Can a sixth grader take algebra 1?

[Anonymous]

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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.

What, you are upset our kids are not in magnet and taking a more advanced class. TPMS does things differently. Every school does it differently which is why that poster is upset over lack of transparency and standardization within MCPS. My child is in a downcountry school and started Algebra in 6th. Child did not do AIM.

Surprise, some really smart kids don't get chosen or choose to go to TPMS. Even if my child were chosen we would not have choose it.

I don't think I'm confused as I know what math my child is in. In 8th, its Algebra 2.

My child is at TPMS. He’s also in the magnet program. He would have gone to TPMS regardless of whether he got in. I am very familiar with the school. They have been very open about the fact that the ONLY kids who get to do algebra in 6th are the ones that already took AIM elsewhere, that they don’t encourage it and they only reluctantly allow them into algebra in sixth. They do not accelerate anyone else. So no, I’m not “upset” that my kid is placed in the magnet program, but I am calling out your claims as being inconsistent with how the school works,

You do realize that the discussion really isn't about TPMS and you keep comparing it to TMPS and that's not the situation at all. You can say we are lying but my child started in 6th. What is there to lie about? Yes, there are lots of inconsistencies within MCPS but that doesn't mean that because TMPS isn't offering it, other schools are not. You need to get out of your TPMS bubble. You are familiar with TPMS but that's not the school we are talking about so your posts saying that we are lying our kids are in Algebra in 6th are silly.

Well, the only schools any has named are Cold Spring, Frost and TPMS. If there's some other school, involved would love to know which one. Let us know. There's no reason to keep this a secret if it's real.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's possible the only school that offers Alg. 1 to a full class or more of 6th graders is Frost. I personally do not know of any others.

But I will repeat that practically every single middle school in the county has a few students who take Algebra 1 in 6th. MCPS middle schools are huge so that should not be a surprise to anyone. Many but not all of these kids come are transfers from other districts or countries or programs such as homeschool programs where they were already doing more advanced math.

The angry moms who keep repeating that this can't possibly be true because their child is a genius with really high MAP scores and was not allowed to do it need therapy.

I don't believe you since you can't you name any schools that do this other than Frost.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:It's possible the only school that offers Alg. 1 to a full class or more of 6th graders is Frost. I personally do not know of any others.

But I will repeat that practically every single middle school in the county has a few students who take Algebra 1 in 6th. MCPS middle schools are huge so that should not be a surprise to anyone. Many but not all of these kids come are transfers from other districts or countries or programs such as homeschool programs where they were already doing more advanced math.

The angry moms who keep repeating that this can't possibly be true because their child is a genius with really high MAP scores and was not allowed to do it need therapy.

I don't believe you since you can't you name any schools that do this other than Frost.

Ok... that's fine. Jealous?

[Anonymous]

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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.

What, you are upset our kids are not in magnet and taking a more advanced class. TPMS does things differently. Every school does it differently which is why that poster is upset over lack of transparency and standardization within MCPS. My child is in a downcountry school and started Algebra in 6th. Child did not do AIM.

Surprise, some really smart kids don't get chosen or choose to go to TPMS. Even if my child were chosen we would not have choose it.

I don't think I'm confused as I know what math my child is in. In 8th, its Algebra 2.

My child is at TPMS. He’s also in the magnet program. He would have gone to TPMS regardless of whether he got in. I am very familiar with the school. They have been very open about the fact that the ONLY kids who get to do algebra in 6th are the ones that already took AIM elsewhere, that they don’t encourage it and they only reluctantly allow them into algebra in sixth. They do not accelerate anyone else. So no, I’m not “upset” that my kid is placed in the magnet program, but I am calling out your claims as being inconsistent with how the school works,

You do realize that the discussion really isn't about TPMS and you keep comparing it to TMPS and that's not the situation at all. You can say we are lying but my child started in 6th. What is there to lie about? Yes, there are lots of inconsistencies within MCPS but that doesn't mean that because TMPS isn't offering it, other schools are not. You need to get out of your TPMS bubble. You are familiar with TPMS but that's not the school we are talking about so your posts saying that we are lying our kids are in Algebra in 6th are silly.

