Middle Schools Math Differentiation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought that every DCPS middle school already offered Algebra 1 in 8th. What is changing, exactly?

They don't all offer it. The Education Campuses that go pk-8th don't always have it. Because they have like 20 8th graders.

That’s at most four schools, right?There are only 5-6 ECs that serve PK-8, and at least two of those—OA and Francis—have more like 70-90 8th graders, and offer Algebra. The smaller schools absolutely should offer Algebra, and DCPS in my opinion does need to figure out how to equalize math opportunities across different schools regardless of size and location, but bringing four schools up to speed doesn’t seem like such a big shift for DCPS generally.

Well, it means they'll have to teach Algebra to just a handful of kids who are ready for it, which also means they have to accelerate a group of 7th graders so that they are ready. It's not impossible, it's a matter of their willingness to staff it i.e. pay for it.

They will be required to do it, so it won’t matter if they are willing to or not. CHML figured it out by having all students enrolled in the accelerated pathway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought that every DCPS middle school already offered Algebra 1 in 8th. What is changing, exactly?

Algebra 1 in 8th gets you to Calculus in 12th from what I understand. Not accelerated in my book.

It's accelerated in that the standard curriculum has 7th grade math, then 8th grade math, then Algebra I. So the schools that offer Algebra I to 8th graders have to figure out how they're going to compress the curriculum to get the kids ready. Or lengthen the math portion of the day. It's a logistical question.

They don’t have to figure it out. The curriculum offers an accelerated pathway that covers 6th-8th grade standards over the course of 2 years.

Right, but the kids have to actually learn it, which means having enough instructional time, and someone has to teach it to them, in a place which may or may not be the same room. This sounds like not that big a deal but for smaller schools and with tighter budgets coming for next year, it's a big deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought that every DCPS middle school already offered Algebra 1 in 8th. What is changing, exactly?

They don't all offer it. The Education Campuses that go pk-8th don't always have it. Because they have like 20 8th graders.

That’s at most four schools, right?There are only 5-6 ECs that serve PK-8, and at least two of those—OA and Francis—have more like 70-90 8th graders, and offer Algebra. The smaller schools absolutely should offer Algebra, and DCPS in my opinion does need to figure out how to equalize math opportunities across different schools regardless of size and location, but bringing four schools up to speed doesn’t seem like such a big shift for DCPS generally.

Well, it means they'll have to teach Algebra to just a handful of kids who are ready for it, which also means they have to accelerate a group of 7th graders so that they are ready. It's not impossible, it's a matter of their willingness to staff it i.e. pay for it.

They will be required to do it, so it won’t matter if they are willing to or not. CHML figured it out by having all students enrolled in the accelerated pathway.

Which many of them fail to actually learn. That's not "figuring it out". It's just BSing yourself and everyone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every DCPS middle school will offer an accelerated math track starting next year.

Please say more about it! Accelerated to Geometry?

At a minimum Algebra 1 in 8th grade. If your student is ready for more, that’s something you can and should advocate for.

That is not accelerated. That is two years behind what is offered at BASIS and the highest tracks are Deal and Hardy, and one year behind Latin, DCI, SH, EH and the others than offer Geometry by 8th. To say nothing of the vast majority of suburban schools across the country.

I would say for college bound kids, it's not advisable to go to a middle school that can only get you to algebra by 8th. The kids will be out of step with their peers when applying to college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every DCPS middle school will offer an accelerated math track starting next year.

Please say more about it! Accelerated to Geometry?

At a minimum Algebra 1 in 8th grade. If your student is ready for more, that’s something you can and should advocate for.

That is not accelerated. That is two years behind what is offered at BASIS and the highest tracks are Deal and Hardy, and one year behind Latin, DCI, SH, EH and the others than offer Geometry by 8th. To say nothing of the vast majority of suburban schools across the country.

I would say for college bound kids, it's not advisable to go to a middle school that can only get you to algebra by 8th. The kids will be out of step with their peers when applying to college.

Comparing yourself to basis is not the same as determining what is actually on track. Algebra is technically a 9th grade class and many people take it then. All DCPS middle schools are supposed to offer algebra by 8th, and many (like those listed above) offer algebra in 7th and geometry in 8th for those who are ready.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every DCPS middle school will offer an accelerated math track starting next year.

Please say more about it! Accelerated to Geometry?

At a minimum Algebra 1 in 8th grade. If your student is ready for more, that’s something you can and should advocate for.

I took algebra 1 in 8th grade and went to a top 10 university.
That is not accelerated. That is two years behind what is offered at BASIS and the highest tracks are Deal and Hardy, and one year behind Latin, DCI, SH, EH and the others than offer Geometry by 8th. To say nothing of the vast majority of suburban schools across the country.

I would say for college bound kids, it's not advisable to go to a middle school that can only get you to algebra by 8th. The kids will be out of step with their peers when applying to college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every DCPS middle school will offer an accelerated math track starting next year.

Please say more about it! Accelerated to Geometry?

At a minimum Algebra 1 in 8th grade. If your student is ready for more, that’s something you can and should advocate for.

I took algebra 1 in 8th grade and went to a top 10 university.
That is not accelerated. That is two years behind what is offered at BASIS and the highest tracks are Deal and Hardy, and one year behind Latin, DCI, SH, EH and the others than offer Geometry by 8th. To say nothing of the vast majority of suburban schools across the country.

