Algebra 1 in high school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All MCPS schools offer Algebra I in high school. It is basically remedial math.

This is a rude and uncalled for comment. There is no need for you to pass judgement on this question.

DP here. It's the truth. Don't be offended. My kid took Algebra 1 in 6th grade in MCPS. I also have a kid with special needs who needed a resource class in middle and high school. There is no shame or guilt or any reason to be offended by the level your child is at. Algebra 1 in high school is now below the standard level. You need to meet your kid where they are and be realistic about it, that's all.

You need to be realistic about the fact that algebra 1 is not below standard level for 9th grade and that your child who took it in grade 6 would not be able to take algebra 1 that is taught in high school. Your child’s 6th grade algebra was watered down. That’s all.

I doubt the PP cares whether you think their genius taking algebra I in 6th grade took a watered down class. Kid was probably prepping in Kumon or RSM since pre school and had mastered algebra I by the 3rd grade. My non-prepped snowflakes varied between Algebra II - Geometry in 8th grade. If you think that your 9th grader taking Algebra I in an MCPS HS is some kind of nirvana, take a look at MCPS pass rates for 9th graders taking the state algebra test. Pass rates are very low for that cohort. There is a reason.

Supplementing isn't prepping and regardless of the school it's a good idea. It's not watered down. Did you even look at the curriculum.

Of course I looked at it and I am also aware that many students are being pushed through. Supplementing is prepping. What else is it if it’s not?

I don't look at it as prepping. Prepping is taking a full class, which we have done prior to the class. Prepping is going over basic concepts. Either way, most public and private school kids prep. Who cares. Its not being pushed through if they are doing the work.

[Anonymous]

I work with teens in a high school. If you aren’t going to school with your kid, you have no idea the amount of cheating going on. Lots of Calculus students who know no calculus. Look at what the colleges are saying. It’s an open secret.

I’d rather my own child lean into what he’s good at rather than taking a math class he’s not ready for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is so crazy. I took Algebra I as a freshman (as most did), never hit calculus, and was still admitted to and graduated from a top engineering program. When did this change?

20 years ago LOL

Like you I took it in 9th grade

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All MCPS schools offer Algebra I in high school. It is basically remedial math.

It is not remedial math.

Doing Algebra I in 8th grade is considered on-level for MCPS. At many (most) MCPS schools the advanced kids will come into HS taking Algebra II in 9th (or even higher for a small percentage). While the content for 9th grade Algebra I is not remedial, the reality is, most of the students who are taking it are considered "behind" and not the best students.

They could be "the best students" in areas like writing, languages, fine and performing arts, or media, and rather than being "behind" be prioritizing what matters for them and _their_ careers. "The best" students don't all go into STEM, nor should they.

The best students tend to be the best students across the board. Algebra in 9th puts them two years behind the top cohort (ignoring the few how are even further ahead) and one year behind the normal honors kids

"The best students tend to be the best students across the board": based on what, exactly? Yes, there are outliers where the kid is a D1-level athlete who has also founded a nonprofit to recycle all plastics in their county and scored 1600 on the SAT and won the Intel science search and plays first violin in the state youth orchestra, but there is a reason we hear about and celebrate kids like that: they are supremely rare. And even they have to choose a career pathway that does not require all of those things, and even they are better at some of those things than others. Excellence comes in many forms, including in areas that are manifestly not STEM.

We are not talking about outliers here. Based on my own kids' MS experience (as well as knowing families at other MCPS middle schools) I would guess that most MCPS students are taking Algebra I (or a higher level Math) in 8th grade. Kids in Math 8 are likely the outliers. Does MCPS publish this data? I did a google search but couldn't find it.

A reference on when students take algebra nationally. I suspect MCPS is about the same.

8th grade and below: 34%
9th grade: 55%
10th grade and above: 11%

While it’s not the norm to do Algebra 1 in middle school, it likely is the norm for kids that will attend college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All MCPS schools offer Algebra I in high school. It is basically remedial math.

