Compacted Math- what happens if you don't get in?

[Anonymous]

My DC is in 3rd grade and going through testing. Don't know the results just that DC is being tested.

My older one took algebra 2 in eighth grade and third grade was before all this compact math testing was done. DC did math6 in fifth grade. In middle school, all kids were discouraged to take algebra 1 in 6th grade and were persuaded to do IM. DC was bored in IM and then on request was put in algebra 1 where DC performed very well.

However during magnet testing for high school, there are students from DCs class who are still in geometry and not in algebra 2 and are selected in Blair. Whereas my DC is on waitlist.

The point I want to make here is that they can be stars at STEM Blair without being fast paced on algebra 2 while in middle school or in compacted math in 4-5th grade.
If a child is bright and parents are involved at every step, he/she is bound to do good during the ES or middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you don't get into compacted math, and you also don't get accelerated at any other point in your primary or secondary education, then you will keep going in on-grade-level math, take Algebra I in 8th grade, and graduate from high school having completed AP Calculus A/B. Does this constitute doom? I don't think so.

This is what parents really need to keep in mind. It's not a race and quite honestly, both of my kids were pushed ahead so fast that they missed so much foundation work. Believe me, it gets them in the more advanced classes in high school. Unless your child is a math genius, they will be just find doing Algebra in 8th grade and finishing up high school with A/B Calculus. My DS did exactly that and just got excepted to multiple highly selective colleges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC is in 3rd grade and going through testing. Don't know the results just that DC is being tested.

My older one took algebra 2 in eighth grade and third grade was before all this compact math testing was done. DC did math6 in fifth grade. In middle school, all kids were discouraged to take algebra 1 in 6th grade and were persuaded to do IM. DC was bored in IM and then on request was put in algebra 1 where DC performed very well.

However during magnet testing for high school, there are students from DCs class who are still in geometry and not in algebra 2 and are selected in Blair. Whereas my DC is on waitlist.

The point I want to make here is that they can be stars at STEM Blair without being fast paced on algebra 2 while in middle school or in compacted math in 4-5th grade.
If a child is bright and parents are involved at every step, he/she is bound to do good during the ES or middle school.

My child and friend applied Blair last year. My son was in geometry. Other child was in Algebra II (and did quite well). They were both placed in the same pre-calc at Blair..

[Anonymous]

For the PP's, how do you know that the testing is over? Did your child's teacher tell you? If they are over this early, does that mean we will find out earlier than in past years? Thank you.


There was a another test at DC's ES yesterday, don't know whether that's it though. I want to say there have been 5-6 tests so far.

[Anonymous]

At our ES, we have no clue. The teachers don't announce it or get permission for testing. They don't tell the kids it's a test, either, as far as I can tell. I have tried to subtly ask my kid, but there is no recollection of tricky math problems ...

[Anonymous]

My child gets pulled by a special math teacher so she always knows when she is being "tested." She had a test last week, but I do not know if it was the last one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD is in 4th grade and in compacted math. She was always in the top math group with enrichment/acceleration.

That "math test" she took last year? Bombed it. She wasn't even close to the supposed cutoff score. Speaking to the teacher and other parents, a lot of the kids did not do well on the test at their school last year.

They are all in compacted math this year. My daughter is getting ES's in math, doing well.

The math test score is just one factor into who gets into compacted math.

Take a chill pill, realize it isn't the end of the world if they don't get into compacted math and also realize if your child is a strong math student that also counts for a lot.

OP here, thank you!. This is the post I needed to see. My friend who brought the whole compacted math thing to my attention two weeks ago totally scared me to death and said it was basically over if your kid doesn't get in. Completely freaked me out when I had zero concern before because he's always been a good student, in enrichment the whole time, works hard, and a great kid so there was never anything to worry about. Anyway that's why I posted here to get a different perspective from other parents. Chilled out now...it's out of my hands anyway. We'll see what happens.

what is "basically over"?

[Anonymous]

It's elementary school
Calm
Down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

I agree that we should all relax a bit on this board. It is only elementary school. So why does MCPS make it seem like this is the one chance for math acceleration for our kids' entire academic career? They should provide more publicly acknowledged onramps for accelerated math. Then we parents of 3rd graders would not feel a twinge of panic, fearing that if our 3rd grader is not already clearly advanced math material, they will be on the normal path for eternity. Maybe the normal path is not so bad, as previous posters have pointed out, but we all want to know that our child has a chance to excel and the current system with one announced 4th grade onramp feels narrow, and perhaps unfair.

[Anonymous]

I was just told yesterday that MCPS is looking to do away with compact math.

[Anonymous]

Yes it's only elementary school 3rd grade but it sets your child's path all they through high school. If accepted, they will be with more advanced kids on math every year through 12th grade. If you have an above grade level child, fight like hell if they don't get placed in compact math.

[Anonymous]

The way , not they. Hate this autocorrect

[Anonymous]

Sign your kid up for one of the Asian math prep classes for cold spring magnet prep kids.

[Anonymous]

There are cases where a kid was allowed to jump to a harder level math in MS.

They are not doing away with compacted math. They are looking at doing away with the busing to the MS for compacted math, effectively, ending compacted math offering at the MS only.

In some ways, it's good that the kid isn't aware that he/she is being assessed for compacted math. Reduces the stress and anxiety around it.

[Anonymous]

Write a letter to the teacher asking to see your child's overall score sheet as well as each task assessed - that means the question as well as your child's answer. Reference FERPA, a federal law which entitles you to view these educational records. You should have an opportunity to view them as well as get an explanation of the answers and how/why your child scored as he did.

You may have to sign a non-disclosure form promising mot to reveal the assessment and answers, but you cannot be denied access to this materials by the claim that they are "secure" tests.