Well, the only schools any has named are Cold Spring, Frost and TPMS. If there's some other school, involved would love to know which one. Let us know. There's no reason to keep this a secret if it's real.

Why do they need to be named? You'd know if you had any interest in the schools but they aren't schools you would send your kids to. OP isn't talking about the magnet schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's possible the only school that offers Alg. 1 to a full class or more of 6th graders is Frost. I personally do not know of any others.

But I will repeat that practically every single middle school in the county has a few students who take Algebra 1 in 6th. MCPS middle schools are huge so that should not be a surprise to anyone. Many but not all of these kids come are transfers from other districts or countries or programs such as homeschool programs where they were already doing more advanced math.

The angry moms who keep repeating that this can't possibly be true because their child is a genius with really high MAP scores and was not allowed to do it need therapy.

I don't believe you since you can't you name any schools that do this other than Frost.

It sure seems like they're simply making this up. I mean they won't come clean and if it were true, someone would spill the beans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's possible the only school that offers Alg. 1 to a full class or more of 6th graders is Frost. I personally do not know of any others.

But I will repeat that practically every single middle school in the county has a few students who take Algebra 1 in 6th. MCPS middle schools are huge so that should not be a surprise to anyone. Many but not all of these kids come are transfers from other districts or countries or programs such as homeschool programs where they were already doing more advanced math.

The angry moms who keep repeating that this can't possibly be true because their child is a genius with really high MAP scores and was not allowed to do it need therapy.

I don't believe you since you can't you name any schools that do this other than Frost.

Can we please lock this thread?
We are going in circles and I think there's one person who is acting like an oversized 10 year old throwing a tantrum.
Many schools have been named. Newport Mills, Eastern, SSI. I'm sure the situation is the are some in the western area too but we are in the DCC so we know the DCC kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's possible the only school that offers Alg. 1 to a full class or more of 6th graders is Frost. I personally do not know of any others.

But I will repeat that practically every single middle school in the county has a few students who take Algebra 1 in 6th. MCPS middle schools are huge so that should not be a surprise to anyone. Many but not all of these kids come are transfers from other districts or countries or programs such as homeschool programs where they were already doing more advanced math.

The angry moms who keep repeating that this can't possibly be true because their child is a genius with really high MAP scores and was not allowed to do it need therapy.

I don't believe you since you can't you name any schools that do this other than Frost.

It sure seems like they're simply making this up. I mean they won't come clean and if it were true, someone would spill the beans.

Yes, they're providing cover for the privileged schools by pretending this exists elsewehere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's possible the only school that offers Alg. 1 to a full class or more of 6th graders is Frost. I personally do not know of any others.

But I will repeat that practically every single middle school in the county has a few students who take Algebra 1 in 6th. MCPS middle schools are huge so that should not be a surprise to anyone. Many but not all of these kids come are transfers from other districts or countries or programs such as homeschool programs where they were already doing more advanced math.

The angry moms who keep repeating that this can't possibly be true because their child is a genius with really high MAP scores and was not allowed to do it need therapy.

I don't believe you since you can't you name any schools that do this other than Frost.

It sure seems like they're simply making this up. I mean they won't come clean and if it were true, someone would spill the beans.

Yes, they're providing cover for the privileged schools by pretending this exists elsewehere.

Yes, if there's anything the DCC parents are known for it is providing "cover" for W school kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's possible the only school that offers Alg. 1 to a full class or more of 6th graders is Frost. I personally do not know of any others.

But I will repeat that practically every single middle school in the county has a few students who take Algebra 1 in 6th. MCPS middle schools are huge so that should not be a surprise to anyone. Many but not all of these kids come are transfers from other districts or countries or programs such as homeschool programs where they were already doing more advanced math.

The angry moms who keep repeating that this can't possibly be true because their child is a genius with really high MAP scores and was not allowed to do it need therapy.

I don't believe you since you can't you name any schools that do this other than Frost.

