Accelerated math in middle school in Arlington
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Anonymous
| What options are there for kids who are able to do accelerated math in middle school? If a student takes Algebra I as a sixth grader and Geometry as a seventh grader, does APS allow them to take Algebra II in eighth? I have heard of kids taking Algebra I in sixth but can't find anything on the APS or school websites. |
Anonymous
| Your kid must be an outlier because algebra is not listed as one of the options for 6th graders. Essentially the kid would need to take algebra with advanced 7th graders. I know in my middle school that there is not Algebra 2 class officially offered. Perhaps if your kid goes to HB, he/she could continue with the advanced 9th graders. |
Anonymous
| Not to mention, even TJ's admissions office (in case TJ is your goal) doesn't recommend that students take Algebra II before coming there. They prefer that students take Algebra II/Trig at TJ In 9th grade. |
Anonymous
However, increasing number of students are entering TJ with algebra II. They do not recommend this but do not actively discourage either if appropriate for the child. Increasing number of students are entering with precalculus as well. |
Anonymous
| OP here, not so much thinking about TJ as I am the next three years. DS has finished pre-algebra and done well and is ready for algebra, and I know the some kids have taken algebra in sixth in APS (I heard this as a friend-of-a-friend kind of thing....not from anyone I can ask directly). My son won't suffer if he has to do the regular accelerated track (which is pre-algebra in sixth, algebra in seventh, and geometry in eighth), although he may be somewhat bored next year if he has to basically repeat pre-algebra. (Hopefully not--he never thinks math is boring.) If we push the school to let him take Algebra next year, I'm trying to figure out what that means down the road....will he "run out" of math in eighth? |
Anonymous
He can take Algebra II in 8th grade. Middle schools in fcps offer Algebra II but not sure about APS. You can contact APS to see whether they offer Algebra II at middle schools. |
Anonymous
|
We are in FCPS, so it may not all be directly applicable. But for kids who are 1+ years ahead of the "traditional" accelerated track, while possible, the scheduling can be a nightmare and the onus of the transportation burden is on the parents. For example, if there aren't enough 8th graders for an Algebra 2 class at the middle school, then they need to coordinate with the HS. And realize that they may be in Algebra 2 with kids a LOT older than them.
You can probably look at the website for your HS and see what math classes are offered. In FCPS, I think most, if not all the high schools offer a year of Calculus beyond Calc AB/BC. Some also offer matrix algebra. Your child could probably take something like AP Statistics as well. But again, your best resource is the HS website for their course offerings. The problem with the above again is that while in theory it may be possible to do math beyond Calculus, it is also entirely possible that the advanced math beyond calculus may only be offered once a day and at a time that conflicts with something required in his schedule block. Schools tend to schedule classes so that they are offered at the times kids who are at the traditional age can take them. It could also mean that he can't do an elective he really wants (like Advanced Men's Chorus, or whatever) that is also only offered once a day. |
Anonymous
| Yeah I purposely slowed DS down in math so there wouldn't be this issue. There's so much to supplement (Russian Math, Number Theory, Stats) that there's no need to rush ahead. |
Anonymous
|
What's the rush??????
WTF???? Why compact everything ? |
Anonymous
I don't get it--if a kid has taken pre-algebra, how is it a 'rush' to take algebra next? |
Anonymous
13:46 here. Because "pre-algebra" can mean a lot of different things. Like I said, we are in FCPS, but you can look at the curriculum for these classes on-line and see what they cover. For us, "pre-algebra" skills are covered in various classes, Math 6, Math 7, Math 7 Honors/Math 8. These classes all cover similar, but not exactly the same, set of skills. Also, we have Algebra 1 and Algebra 1 Honors. Algebra 1 Honors assumes a kid has already learned things like exponents, scientific notation, areas and volumes of various 3D shapes, and basic statistics. Algebra 1 Honors moves VERY fast and covers a lot of material with little review in each unit. This is in FCPS, but I would assume APS has similar course offerings and pacing. So just because a kid has been introduced to pre-algebra skills, doesn't necessarily mean that they are ready for Algebra 1, especially in 6th grade. Even if they could learn the material independently doesn't mean that they are ready for the rigor and pacing of what is considered a high school level class. Also, in Virginia, they would need to pass a final and the Algebra 1 SOL at the end of the year to get credit for the class on their HS transcript. |
Anonymous
Yes. Why the presumption that I don't know what pre-algebra is? He has covered all of those things, plus graphing equations, calculating slope, converting all the various units of measurement, creating various types of data graphs, calculating principal/interest/time period, simplifying polynomials, doing various operations with polynomials, and applying the pythagorean theorem. And aced every section. As to whether he is ready for the rigor and pacing of a "high school level class"--my question was about taking this class one year earlier than he otherwise would, not three years earlier. I get that people still think of Algebra I as a high school class but middle school kids have been routinely taking it for at least thirty years. I took it when I was 12 and did fine. If I think he's ready I don't see why anonymous people on the interwebs would automatically second-guess that. (Except this is DCUM where everyone likes to judge instead of just answering whatever factual question someone posed.) He also doesn't have to count it on his HS transcript--you can make that choice in APS with middle school classes. |
Anonymous
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OP, I didn't assume you didn't know what pre-algebra is. My point was that the set of skills that constitutes "pre-algebra" can mean different things to different people and different school systems. Although I didn't even know that you were necessarily the person who asked the question.
A lot of advanced 7th graders struggle with the pace and rigor of the MS algebra classes. It isn't a stretch to consider that a 6th grader might have an even harder time. If you think your kid can do it, more power to him. But there are many very sharp kids who need a slower introduction to Algebra than what is often given in MS.
Interesting. This is definitely different in FCPS. For us, if you take a HS level class, it counts on your HS transcript, unless you expunge the grade. And then you don't get the math credit. Not an issue for a kid who plans to take 4 full years of math in HS anyway, but it is a consideration for some who may not. |
Anonymous
They are finding that some kids aren't adequately learning the concepts before forging ahead at an accelerated rate. Yes- they might make good grades---but slowing down and learning age-appropriate material and REALLY getting the concepts over and over even if it is repetitive builds a better, solid math foundation. |
Anonymous
| The only thing that really matters is how the child did on the 5th grade assessment tests. Get the answer to that and you know. |