Deal - Algebra 1 and geometry

[Anonymous]

Another perspective: my kid who was in the Algebra 2 cohort at Deal got a 5 on the AP Calc BC test as a sophomore....

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would (and did) discourage double blocking at Deal. No regrets. There are not a lot of long-term benefits to doing Geometry in 8th, and even fewer to doing Algebra II. It’s more important to build a strong foundation in algebra than to race through the foundational math as fast as possible. There’s no clear benefit in college admissions. Private and Catholic schools are mostly holding the line at geometry in 9th. A lot of Deal students who take Algebra II in 8th, who go to high schools with placement exams, wind up taking it over again. (And a lot of students who take calculus in high school take it over again in college, too.)

Also, 8th grade art was great.

Agree when this. my son was in the Algebra 2 cohort and I'd say that 80% of his classmates took it over again, including ever single kid who went on to private or Catholic (those schools do placement exams). the kids just don't learn much and they skip over many Algebra 2 topics.

[Anonymous]

My kid just did 8th grade at Deal and took Algebra II and Geometry. I was not in favor because as others have pointed out I think it’s better to focus more on foundation than going faster and taking two classes at the same time, but kid insisted (usual reason, my friends are doing it i want to be with them). It was a good smount if work, also because it seems teachers do not coordinate so sue often had s lot or homework for English, science snd other subjects as well. Geometry teacher was great, she had her for math before. Algebra II teacher was also very good
But very demandin, I understand he had a contract to teach only that class. Kid did very well, but she is extremely focused and organized and most of her closest friends were also in the same class or taking geometry so rhat made things easier. To me taking the two classes the same year is not bad. What is really bad is summer smac. My did it two years sgo snd was atrocious. Ruined our summer and it took kid the first fee months of the next year to make up for the holes. Learning a year of math in four weeks is completely idiotic, never ever again

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another perspective: my kid who was in the Algebra 2 cohort at Deal got a 5 on the AP Calc BC test as a sophomore....

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would (and did) discourage double blocking at Deal. No regrets. There are not a lot of long-term benefits to doing Geometry in 8th, and even fewer to doing Algebra II. It’s more important to build a strong foundation in algebra than to race through the foundational math as fast as possible. There’s no clear benefit in college admissions. Private and Catholic schools are mostly holding the line at geometry in 9th. A lot of Deal students who take Algebra II in 8th, who go to high schools with placement exams, wind up taking it over again. (And a lot of students who take calculus in high school take it over again in college, too.)

Also, 8th grade art was great.

Agree when this. my son was in the Algebra 2 cohort and I'd say that 80% of his classmates took it over again, including ever single kid who went on to private or Catholic (those schools do placement exams). the kids just don't learn much and they skip over many Algebra 2 topics.

NP but to the PP whose kid got a 5 on BC sophomore year, what high school does/did your kid attend?

[Anonymous]

Rising Senior at Walls



NP but to the PP whose kid got a 5 on BC sophomore year, what high school does/did your kid attend?

[Anonymous]

Is your kid taking GW classes since they took calculus sophomore year?

[Anonymous]

Yes. They're doing the GWECP program and took all classes at GW Junior year and this coming Senior year. Math classes abound.

[Anonymous]

When do you know whether your student qualifies for the GW program?

[Anonymous]

Students apply for the program the spring semester of their sophomore year and up to 15 students are selected for the program.

[Anonymous]

I know this is an old thread, but you can look at your kids MAP scores in Algebra 1/Geometry/Algebra II and compare them to national averages for their grade level here: https://www.nwea.org/uploads/2021/06/2019-MAP-Growth-HS-Math-Norms-Report-FINAL.pdf

It will give you a better idea of how strong a student your kid is than inflated DCPS grades.

[Anonymous]

How do you find out your kid’s MAP scores? I haven’t seen these reported anywhere. Are they on Aspen?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you find out your kid’s MAP scores? I haven’t seen these reported anywhere. Are they on Aspen?

You need to email your kid's teacher. They don't share them automatically.

[Anonymous]

Do they still give MAP? Kid at Deal two years ago only did iReady, not MAP. Can find similar charts for iReady online. What you don't know, however, is what schools across the country make up the norm group for both iReady and MAP, so the comparison could be misleading.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do they still give MAP? Kid at Deal two years ago only did iReady, not MAP. Can find similar charts for iReady online. What you don't know, however, is what schools across the country make up the norm group for both iReady and MAP, so the comparison could be misleading.

Math MAP at Deal is for kids in Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra II. Kids in 6th, 7th, 8th grade math take iReady.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would (and did) discourage double blocking at Deal. No regrets. There are not a lot of long-term benefits to doing Geometry in 8th, and even fewer to doing Algebra II. It’s more important to build a strong foundation in algebra than to race through the foundational math as fast as possible. There’s no clear benefit in college admissions. Private and Catholic schools are mostly holding the line at geometry in 9th. A lot of Deal students who take Algebra II in 8th, who go to high schools with placement exams, wind up taking it over again. (And a lot of students who take calculus in high school take it over again in college, too.)

Also, 8th grade art was great.

Agree when this. my son was in the Algebra 2 cohort and I'd say that 80% of his classmates took it over again, including ever single kid who went on to private or Catholic (those schools do placement exams). the kids just don't learn much and they skip over many Algebra 2 topics.

+1. We found the same. Similarly, kids who were in Spanish 3 at Deal ended up in Spanish 1 at our private HS after taking the placement test. It was . . . . no bueno.

[Anonymous]

My DD did this in 7th at Deal and Algebra 2 in 8th and then pre calc in 9th and Calc BC in 10th. A few things to know from our experience. She both loves math and is very good at it. If your child doesn’t love math, doubling up in 8th is not a good idea. They may get frustrated, miss PE and Arts which they may need for a mental break, and there are other opportunities to get ahead later like JHTY or some other program if they want to. If your child isn’t into math, that’s ok.
APStats, AP Physics are both good options if they need something after Calc. Dual enrollment is great, but even at J-R you have to apply and not everyone gets in. Even if you do get in you are not guaranteed to be able to take MV Calc or linear algebra. It has to fit with your schedule so either an 8am class or after school, and the colleges don’t always have that schedule available.
But all this is moot if your kid doesn’t enjoy math. To me that’s a non starter.