It sure seems like they're simply making this up. I mean they won't come clean and if it were true, someone would spill the beans.

Yes, they're providing cover for the privileged schools by pretending this exists elsewehere.

Yes, if there's anything the DCC parents are known for it is providing "cover" for W school kids.

Seriously, what would we be coving for. Plenty of rich families down county too and equally deserving kids. We just want you to stay in your lane and leave our schools alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's possible the only school that offers Alg. 1 to a full class or more of 6th graders is Frost. I personally do not know of any others.

But I will repeat that practically every single middle school in the county has a few students who take Algebra 1 in 6th. MCPS middle schools are huge so that should not be a surprise to anyone. Many but not all of these kids come are transfers from other districts or countries or programs such as homeschool programs where they were already doing more advanced math.

The angry moms who keep repeating that this can't possibly be true because their child is a genius with really high MAP scores and was not allowed to do it need therapy.

I don't believe you since you can't you name any schools that do this other than Frost.

BINGO!

[Anonymous]

My kid is at TPMS in 6th - non magnet in AIM. The class took a placement test last week, so I would not be surprised if some of the outliers were contacted by the school to do further testing and possibly move them to Algebra. I don't think the poster saying they were contacted by the math placement teacher is lying. If it hasn't been done in years past, maybe they are trying something different this year since many of the math outliers were not accepted into the magnet because of the lottery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is at TPMS in 6th - non magnet in AIM. The class took a placement test last week, so I would not be surprised if some of the outliers were contacted by the school to do further testing and possibly move them to Algebra. I don't think the poster saying they were contacted by the math placement teacher is lying. If it hasn't been done in years past, maybe they are trying something different this year since many of the math outliers were not accepted into the magnet because of the lottery.

For the record - the kids were told the test was to get an idea of where their level was for math. So it could also be just that - to see where they are at.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is at TPMS in 6th - non magnet in AIM. The class took a placement test last week, so I would not be surprised if some of the outliers were contacted by the school to do further testing and possibly move them to Algebra. I don't think the poster saying they were contacted by the math placement teacher is lying. If it hasn't been done in years past, maybe they are trying something different this year since many of the math outliers were not accepted into the magnet because of the lottery.

For the record - the kids were told the test was to get an idea of where their level was for math. So it could also be just that - to see where they are at.

Yes, it's not for placement. They only do that for students who already took AIM. In fact, you could have a perfect MAP score and without AIM you would not get Algebra in 6th. You need to attend an affluent school in Potomac if you want that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is at TPMS in 6th - non magnet in AIM. The class took a placement test last week, so I would not be surprised if some of the outliers were contacted by the school to do further testing and possibly move them to Algebra. I don't think the poster saying they were contacted by the math placement teacher is lying. If it hasn't been done in years past, maybe they are trying something different this year since many of the math outliers were not accepted into the magnet because of the lottery.

For the record - the kids were told the test was to get an idea of where their level was for math. So it could also be just that - to see where they are at.

Yes, it's not for placement. They only do that for students who already took AIM. In fact, you could have a perfect MAP score and without AIM you would not get Algebra in 6th. You need to attend an affluent school in Potomac if you want that.

Or, a poor school in another area. This was one reason we weren't interested in TPMS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is at TPMS in 6th - non magnet in AIM. The class took a placement test last week, so I would not be surprised if some of the outliers were contacted by the school to do further testing and possibly move them to Algebra. I don't think the poster saying they were contacted by the math placement teacher is lying. If it hasn't been done in years past, maybe they are trying something different this year since many of the math outliers were not accepted into the magnet because of the lottery.

For the record - the kids were told the test was to get an idea of where their level was for math. So it could also be just that - to see where they are at.

Yes, it's not for placement. They only do that for students who already took AIM. In fact, you could have a perfect MAP score and without AIM you would not get Algebra in 6th. You need to attend an affluent school in Potomac if you want that.

Or, a poor school in another area. This was one reason we weren't interested in TPMS.

You'd have to look in another county. The only schools that anyone has mentioned are Frost and Cold Spring.