Determining math class for sixth grader transfer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If a child is transferring into MCPS for sixth grade, how do they determine what math class they put them in if they haven’t done a lot of standardized testing? Do they give them a test? thanks

One way would be to have the transfer take the MAP-M and use that score to determine placement. Last I knew scoring over 240 put you in AIM at some of the wealthy schools you can be placed in Algebra for >250.

STOP with the "wealthy schools" nonsense. My kids are in two different wealthy school districts (one is in a special program) and it is NEVER automatic to get into Algebra 1 in 6th grade. My friend in a upper county school district had an easier time of it than I did, even though my child had well above a 260 on her MAP-M AND completed a nearly perfect ad hoc test to place into Algebra 1. The math coordinator at her school still wouldn't let her in. We left MCPS for another reason that year, she completed a year of Algebra 1 in 6th at a different school, and when we returned, they let her in Honors Geometry in 7th based on the fact she had done Algebra 1 in 6th.

To answer your question, OP, they will look at your child's overall school record and give them a placement test. As noted above, the math coordinator at the school has discretion. There is no central policy.

This. Though I will add that depending on when you transfer, you might not even get the placement test. It’s not even consistent by school. DD#2 was not tested by TPMS and they put her in regular Math 6, which was an easy A but bored her to death. DS was tested by Blair and appropriately placed as a 9th grader. Both were registered the summer before starting.

We moved midyear. My 4th grader was placed in compacted math based on MAP. My 6th grader, who was in Algebra, was placed in IM because “we don’t allow 6th graders to take Algebra and you have to be placed in AIM by central office.”

Two years later, when my younger one was in 6th, they weren’t even doing AIM cohorts anymore. Essentially, I think you need to just talk to Counseling at your school to see how they do it. If you feel like the answer they come up with doesn’t make sense, the Math resource teacher might be able to help.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish you good luck finding an actual answer to this question. MCPS is very disorganized about this and you can ask 5 ppl and get 5 different answers. It’s a different process and cut off for each different school, which I personally think is confusing, inequitable and unnecessary. I’d start by contacting the math department head at the specific middle school where your child is headed. I imagine they’ll look a what level math your child completed at the previous school and may administer a MAP test and/or solicit a teacher recommendation.

Sure there are a lot of uninformed parents but there are recognized diagnostics and guidelines as a PP pointed out.

Every school has different rules some MS allow it and some don't. OP isn't necessarily asking about Algebra and asking about placement. They will look at the child's grades, and test scores and talk to the teacher/parent to make the decision. There is no consistency in each of the schools and the poster says that because TMPS doesn't allow Algebra in 6th, so no Silver Spring schools do is making stuff up. We were given a registration form and had to have the ES teacher sign off saying yes and that was it.

I don't understand why central office cannot create a transparent policy that applies to all MS.

They don't have any transparency or equity in anything so why is this any different? They should offer the same classes, offer real honors classes and have the same standards at every school but they don't. They also need to increase the magnet programs to offer one at every school or at least gifted classes in Math and English at every school (though for English being given more than two online books a year might help too).

We don't know what classes OP is asking about. Someone here just jumped on the Algebra bandwagon. There are at least a handful of schools allowing it and not just the W zones.

Although I've heard vague rumors there have been rare exceptions, it's only in the W zone where math enrichment is offered with any consistency. The only people claiming otherwise couldn't name a school where this went on with more than one student.

Its none of your business where our kids go to school. Why are you so competitive? Its really is not a big deal if kids start in 6th vs. 7th. It's still very early to start.

It seems reasonable to me to expect enrichment to be offered at all schools not just the wealthy ones.

It is offered at some non-wealthy schools. Clearly they aren't the schools your kids go to or you'd know that.

I've heard that said before but nobody can name a single school that isn't Potomac that offers it so I call BS on this.

I’ll name one: There were sixth graders taking Algebra 1 at Eastern when my kid took it in 7th. Not a lot, but at least three just in that particular section.

So no, it’s not a rumor.

I teach at Eastern and can confirm that three 6th graders took Algebra 1 in the 2018-19 school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish you good luck finding an actual answer to this question. MCPS is very disorganized about this and you can ask 5 ppl and get 5 different answers. It’s a different process and cut off for each different school, which I personally think is confusing, inequitable and unnecessary. I’d start by contacting the math department head at the specific middle school where your child is headed. I imagine they’ll look a what level math your child completed at the previous school and may administer a MAP test and/or solicit a teacher recommendation.

Sure there are a lot of uninformed parents but there are recognized diagnostics and guidelines as a PP pointed out.

Every school has different rules some MS allow it and some don't. OP isn't necessarily asking about Algebra and asking about placement. They will look at the child's grades, and test scores and talk to the teacher/parent to make the decision. There is no consistency in each of the schools and the poster says that because TMPS doesn't allow Algebra in 6th, so no Silver Spring schools do is making stuff up. We were given a registration form and had to have the ES teacher sign off saying yes and that was it.

I don't understand why central office cannot create a transparent policy that applies to all MS.

They don't have any transparency or equity in anything so why is this any different? They should offer the same classes, offer real honors classes and have the same standards at every school but they don't. They also need to increase the magnet programs to offer one at every school or at least gifted classes in Math and English at every school (though for English being given more than two online books a year might help too).

We don't know what classes OP is asking about. Someone here just jumped on the Algebra bandwagon. There are at least a handful of schools allowing it and not just the W zones.

Although I've heard vague rumors there have been rare exceptions, it's only in the W zone where math enrichment is offered with any consistency. The only people claiming otherwise couldn't name a school where this went on with more than one student.

