Compacted Math HS Science

[Anonymous]

Just learned that in the RM cluster, if you are not in compacted math, you will not be allowed to take biology as a HS freshman. Not only do your 3rd grade math skills forever affect your math placement but they also dictate your science placement in high school. This is a policy change for next years freshman. I want to make more people aware of this as I find it very frustrating and a down grade of the science curriculum. I don't know if any other high schools have the same policy.

[Anonymous]

I don't get it. The first group with an option for compacted math is finishing fourth grade, right? Why would RM HS be making decisions now about which science classes these students will or will not be allowed to take 4+ years from now?

[Anonymous]

RM decided you must have geometry in 8th grade to take Biology as a 9th grader. If you are not in compacted math you will not get to geometry until 9th grade and must wait till 10th grade for Biology. The only way to get to an AP science is to double up a math.

[Anonymous]

When did they decide this?

And is it possible that they will reconsider this decision four years from now, when far fewer students will take geometry in 8th grade, but just as many students will presumably want to take at least one AP science class?

[Anonymous]

They implemented it this year during the registration process for rising 9th graders. Kids were recommended for Biology by their current science teachers but then told they had to resister for the lower class.

[Anonymous]

But this was for students who took math pre-2.0, right? Of whom at least half of them took geometry in 8th grade, I'm guessing. So I understand the problem about suddenly changing the rules for prerequisites (and why would geometry by a prerequisite for biology?), but I think it might be too early to conclude that RM will continue this policy when the 2.0 students arrive.

[Anonymous]

This policy was started just for 2.0. This year's 8th graders are the first year of 2.0 algebra. They are the ones that are being excluded from biology.

[Anonymous]

They took 2.0 algebra, but on the pre-2.0 acceleration schedule -- right? What proportion of eighth graders took geometry this year?

[Anonymous]

Is it because they have to be on a certain track or level of acceleration in Math for IB or something?

[Anonymous]

Many fewer than the year before. This is the year at my ES that many took 6th grade math in both 4th and 5th grade. The school stopped offering 2 year acceleration and any one who was 2 years ahead repeated. Some of those kids went right to IM from Math 6 but many went the Math7. I don't know what percentage skipped math 7.

[Anonymous]

This is not for the IB magnet. This is the regular program.

[Anonymous]

Which AP science classes does RM offer?

[Anonymous]

Why would geometry matter for biology?

[Anonymous]

Likely it is more chemistry/physics needing Algebra II but if that were true all schools would have this policy.

[Anonymous]

Why would geometry matter for biology?

It doesn't but AP Biology requires lab work. The high schools are over capacity and there are fewer spots open for lab classes. MCPS has no plan to address the facilities issues so they are just increasing the allowable class size which screws up the science courses. The best way to make sure that the most worthy students get the spot is to add in extra requirements prior to taking the class.