I would say for college bound kids, it's not advisable to go to a middle school that can only get you to algebra by 8th. The kids will be out of step with their peers when applying to college.

I did,too, 30 years ago. But I think the norms have changed such that the vast majority of kids who are aiming for top 10 or 20 schools are taking Geometry by 8th these days. Check out some surrounding school districts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every DCPS middle school will offer an accelerated math track starting next year.

Please say more about it! Accelerated to Geometry?

At a minimum Algebra 1 in 8th grade. If your student is ready for more, that’s something you can and should advocate for.

I took algebra 1 in 8th grade and went to a top 10 university.
That is not accelerated. That is two years behind what is offered at BASIS and the highest tracks are Deal and Hardy, and one year behind Latin, DCI, SH, EH and the others than offer Geometry by 8th. To say nothing of the vast majority of suburban schools across the country.

I would say for college bound kids, it's not advisable to go to a middle school that can only get you to algebra by 8th. The kids will be out of step with their peers when applying to college.

I did,too, 30 years ago. But I think the norms have changed such that the vast majority of kids who are aiming for top 10 or 20 schools are taking Geometry by 8th these days. Check out some surrounding school districts.

Ok now you're really moving the goal posts. Top 10-20 schools is a very different thing from "college bound".

[Anonymous]

- Taking Algebra 1 in 8th grade still ensures that the students will get to cover all the needed material for PSAT and then SAT for any “college bound” student.
- Then it is important to take into consideration the academic interests of the students. For those leaning into humanities, the Algebra 1 in 8th track would suffice to satisfy the HS and college expectations.
- The challenge is for those students who want to pursue science or engineering degrees, this is where acceleration would be most beneficial.

[Anonymous]

Oh FFS, lots of kids can adjust their trajectory by taking more than one math class at a time. Or a summer course. It's not like you're doomed if you don't take Algebra I in 8th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every DCPS middle school will offer an accelerated math track starting next year.

Please say more about it! Accelerated to Geometry?

At a minimum Algebra 1 in 8th grade. If your student is ready for more, that’s something you can and should advocate for.

That is not accelerated. That is two years behind what is offered at BASIS and the highest tracks are Deal and Hardy, and one year behind Latin, DCI, SH, EH and the others than offer Geometry by 8th. To say nothing of the vast majority of suburban schools across the country.

I would say for college bound kids, it's not advisable to go to a middle school that can only get you to algebra by 8th. The kids will be out of step with their peers when applying to college.

The vast majority of kids at the fancy private schools take algebra 1 in 8th grade, calculus in 12, and manage to get into the "top" schools. Faster is not always better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh FFS, lots of kids can adjust their trajectory by taking more than one math class at a time. Or a summer course. It's not like you're doomed if you don't take Algebra I in 8th.

Yes and you can go private for 1 or all classes if you don't like the public school's insufficient offering. That doesn't make the public school option reasonable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every DCPS middle school will offer an accelerated math track starting next year.

Please say more about it! Accelerated to Geometry?

At a minimum Algebra 1 in 8th grade. If your student is ready for more, that’s something you can and should advocate for.

That is not accelerated. That is two years behind what is offered at BASIS and the highest tracks are Deal and Hardy, and one year behind Latin, DCI, SH, EH and the others than offer Geometry by 8th. To say nothing of the vast majority of suburban schools across the country.

I would say for college bound kids, it's not advisable to go to a middle school that can only get you to algebra by 8th. The kids will be out of step with their peers when applying to college.

The vast majority of kids at the fancy private schools take algebra 1 in 8th grade, calculus in 12, and manage to get into the "top" schools. Faster is not always better.

+1 Better to have a solid foundation than to over accelerate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh FFS, lots of kids can adjust their trajectory by taking more than one math class at a time. Or a summer course. It's not like you're doomed if you don't take Algebra I in 8th.

Yes and you can go private for 1 or all classes if you don't like the public school's insufficient offering. That doesn't make the public school option reasonable.

People can take more than one math class at a time in some public schools. And some public schools will allow online classes to be taken independently.

It *is* reasonable to have 8th Grade Math for 8th Graders. FFS. Why do you think it's called 8th Grade Math? Has it ever occurred to you that some people just aren't as good at math, even at well-performing schools and with supportive parents? Those kids need a math class that is right for them, and they'll be perfectly fine taking Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and Calc AB. There's nothing wrong with it. They will still go to college. Take a deep breath, remember that the world is a diverse place, and ask yourself why you feel the need to be attacking a perfectly reasonable approach.

[Anonymous]

My god. The standards are so low for most people here.

Reality is:

8th grade math is basically below standard, “remedial” (no calculus in high school)
8th grade Algebra 1 is standard (Calculus by 12th grade)
7th grade Algebra 1 is accelerated (Calculus by 11th grade)
6th grade Algebra 1 is twice accelerated (Calculus by 10th grade)

The only schools that get kids to Calculus by 10th is Basis, Deal, Hardy, and DCI. DCI has integrated math so the courses are not labeled traditionally like above.

DCPS is way behind by only offering basically what is remedial math and some schools Algebra 1 in 8th, which at most schools is just the standard track. This should not be surprising when the overwhelming majority of kids are way below grade level. They don’t have the critical mass to offer accelerated so don’t.