Its none of your business where our kids go to school. Why are you so competitive? Its really is not a big deal if kids start in 6th vs. 7th. It's still very early to start.

It seems reasonable to me to expect enrichment to be offered at all schools not just the wealthy ones.

It is offered at some non-wealthy schools. Clearly they aren't the schools your kids go to or you'd know that.

I've heard that said before but nobody can name a single school that isn't Potomac that offers it so I call BS on this.

I’ll name one: There were sixth graders taking Algebra 1 at Eastern when my kid took it in 7th. Not a lot, but at least three just in that particular section.

So no, it’s not a rumor.

I teach at Eastern and can confirm that three 6th graders took Algebra 1 in the 2018-19 school year.

Yes, those were the 3 magnet students who had already taken IM in 5th at their wealthy Potomac school so the school advanced them to the next class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish you good luck finding an actual answer to this question. MCPS is very disorganized about this and you can ask 5 ppl and get 5 different answers. It’s a different process and cut off for each different school, which I personally think is confusing, inequitable and unnecessary. I’d start by contacting the math department head at the specific middle school where your child is headed. I imagine they’ll look a what level math your child completed at the previous school and may administer a MAP test and/or solicit a teacher recommendation.

Sure there are a lot of uninformed parents but there are recognized diagnostics and guidelines as a PP pointed out.

Every school has different rules some MS allow it and some don't. OP isn't necessarily asking about Algebra and asking about placement. They will look at the child's grades, and test scores and talk to the teacher/parent to make the decision. There is no consistency in each of the schools and the poster says that because TMPS doesn't allow Algebra in 6th, so no Silver Spring schools do is making stuff up. We were given a registration form and had to have the ES teacher sign off saying yes and that was it.

I don't understand why central office cannot create a transparent policy that applies to all MS.

They don't have any transparency or equity in anything so why is this any different? They should offer the same classes, offer real honors classes and have the same standards at every school but they don't. They also need to increase the magnet programs to offer one at every school or at least gifted classes in Math and English at every school (though for English being given more than two online books a year might help too).

We don't know what classes OP is asking about. Someone here just jumped on the Algebra bandwagon. There are at least a handful of schools allowing it and not just the W zones.

Although I've heard vague rumors there have been rare exceptions, it's only in the W zone where math enrichment is offered with any consistency. The only people claiming otherwise couldn't name a school where this went on with more than one student.

Its none of your business where our kids go to school. Why are you so competitive? Its really is not a big deal if kids start in 6th vs. 7th. It's still very early to start.

It seems reasonable to me to expect enrichment to be offered at all schools not just the wealthy ones.

It is offered at some non-wealthy schools. Clearly they aren't the schools your kids go to or you'd know that.

I've heard that said before but nobody can name a single school that isn't Potomac that offers it so I call BS on this.

I’ll name one: There were sixth graders taking Algebra 1 at Eastern when my kid took it in 7th. Not a lot, but at least three just in that particular section.

So no, it’s not a rumor.

I teach at Eastern and can confirm that three 6th graders took Algebra 1 in the 2018-19 school year.

Yes, those were the 3 magnet students who had already taken IM in 5th at their wealthy Potomac school so the school advanced them to the next class.

Go quote the Gipper, "There you go again!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish you good luck finding an actual answer to this question. MCPS is very disorganized about this and you can ask 5 ppl and get 5 different answers. It’s a different process and cut off for each different school, which I personally think is confusing, inequitable and unnecessary. I’d start by contacting the math department head at the specific middle school where your child is headed. I imagine they’ll look a what level math your child completed at the previous school and may administer a MAP test and/or solicit a teacher recommendation.

Sure there are a lot of uninformed parents but there are recognized diagnostics and guidelines as a PP pointed out.

Every school has different rules some MS allow it and some don't. OP isn't necessarily asking about Algebra and asking about placement. They will look at the child's grades, and test scores and talk to the teacher/parent to make the decision. There is no consistency in each of the schools and the poster says that because TMPS doesn't allow Algebra in 6th, so no Silver Spring schools do is making stuff up. We were given a registration form and had to have the ES teacher sign off saying yes and that was it.

I don't understand why central office cannot create a transparent policy that applies to all MS.

They don't have any transparency or equity in anything so why is this any different? They should offer the same classes, offer real honors classes and have the same standards at every school but they don't. They also need to increase the magnet programs to offer one at every school or at least gifted classes in Math and English at every school (though for English being given more than two online books a year might help too).

We don't know what classes OP is asking about. Someone here just jumped on the Algebra bandwagon. There are at least a handful of schools allowing it and not just the W zones.

Although I've heard vague rumors there have been rare exceptions, it's only in the W zone where math enrichment is offered with any consistency. The only people claiming otherwise couldn't name a school where this went on with more than one student.

Its none of your business where our kids go to school. Why are you so competitive? Its really is not a big deal if kids start in 6th vs. 7th. It's still very early to start.

It seems reasonable to me to expect enrichment to be offered at all schools not just the wealthy ones.

It is offered at some non-wealthy schools. Clearly they aren't the schools your kids go to or you'd know that.

I've heard that said before but nobody can name a single school that isn't Potomac that offers it so I call BS on this.

I’ll name one: There were sixth graders taking Algebra 1 at Eastern when my kid took it in 7th. Not a lot, but at least three just in that particular section.

So no, it’s not a rumor.

I teach at Eastern and can confirm that three 6th graders took Algebra 1 in the 2018-19 school year.

Yes, those were the 3 magnet students who had already taken IM in 5th at their wealthy Potomac school so the school advanced them to the next class.

Same at TPMS. The school won't advance anyone except those rare kids from Potomac who are able to take IM in ES.