What happens if you fail Algebra 1 MCAP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They should get rid of the algebra requirement for kids who are struggling/special needs and do more real life math.

Algebra is real-life math. That's the reason it has been a MD state HS graduation requirement for a very long time.

[Anonymous]

Honestly - I don't think anything happens. Story: Back in the early 2000s, me and a group of "gifted" kids all failed one of the county assessments. They made the group who failed come in over the summer to do some sort of "makeup" which included reteaching or retesting. My info got lost in the mail (this was pre heavy email use) and I never had to take it - everything was fine. Happened to a few friends in HS too. Work for MCPS now - same thing still happens - nothing.

[Anonymous]

PP here - also wanted to add that this was an assessment they said would be needed for HS graduation and that if we failed, we'd take it in HS...never took it again

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly - I don't think anything happens. Story: Back in the early 2000s, me and a group of "gifted" kids all failed one of the county assessments. They made the group who failed come in over the summer to do some sort of "makeup" which included reteaching or retesting. My info got lost in the mail (this was pre heavy email use) and I never had to take it - everything was fine. Happened to a few friends in HS too. Work for MCPS now - same thing still happens - nothing.

Cool story bro

[Anonymous]

You do have to wonder why MCPS is accelerating so many math students yet has such a low rate of math proficiency.

I pulled my kid off the accelerated path due to Covid learning loss even though they were proficient. As a math major I could tell that concepts were not fully taught. My kid is a good test taker but not sure I believe this test is that hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You do have to wonder why MCPS is accelerating so many math students yet has such a low rate of math proficiency.

I pulled my kid off the accelerated path due to Covid learning loss even though they were proficient. As a math major I could tell that concepts were not fully taught. My kid is a good test taker but not sure I believe this test is that hard.

I think they are now curtailing acceleration quite a bit. It's harder to get into compacted math, and some students who do compacted math move into 6+ rather than AIM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You do have to wonder why MCPS is accelerating so many math students yet has such a low rate of math proficiency.

I pulled my kid off the accelerated path due to Covid learning loss even though they were proficient. As a math major I could tell that concepts were not fully taught. My kid is a good test taker but not sure I believe this test is that hard.

I think that, as a PP suggested, the headline numbers reported are for those taking the Algebra 1 MCAP in HS that year. This excludes those having taken it in MS with one or two years of acceleration.

Would a mathematically adept kid who took Algebra in 7th have a greater chance of scoring well if they took it in 9th? Probably by just a bit, but that kid probably also is likely to do well in 7th (or 8th, if only accelerated by 1 year). Meanwhile, making that kid wait until 9th is a disservice, not meeting academic need and probably turning them off to the subject through boredom.

It would be more reflective of how well the system works if they reported either the percentage of students at the school who, as of their last taking the test (whatever year that may have been), had achieved a score indicating adequate proficiency, or the percentage ar the same level of achievement for all students zoned to that HS having taken it that year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid might have failed it. He says he didn’t remember anything on section 3 of the test. He is freaking out that he will have to retake Algebra 1 in school next year. Does anyone know anything?

You know what's worse than retaking Algebra 1?
Forgetting Algebra 1, then taking Geometry, then taking Algebra 2

I absolutely agree with this. If Algebra 1 is weak, not only will every math class from here to graduation be difficult, but so will Chemistry and Physics. If they want to take AP Econ because they are interested in business, so will that class. Also, keep in mind, if they did take Algebra 1 in 7th grade, they are now on track to take Calculus in 10th. Repeating it now to be sure they are ok is the best thing you can do. I would even suggest taking it in person, not online, during summer school.

Good luck. I wish the very best for your student.

[Anonymous]

It's pretty hard to fail a class in MCPS, OP. They might let your child retake the exam or omit the grade due to extenuating circumstances. Have your child set up a meeting and if that doesn't work, follow up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should get rid of the algebra requirement for kids who are struggling/special needs and do more real life math.

Algebra is real-life math. That's the reason it has been a MD state HS graduation requirement for a very long time.

Is it? Outside of using algebra for another higher level math class, how do you use it in your life? I’ve never used it. Ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid might have failed it. He says he didn’t remember anything on section 3 of the test. He is freaking out that he will have to retake Algebra 1 in school next year. Does anyone know anything?

You know what's worse than retaking Algebra 1?
Forgetting Algebra 1, then taking Geometry, then taking Algebra 2

I absolutely agree with this. If Algebra 1 is weak, not only will every math class from here to graduation be difficult, but so will Chemistry and Physics. If they want to take AP Econ because they are interested in business, so will that class. Also, keep in mind, if they did take Algebra 1 in 7th grade, they are now on track to take Calculus in 10th. Repeating it now to be sure they are ok is the best thing you can do. I would even suggest taking it in person, not online, during summer school.

Good luck. I wish the very best for your student.

Actually that’s a path to take in 11th. Most schools don’t have multi variable calculus though so then only math class left for 12th grade is AP stats. Then if you are at STEM major, hope you remember Calculus from 2 years back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should get rid of the algebra requirement for kids who are struggling/special needs and do more real life math.

Algebra is real-life math. That's the reason it has been a MD state HS graduation requirement for a very long time.

Is it? Outside of using algebra for another higher level math class, how do you use it in your life? I’ve never used it. Ever.

I bet you have. Or that this is a troll post.

Budget or travel planning. Cooking. Shopping. Understanding the import of certain claims or offers. Making reasonably educated decisions about political policy.

Just googling "real world algebra" gets you a ton of such examples.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]It's pretty hard to fail a class in MCPS, OP. They might let your child retake the exam or omit the grade due to extenuating circumstances. Have your child set up a meeting and if that doesn't work, follow up.
False

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's pretty hard to fail a class in MCPS, OP. They might let your child retake the exam or omit the grade due to extenuating circumstances. Have your child set up a meeting and if that doesn't work, follow up.

False

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should get rid of the algebra requirement for kids who are struggling/special needs and do more real life math.

Algebra is real-life math. That's the reason it has been a MD state HS graduation requirement for a very long time.

Is it? Outside of using algebra for another higher level math class, how do you use it in your life? I’ve never used it. Ever.

I bet you have. Or that this is a troll post.

Budget or travel planning. Cooking. Shopping. Understanding the import of certain claims or offers. Making reasonably educated decisions about political policy.

Just googling "real world algebra" gets you a ton of such examples.

+1

Or even the more basic - this item is on sale for 30% off. How much is it?

No, we don’t write out equations on paper, but yes we absolutely use algebraic thinking all the time.