrators. One issue is the offering of Algebra 2 in 8th and do they have a qualified teacher or can they easily bus kids to the high school and back. There isn't a huge advantage to taking it in 6th vs. 7th.

You need to separate out what goes on at a magnet program vs. regular program. The regular schools are doing it to differentiate with the smart kids shut out of TPMS to keep them at their schools for better test scores. Lets be real. Its not about the kids, its about improving the schools overall test scores.

Can you tell us the name of the high FARMS school that is offering this so we can get an independent verification that this is true and not just more fiction?

It is suspicious that they won't name the school. There's literally no reason to keep it a secret if they aren't just making this up.

Ok, you are right it’s not happening and we are making it up. It does not matter as you would not send your kids there.

Well, I don't know why these anonymous posters can't tell which schools allow this aside from the two everyone knows about. I mean, without more to go on I have to assume it's just a load.

The names of some have been posted in past posts. We don't need to identify where our kids go to school.

These threads are a lot less helpful when people won't post what school they are at. My kids went to Newport Mill and they never listed Algebra as an option on my 6th graders form, but obviously that doesn't mean it didn't happen for somebody else.

Newport Mills does not offer it from what I understand but other DCC schools do.

Not really - nobody can list a single DCC school that does. The only schools that are known to do this are a few wealthy ones in Potomac and there's no credible evidence to the contrary. Simply saying there's an MCPS school that you can't name doesn't count.

One poster keeps claiming there's a DCC school that does this but refuses to name it which seems fishy to me.

That's fine. You don't have to believe me. Not a big deal.

[Anonymous]

People have named SSI and Newport Mills as having a few students accelerated. You just don't believe it because you think your child is smarter than everyone else. The magnets in the DCC, TPMS and Eastern, always have a few at least until the lottery happened. That's four schools.

I hope you get blocked for spreading lies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People have named SSI and Newport Mills as having a few students accelerated. You just don't believe it because you think your child is smarter than everyone else. The magnets in the DCC, TPMS and Eastern, always have a few at least until the lottery happened. That's four schools.

I hope you get blocked for spreading lies.

I don't think Newport Mills has it or its a rare few kids. Its other downcountry schools. But, let them believe what they want.

[Anonymous]

Hello everyone,
Parent of older kid here. I also was annoyed my kid couldn't take Algebra in 6th grade. Especially since I knew this was being allowed in other schools. I am here to tell you 6 years later that it would not have made one bit of difference. Would it have been nice? Yes. Did everything work out and my kid is in challenging math classes now? Also yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello everyone,
Parent of older kid here. I also was annoyed my kid couldn't take Algebra in 6th grade. Especially since I knew this was being allowed in other schools. I am here to tell you 6 years later that it would not have made one bit of difference. Would it have been nice? Yes. Did everything work out and my kid is in challenging math classes now? Also yes.

But how can I brag about Larla at the club?!