It is not remedial math.

Doing Algebra I in 8th grade is considered on-level for MCPS. At many (most) MCPS schools the advanced kids will come into HS taking Algebra II in 9th (or even higher for a small percentage). While the content for 9th grade Algebra I is not remedial, the reality is, most of the students who are taking it are considered "behind" and not the best students.

They could be "the best students" in areas like writing, languages, fine and performing arts, or media, and rather than being "behind" be prioritizing what matters for them and _their_ careers. "The best" students don't all go into STEM, nor should they.

The best students tend to be the best students across the board. Algebra in 9th puts them two years behind the top cohort (ignoring the few how are even further ahead) and one year behind the normal honors kids

"The best students tend to be the best students across the board": based on what, exactly? Yes, there are outliers where the kid is a D1-level athlete who has also founded a nonprofit to recycle all plastics in their county and scored 1600 on the SAT and won the Intel science search and plays first violin in the state youth orchestra, but there is a reason we hear about and celebrate kids like that: they are supremely rare. And even they have to choose a career pathway that does not require all of those things, and even they are better at some of those things than others. Excellence comes in many forms, including in areas that are manifestly not STEM.

We are not talking about outliers here. Based on my own kids' MS experience (as well as knowing families at other MCPS middle schools) I would guess that most MCPS students are taking Algebra I (or a higher level Math) in 8th grade. Kids in Math 8 are likely the outliers. Does MCPS publish this data? I did a google search but couldn't find it.

A reference on when students take algebra nationally. I suspect MCPS is about the same.

8th grade and below: 34%
9th grade: 55%
10th grade and above: 11%

While it’s not the norm to do Algebra 1 in middle school, it likely is the norm for kids that will attend college.

Reference
https://www.nwea.org/uploads/2021/06/2019-MAP-Growth-HS-Math-Norms-Report-FINAL.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All MCPS schools offer Algebra I in high school. It is basically remedial math.

It is not remedial math.

Teacher here. It’s not remedial. Uncalled for comment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All MCPS schools offer Algebra I in high school. It is basically remedial math.

This is a rude and uncalled for comment. There is no need for you to pass judgement on this question.

DP here. It's the truth. Don't be offended. My kid took Algebra 1 in 6th grade in MCPS. I also have a kid with special needs who needed a resource class in middle and high school. There is no shame or guilt or any reason to be offended by the level your child is at. Algebra 1 in high school is now below the standard level. You need to meet your kid where they are and be realistic about it, that's all.

You need to be realistic about the fact that algebra 1 is not below standard level for 9th grade and that your child who took it in grade 6 would not be able to take algebra 1 that is taught in high school. Your child’s 6th grade algebra was watered down. That’s all.

I doubt the PP cares whether you think their genius taking algebra I in 6th grade took a watered down class. Kid was probably prepping in Kumon or RSM since pre school and had mastered algebra I by the 3rd grade. My non-prepped snowflakes varied between Algebra II - Geometry in 8th grade. If you think that your 9th grader taking Algebra I in an MCPS HS is some kind of nirvana, take a look at MCPS pass rates for 9th graders taking the state algebra test. Pass rates are very low for that cohort. There is a reason.

Supplementing isn't prepping and regardless of the school it's a good idea. It's not watered down. Did you even look at the curriculum.

Of course I looked at it and I am also aware that many students are being pushed through. Supplementing is prepping. What else is it if it’s not?

Soon school will be considered prepping. Or any kind of learning that is not acquired through osmosis from the natural environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All MCPS schools offer Algebra I in high school. It is basically remedial math.

My DS took algebra 1 in public MS and then took the algebra 1 placement test for Catholic HS. He didn’t pass and neither did other students who got As in public MS. He said a lot of the material in his 9th grade algebra 1 class was new.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All MCPS schools offer Algebra I in high school. It is basically remedial math.

