What courses does a child need to take to make it into Algebra in 8th grade?

[Anonymous]

I would like my child to take Algebra in 8th grade. What courses do they need to complete to be allowed into Algebra?

[Anonymous]

Are you in MCPS? Under 2.0, all kids on grade level math will be taking Algebra in 8th grade.

[Anonymous]

Do they advance some kids? What percent take it in 7th?

[Anonymous]

Is your child currently in elementary school in MCPS? If so, the on-grade-level math classes (i.e., Math K, Math 1, Math 2,..., Math 7) will put your child in Algebra I in 8th grade.

If your child is currently in private school, then I don't know the answer.

[Anonymous]

Right..if you want to be at the advanced level, you need to start compacted math in 4th grade to get to Geometry in 8th grade. It will be interesting to see how this goes for MCPS as I know this year a chunk of were taken out of algebra after a few weeks when they were clearly not ready for it. I hope this option will continue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is your child currently in elementary school in MCPS? If so, the on-grade-level math classes (i.e., Math K, Math 1, Math 2,..., Math 7) will put your child in Algebra I in 8th grade.

If your child is currently in private school, then I don't know the answer.

We are in private school now. I am not trying to advance, just don't want to be behind.

[Anonymous]

Behind in what way? There is quite a bit of research showing the disadvantages of pushing kids ahead in math when they aren't ready for it. I have two in private and one in public. Our oldest is taking Algebra I in 9th, and she is doing well. She was not ready for it in 8th grade, and would have ultimately fallen behind. This way she has a solid foundation for upper level math courses. Our DS is in 6th in MoCo MS and is taking IM, which pushes him into Algebra next year and Honors Geometry in 8th. I'm not convinced this is the best path, especially because Algebra I is taken for HS credit. But he is thriving, and would be bored taking a lower level class. They will get to the same place eventually, just differently. My 6th grader may or may not opt for higher level math classes in HS, but he and his sister will have the basically the same options.

[Anonymous]

My three children all took Algebra I in 7th grade and did very well. They took IM in 6th grade.

[Anonymous]

MCPS is eliminating IM so the kids in compacted math this year will get to Algebra in 7th and the rest will get to it in 8th. Meaning the new math curriculum will basically take kids to the same places as before..

[Anonymous]

Techinally they are eliminating Math 7, not IM (which is pre-Algebra). So 4th graders now in Compacted still get IM in 6th and Algebra in 7th but the normal path is Math 6th (in 6th), IM (in 7th) and Algebra (in 8th). With 2.0 in our MS it will go from about 15% in Algebra in 7th to under 5% taking Algebra in 7th. Don't know if that is a good thing or not.........

[Anonymous]

Behind in what way? There is quite a bit of research showing the disadvantages of pushing kids ahead in math when they aren't ready for it. I have two in private and one in public. Our oldest is taking Algebra I in 9th, and she is doing well. She was not ready for it in 8th grade, and would have ultimately fallen behind. This way she has a solid foundation for upper level math courses. Our DS is in 6th in MoCo MS and is taking IM, which pushes him into Algebra next year and Honors Geometry in 8th. I'm not convinced this is the best path, especially because Algebra I is taken for HS credit. But he is thriving, and would be bored taking a lower level class. They will get to the same place eventually, just differently. My 6th grader may or may not opt for higher level math classes in HS, but he and his sister will have the basically the same options.

Can be said for most things besides math!

[Anonymous]

I think we will see those percentages rise in coming years as parents push..

[Anonymous]

My son just got a form for entrance into middle school recommending Math 7, so I don't think that's being eliminated. The handbook that came home with him indicates that he would then take IM in 7th and algebra in 8th. I thought the goal was to have all students take algebra in 8th, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

[Anonymous]

Just to add to my previous post, he said that only 1 or 2 students were being recommended for iM from his 5th grade top level math class. Not sure how accurate this is.

[Anonymous]

My son just got a form for entrance into middle school recommending Math 7, so I don't think that's being eliminated. The handbook that came home with him indicates that he would then take IM in 7th and algebra in 8th. I thought the goal was to have all students take algebra in 8th, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

All students take algebra in 8th grade is different than algebra by 8th grade.