My DS took algebra 1 in public MS and then took the algebra 1 placement test for Catholic HS. He didn’t pass and neither did other students who got As in public MS. He said a lot of the material in his 9th grade algebra 1 class was new.

Bingo and that has been said earlier in this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All MCPS schools offer Algebra I in high school. It is basically remedial math.

It is not remedial math.

Doing Algebra I in 8th grade is considered on-level for MCPS. At many (most) MCPS schools the advanced kids will come into HS taking Algebra II in 9th (or even higher for a small percentage). While the content for 9th grade Algebra I is not remedial, the reality is, most of the students who are taking it are considered "behind" and not the best students.

They could be "the best students" in areas like writing, languages, fine and performing arts, or media, and rather than being "behind" be prioritizing what matters for them and _their_ careers. "The best" students don't all go into STEM, nor should they.

The best students tend to be the best students across the board. Algebra in 9th puts them two years behind the top cohort (ignoring the few how are even further ahead) and one year behind the normal honors kids

"The best students tend to be the best students across the board": based on what, exactly? Yes, there are outliers where the kid is a D1-level athlete who has also founded a nonprofit to recycle all plastics in their county and scored 1600 on the SAT and won the Intel science search and plays first violin in the state youth orchestra, but there is a reason we hear about and celebrate kids like that: they are supremely rare. And even they have to choose a career pathway that does not require all of those things, and even they are better at some of those things than others. Excellence comes in many forms, including in areas that are manifestly not STEM.

We are not talking about outliers here. Based on my own kids' MS experience (as well as knowing families at other MCPS middle schools) I would guess that most MCPS students are taking Algebra I (or a higher level Math) in 8th grade. Kids in Math 8 are likely the outliers. Does MCPS publish this data? I did a google search but couldn't find it.

A reference on when students take algebra nationally. I suspect MCPS is about the same.

8th grade and below: 34%
9th grade: 55%
10th grade and above: 11%

While it’s not the norm to do Algebra 1 in middle school, it likely is the norm for kids that will attend college.

To the extent that MCPS and FCPS are similar districts, FCPS is pushing to have all students take Algebra by 8th

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All MCPS schools offer Algebra I in high school. It is basically remedial math.

My DS took algebra 1 in public MS and then took the algebra 1 placement test for Catholic HS. He didn’t pass and neither did other students who got As in public MS. He said a lot of the material in his 9th grade algebra 1 class was new.

Algebra 1 is a class taught to state standards in public school. What material was new?

[Anonymous]

If a student struggles in Algebra or takes it too early, they will struggle with the entire math sequence that follows. It’s literally a cornerstone course. those who think it’s remedial are not well versed in why it’s such an important course. No reason to push kids though. It’s always better to ensure they understand concepts before moving forward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All MCPS schools offer Algebra I in high school. It is basically remedial math.

My DS took algebra 1 in public MS and then took the algebra 1 placement test for Catholic HS. He didn’t pass and neither did other students who got As in public MS. He said a lot of the material in his 9th grade algebra 1 class was new.

Algebra 1 is a class taught to state standards in public school. What material was new?

Taught to state standards. lol!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If a student struggles in Algebra or takes it too early, they will struggle with the entire math sequence that follows. It’s literally a cornerstone course. those who think it’s remedial are not well versed in why it’s such an important course. No reason to push kids though. It’s always better to ensure they understand concepts before moving forward.

You don’t think kids aren’t struggling? You don’t think there is no reason to push kids through? Are you deliberately being obtuse?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All MCPS schools offer Algebra I in high school. It is basically remedial math.

My DS took algebra 1 in public MS and then took the algebra 1 placement test for Catholic HS. He didn’t pass and neither did other students who got As in public MS. He said a lot of the material in his 9th grade algebra 1 class was new.

Algebra 1 is a class taught to state standards in public school. What material was new?

Taught to state standards. lol!

The nice thing about public schools is that all the testing people complain about demonstrates whether or not the kids have mastered the material. What does Catholic algebra cover that Maryland state standards omit?